Promises (Sweet Valley High Book 15) by Francine Pascal

Author:Francine Pascal [Pascal, Francine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-27T05:00:00+00:00

Eight

"I've never been so humiliated in my whole life as I was last night at the Beach Disco," yelled Jessica. She climbed out of the Wakefield pool and raced toward Steven, who had just come out of the house and was settling into one of the yellow-and-white pool-side deck chairs.

"Jessica, I don't know what you're screaming about, but I wish you'd let me relax. It's been a hard week." Steven stretched his long legs out and opened his newspaper.

"Oh, no, you don't." Jessica lifted the paper out of her brother's hand. "We're going to talk." She grabbed a huge beach towel, wrapped it around her bikini-clad body, and sat down in a chair next to Steven's.

Steven shook his head wearily. "Sounds to me like you intend to do the talking, and I'm just supposed to listen. Look, Jess, I'm not up for this."

"Well, you're not making it any easier on yourself," Jessica scolded. "Or on the rest of us."

Steven sighed. There was absolutely no use in trying to stop Jessica when she had something to say. "I guess I'm not going to get any peace until I hear you out. OK, then. Spill it."

Jessica looked at her brother's drawn expression. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked thinner. She really did feel sorry for him. Maybe, she thought, she should try a softer approach. "Steve," Jessica made her voice soothing as she changed tack as smoothly as a sailboat in a light breeze. "It's going to be tough enough getting over Tricia on your own. You really shouldn't have to deal with someone else's pain, too."

"The someone else being Betsy, I presume?"

"Yes, of course," replied Jessica, her furrowed brow the very picture of concern.

"Gee, Jess, I'm overwhelmed by your consideration for me," Steven said coolly.

"Well, what else would you expect of your very own sister?" Jessica shot Steven her most winning smile, one that worked on almost everyone.

Except her brother. "Maybe you should show a little consideration for Betsy, too," Steven replied, his voice growing tight. "Why don't you give her a break, Jessica?"

Jessica got up and paced around by the edge of the pool. "Steven, why don't you give yourself a break? The last thing you need right now is to be associated with someone like Betsy Martin."

"Wrong. The last thing I need is to hear another comment like that. I've had more than enough of them this week."

"Maybe there's a good reason for that." Jessica's voice rose. "Betsy Martin is bad news. And bringing her to the Beach Disco, where everyone in town can see you, is even worse. I was so ashamed, I just wanted to melt into the floor."

"Jessica, that's more than enough." Steven's tone cut through the still morning air like a knife. "Betsy's changed. That's all there is to it." His words rang with finality.

But Jessica wasn't finished. How could Steven be so blind? she thought. Betsy's checkered past could fill a book the size of Webster's dictionary. A girl like that wouldn't behave for long.

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