Playing For Keeps by Pascal Francine

Author:Pascal, Francine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-26T16:00:00+00:00

Elizabeth was practicing her recorder in her bedroom when the front door slammed downstairs. Absently she noted that her twin was home and turned to the next page in her lesson manual.

Without warning, her door flew open, and Jessica stood on the threshold, her face streaked with tears. "Oh, Liz!" she wailed.

"Jess! What's wrong?" Elizabeth jumped up and ran to her sister.

"A.J.—and he's—and Pam-Pamela is such a dirty sneak," Jessica choked. "And I have to—and it's not fair—but I w-w-wanted to—"

Elizabeth gently brushed Jessica's hair away from her face. "Jess, I can't understand a word you're saying! Can't you stop crying and tell me what happened?"

With effort Jessica drew a shaky breath and passed the back of one hand across her wet cheek. "You know this girl Pamela I told you about yesterday?"

Nodding, Elizabeth led her sister to the bed and sat her down. "Yeah. The man-eater. What did she do now?"

"She called A.J.—I know she took it on purpose—and asked him to go to her house—"

"Took what on purpose?"

Jessica's mouth tightened into a hard line. "His towel. I know she kept it deliberately so she'd have a good excuse to call him."

"Go on."

"So, anyway, he was supposed to meet me at the library, and he was over half an hour late," Jessica explained. Her chin quivered dangerously as she added, "And I know she was just working on him like crazy. And I know she's just doing it for kicks, Liz. She doesn't care about him the way I do!"

Elizabeth studied her twin in silence for a moment. Poor Jessica was sniffling miserably, her eyes still filled with tears. In spite of her promise to go along with Jessica's act, Elizabeth couldn't help saying, "You know, Pamela is no match for the real Jessica."

Her sister sent her a pained look.

"Come on, Jess. Let A.J. see what you're really all about," Elizabeth urged, taking Jessica's hand in hers. "He'd never even look at another girl if you did."

"I can't. It's too late now. This is the way he thinks I really am," Jessica said in a low voice. She shook her head emphatically. "I just can't change now. It would look too bizarre."

Deep in thought, Elizabeth sat, trying to figure out the best thing to do. Obviously, the best thing to do would be for Jessica to give up the charade. But that wasn't an option as far as Jessica was concerned.

Suddenly tears started running down Jessica's cheeks again, and her face crumpled. "What am I going to do, Liz? I like A.J. so much! I really want him to like me!"

"Oh, Jess." Elizabeth put her arms around her sister and hugged her tightly. "I told you what you should do, and you don't want to do it."

"I just can't," Jessica repeated stubbornly into Elizabeth's shoulder.

"Well, at least I know something that'll make you feel better. I can't guarantee it'll straighten things out with A.J., but it'll make you happy."

Jessica sat up, sniffling. "What?"

With a hopeful smile Elizabeth said, "Enter the fashion show, Jess! Come on, you really should.

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