Fourteen
Elizabeth couldn’t remember a time when life had been such a mess. Everything was in a shambles. Her father was chasing around after another woman, and her mother was blind to it. The money-grubbing Fowlers were grabbing the Sweet Valley High Gladiators’ football field away from them just when they had a really terrific team. And who was trying to stop the Fowlers? The Patmans, who were just as bad—a formal English garden! The whole disgusting mess was now in the courts, which only threw her father and that woman lawyer, Marianna West, together even more.
And to top it off, Todd Wilkins had turned out to be practically as bad as Rick Andover. Elizabeth couldn’t stop thinking about it, and every time she did, her stomach turned. How could Todd do such a thing! At the same time, she could never quite picture him doing it. She believed Jessica—after all, why would she lie about such a thing?—but the image simply refused to come.
Elizabeth had never been so miserable, but she supposed it didn’t matter anymore. Jessica was through with Todd—and so was she. Furthermore, Todd was waltzing around Sweet Valley High as though nothing had happened. It was obvious he didn’t even care!
And yet Elizabeth was astounded to notice that Todd was watching her. Every class they had together, she could feel his eyes on her.
When they passed in the corridors, when they bumped into each other in the cafeteria, Todd tried to engage her in conversation as though they were still friends.
“Hey, Liz,” he said after history one morning, “how about getting something to eat after school?”
“I’m busy,” she snapped, ignoring the hurt look on Todd’s face.
In Mr. Russo’s class he slipped her a note: “Meet me in front of the columns after school.”
Elizabeth didn’t bother to keep that appointment.
But he wouldn’t stop pestering her. Every day Todd tried to corner her on the stairs or stop her in the hall. She brushed him off, but it only made her feel worse.
Even when Mr. Collins came over to her desk in the Oracle office and praised her for the story she had done on the football field crisis, she didn’t feel much better.
“That was a really professional job,” Mr. Collins said.
“Thanks.”
“Want to talk about it?” he asked, leaning on the edge of the desk. He had a concerned expression on his face.
Elizabeth managed to smile. “I’m sorry, Mr. Collins. Things haven’t exactly been going my way lately.”
“Do you think you’re up to covering the rest of the football field story for The Oracle?”
“Of course. What’s next?”
“It’s a court case now. You’ll have to go down to the courthouse. Your father is handling it, I know, so you’ll have to be careful to remain objective.”
“I will, Mr. Collins, don’t worry.”
“Try not to jump to any conclusions. And don’t prejudice the case. You can’t be a fair reporter if you do. Remember, you have to have all the facts first.”
“OK.”
“What’s her name—Ms. West—isn’t she in on this, too?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said softly. Oh, isn’t she, though!
“All right. Be in Superior Court at nine-thirty on Tuesday, and good luck.”
* * *
The thought of having to watch her father and “that woman” working together in the courtroom only succeeded in making Elizabeth feel even more miserable. The telephone call the next night from Todd Wilkins did nothing to cheer her up, either.
“Liz?”
“Yes.”
“It’s Todd.”
“What do you want!”
“Liz, something strange is going on.”
“Nothing strange is going to go on between you and me, Todd Wilkins. So just get that straight.”
“Would you mind making sense?” he said angrily.
“Why do you keep bothering us?”
“Us?”
“Jessica and me! Don’t you realize we’re not what you seem to think?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, you know very well!”
“I do not!”
“Well, what do you want with me, Mr. Wilkins?”
“I’ve been trying to get you to meet me so I could tell you something, Miss Wakefield!”
“Oh?”
“I mean, well, I just wanted to tell you that I was wrong about something.”
Elizabeth felt herself listening intently. If only he could explain things, she thought hopefully. If only there was a way to make things right. Even if he said he was sorry for what happened, that might help some.
“What is it, Todd?” she asked, her voice softening.
“Well, see, I just wanted to say that—well, people make mistakes. I know that. People do things without realizing it, and then they’re sorry. And you can’t hold it against them forever! It’s not fair.”
No, Elizabeth thought. That was true.
If Todd apologized for what he tried to do to Jessica, that wouldn’t make it all right, exactly. But it would make her at least stop hating him some.
“I just want to apologize, Liz, for the way I’ve been acting.”
“Well, Todd, it really did surprise me. You have no idea how shocked I was.”
“Well, can you blame me, Liz? I’ve cooled down some now, but it took me a lot to be willing to forgive you.”
Elizabeth’s head spun wildly, trying to make sense of what he was saying.
“Forgive me?”
“But I do,” he said hurriedly. “I forgive you on the condition that you promise not to see that creep again.”
“What creep?”
“Aw, Liz, you know—Rick Andover.”
“You still believe that?”
“Everybody knows it.”
“Didn’t Jessica talk to you?”
“Oh, sure. She’s as loyal as the day is long, Liz. She tried to take the blame for you. It was really wonderful of her. But I want you to know it’s all right. You made a mistake—it’s over. I’m willing to forget about it.”
“You’re willing—?” Elizabeth felt she was going to explode. “Just forget it, Todd.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t do me any favors.”
“Elizabeth, I’m trying to keep my cool. But this is getting to me.”
“Isn’t that too bad.”
“Liz, listen. How about seeing me tonight? Maybe we can talk this out.”
“See you tonight? You have nerve! After what you did! Todd, let’s get this straight once and for all. I never want to speak to you again!”
Elizabeth slammed down the phone and cried for an hour. But at least it was finally, totally, absolutely finished. Forever!