Jealous Lies Page 5

  Still, Jean didn't feel that she should be the one to make the first move. She was deeply wounded by Sandra's disloyalty, and she thought it was only fair for Sandra to call and apologize.

  In the meantime, she wasn't just going to sit around. She was going to do something about Tom McKay!

  An hour later Jean was ringing the McKays' door bell. She had taken special pains getting dressed, finally selecting a pair of linen walking shorts and a Fair Isle cotton sweater. Simple but pretty—the look she guessed Tom liked best. In her arms she carried a bag containing get-well presents: a box of special herbal tea, the latest Sports Illustrated, and a best-seller that looked really exciting. She ran the bell again, and Tom opened the door.

  "Jeanie!" he exclaimed, staring at her. He was wearing cords and a T-shirt and looked, as Jean had expected, perfectly well.

  "Tom, you should be in bed," she scolded, trying to make her voice sound tender and concerned at the same time. She pushed past him into the McKays' foyer. "Honestly! Food poisoning isn't something to mess around with. You're lucky you're alive!"

  "Aw . . . it wasn't that bad," Tom muttered, reddening.

  Jean shook her head. "It must've been pretty bad if you went to the emergency room," she reminded him. "Come on. Let's go somewhere where you can lie down, and I'll show you the care package I brought you."

  Tom laughed uneasily. "My mom's going to come home from the supermarket any minute," he said, stepping back reluctantly as Jean made her way into the McKays' living room.

  Jean pointed sternly at the couch. "All the more reason to lie down," she said earnestly. "If your mother's anything like mine, she'll have a fit if she finds you up and around before you're really ready."

  Tom sank down on the couch and stared at her. Obviously her visit had surprised him, and he had no idea how to act. Time to really make him squirm, Jean thought. Nothing like a little kindness to make a rat feel guilty!

  "I missed you last night," she said silkily, kneeling next to the couch and staring into his eyes. "I was so worried." She put her hand on his forehead, which felt perfectly cool. "I think you have a fever," she said solicitously.

  "No, I don't," Tom said. "I mean—I don't think I do," he added hastily.

  "When you told me you were in the hospital, I was ready to die," Jean said. "I came so close to heading straight over to the emergency room to sit with you. I probably should have, shouldn't I?"

  Tom looked horrified. "No, you shouldn't have! I mean, you were right to go ahead and go to the party." He looked at her with total confusion. "How was it? The party? Did you have fun?"

  Jean shrugged. "It was OK, I guess. It was part of this pledge season we've been having at Pi Beta Alpha," she added, studying his face closely for a reaction, "but to be honest, I'm not really all that excited about the sorority. I mean, I wouldn't mind getting in, but it isn't exactly a life-or-death issue. The party was kind of boring without you," she concluded, putting her hand tenderly on his arm.

  Tom stared at her. "Well, I—uh, I missed you too," he said awkwardly.

  Jean got up quickly, her voice changing to a no-nonsense tone as she unpacked her care package. "These are to keep you busy while you're resting," she told him, giving him the book and magazine. "And this"—she passed him the tea—"is to settle your stomach. My mom swears by it."

  "Jeanie, I can't believe how nice of you this was—" Tom began.

  Jean tossed her head impatiently. "Don't you get it, Tom McKay? I care about what happens to you," she said. Boy, am I ever laying it on thick, she thought. But Tom seemed to be falling for her ruse. The look on his face was positively pathetic, he seemed so grateful.

  "What's this?" Tom demanded, taking a slip of paper out of the magazine.

  Jean smiled. "That," she said, "is an emergency number. If you feel rotten or need anything, just call it, and I'll be over right away."

  Tom's eyes were shining. "Thanks, Jeanie," he said huskily. "You know," he added, "a lot of girls would react differently than you. I mean, I know I loused up your evening. I couldn't get in touch with you till late; you didn't get to have any dinner—"

  "Don't be silly," Jean interrupted. "Honestly, Tom, you couldn't help getting sick, could you?"

  He didn't answer for a minute, and Jean couldn't help thinking, But you weren't sick, were you? You humiliated me in front of the Pi Betas. And I'm going to get even if it's the last thing I do.

  If things went the way she was planning, she could count on one thing: This coming Friday night Tom would be telling the truth when he said he felt sick to his stomach. She was going to make sure of that!

  Tom put the Sports Illustrated down, a perplexed expression on his face. Girls, he thought. The day I ever understand them . . .

  The way he had it figured, Jean West would have been so angry with him that morning she wouldn't have even given him the time of day. And here she had come all the way over to see how he was feeling. She had brought him presents, kept him company for almost an hour, and just before she left, she had even brushed his forehead with her lips.

  I must have it all wrong, he thought, rubbing his forehead. From what Sandra had hinted at at the Tennis Shop, he had gotten the impression that Jean was just using him to get into Pi Beta Alpha. But if that were true, why had she come over to see him this morning? Her standing in the sorority had probably been threatened by his behavior the night before, and she still wanted to see how he was feeling. Her attitude toward the sorority impressed him, too. She seemed interested in it but not obsessed. The only possible explanation was the most simple. She must actually care about me, Tom thought with disbelief. She must like me. She wasn't using me at all. I'm the one who was in the wrong, and yet she's trusting and caring enough not to suspect my story!

  By that afternoon Tom was convinced Jean West was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He couldn't wait to see her in school the following day; he wanted a chance to make up for standing her up Saturday night. In fact, he was so eager to talk to her he finally dialed her number.

  "Jeanie?" he said eagerly. "It's Tom."

  Jean paused for a split second. "Tom," she said. She sounded glad to hear his voice. "How're you feeling? Is the care package helping?"

  "It's helping a lot," Tom said. "But I was thinking I might need a little special attention tomorrow. How would you like to have lunch with me?"

  Jean laughed. "I'd love to, Tom," she said enthusiastically.

  "Great. I'm going to surprise you this time," he told her.

  "OK," Jean said. When she hung up, she was smiling. That's what you think, Tom McKay, she thought. From here on in, Tom wasn't going to be doing the surprising. She was. And if her plan worked, Tom was going to be good and sorry the two of them had ever met!

  "Steve!" Jessica cried, rushing out to the patio, where her brother was relaxing in the sun with the Sunday paper. "Look what I've got for you—a bunch of brochures on the Far East!"

  Steven sat up on the deck chair, squinting at his sister in the strong sunlight. "Oh—thanks," he said. He didn't sound very enthusiastic.

  "I still can't believe you're going to be there in just a few weeks," Jessica said, spreading the brochures out and examining them with great interest. "You know, you're going to be able to get such good presents for everyone. How would you like to buy me a jade necklace in China?"

  Steven frowned. "Sure," he said flatly. "I'd love to."

  Jessica looked up at him. "What are you going to get Cara? I'll bet she'd love something jade. With her coloring, it would look really nice."

  "Cara," Steven said dully, "won't be getting any presents. She and I are breaking up. Haven't you heard?"

  "No way!" Jessica said. "Why?"

  Steven shrugged. "Apparently Cara doesn't feel like waiting eight or nine months till she sees me again. She seems quite happy with the prospect of saying goodbye to me at the end of the week and calling it quits."

  "Wow," Jessica said. "But you can't really blame her, can you? I mean, you'll be having the time of your life. It wouldn't be fair if Cara had to sit at home and be depressed."

  "I didn't expect her to sit around and be depressed," Steven grumbled, "but I didn't expect her to be so matter-of-fact about breaking up, either. She acts like it's no big deal, as though what we have together doesn't even matter!"

  "Well," Jessica said thoughtfully, "maybe she figures that's how you feel, too. Did you talk to her about your plans to leave school, or did you just drop the bombshell on her when you got home?"

  "I called her from school and told her," Steven said. He blushed then, realizing that "telling" was not exactly the same as "talking over."

  Jessica shrugged. "It sounds to me like Cara's doing the best thing for you both. You'll have much more fun going away without having to worry about her, Steve. Honestly. You'll meet so many fabulous girls abroad! Cruises are supposed to be so romantic."

  "Yeah," Steven said gruffly. "That's just it. I think I may be falling for a lot of romantic hype instead of really doing what's best for me."

  Jessica could barely suppress a gleeful shout. It was working! Steven was beginning to reconsider. "Oh, Steve," she said, trying to sound disappointed. "You're not going to back out, are you? I was counting on you to buy me gorgeous presents from all around the world!"

  Steven didn't answer. His dark eyes were fixed thoughtfully on the sunlit water in the swimming pool. If only I knew what to do, he thought.

  The truth was, he had come home with some grave doubts about his decision. In fact, he had planned to talk it over with his parents the first night he got home. But they seemed so negative about the idea that he jumped to the defensive, instantly claiming his mind was made up.

  Not very grown up, he had to admit. Now he was having serious second thoughts, but everyone was acting as if he'd already signed the contract. And they didn't even seem to care that much!

  He was beginning to wonder what they would say if he told them he'd changed his mind, that he didn't want to drop out of college or sail on the Bellefleur after all. He didn't know. One way or the other, though, he had to make his mind up for good. And he had to do it soon.

  Eight

  Jean was trying to find a book at the bottom of her locker before first period when a timid voice interrupted her.

  "Jeanie? Can we talk?"

  Jean got to her feet, the retort dying on her lips as she saw the look on Sandra's face.

  "OK," she said briefly. "What do you want to talk about?"

  Sandra gulped, She hadn't expected Jean to make this easy on her. But she couldn't bear having her friend mad at her. The weekend had been torment for her. At least half a dozen times she had picked the phone up, meaning to call Jean and apologize. She just didn't know what to say. Now, facing Jean, she was still at a loss for words.

  "Let's go into the lounge," she said. "It'll be quiet there."

  To Sandra's surprise Jean followed her into the brightly painted student lounge and plopped down on a couch.

  "Well?" Jean said expectantly, looking up at Sandra, who remained standing.

  Sandra swallowed. "This is really hard for me," she began. Jean's expression didn't change, and Sandra decided to try another tack. Her eyes filled up with tears, and her tone became pleading.

  "Jeanie, you have to forgive me!" she burst out. "I feel so terrible about what happened Saturday night. I've been in total hysterics all weekend. I fell like I just can't function, knowing you're so mad at me!"

  Jean's green eyes were impassive. "Sandy, I just don't understand," she said at last. "I've always figured I could count on you no matter what. Saturday night . . . " Her face clouded over briefly, remembering. "What was the deal, Sandy? Were you purposely trying to sabotage me in front of all the Pi Betas, or what?"

  Sandra bit her lip miserably. "I'd never do that," she lied. She shook her head. "Jeanie, I was just afraid they'd all accuse me of favoritism again. Honestly! I've been getting so much pressure ever since I put you up, and I didn't want anyone to think I was trying to make an exception for you just because you're my best friend."

  Jean thought this over. "I can see that you wouldn't want to suggest making an exception," she said at last. "But you didn't suggest it, Sandy. Lila and Cara did. All you had to do was keep quiet, and everything would have been fine."

  Sandra thought fast. "It might've been fine on Saturday night. But once everyone got a chance to think it over, I would've gotten a lot of grief for it. I'm not kidding! You just don't know what it's like behind the scenes," she told her friend. "Once you're a full-fledged member, you'll understand."

  Jean sighed. "Sandy, I want to believe you so badly," she said. "I've been pretty miserable since Saturday, too. I've never felt so confused before. I just couldn't figure out why you'd want to screw things up for me."

  "I don't!" Sandra cried passionately, tears spilling over. "Jeanie, I want you to get whatever you want, forever and ever! That's what being a best friend means!"

  Jean's eyes softened. "Oh, San," she said softly, jumping up and throwing her arms around her friend. "I'm so sorry for doubting you. I was wrong to suspect you, even for a minute. I just didn't realize you're under so much pressure from the other members. I should never have even asked you to put me up!"

  Sandra swallowed hard. She couldn't believe Jean was forgiving her so quickly. Jean was taking full responsibility, claiming the fight had been entirely her fault.

  That's because Jean's a good friend, Sandra thought miserably. She's willing to give me the benefit of the doubt—to trust me even when no one else would. She really cares, and she's the kind of warm, genuine person who would stick by me no matter what.

  For the first time Sandra realized the enormity of what she had done. In her unfounded anxiety about Jean pledging the sorority, she had put their friendship at risk. It wasn't Pi Beta Alpha that was threatening Jean and Sandra. It was Sandra who was!

  She was so relieved that Jean had forgiven her that she vowed at once to give up her attempt to keep Jean out of the sorority. She just hoped Jean never found out what she had done.

  "Well," Jean said, trying to sound enthusiastic, "this is a surprise, Tom."

  "Do you like it?" Tom asked, studying her reaction as he spread the picnic out on the red-checked tablecloth under one of the big shade trees in front of Sweet Valley High.

  This guy is off his rocker, Jean thought with disgust as she sat down. Who in his right mind would dream of having a picnic right in front of a school? Everyone else must think we're nuts. No wonder Tom McKay didn't have very many dates. He sure had some weird ideas about what was fun.

  "I love picnics," Tom said, passing her a piece of cold fried chicken. "My parents used to take my brothers and me out for picnics at Secca Lake every Sunday."

  "No kidding," Jean said, fidgeting uncomfortably on the lawn. Her idea of a lunch date was finding some nice, romantic little restaurant. Eating outside was messy. And people were staring at them.

  "We used to get ants in our food, though," Tom said, grinning at her.

  Jean laughed despite herself. "I have to tell you," she said, taking a bite of the chicken, "I had a disaster the last time I went on a picnic." She proceeded to tell him about an afternoon she had spent hiking with her oldest brother, Richard. "We were about three hours away from anywhere when we stopped for lunch. We were starving," she reminisced, "and all of a sudden Richard started groping around for the knapsack that had the food in it. Gone!" She laughed. "He'd left it back in the car. We almost died of hunger before we got back to it."

  Tom seemed to find this amusing, and soon the two of them were trading stories about their brothers, trying to see who had experienced greater traumas. Jean started to relax, completely forgetting her plan to get even with Tom. He really was easy to talk to, and she found herself remembering how much she had enjoyed the few times they had talked on the phone the week before.

  "Hey," Tom said, leaning forward and looking in her eyes, "what are you doing after school today?"

  Jean thought fast. She had cheerleading practice, but she was sure she could skip it just this once. Jessica was co-captain of the team and would surely agree Operation Revenge was more important than an ordinary hour practicing routines. She also had to find out her latest pledge assignment. She didn't want to mess anything else up as far as Pi Beta Alpha was concerned! Leslie Decker had had to recite a poem in the middle of the corridor; Janice Young and Becky White had had to steal towels from the boys' locker room, and Amy Sutton had to walk backward for an entire day. Jean was just hoping Lila and Jessica would let her off easy.

  "Nothing," she said matter-of-factly. "Why?"

  Tom snapped his fingers. "Because," he said, "if you're willing, I want to take you to a place that I guarantee you'll love!"

  Tom had mixed feelings as he and Jean drove north of Sweet Valley in the late afternoon sunlight, taking Route 1 up to Crystal Falls.

  He liked Jean a lot. In fact, he was feeling something he had never felt before. His heart beat faster when he was close to her. There was no denying that Jean was beautiful, he thought. Her creamy skin was flawless, and her eyes sparkled like two perfect emeralds. But it wasn't Jean's looks that were getting to Tom. It was her liveliness, her sense of humor, her natural warmth. She struck him as genuine and caring, someone who would be loyal forever once her affection had been won.

  What worried him was a persistent feeling that they came from different worlds. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was too sophisticated for him, that she was the sort of girl who would prefer a restaurant to a picnic, a night at the theater to a walk on the beach. Tom had to admit he was testing her. He had too much at stake not to find out how she really felt right away, because he knew what he was feeling was serious. He was falling in love with her, and he wanted to make sure they were right for each other before either one of them got terribly hurt.

  "Clinton Falls?" Jean said, noticing the sign as they turned off the highway. "What's here? The only thing I know is that there's an amusement park here."

  "You guessed it," Tom said, smiling at her. "It's the biggest amusement park in this part of the state."