This is my newest story and I
hope you all enjoy it! It takes place at the
beginning of senior year and there is one little change: the earthquake
did not destroy Elizabeth and Jessica's house. The other changes,
hopefully, are obvious.
"Does
this skirt make me look fat?" Jessica said, turning sideways in
front of the mirror.
"Jessica you could be wearing a sheet and still look skinny as a rail,"
Elizabeth said rolling her eyes.
Jessica pulled off the skirt and threw it into the growing pile of clothes on
Elizabeth's bed. "I just want to look good," Jessica stated as she pulled
on a pair of white shorts. "Your senior year only comes once, you know."
She glanced over at her sister's outfit. "You can borrow something of mine
if you want," she offered.
Elizabeth glanced down at her khaki's, white t-shirt and navy blue cardigan.
"This is how I always dress."
"Well…maybe you need a change. It's a new school year and you can't
start
your senior year looking like the school secretary."
"I'm comfortable with who I am," Elizabeth said clipping her hair back.
Elizabeth knew she was lying. Her clothes were kind of boring and it
didn't
make it easier that her sister looked liked she had stepped out of fashion
show. But Elizabeth wasn't trying to impress anyone. Even though she had
broken up with Todd that summer there wasn't any particular guy she was
trying to attract.
Tears
began to well up in Elizabeth's eyes that afternoon. She quickly wiped
them away and pulled out her compact. She didn't want anyone to see her
crying, she was a senior after all. She turned on the faucet and splashed
some cold water on her face.
How did everything change so much over the summer?
When she had gotten to school that morning all the girls were wearing ultra
trendy outfits and everyone had gotten so cliquey. Elizabeth really did look
like a forty year old. Mrs. Engel, the home ec teacher, had on Elizabeth's
same outfit. Elizabeth pulled off her cardigan and jammed it into her bag. She
pulled her hair clips out and brushed her hair loose. She forced a smile but
that
only made her look worse. She left the restroom and dashed down the hall to
her last class before lunch, creative writing. Apparently her bathroom break
had made her a little late and when she arrived she only saw one empty seat.
She took it. Next to her was a red haired boy but sitting in front of him was
the
most gorgeous guy Elizabeth had ever laid eyes on. He wasn't the type of guy
she was normally attracted to. He was wearing beat up jeans and a faded black
t-shirt but somehow on him it looked exactly right. Elizabeth felt herself blush
but the guy didn't even seem to notice her.
Mr. Quigley took role and Elizabeth noted that the guy raised his hand
on 'Conner McDermott'.
Conner McDermott.
Perfect.
Their names just sounded so right together.
Elizabeth and Conner.
Conner and Elizabeth McDermott.
Could you picture their children?
Elizabeth tried to push the thoughts away. She never obsessed about boys
the way Jessica and her friends did. But Elizabeth could keep her mind, or
her eyes, off of him. She noticed all kinds of things about him. He was
right handed. When he was bored he drummed his fingers on the desktop.
He chewed on his pencil. When they got up to leave class, Conner turned
her way to talk to the red haired guy. Elizabeth noted the most beautiful
green eyes she had ever seen.
"Tia
Ramierz?"
"Yeah, that's me."
"Hi, I'm Jessica Wakefield," the blond girl said smiling brightly as the
group
stood in line at lunch. "I know you were on the El Carro cheerleading squad
and I just wanted to let you know that tryouts are tomorrow at four."
"I'll make sure to grab my pom-poms," Conner said sarcastically and Tia
rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry!" Jessica said brightly. "But I don't think you have the
right…image."
Conner looked surprised.
"You know," Jessica continued. "I don't think that the short skirt
would
compliment your legs." She glanced at him again. "Or your butt."
Tia burst out laughing.
Conner gave Jessica an appreciative gaze and looked her over. In a short
black skirt and a white halter-top, Jessica was nothing short of stunning. "I
guess I'll have to start my own squad then," Conner said grinning.
Jessica pulled a scrap of paper from her bag and scribbled on it. "Call me
to give me more information. I wouldn't mind joining your squad." She
winked.
"Scoring with the head cheerleader!" Tia said after Jessica had walked
away.
"Not exactly your type, is she?"
"I don't know," Conner said shrugging. "She's hot."
"She's also a twin," Andy supplied. "I think her sister is in our
creative
writing class."
"Really? I think I would have noticed her." Conner said popping a Dorito
into his mouth.
"She was sitting next to me," Andy offered.
"You mean her? The girl that looked liked the school counselor?"
"She looks just like Jessica."
"Yeah, but she's so dowdy and shy looking."
"I think she looks nice. I've heard from several people that she's like
the nicest
smartest girl in the whole school," Andy said.
"So are you going to call Jessica?" Tia asked knowingly.
"Maybe," Conner said leaning back on his chair. "She seems…cool.
Definitely
one of the best looking girls here."
"I wonder if I should warn her before I try out for her squad that you'll
just
dump her," Tia said laughing.
Conner shot Tia a dark look. But in a way she was right. He probably would
dump her. But it still would be worth it to date the most popular girl at Sweet
Valley.
"Yeah, my house got totaled. Conner said. "Tia's family is huge and my
friend Evan's house was destroyed."
"I'm just lucky our house was okay." Jessica rolled her eyes. "My sister's
drippy friend spent the summer with us." She stared at Conner, who
was sitting behind her. "Hey, my brother Steven is at college and his room
is just sitting there empty…if you want I'll ask my parents if you can, you
know, stay with us for a while."
Conner gave her a blank stare. "We've known each other for how long?"
"I know," Jessica said quietly. She was silent for a moment. "You know what,
forget it."
"Usually I take a girl out before I move in with her but since I desperately
need a place to stay…"
Jessica broke into a huge grin and it was all Conner could do not to grab
her and kiss her.
"I'll have to ask my parents but they'll be cool with it. Will your parents be
okay with it?"
Conner shifted uncomfortably and clenched his jaw. "They'll be fine with it."
"Are you sure?" Jessica asked, scrunching her nose.
"Yes," Conner snapped.
"Oh," Jessica said, hurt.
Conner knew he had disappointed her but it's not like he owed her anything.
But he did change the subject. "So do you have any siblings or weird pets?"
"No," Jessica said smiling nervously. "Just me and my parents. Steven is at
school. And there's Elizabeth, my twin sister. Have you met her yet?"
"I've seen her. It's hard to believe she's your sister."
"Yeah, she's a fashion ignoramus but at least she got rid of her favorite
accessory, Todd. Elizabeth is the nicest, loyalist, most selfless person
I have met. She's gotten me out of so much trouble and messes."
"She sounds, uh, interesting."
"She's really great," Jessica assured him. "She can be kind of bossy at times,
and she acts like my older sister way to much but I couldn't live without her.
She's my best friend."
"That's total cheese," Conner said grinning at her.
"I know," Jessica, said turning back to the front of the class as the teacher
walked in.