Steven laughed. "Yeah, then we'd be stuck with Jess for another two whole weeks!"

"Thanks a lot, you guys." Jessica said, pretending to look hurt. "I didn't expect you to be heartbroken that I was leaving, but I thought you might at least miss me just a teensy bit."

"Are you kidding?" Steven slung an affectionate arm about Jessica's shoulders. "What are we going to do without you around to stir things up? Life could get pretty dull."

Jessica let that one pass without comment. She was distracted when her turn came to pass through the metal detector. A loud buzzing alarm sounded, causing Jessica to flush with embarrassment. A guard motioned her to the side.

Elizabeth giggled. "Maybe he thinks you're carrying a weapon. I can just see the headlines: 'Teenager Hijacks Plane To Disneyland.'"

"That's not funny," Jessica said as she removed the heavy silver bracelet that had caused the problem.

A moment later, they were sailing into the boarding area. Jessica threw her arms around each of them in turn. She said her goodbyes amid tears and extravagant promises to write.

"It's only for two weeks, Jess," Elizabeth reminded her following her twin's crushing embrace. "Honestly, anyone would think you were going to be gone for at least a year."

Jessica threw up her hands. "Who knows? Maybe I'll love it so much, I'll decide never to come back!"

"Is that a threat or a promise?" Steven teased.

"Say hi to King Kong for me!" Elizabeth called in final farewell as Jessica disappeared onto the plane.

The Wakefields peered expectantly through the huge window of the terminal as Suzanne Devlin's plane taxied into the gate.

"Tom tells me she's pretty involved with sports," Mr. Wakefield said. "Tennis, jogging, horseback riding, swimming-you name it."

"Great," Elizabeth said. "Maybe we can do a little water-skiing, too, while she's here."

"Watch out," said Steven. "She might be having such a good time she'll want to stick around. Can you imagine Jessica having to share her room? Poor Jess."

Elizabeth giggled. "Poor Suzanne, you mean. We'd have to invent a new sport just for wading through that junkpile Jess calls a room. Suzanne's probably used to better accommodations, though."

"I'll bet she's used to living away from home," Mrs. Wakefield mused. "Ned, didn't you say she's gone to boarding schools most of her life?" She sighed. "I suppose there's nothing wrong with it, but I don't see how I ever could have sent you kids away like that. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but I think children belong at home until they're ready for college."

Steven laughed. "Look at me-I'm going to college and you're still stuck with feeding me practically every weekend. Not to mention my dirty laundry."

Their mother chuckled. "Now that I wouldn't miss."

"I'll bet she's really sophisticated." Elizabeth sighed. "I've never met anyone who's gone to boarding schools in Europe. I thought that was something they only did in books. She'll probably make the rest of us look like hopeless idiots."

"Speak for yourself," Steven growled, jostling her affectionately with his elbow.

The passengers were beginning to trickle out into the terminal. Elizabeth strained to see past a couple with three pudgy children and a mountain of carry-on luggage. Would Suzanne recognize them from the picture Mom had sent?

Abruptly Elizabeth drew in her breath. Walking toward them was the most beautiful girl she'd ever seen. Suzanne? No, she couldn't be! This girl had to be a professional model-or an actress. She was tall and willowy, with black hair that tumbled in glossy waves past her shoulders. Her back was bare in a chic sun dress she'd obviously worn in anticipation of the good weather. Her features couldn't have been more perfect if they'd been sculpted by Michelangelo. Elizabeth was most struck by her enormous, dark-fringed, violet-blue eyes, which were now searching the crowd outside the gate. Suddenly she spotted the Wakefields and swooped down on them with a squeal of recognition.

"Elizabeth!" she cried. "I'd know you anywhere, though that picture your parents sent didn't do you justice. You're even prettier than I expected."

Elizabeth could only stammer some unintelligible reply.

Mrs. Wakefield enveloped their guest in a warm embrace. "Welcome to Sweet Valley, Suzanne! We're so delighted to have you here."

Suzanne broke into a dazzlingly brilliant white smile. "Oh, I've wanted to visit for ages." She turned to Ned Wakefield. "Dad talks about you all the time, Mr. Wakefield. And when he had this idea for me to come out and visit"-she gave a silvery little laugh-"well, wild horses couldn't have kept me away."

She spoke with an enchanting accent that was vaguely British-sounding. Probably from living in Europe, Elizabeth thought, awestruck by Suzanne's sophistication. She didn't sound stuck-up, though, the way Jessica had when she was playing the lead in My Fair Lady the year before and had gone around school talking in an English accent for weeks. Suzanne was obviously the genuine article.

"Tom did say you were into horseback riding, now that you mention it." Mr. Wakefield laughed as he reached for the tote bag Suzanne was carrying. They headed toward the baggage pickup area. "I just hope you won't find Sweet Valley dull compared to the lights of the city."

"Oh, Dad," Elizabeth scolded playfully. Life in Sweet Valley, as far as she was concerned, was far from dull. But even if it was, Suzanne's arrival was sure to liven things up in a hurry.

Suzanne hooked her arm through Elizabeth's. "I just know I'm going to love it."

Any shadow of doubt Elizabeth might have had about letting Jessica take her place in New York was gone. Now that she'd met Suzanne, the prospects for having fun appeared endless. Suzanne seemed as friendly and enthusiastic as she was glamorous.

The ride from the airport to the Wakefields' split-level ranch house was peppered with little cries of delight from Suzanne as she gazed out the window, exclaiming over how green and lush everything was and what a "perfectly adorable" town Sweet Valley was. She asked Elizabeth a lot of questions, about where the kids from Sweet Valley High hung out during vacations and where the best places to shop were. Elizabeth promised to show her everything, starting with the junior class picnic the next day.

"It's a tradition every spring break. We all go up to the lake to swim, and then afterward there's a big barbecue," she explained. "This way you'll get to meet everyone at once. I hope you remembered to bring a bathing suit."

She laughed. "Are you kidding? The minute I heard you had a pool.... I just hope I don't stand out. Everyone around here is so tan. I'll look white as a sheet!"

"Don't worry," Elizabeth assured her. "It doesn't take long to get brown in this kind of weather. Besides, you're bound to stand out no matter what. In fact, you may need a bodyguard after the guys get a look at you."

Suzanne smiled. "Oh, Elizabeth, you're too much."

"Please call me Liz."

"OK, Liz. And you can call me Suzy. That's what my friends back home call me. Although Pete, my boyfriend, just calls me Devlin. Do you have a steady boyfriend?"

Elizabeth flushed. It was the reaction she generally had when the subject of Todd came up. She was always certain that people could look right through her and see what was in her heart. Her deepest feelings about Todd weren't ones she felt comfortable sharing, even with her closest friends.

"You'll meet him at the picnic," she replied.

"I can hardly wait!"

Suzanne tried drawing Steven into the conversation, too, but though it was obvious he was just as dazzled by Suzanne as the rest of them, he had his mind elsewhere. As they passed through the neighborhood where his girlfriend Tricia Martin lived, he stared out the window, a sad expression on his face. Elizabeth knew he was thinking about Tricia, worrying about their relationship. They'd always been so devoted to one another, but lately, Steven had complained, Tricia seemed to be drawing away from him. It almost seemed as if she were avoiding him.

It was true she was having trouble at home. Her father had been arrested recently for drunk driving after he hit a pedestrian, and though he was out on bail now it was easy to see why Tricia would be upset. Elizabeth sometimes ran into her at school, where Tricia was a senior, and her worries were evident from the strained look on her face these days. But wouldn't she want Steven around to help comfort her? Why was she acting so distant? It didn't make sense. Whatever the problem, Steven was so in love with Tricia, the prospect of losing her sent him into a panic.

As soon as they got home, Steven immediately went to phone Tricia. Elizabeth could hear his muffled voice on the downstairs phone as she walked upstairs to help Suzanne unpack in Jessica's room.

"Trish, is that you?... You sound funny.... Is this a bad time to talk?... Do you want me to call back?... OK.... No, it's all right, I don't mind.... Hey, I love you. Trish? Did you hear me?"

Elizabeth felt so sorry for Steven. Things sounded worse than ever between Tricia and him. She heard a choked cry of frustration as he hung up the phone, and she winced in sympathy.

Elizabeth made herself turn her attention back to Suzanne. It wouldn't be fair to involve Suzanne in Steven's problems during her first hour there.

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 clown, 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.