Twelve

Elizabeth felt as if she were floating two feet off the ground as she and Todd strolled hand in hand back toward the school building. In her blissful fog, she didn’t notice they were being pursued until someone snatched her arm from behind, plummeting her abruptly back to earth.

“Liz! Didn’t you hear me calling you?” Jessica gasped, out of breath from running. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes shining with excitement.

Elizabeth stared at her in bewilderment. She was familiar with Jessica’s quicksilver mood changes, but this was unbelievable. She felt as if she were on a roller coaster whenever she was around her sister.

“Well?” Elizabeth eyed her with stony coolness. “What is it? Can’t you see I’m busy?” She glanced toward Todd, who was eyeing Jessica with suspicion. “I haven’t got all day.”

“Oh, come off it, Liz,” Jessica wheedled. “Don’t be like that. Look, I’m sorry I blew up at you. I didn’t mean it. You know how I get sometimes.”

“Do I ever!”

“I said I was sorry. You don’t have to get nasty.”

“Is that what you ran after me for?” Elizabeth asked impatiently. “To tell me you’re sorry?”

“Uh, well, not exactly. Oh, Liz, you’ll never guess!” She grabbed her sister by the shoulders, swinging her around. “They’re going to give me another chance on the test! Mr. Sandalow called me in and told me he could see how sick I was on Monday and figured that was the reason I did so badly.”

Elizabeth felt her anger draining. “Gosh! That’s great, Jess.” Funny, she thought, how things had a way of working out.

“Great? It’s unbelievably fantastic! Isn’t it fantastic, Todd?” Jessica gave him a broad smile.

“Fantastic,” he echoed, with slightly less enthusiasm.

“I’m really happy for you, Jess,” Elizabeth said, hugging her sister back. “And I forgive you—even if you don’t really deserve it.”

“Oh, you know I never mean any of the things I say when I get mad. It’s just my way of letting off steam. Honestly, I never really thought you were jealous about Scott.”

“Scott who?” Todd asked, frowning.

“Nobody, silly,” Elizabeth reassured him, turning back to Jessica with a scowl. “You’d better quit while you’re ahead, or you’re really going to get me in trouble this time.”

Jessica grinned. “My lips are sealed, dear sister.”

“I hope your brain isn’t. Remember, you haven’t passed the test yet. You still have to study.”

“Yes, sir.” Jessica directed a mock salute at her twin.

“I think all this reconciliation calls for a celebration,” put in Todd. “How does a double-decker mocha almond chip at Casey’s sound? My treat.”

“Great!” Elizabeth responded.

“Sounds delicious,” Jessica chimed in enthusiastically. “I’m starved. I’ve hardly eaten anything today. Not to mention last night—”

“Gee, it’s too bad you can’t come with us,” Todd interrupted, feigning disappointment. But Elizabeth noted the mischievous sparkle in his eyes. “But then I know how it is when you’ve got a lot of studying to do. Life is full of sacrifices.”

Elizabeth giggled. “We’ll bring you back something,” she promised. “If it doesn’t melt on the way.”

“Thanks a lot, you two.” Jessica glowered at them. She knew when she’d been out maneuvered.

“Don’t mention it!” Elizabeth sang out over her shoulder as she sailed off on Todd’s arm.