The Perfect Girl (Sweet Valley High Book 74) Read online

  It obviously didn't. Lois showed him something written in her notebook, and they both laughed. To all who saw them, they were the perfect picture of a couple in love.

  Robin let her eyes wander and saw Enid Rollins come into the cafeteria. Enid was a very sweet girl, but Robin had never felt comfortable around her. Spending time with Enid always reminded Robin of the way George had deceived her.

  And he could be doing the same thing to me right now, she thought unhappily.

  History repeated itself. That was a fact of life. All of the pressures that Robin had dealt with in the last year could resurface in an instant.

  "I'll see you later." Robin left Elizabeth sitting at the table and hurried out of the cafeteria.

  When she was in the hall, she stopped. Her head was swimming. She didn't know if she was just tired or confused. Robin grabbed a door handle to steady herself until the wash of darkness cleared away from her eyes. She felt cold and then hot and then cold again.

  A tingle of fear raced up her spine.

  This is crazy, she told herself.

  She concentrated on putting one foot ahead of the other, and slowly she walked down the corridor to the girls' locker room. Robin went over to the scale and weighed herself. She had lost a few more pounds.

  In fact, a few more than she had planned to lose. She caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her clothes hung on her like limp rags, and her face was gaunt and pale.

  Robin let her breath out slowly and sat down on a bench.

  "Get a grip," she said out loud.

  Robin had to take several more deep breaths before she felt strong enough to stand up, but it was difficult to get enough air. There was a deep ache in her chest. Robin fought down a feeling of panic. She had to take charge of the situation. Her diet was as out of control as the rest of her life. There was no use in pretending any longer that there was nothing wrong. It was time to eat something.

  Robin made her way back to the cafeteria. She stood on line and breathed shallowly through her mouth. The steaming basins of food behind the counter made her feel sick. Huge mounds of baked ziti in tomato sauce, heaps of peas and corn, row upon row of hamburgers, quivering dishes of Jell-O. It was horrible to look at.

  "Can I have a small dish of corn?" Robin said hoarsely to the server.

  "That's all?"

  Robin pressed her lips together. "And a hamburger."

  She watched, mesmerized, while the server spooned the corn onto a plate and plopped a steaming hamburger into a bun.

  I can't eat that, Robin realized frantically.

  She took the plate like a zombie and walked to the cash register. She couldn't even look at the food she was buying, but she knew that somehow she had to make herself eat it.

  "Are you all right?" the cashier asked, giving Robin a suspicious look.

  "I'm—I'm just tired." Robin fumbled with her purse, paid, and hurried away.

  Across the cafeteria she saw her fellow cheerleaders sitting around a crowded, noisy table. There was no way she could sit with them while she ate. Lately eating had become an intensely private, personal act. She could not bear the thought of anyone seeing her eat, of anyone talking to her about food, of anyone asking her why she was eating so little.

  Feeling like some sort of fugitive, Robin slipped into a chair at an empty table by the wall and put her tray down. The hamburger squatted like a toad in front of her. As she looked at it a wave of nausea rose up in her throat. Robin could feel her body start to tremble.

  I have to eat it. Robin closed her eyes and picked up the hamburger. The feel of the bun on her fingertips was strange.

  She couldn't put it in her mouth. She just couldn't eat it. She pushed her chair back, stumbled blindly across the cafeteria, and ran out to the girls' bathroom.

  She stopped before a sink and gripped it tightly. Her breath was coming in short, ragged gasps, and her ears were buzzing. She didn't know what was happening to her, but she tried desperately to control her fear. Gradually she fought back the nausea and began to breathe more easily. She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them, she stared at her reflection. What she saw was a stranger.

  Robin turned on the faucet and splashed some water on her face. The cool water made her feel more alert. She cupped some water in her hand, raised it to her face, and rinsed the sour taste from her mouth. Then she wiped her chin with the back of her hand. Her color was not coming back.

  Robin knew that in spite of all her efforts in the past few weeks to take control of her life, everything had gone haywire. While she was trying her hardest to control the forces around her, they were controlling her. Lately Robin had been feeling as if she were chasing something that, in spite of her best efforts, was always just out of reach. Was it love? Robin put her hands to her head. George would fall in love with Vicky. And there was nothing she could do to stop it.

  A part of Robin knew that she was making herself sick. And that was just one more reason for George to want out of their relationship. If Robin couldn't do a simple thing like dieting without messing up, she certainly couldn't do anything as complex as survive a long-distance relationship.

  Well, if George really didn't want her, there was no point in keeping to the diet. But what had just happened in the cafeteria had terrified her. Just sitting with a hamburger in her hands had been enough to bring on an anxiety attack.

  Robin tried to pull herself together. Maybe she ought to go to the nurse. If she told the nurse how sick she felt, maybe she could just go home. The plan gave Robin enough confidence to go back out into the hall.

  "Robin!"

  Robin flinched and stopped.

  Elizabeth hurried up behind her. "I've been looking for you," she said in a low voice. She stepped in front of Robin and looked closely at her face. "Are you feeling OK? You look terrible. You're so white!"

  "I'm just tired," Robin whispered.

  "I'm taking you to the nurse's office," Elizabeth said, taking Robin's arm.

  "No!" Suddenly Robin didn't like the idea at all. She shook her head vehemently. "I'm really OK, Liz. I'm just—"

  Robin broke off as a flood of tears threatened to overcome her. She wanted so badly to tell someone how frightened she was. But how could she? It was too awful to admit that she was afraid her boyfriend was cheating on her. And it was too embarrassing to admit that she was afraid her diet had gotten way out of control. Elizabeth was a very sympathetic person, but Robin just couldn't talk about her problems with anyone. How could she when she herself didn't even understand what was happening to her? Her life was shattering into a hundred different pieces.

  "Just what?" Elizabeth asked, still holding Robin's arm.

  "It's the Super Sundae," Robin explained finally. "It's happening this weekend, and there's still so much to get organized. I'm under a lot of pressure, that's all."

  "Really?"

  Robin kept her smile fixed in place. "Really. This afternoon the cheerleaders are going to City Hall to have a picture taken with Mayor Santelli for The Sweet Valley News. I guess I'm pretty nervous about it."

  Elizabeth released Robin's arm. She looked very uneasy. "OK. I'm just worried about you, Robin. You look as if you've lost too much weight."

  "Pressure. That's all it is."

  It was all Robin could do to convince Elizabeth that she was fine. The effort was exhausting her. As soon as Elizabeth walked away Robin stepped back into the girls' room. She had to sit down again and pull herself together. Her world was quickly coming apart at the seams.

  Jessica ran up the steps of City Hall with Cara, Maria, and Amy close behind. The other cheerleaders followed.

  Jessica pushed open the big double doors, and the girls filed into the cavernous marble lobby. "This is what I call a photo opportunity! How do I look, Cara?"

  Cara grinned. "You look like a Miss America contestant. Any minute now, I bet you'll break into a baton twirling routine."

  "Ha, ha." Jessica smiled sweetly. "You're wearing your uniform, t
oo. So is everyone else."

  "Look, here comes the photographer," Sandy whispered.

  Jessica looked toward the door. A young man dressed in funky clothes and draped all over with camera equipment was walking toward them.

  "Are you from The Sweet Valley News!" Jessica asked.

  He grinned. "Right. And let me guess. You're the cheerleaders."

  "You're so perceptive." Jessica flashed him a flirtatious smile. The guy might have looked a little disheveled, but he was cute. "And I bet you take good pictures, too."

  "Pretty good," he agreed as he shifted his equipment from one shoulder to the other.

  Jessica stepped closer. "Do you think I might be photogenic? I mean, in your professional opinion?"

  "Probably." The photographer winked. "I'll meet you upstairs," he said and walked off.

  "What was all that about?" Amy demanded.

  Jessica smiled. "You never know. If you want to be a model, you have to have professional pictures. You know, a portfolio. And that's expensive."

  "Who said anything about you being a model?" Amy rolled her eyes.

  "Just a thought." Jessica smiled as if she were in possession of some fabulous secret plan. "Come on, let's get going!"

  "We take this elevator," Maria announced, pointing to the left.

  Jessica looked with envy at Maria. Jessica wished her father had stayed in the race for the mayor's seat. When the mayoral campaign had first gotten under way, Mr. Wakefield had been one of Mr. Santelli's legal advisors. Then a series of malicious rumors forced Mr. Santelli to drop out of the race. Jessica's father had decided to run in his place, but when he discovered that Mr. Santelli had been framed, Mr. Wakefield stepped down so Maria's father could run again. Now Maria was the mayor's daughter, and her picture was often in the paper. It would have been so much fun, Jessica thought wistfully, to be Jessica Wakefield, Mayor Wakefield's daughter.

  But she'd be on the front page of tomorrow's morning paper, and that would be a thrill. She knew that one of these days she would make her mark. Just how she was going to make it wasn't so clear yet. But having some professional photographs taken would be a good first step. From there, anything could happen.

  "Hey. Where's Robin?" Annie asked.

  "She said she was meeting us here, didn't she?" Sandy looked around the lobby but Robin wasn't there.

  Maria looked anxious. "My dad only has a few minutes to spare. He's pretty busy."

  Jessica felt irritated. Robin was late, and that would mess up a perfect opportunity for free publicity.

  "We'll take the picture without Robin, if we have to," Jessica said firmly. "It's just tough luck for her if she misses it."

  "That's not fair," Annie said. "The Super Sundae was Robin's idea."

  Jessica glared at Annie. "It was everybody's idea."

  "Come on, let's just go up," Maria urged.

  Annie folded her arms stubbornly. "No. We have to wait for—"

  "Here she comes," Jean said excitedly.

  All eyes turned to the door. Robin saw the cheerleaders by the elevator. "Sorry," she gasped as she came up to them. "I forgot what time we were supposed to be here."

  "Forget it," Jessica said sharply. She gave Robin a critical look. Her cocaptain's cheerleading uniform looked about three sizes too large for her. "Where did you get that uniform, anyway?"

  Robin blushed. "This is my regular uniform." She folded her arms across her chest as though trying to hide or protect herself.

  Jessica met Robin's eyes and felt a strange twisting sensation in her stomach. Robin looked terrible. Part of Jessica was angry that their group photo with the mayor would look lousy because of Robin. But another part of her was really worried. Robin looked as if she were going to drop dead from exhaustion at any moment.

  "Robin—" she began.

  "Let's just get going." Robin sounded faint and breathless.

  The cheerleaders were silent for a moment. Then Maria cleared her throat. "Well, let's go upstairs."

  Robin nodded as the elevator doors slid open. "Right. I'll be glad when this whole thing is over with," she muttered.

  Jessica bit her lip. She wasn't really sure what Robin had meant by that last statement. But suddenly she had a feeling there was more than just the Super Sundae on Robin's mind.

  Ten

  After lunch on Sunday, Elizabeth hunted through the piles of books and papers on her desk until she found a small reporter's notebook. "I'm ready!" she called out, slinging her camera over her shoulder.

  "I'm not!" Jessica called back.

  Elizabeth went to the door of the bathroom that connected their rooms. Jessica was experimenting with hairstyles and was making a ponytail on top of her head.

  "That looks really dumb," Elizabeth teased.

  Jessica shot her a sour look. "Thanks. That's very supportive of you, Liz."

  Elizabeth laughed and reached out to tousle her twin's hair. "It looks great the way you always wear it. Come on. We don't want to be late."

  The smile on Jessica's face made Elizabeth laugh again. Jessica always did want to be late in order to make a more dramatic entrance.

  "Oh, all right." Jessica ran her lip gloss once more around her mouth, blew her reflection a kiss, and then followed Elizabeth downstairs.

  "Have fun," Mrs. Wakefield said. "You've got a perfect day for the Super Sundae. We'll be over later to get our ice cream."

  Elizabeth and Jessica waved and ran out to the car. On the way to the school football field Jessica chattered on and on about what she would say to the reporters. Elizabeth listened absently. She was thinking about the story she would write about the Super Sundae for The Oracle.

  "Everyone's here already," Jessica said as she parked the Fiat.

  Elizabeth could see the other cheerleaders and several other students already gathered out on the field. She hitched her camera and her bag over her shoulder and hurried out to join them.

  "We've got all the pools ready," Sandy announced when the twins were within earshot. "We arranged them in a pyramid, just the way we planned."

  Elizabeth took the lens cap off her camera and started to shoot. Jessica put her hands on her hips and looked around. "There aren't any reporters here yet. I thought there would be a TV crew."

  "They'll be here soon, "Jean assured her from where she was arranging stacks of napkins, spoons, and bowls on a big table. Annie was busy decorating another table with streamers and balloons.

  Elizabeth wandered around to watch and take pictures of the preparations. A third table was loaded with extra-large-size containers of chocolate syrup, marshmallow sauce, cherries, and whipped topping. Around her, members of the school board, the principal, and the gym teachers were talking excitedly.

  "Mr. Cooper?" Elizabeth said. "Could I get a statement from you about the Super Sundae event?"

  Chrome Dome Cooper gave her a proud smile. "Well, Elizabeth, I can honestly say that this varsity cheerleading squad has been one of the most creative, energetic, and school-spirited squads Sweet Valley High has had in a long time. I—" He broke off suddenly.

  Elizabeth turned to see what had caught his attention. A TV crew had just parked its van at the edge of the football field. Mr. Cooper was watching eagerly.

  "And I think it's a wonderful event. Excuse me, Elizabeth."

  Elizabeth smiled wryly as Mr. Cooper rushed away to meet the TV crew. Everyone wanted to be in the spotlight! Jessica was zeroing in on the reporters as fast as Chrome Dome!

  "You lost your story?"

  Elizabeth turned around and smiled up into Todd's eyes. "Hey, I was wondering when you'd get here."

  "I guess school papers just aren't as glamorous as TV news, right?" Todd laughed and kissed her. "You can interview me, if you want."

  "Mr. Wilkins, can I have a statement from you about this Super Sundae?" Elizabeth asked, her pencil poised over her notebook.

  Todd stood up very straight and cleared his throat. "I would just like to say how very, very proud we all are—
" Todd spoke in a perfect imitation of Mr. Cooper. Then he spoiled the effect by bursting into laughter.

  "Yeah, yeah." Elizabeth stood on her toes and kissed him.

  "Here come Maria and her father," Annie said as she passed Elizabeth and Todd.

  Elizabeth looked around at the growing crowd. "I wonder why Robin isn't here yet?"

  "I hope she's OK," Annie said quietly, turning around.

  Their eyes met. "I'm sure she is," Elizabeth said. She just hoped she was right.

  Robin woke up from a heavy sleep. She rolled over groggily to look at her bedside clock, and a jolt of surprise went through her. It was after twelve-thirty! The ice cream was scheduled to arrive at the school at one o'clock.

  "Mom?" Robin's voice was weak and faint.

  With difficulty, Robin raised herself on one elbow. Her head felt two sizes too big, and her chest hurt. Drawing each breath was painful. "Mom?"

  She pulled herself up in the bed. The house seemed to be empty. Then she remembered that her mother was taking the boys to a cookout today. Robin knew her alarm must have gone off, but she had obviously slept right through it. Now she was late for the Super Sundae she had worked so hard to organize.

  Standing up brought on a wave of dizziness. Robin hung onto the back of her desk chair and tried to pull herself together. She could see that it was a clear, sunny day, but she felt cold. A violent chill shook her whole body, and her ears began to ring.

  "Ohhh," she sighed, closing her eyes. She knew she was sick, but she felt a strong sense of responsibility. All along she had taken charge of the fund-raiser. Now she had to be at the Super Sundae, no matter what.

  "What's wrong with me?" she whispered.

  Getting dressed was painful and tiring. Even oversleeping hadn't lessened the overpowering exhaustion she felt. Buttoning each button on her blouse took superhuman effort, and running the brush through her hair was almost impossible. Her arms felt like lead. When she was finally dressed, she had to sit down to rest.

  Somehow Robin managed to get herself out of the house and down to the corner bus stop. When the city bus stopped to pick her up, she had trouble sorting through her change. She couldn't make herself remember what the coins meant. The bus driver waited impatiently while she counted out enough for the fare. Finally, she collapsed into a seat and sat in a daze until she reached her stop.