SVH11-Too Good To Be True (3 page)

When they'd finished unpacking, the girls .slipped into their bathing suits to go for a dip in the pool. They were both hot and sweaty after the drive from the airport. Suzanne, despite her embarrassment over being so pale, looked absolutely stunning in her striped bikini. She was flawlessly proportioned, with legs that seemed to go on forever, and not an ounce of fat anywhere. Suddenly Elizabeth felt self-conscious about her own lovely size-six figure.

It wasn't all decoration with Suzanne either. She could really swim. After a dozen or so laps, she was barely winded. Elizabeth collapsed onto the deck, gasping for breath.

"Wow, you're really in good shape," Elizabeth said breathlessly. "I'll bet even your boyfriend has a hard time keeping up with you."

Suzanne gave a laugh, tossing her wet hair so that it sparkled in the sunlight as it released a spray of droplets. "Oh, don't worry about Pete. He manages to follow me just about everywhere. I hate to say this, because I don't want to seem stuck-up, but sometimes I think maybe he's
too
much in love with me."

To Elizabeth it sounded strange. She could never think Todd was too much in love with her, but then Suzanne probably had a million guys chasing after her. Maybe it was hard getting attached to just one when you had so many to choose from. Like trying to choose what flavor of ice cream to have at Baskin-Robbins.

"Aren't you in love with him?" Elizabeth asked.

Suzanne shrugged. "Oh, sure. I guess I just don't like the idea of being tied down, that's all. My parents practically have me married off to Pete."

"But you're only sixteen!"

"They sent me away to school when I was nine. It's the same thing. They can't wait to get rid of me."

Suzanne didn't appear to be too unhappy about it, but Elizabeth was stunned. How could anyone's parents be so callous? She wondered if her father knew about this side of the Devlins. He had always spoken so highly of Mr. Devlin

in the past. Poor Suzanne! And poor Jessica! What would it be like to spend two weeks with people like that?

Nevertheless, the life Suzanne went on to describe to Elizabeth sounded anything but boring. Zipping around New York City in Pete's Ferrari. Moonlight sails on his father's yacht. Debutante balls. Skiing in Aspen. Even if Elizabeth wouldn't have wanted to trade places with her, she couldn't help thinking it all seemed like a fairy tale.

That night, they ate dinner out on the patio-- barbecued spareribs, potato salad, and a lemon chiffon pie Elizabeth had made in their guest's honor. Suzanne kept praising the meal, especially the pie, which had been made from lemons that grew in the Wakefields' backyard. Afterward she declared she'd never been so stuffed in her whole life. Then she insisted on doing the dishes, even though Mrs. Wakefield told her she should rest after her long trip. Suzanne wouldn't hear of it, though. Waving aside everyone's protests, she bustled about the kitchen. Within minutes, it was spotless.

"Better watch out," Elizabeth warned Suzanne as they were on their way to bed later that evening. "If you keep up that kind of thing, we may never want you to leave."

Suzanne giggled. "Is that a threat or a promise?"

"You'd know which if you had to share a room with Jessica," Elizabeth said laughingly.

"I wouldn't mind. I've always wanted a sister. Twin sisters would be even better. Double the fun."

"It must be hard, being an only child."

Suzanne's expression darkened momentarily, but then she shrugged and gave Elizabeth one of her sparkly smiles. "Well, I can't have everything. Besides, what's the point in getting depressed over something I can't change? I've always believed in looking on the positive side of things. I guess I'm just naturally optimistic."

"I know what you mean," Elizabeth said. "Once in a while I wake up in the morning and don't feel like getting out of bed. Then I think of all the fun things I'd be missing if I didn't." She glanced at her watch. "Speaking of bed, we should probably get some sleep. I'm supposed to be at the picnic early to help with the food. You don't mind, do you?"

"Mind? I love helping! And I can't wait to meet all your friends. Especially Todd--he sounds divine." Impulsively, she hugged Elizabeth. "Oh, Liz, I just know this is going to be the best vacation I've ever had!"

Elizabeth hugged her back. "I certainly hope so.

"Oh, it will be." Suzanne's grin lit up the room. "I
never
have boring vacations."

Three

"Pass me the mustard ... pass me the pickles ... but
pleeease
don't pass me by," Winston Egbert crooned.

On bent knee he serenaded Suzanne, strumming energetically on his guitar while he improvised in a loud, off-key voice. His spiky black hair stood on end from a recent dive into the lake, and his ears were fire-engine red from sunburn, making him look even more comical than usual. As he sang, his Adam's apple bobbed up and down his scrawny throat.

Suzanne laughed, tossing her silky black hair over one lightly toasted shoulder as she sat on a picnic table bench. "You should be in the Grand

Ol' Opry, Winston," she teased. "Why are you wasting your talents on me?"

Ever the down, he rolled his eyes and placed his hand over his heart. "Can't you see I'm in love?"

Someone snickered. "I think Winston's lost his marbles."

"I didn't know he had any left to lose," joked blond, muscular Tom McKay, popping open a can of soda.

Handsome Bruce Patman--who, along with a few other seniors had been invited to the picnic-- turned his reflector sunglasses in Suzanne's direction. "I don't see what's so crazy about a guy falling for a foxy lady like Suzanne here."

Several people exchanged surprised looks. Super-popular, super-cool Bruce usually waited for the girls to beat a path to his door rather than the other way around. Clearly, he, too, had joined the ranks of the admirers of the fabulous Suzanne Devlin.

"It's a good thing Jessica is three thousand miles away," murmured Enid Rollins, Elizabeth's best friend. They were sitting together at a picnic table near the one where Suzanne was sitting. "If she saw all the attention Suzanne's been getting, she'd be the only one here who was green instead of tan."

Enid was attracting a few stares of her own in

her new candy-striped bathing suit, Elizabeth had noticed. Though she wasn't stunning like Suzanne; Enid, with her shiny, shoulder-length brown hair and enormous green eyes, had a prettiness that was all her own.

Elizabeth smiled. "What Jessica doesn't know won't hurt her."

"As long as George doesn't become a member of the Suzanne Devlin Fan Club, she can stay forever as far as I'm concerned," Enid said, George being her steady boyfriend. A freshman at Sweet Valley College, he was her guest at the picnic that day.

"I know what you mean. I was a little worried about Todd at first, too. But I suppose you can't blame the guys for looking. Who wouldn't? She's so incredibly beautiful."

Despite all the attention she was getting, Suzanne didn't appear to be letting it go to her head. She was as friendly to the girls as to the boys, talking and kidding around as if she'd known everyone for most of her life. And when it came time to help with the food, she was the first one to pitch in.

"She's almost too good to be true," Enid said, spreading a thin layer of catsup over her hamburger bun. "Gosh, I wonder what it would be like to be so gorgeous and sophisticated."

"I'll
tell you if you're really interested," Cara

Walker drawled. No conversation was too sacred for eavesdropping as far as Cara was concerned.

She reached across the picnic table for the salt shaker, holding it up to her lips as if it were a microphone.

"It's not easy being a ten, folks. Do you know what it's like having your phone ring day and night? Can you imagine being wakened up at all hours by guys serenading you outside your window? I'm telling you, it's a tough life."

"Dream on, Cara," snickered Lila, who was sitting next to her. Dark-eyed, olive-skinned Cara Walker was certainly attractive, but nowhere near Suzanne's league.

Elizabeth and Enid nearly choked on their hamburgers from laughing so hard. Even Todd joined in, waggling a pickle spear under his nose a la Groucho Marx as he pretended to ogle Cara.

It was the most fun Elizabeth could ever remember having at a class picnic. The weather was just right, the lake was a perfect temperature, and everybody seemed to be in a good mood. Even Mr. Collins, who had agreed to act as chaperon and unofficial lifeguard, seemed to be having a good time.

Roger Collins was faculty adviser to
The Oracle,
as well as one of the most popular teachers at

Sweet Valley High. And it was simple to see why. In addition to his good looks and easygoing manner, he was always there for the students when they needed someone to talk to, when they were having problems in school or at home.

Right then, Mr. Collins was officiating at the barbecue grill, passing out sizzling hamburgers along with samples of his dry wit. Elizabeth noticed Suzanne following his movements with her eyes. Well, why not? Roger Collins was without a doubt the best-looking teacher at Sweet Valley High. With his windblown, strawberry-blond hair and crinkly blue eyes, he reminded Elizabeth a little of Robert Redford.

After everyone had finished eating, some of the kids set up a net and got a volleyball game going. An hour later, they were ready for a nice cool swim. Suzanne was the first to hit the water, stroking her way toward the far end of the lake. Enid and George got into a water fight that soon escalated into an all-out war. No one within firing range was safe. Todd commented jokingly to Elizabeth that it was beginning to look more like Marine World than a picnic.

Suddenly Elizabeth noticed a tiny figure out in the middle of the lake who appeared to be floundering.

"Mr. Collins!" she yelled. "I think Suzanne's in trouble!"

Mr. Collins took one look, and instantly he was in the water, thrashing his way toward her with powerful strokes. Elizabeth remembered him telling her once that he'd been a lifeguard in college. She watched with growing relief as he began maneuvering Suzanne toward shore, one arm looped about her chest. The crowd broke into cheers when he had finally scooped her out of the water and carried her up the beach. A very drenched-looking Suzanne clung to him, sobbing.

"I--I don't know what happened," she choked. "I must have gone too far. My legs just g-gave out on me." Mr. Collins tried to put her down, but she wrapped her arms about his neck even more tightly, burying her face against his muscular chest. "Oh, Mr. Collins, if it hadn't been for you, I might have drowned!"

"Are you all right now?" he asked.

"Well ... sort of. I know this will probably sound silly, but I'd feel so much better if you could just sit with me for a few more minutes. I--I still feel kind of wobbly."

Mr. Collins looked uncomfortable. "If you're not feeling well, maybe someone should take you home."

"Oh, no, please, I wouldn't want to put anyone out. Besides, I'm feeling much better now. You can put me down. I promise I won't collapse." She offered a shaky smile.

Mr. Collins didn't argue.

As it turned out, Suzanne had no shortage of strong shoulders to lean on. As soon as Mr. Collins left, she was surrounded by more than a dozen concerned males, eager to offer their support and sympathy. Aaron Dallas, co-captain of the soccer team, tenderly wrapped his towel around her, while Tom McKay held her. hand until she stopped shivering. In an effort to cheer her up, Winston strummed another one of his made-up melodies about a fair lady lost at sea. Even Bruce Patman got in on the action by bringing her a paper cupful of iced tea.

Elizabeth was left with a vague feeling of confusion. Something was wrong, and she tried hard to put her finger on what was bothering her. Then she thought about the other day when she and Suzanne had swum laps in the pool. Suzanne was such a strong swimmer. How had she come so near to drowning?

"You look a little shaky yourself," Todd said, slipping an arm about Elizabeth's waist. "That was a close call."

Elizabeth swiveled around to face him, momentarily forgetting her consternation over Suzanne. Todd smiled down at her, his brown eyes filled with tenderness. His dark hair curled in damp ringlets, and beads of moisture glistened on his broad, sun-burnished chest.

"I'm just glad she's OK," Elizabeth said. "If it hadn't been for Mr. Collins ..."

"Are you kidding? Another few seconds and she would've had more rescuers than she knew what to do with."

"It's funny how Mr. Collins was acting," Elizabeth observed thoughtfully. "Almost like he couldn't wait to get away afterward."

"Maybe he doesn't like everybody looking at him as if he's the big hero. I guess it makes some guys uncomfortable."

"Maybe." Elizabeth pushed the incident to the back of her mind. There was no sense spending the rest of the afternoon worrying about it. "I suppose it doesn't matter, now that Suzanne's all right."

Todd glanced toward the adoring throng surrounding her. "From the looks of it, I'd say so. ". The real question here is"--he dipped his head to kiss her lightly on the mouth--"are
you
going to be all right?"

"I don't know," Elizabeth answered, wilting against him in a mock faint. "I may need more mouth-to-mouth resuscitation."

This time Todd's lips lingered on hers. "Any better?" he murmured against her ear.

"I'll tell you when I've had enough."

He grinned. "Slave driver."

A few minutes later, as they were strolling

along the edge of the lake hand in hand, Elizabeth mused aloud, "I wonder what Jessica's doing right now." She'd been vaguely concerned about her sister ever since Suzanne had made that comment about her parents, although Jessica wasn't the kind of person who had trouble taking care of herself.

"Knowing Jessica, I'd say anything was possible."

Elizabeth groaned. "You're right about that. With Jessica, 'anything' might mean ... well,
anything."