part0011

"I'll get it," Elizabeth yelled as she bounded down the stairs to open the door for Todd. They were going to the movies, and she was anxious to get out of the house and get her mind off Jessica's date.

When she opened the door, her heart stopped. Instead of looking at Todd, she was looking at Ken. For some reason she had thought Jessica was meeting Ken somewhere else. It never occurred to her that he would come to their house. He looked as stunned to see Elizabeth as she was to see him.

"Hi, Elizabeth," Ken practically whispered as he looked down at his feet.

Elizabeth noticed that he was holding his hands behind his back. He brought flowers , she realized sadly. He brought flowers for my sister and not for me .

"Hi, Ken," Elizabeth said. She felt as if she were talking with marbles in her mouth. Until recently they'd been able to talk to each other normally, but tonight she could barely say two words to him.

They just stood there silently, both afraid to be the first one to speak. Ken continued to avoid eye contact with Elizabeth. Look at me , Elizabeth wanted to say. Talk to me about what happened between us. Tell me what your feelings are toward me. Tell me that you're not really interested in Jessica .

"Hi, Ken!" Jessica said excitedly as she practically leaped down the stairs. She threw her arms around Ken's neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Boy, am I glad to see you . You're not going to believe what happened to me today."

Elizabeth kept standing there and watched Ken as his face turned bright red. He's embarrassed by this situation because he remembers what happened between us , Elizabeth thought. That made her feel better somehow. At least he remembered their secret past.

"We should get going," Ken said timidly.

"Are those flowers for me?" Jessica asked as she grabbed the flowers from behind Ken's back. "That was so sweet of you."

Jessica handed the flowers to Elizabeth. "Liz, we're in a hurry. Could you be a doll and put these flowers in water for me?"

Before Elizabeth could answer, Ken and Jessica were in Ken's car, and she was standing there holding a beautiful bouquet of roses that wasn't meant for her. Elizabeth watched as they drove away, leaving her alone in her misery.

"You look great tonight," Todd said to Elizabeth as he nuzzled up to her neck. They were sitting in the Sweet Valley movie theater before the previews had started. "And you smell wonderful, as usual."

He is so sweet, Elizabeth thought. She had thrown on a denim shirt and blue jeans and pulled the front part of her hair back in a barrette, and here he was acting as if she were dressed for the prom. Elizabeth felt a familiar twinge of guilt. He's so good to me and he loves me so much. How can I even think about another guy?

As hard as she tried to concentrate on Todd and to stop thinking about Jessica and Ken, she couldn't help wondering where they were right at that moment and what they were doing. She kept having an image of Jessica in that skimpy white dress, and she wondered if Ken thought she looked sexy. Of course he does , Elizabeth thought. But it doesn't matter anyway, because you're sitting right here with your wonderful boyfriend who adores you , she told herself.

"All week I look forward to Friday night so I can be with you without worrying about getting up early for school the next day," Todd said. "You're what gets me through the week."

Elizabeth gave Todd a big kiss on the lips.

"What was that for?" Todd asked, obviously pleased by Elizabeth's show of affection.

"Because I love you," Elizabeth said. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and for one moment her jealous thoughts were almost gone.

Todd pointed toward the front of the theater. "Look who's here."

Elizabeth looked in the direction where Todd was pointing. She couldn't believe it. Ken and Jessica were sitting down just five rows in front of them.

"Ken was really excited about their date," Todd said. "That's all he was talking about this afternoon. I even went to the florist with him. He spent about twenty minutes choosing the right flowers to bring your sister."

"The movie's about to start," Elizabeth said. She couldn't say anything else. She couldn't even pretend to be excited about Jessica and Ken and their stupid date.

The lights went down and the movie started. Elizabeth wasn't watching the movie. She couldn't take her eyes off her sister and Ken. She watched as Ken put his arm around the back of Jessica's chair. Stop looking at them , she told herself. She just couldn't stop torturing herself. Jessica turned toward Ken in that flirtatious smile Elizabeth knew too well, and whispered something to him. Ken leaned down and gave Jessica a little kiss on the lips.

Elizabeth felt as if a knife were going through her heart. She kept remembering times that she and Ken had gone to movies together. They had sat in the back together and whispered like that to each other, and he had kissed her sweetly when nobody was watching. How can he do the same things with her? Even though Elizabeth knew she had no right to be mad at Ken—she was with Todd, after all—she was furious. She felt betrayed.

Does he like Jessica more than he liked me? Does he like kissing her more? Does he think she's sexier than me? Does he like talking to her better? Elizabeth kept thinking the same thoughts over and over again, and throughout the movie her gaze never left the happy couple sitting just five rows in front of her.

"I loved that movie," Jessica enthused. She was sitting at a booth at Casey's Ice Cream Parlor with Ken, Todd, and Elizabeth. They'd all run into each other in front of the movie theater, and Todd had suggested that they get some ice cream together. So far it had been a great evening. She and Ken had whispered and giggled and held hands during the entire movie.

"I thought that the acting was great," Todd said. "But the plot didn't really hold up. I mean, how realistic is it that that woman would have married the same man in a second life?"

"I think the point is that it's a movie ," Jessica teased. "It's not real life. Now I see why you and Elizabeth get along so well—you're both as serious and practical as the other one."

"How did you like it, Ken?" Todd asked.

"Oh, I liked it a lot," Ken said. "And I really liked all the scenes that took place in the first life of the characters."

"Me too," Jessica said, moving closer to Ken in the booth. She thought Ken seemed a little distracted, but she decided it was probably just because he was still a little nervous. They were on their first date, after all. "Those costumes they were wearing in that ball scene were gorgeous."

"What about you, Elizabeth? What was your favorite scene?" Todd asked.

Elizabeth looked up from her sundae as if she'd been in another galaxy. She'd been acting totally spaced out ever since they'd sat down in the booth. "I'm not sure."

"What planet are you on?" Jessica asked her sister. "You seem really out of it."

"I'm just thinking about the movie," Elizabeth said weakly. "I liked it a lot, but I can't decide which scene was my favorite."

"Hey, kids!" a female voice said from behind Jessica.

Jessica looked up from her banana split and saw Heather looking down at her. She was standing by their booth, surrounded by about four or five guys who were practically drooling all over her.

"How are you, Jessica?" Heather asked in her supersweet voice. "That's a serious banana split you're eating. I can't imagine what the fat count for that would be."

Jessica remembered how rude Heather had been that first day about the fettuccine she was eating. It had been all Jessica could do not to pick up her plate and throw it into Heather's face, but tonight she was having such a good time with Ken that not even Heather could bother her.

"Would you like a bite? It's delicious," Jessica said, delicately taking a bite of whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, and butterscotch sauce.

"No, thanks, but I would like a bite of Ken's hot-fudge sundae," Heather said, smiling flirtatiously at Ken.

Jessica looked at Ken, who was smiling back at Heather. She watched in horror as Heather leaned over their table and opened her mouth while Ken fed her a bite of his sundae.

"Thanks, that was yummy," Heather said, licking her lips. "It's amazing that you're able to stay in such great shape and eat sweets like that, Ken."

"I'll just have to jog an extra mile or two tomorrow," Ken said.

"Are you a jogger?" Heather asked.

"Yeah, I jog every day," Ken said.

"So do I," Heather said, as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. "I've been looking for someone to jog with. Maybe we could start jogging together. Why don't you give me a call?"

"Sure thing," Ken said.

Jessica's blood was boiling. The nerve of that awful girl flirting with my date right in front of me , Jessica thought as she watched Heather slink away. She's got another thing coming if she thinks she can make a move on my guy!

Jessica looked at Elizabeth, who looked as upset about Heather's little flirtation as she was. That's a loyal sister , Jessica thought lovingly. She's protective of me and my date. I'm lucky to have her on my side .

"I wouldn't worry about Heather," Ken said. He and Jessica were sitting in his car in front of the Wakefields' house after they'd left Casey's. Jessica had just finished telling him about how Heather was going to be the new cocaptain. "You're a fantastic cheerleading captain, and there's no way she could possibly compete with you."

"Do you really think so?"

"Absolutely," Ken said, looking deeply into Jessica's eyes.

"She is really pretty," Jessica said, trying to see what Ken's reaction would be. She was still a little jealous about the way Heather had been flirting with him at the Dairi Burger.

"You're the one who's really pretty, and in fact, you're looking exceptionally beautiful tonight," Ken said as he took a strand of Jessica's hair in his fingers and twirled it around. "You really take my breath away."

"So you don't think you'll be calling her like she asked you to?" Jessica asked, trying to sound as if it were an innocent question.

"No way," Ken said. "Why would I ever want to call her? I'd rather call you any day."

"I had a great time with you tonight," Jessica said.

"I'm glad to hear that. I was worried there for a minute. You were almost as quiet as my sister was at Casey's."

"I guess I just wanted to be alone with you," Ken said.

Jessica was dying for him to kiss her. At Casey's she couldn't wait to get away from her sister and Todd so she could be alone with Ken. I can tell he really likes me, and I know he would never hurt me the way Jeremy did , she thought as he leaned toward her. He's too nice a guy to do that. Elizabeth was wrong to warn me about going slowly with my feelings .

"I feel really comfortable with you, Ken," Jessica said. "And I've been wanting to tell you how much your friendship meant to me when I was going through that hard time recently."

"I hope you think of me as more than just a friend," Ken said.

"I think that's pretty obvious," Jessica said. She put her face close to his and closed her eyes. Ken kissed her so tenderly that Jessica felt as if she never wanted the kiss to end.

"Excuse me, but I believe this dress has J-E-S-S-I-C-A written all over it," Jessica said as she walked out of the fitting room at Bibi's. "This is exactly what I want to wear to Amy's going-away party for Robin tonight."

"You're not seriously thinking of buying a new dress just for one party, are you?" Elizabeth asked. "That's pretty indulgent, if you ask me."

It was Saturday afternoon, and the twins were spending the day at the mall. Elizabeth had been in a bad mood all day. Last night had been a nightmare. It was pure torture sitting with Ken and Jessica on their date. She could tell that Ken was as uncomfortable as she was. He wouldn't look at her the entire time they were sitting in the booth at Casey's. And it was torture to watch her sister flirting with Ken right in front of her.

She didn't want to spend the day with her sister, but Jessica had insisted she go to the mall with her. Every time Jessica would start talking about Ken, Elizabeth tried to change the subject.

"First of all, it's not like I'm only going to wear it tonight and never again," Jessica said as she posed in front of the mirror to see what it looked like from all different angles. "And besides, I'm really buying it to look good for Ken tonight."

"It makes you look fat," Elizabeth blurted out.

Jessica looked mortified. "Are you saying I've gained weight?" She scrutinized herself in the mirror. "I have been eating a lot of banana splits at the Dairi Burger and Casey's recently."

"No, I just think that dress isn't very flattering on you," Elizabeth said. The truth was that the dress looked fabulous on Jessica—a little too fabulous. She didn't want Jessica to look so good for Ken. It was totally out of character for Elizabeth to lie to her sister like that, but she couldn't help it.

"That dress fits you like a glove," the salesgirl said as she passed Jessica.

"Really?" Jessica asked excitedly. "My sister thinks it makes me look fat. What do you think?"

"I think your sister needs glasses," the salesgirl said. "You're as skinny as a rail."

"That settles it," Jessica said. "I'm going to take it."

"I didn't realize Ken was taking you to the party," Elizabeth said as she followed Jessica into the changing room. "Did he actually call and invite you to go together?" Elizabeth was pretty sure he hadn't called, but she couldn't resist placing a little doubt in Jessica's mind.

"No, he didn't," Jessica said. "But I know he'll be at the party, and I'm sure we'll be there as a couple."

"Hmmm," Elizabeth said, trying to sound doubtful.

"What?" Jessica asked, obviously worried.

"It's nothing," Elizabeth said, making a face that implied the exact opposite.

"Come on, Liz," Jessica pleaded. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I just think it's odd that Ken wouldn't have invited you as his date to the party," Elizabeth said. "I mean, the party is for one of your best friends, and if you're really starting to be a couple, I don't know why he wouldn't want to take you out in public."

Jessica scrunched up her face as if she were concentrating on a really difficult math problem. "I never thought of that. I know he really likes me a lot, though, so I don't think I have anything to worry about."

"You're probably right," Elizabeth said. "But I'd be careful if I were you. Heather Mallone sure looks like she's trying to get her claws in him."

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, she was falling all over him at Casey's last night," Elizabeth said, hating herself for making her sister worry. "She seems like someone who usually gets what she wants. She certainly succeeded in becoming your cocaptain."

"I'm not afraid of her. I can handle Heather," Jessica declared as she walked out of the dressing room with the dress in hand. "Ken even said to me that he didn't think she was pretty."

"I guess he would tell you that," Elizabeth said. "I mean, he wouldn't come right out and tell you if he liked her, I guess. Did you ever think he might just have said that because he knew that's what you'd want to hear?"

"I suppose so," Jessica said, handing the dress to the salesgirl at the counter. "Liz, why are you trying to make me paranoid about Ken?"

"I just don't want you to get hurt," Elizabeth said.

"I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself," Jessica said. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

That's what I'm worried about , Elizabeth thought. Things with Ken might be a little too good .