Dangerous Love Read online

  “Hey, you lovebirds,” she called out, “as long as I’ve got you together, I might as well give you these.”

  “What are they?” Todd asked, taking one of the envelopes Enid held out as Elizabeth did the same.

  Enid giggled. “Open them.”

  Inside were the elegantly engraved invitations to her party, including separate RSVP cards. “Hey, pretty fancy. What are these made of, silk?” Todd asked.

  “No, they’re paper. But they cost about as much as silk. Big waste of hard-earned money, if you ask me.”

  “Your mom thinks you’re worth it,” Elizabeth said. “And so do I.”

  “Thanks, Liz. I feel the same way about you,” Enid said, blushing. She cherished their friendship deeply and was glad to hear Elizabeth admit it, too. “So how about it, guys,” she said lightly, switching to less personal matters. “You coming to the party?”

  “Of course,” Todd said. “Want my RSVP now?”

  “You’re good for it,” Enid said with a wink.

  “It’s going to be a busy day for me,” Todd continued. “My grandfather’s having a birthday party the same day. But fortunately his party’s in the afternoon, so I can make it to both.”

  “Well, I’m glad you can,” Enid said sincerely and smiled.

  “Hey, how’d you like a little prebirthday present, Enid?” he asked.

  “Such as?”

  “How about a ride?” he asked motioning toward the motorcycle parked behind him.

  “You mean it?” she asked.

  “A quickie. Just around the block.”

  “Great!” she shouted. “Liz, mind holding these?” She handed Elizabeth her books and her bag before hopping on the back of the bike.

  As Elizabeth balanced the books in her arms, she heard Todd say, “Now, you can hold on to those arm rails, but I think you’ll be more comfortable if you wrap your arms around my waist.” And suddenly that same jealous feeling Elizabeth had experienced the day before came rushing over her.

  A second later Enid and Todd were off, shooting down the street like a miniature space shuttle.

  Elizabeth crooked her head in the opposite direction, looking for signs of the school bus. She wished it would hurry and get there and carry her away from this spot and the whole horrible situation. Every shift of gears on Todd’s bike sent a surge of confusion and anguish through her. It’s not fair, she cried to herself. Why can’t I accept the sight of another girl on Todd’s bike?

  Less than two minutes later the bright yellow school bus edged up to her corner. But the relief she expected to feel at its arrival was tempered by the fact that Todd had not yet returned with Enid. What was taking them so long? She hesitated before stepping onto the bus, uneasy about leaving without Enid. But then she realized that when the two of them returned and saw she was gone, they would figure out what had happened.

  For the second day in a row, her friends would see the backseat of Todd’s bike occupied by another girl. The thought made the french toast she’d had for breakfast sit even more heavily in her stomach.

  Blinking back tears, she found a seat on the bus and rode to school alone.

  Five

  Elizabeth didn’t know how much longer she could take it. It was only Todd’s second day on the bike, and already she was imagining that every girl he rode with was a candidate to take her place. Even Enid, the last person in the world who’d ever want to steal Todd, seemed a threat.

  The tension she’d felt at the bus stop had remained with Elizabeth through her stiff encounter with Enid at her locker. Enid had run up to her, her hair flattened by the helmet, her cheeks flushed with excitement. It was clear to Elizabeth that her friend had enjoyed herself—and she was in no mood to hear about it. Silently she’d handed Enid her books and run off. She hadn’t meant to be so abrupt, but she couldn’t help it. She only hoped that Enid would understand and wouldn’t be offended.

  Elizabeth continued to be preoccupied through all of chemistry, where she tried unsuccessfully to focus on Mr. Russo’s lecture on oxidation, and then through Ms. Dalton’s discussion of the verb savoir in French class.

  She was happy when the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Next was a study period, and today that meant work on her newspaper column. Perhaps it would help take her mind off Todd. In a kind of daze she threaded her way through the crowded halls toward the newspaper office. Had she turned her head just the slightest bit or stopped to say hello to a friend, she might not have looked through the big glass doors of the library and seen what she did. She wouldn’t have seen Todd sitting at a table—with Mandy Farmer snuggled up beside him, her arms resting on his shoulder as they pored over a book.

  At that moment Elizabeth wished she were Jessica. Her sister would have taken in the scene and strode through the doors with a grin, given Todd a kiss, and breezily asked how things were going in the whale-saving game.

  And everyone in the room would have looked at them, and Mandy Farmer would have thought twice about sitting so close to Todd.

  But Elizabeth wasn’t Jessica, and instead of going into the library, she continued down the hall, trying to pretend that what she had seen didn’t matter.

  The Oracle office was empty except for Mr. Collins, faculty adviser of the paper, and one of Sweet Valley High’s favorite teachers. Elizabeth smiled back as he looked up from the layouts he was examining and flashed her a welcoming grin. She thought the strawberry-blond teacher looked especially handsome in the blue crewneck sweater he wore with jeans and a tweed jacket. It wasn’t hard to see why practically every girl in school had had a crush on him at one time or another.

  “In to work on your column?” he asked.

  “I’m going to write it now,” Elizabeth said, taking a seat behind one of the ancient typewriters. Trying to look as carefree as possible, she tossed her golden ponytail to one side, rolled a piece of paper into the machine, and typed out “Eyes and Ears.”

  But nothing else came out. All she could think about was Todd—and that empty space on the back of his motorcycle.

  Elizabeth didn’t even know how long she’d been staring at the blank piece of paper when Mr. Collins came up behind her and rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Got a case of writer’s block?”

  She looked up at his concerned face. “I wish that were all,” she said glumly.

  Roger Collins pulled up a chair. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  It was funny, Elizabeth thought. Mr. Collins was always around when she needed him. “I think I’d better, before the white coats come and take me away,” she quipped. She pulled the paper out of the typewriter, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it toward the wastepaper basket halfway across the room. She missed.

  “Come on, Liz,” he said. “Whatever it is can’t be that bad.”

  She shrugged. “In a way, nothing’s wrong. But in another way, everything’s wrong.”

  “The classic paradox,” Mr. Collins mused, resting his hand on his chin. “I’m not sure I know what yours is about, but I’d be more than happy to listen if you want to explain it to me.”

  As if a dam had burst, the words began to rush from Elizabeth’s mouth. She told Mr. Collins about Todd, the bike, and her inability to share it with him. She admitted her fear that Todd would lose interest in her because of it—and be attracted to someone who was as fond of two wheels as he was.

  “Let me ask you a question,” Mr. Collins said after she had finished. “Todd’s a basketball player, right?”

  Elizabeth nodded.

  “Do you think he’s interested in dating anyone on the girls’ basketball team?”

  Elizabeth shook her head.

  “And do you want to go out with every boy who shares your love of literature?”

  “Of course not.”

  “But you feel he might be interested in Mandy or Enid because they enjoyed riding with him on his bike?”

  “No, not when you put it that way,” Elizabeth said, grinning slightly. “No, I guess not.�
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  “Do you think it’s wrong for them to ride with Todd?”

  “No, I’m sure it’s a lot of fun for them,” she said. “But you see, Mr. Collins, that’s what’s getting to me. I know there’s nothing wrong with what they’re doing. Yet it’s got me upset anyway. And I hate feeling this way.”

  Mr. Collins grew silent, his blue eyes watching her in a way that was friendly and reassuring.

  “Well?” she asked softly. “Am I going nuts or what?”

  “Not at all. Matter of fact, I think your reactions prove you’re a normal, healthy girl.”

  That wasn’t the answer Elizabeth expected. “That’s terrific,” she said, throwing her hands in the air in frustration. “I can’t make sense out of what’s going on in my life, and you tell me there’s nothing wrong.”

  “I didn’t say everything was rosy. All I meant was that it’s normal to have feelings of envy, jealousy, or even hatred. Every sensitive person I know has those feelings. And everyone’s got to find out how to handle them. Believe me, Liz, you’re not alone. Everyone has to deal with similar emotions at some time or other.” He paused to let the words sink in.

  Elizabeth didn’t have to ask what he was talking about. She was well aware of the divorce Mr. Collins had gone through and how his encounters with his ex-wife regarding their son often left him emotionally drained. But he always managed to present a cheerful and sympathetic face to his students. Elizabeth decided to take her cue from him.

  “So what do I do now, coach?” she joked.

  “The important thing is not to deny your emotions. I’m sure you’ll work everything out in time. You’ve got a firm grip on your values and a deep faith in yourself. Take it from me, those things will pull you through. But let me ask you—have you spoken to Todd about this?”

  “Not about Mandy and the rides.”

  “Don’t sell him short. I know Todd cares about you and wouldn’t consciously do anything to hurt you. Maybe a talk with him is all you need to be yourself again.”

  Elizabeth conceded he might have a point. Todd had, after all, understood her reasons for not riding with him. “Thanks, Mr. Collins. I think you’ve helped me with my writer’s block.”

  “Good,” he said, winking, “because I want to see that gossip column by the end of the period. I’m dying to know what’s going on around here.”

  With the burden lifted from her mind, Elizabeth tore into the column, leading off with the story of Todd’s heroics in the Dairi Burger parking lot. She wrote another paragraph on the scene at the reopening, adding a brief line advising her readers to see how their first hot clam special went down before having seconds.

  “Thanks again,” she said, handing Mr. Collins her column. With people like him on her side, she felt she might get all the support she needed to help her sort out her feelings.

  * * *

  Elizabeth arrived at the cafeteria early. She had already gone through the line and claimed a table on the outdoor patio by the time Enid came around, her plate piled high with the day’s main selection: rubbery-looking macaroni and cheese. She sat down across from Elizabeth, who had a faraway look on her face as she munched on a carrot stick.

  “Everything OK?” Enid asked, concerned.

  Elizabeth chewed and nodded.

  Enid wasn’t convinced. “Hey,” she persisted, “you’re not mad at me for riding with Todd, are you?”

  “Of course not,” Elizabeth replied.

  “Are you sure?” Enid probed. “I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but this morning at the lockers you had icicles in your eyes. For a moment there I thought you were Jessica.”

  “I’m sorry, Enid. I didn’t mean it,” Elizabeth said sincerely. “I guess I was a little upset. But not really with you.”

  “I didn’t think you’d mind. I’d never been on a motorcycle before, and I thought it’d be fun. It was just supposed to be a little ride. But then when I missed the bus and all—”

  “Forget it, Enid,” Elizabeth interrupted her. “No apology’s necessary. Really. I’m glad you had a good time.”

  “I’d never know it to look at you.”

  “Don’t mind me. I’m going through a rough time.”

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “Maybe later,” Elizabeth hedged.

  A little embarrassed to look her friend in the eye, Elizabeth let her gaze wander. She spotted Jessica and Lila crossing the patio with their trays and suddenly remembered her sister’s request about Brian. Jessica hadn’t been too thrilled to learn she hadn’t yet broached the subject with Enid. Elizabeth figured now was as good a time as any to ask about Brian. She was afraid that if she waited too long, Jessica might decide to take matters into her hands—and who knew what would happen then!

  “Listen, Enid, I have a favor to ask.”

  “Sure, what is it?”

  “Could you fix Brian up with Jessica at your party?” The words came out in a jumbled rush.

  Enid chewed for the longest time before answering. “Liz, you know you’re my best friend in the whole world,” she stated, “but the answer is no.”

  “Why not?” Elizabeth asked, knowing full well why not, but hoping to convince Enid otherwise. After all, Brian would probably have a great time with her sister. What guy wouldn’t?

  “If it were anyone else, I’d say yes in an instant. But Jessica hurt me very deeply, Liz. I don’t have to tell you. I still haven’t forgiven her for it, especially since she’s made it clear that I’m nothing more to her than a nuisance who hangs out with her sister.”

  “But, Enid,” Elizabeth persisted, “you haven’t even thought about Ronnie for months. And you and George are very happy now.”

  “That’s not the point,” Enid insisted. “Jessica never once said she was sorry. Why should I do her a favor? Besides, I thought she was interested in Danny Stauffer. Didn’t you tell me he drove her to the Dairi Burger yesterday?”

  “I don’t think she takes him seriously,” Elizabeth said.

  “Then she doesn’t need to play around with my cousin either. Sorry, Liz, the answer is still no.”

  Elizabeth was about to make one final pitch for Jessica when Todd rushed over and planted a hasty kiss on the top of her head.

  “How are you doing, Todd?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Frankly I’m a bit crazed,” he said, catching his breath. “I just came over here to grab some food and let you know I can’t meet you after lunch like I promised.”

  “The project?”

  “What else?” He shrugged. “I’m really sorry, but Mandy’s waiting for me in the library. She’s probably neck deep in newspapers—which is where I should be. See you all later.”

  Enid watched as Todd walked away, his long legs taking him quickly across the spacious lawn to the main building. When she turned back, she noticed that Elizabeth looked upset.

  “Hey, earth to Liz.” Enid snapped her fingers in front of her friend, who’d taken on a faraway look again. “Anyone home?”

  “Sorry, Enid.”

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were jealous. I saw the way you tensed up when Todd mentioned Mandy. Liz, it’s only a school project.”

  Elizabeth sighed deeply. “It’s the bike, Enid. Todd’s motorcycle. It’s really gotten to me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Now that Elizabeth had begun to talk about it, she was glad; she could use a sympathetic ear. “For starters, Enid, it’s made me envious. Do you know why I was edgy with you when I gave you back your books this morning? I was jealous of you.”

  “Of me?” Enid’s eyes grew wide. “Why?”

  “Because you were sharing Todd in a way I never will,” Elizabeth admitted.

  “I knew something was going on. I’m sorry, Liz. If I’d known—”

  Elizabeth stopped her. “You didn’t do anything. Don’t you see? I’m the one who’s mixed up. I’m letting this bike come between Todd and me. A stupid piece of machinery—and it’s causing m
e more grief than a busload of girls ever could.”

  Six

  Guy Chesney caught up with Elizabeth by her locker after school. “Hey, Liz, how’s my favorite newspaper reporter?”

  Elizabeth looked into the friendly brown eyes of The Droids’ keyboardist. “Fine,” she said, giving him a smile.

  “I just saw Todd, and he told me you’re not riding with him. Thought you might like a lift to the Dairi Burger.”

  “Thanks, Guy. It sure beats taking the bus,” Elizabeth replied.

  Guy’s grin brought out the dimple in his left cheek. “This way, my dear,” he said, taking her by the arm and leading her down the nearly empty hall. “Here, let me take those,” he added, gesturing toward the books resting in her other arm.

  “That’s all right, I can handle them,” she said, declining the offer. “So how are things with The Droids?”

  “Fine. I’ve been writing up a bunch of new songs, and if you ask me, I think Dana’s voice is getting better and better.”

  “I’m glad you guys didn’t decide to break up after the fiasco you had with that manager.”

  “As Max said, it just wasn’t meant to be,” Guy said philosophically, referring to the band’s failed first attempt at stardom.

  “That doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen,” Elizabeth countered. “It’s just going to take a little more time.”

  “By the way,” Guy interjected. “I never really thanked you for the help you gave us, writing all those articles in The Oracle about us and everything.”

  “It was my pleasure,” Elizabeth told him. “I wish I could have helped you more.”

  “That’s all right. At least the experience proved that we aren’t ready for the big time yet. But we will be one day soon, I’m sure of it.”

  They arrived at Guy’s car, a late-model station wagon, its back filled with musical equipment. “You take your keyboards everyplace you go?” Elizabeth asked after Guy opened the passenger door for her.