"A week? Robin, you don't have to do this. Joining PBA, or any sorority, isn't that important, believe me."

"Not that important?" Robin drew herself up to her full height. "It's everything to me, Liz. And I can do it. I will do anything to be a Pi Beta!"

Elizabeth was waiting in the girls' locker room as Robin came in from her last day of jogging.

"Robin, you are a real inspiration," Elizabeth admitted. "I think you're just terrific!"

"Thanks," Robin said dully.

Thanks? Where was the happy smile? The sense of purpose? The cheery enthusiasm?

"You should be really happy, Robin. What could be harder than what you went through this week?"

"Saturday."

"Saturday?"

Big, brown, tearful eyes looked up at Elizabeth. "Jogging was hard, Liz, but I did it. I don't know if I can handle Saturday."

Elizabeth was almost too afraid to ask. "What's happening Saturday, Robin?"

The tears were spilling over by this time.

"Robin, please tell me."

Through sobs, Robin got out, "I have to go to the beach!"

"The beach? You're worried about the beach, Robin? Why? You're a good swimmer-I've seen you. It'll be easy!" Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. "You had me worried for a minute. I thought maybe you had to climb Mount Everest."

"I could have done that, Liz. I just don't know how I can show up at the beach on Saturday in-in a bikini! And play volleyball!"

Oh, boy, Elizabeth thought, we have a problem.

"Do you have a bikini, Robin?" she asked gently.

"Kind of."

"A kind of bikini?"

Turning away in embarrassment, Robin muttered, "Well, it's a two-piece suit that's too small, so it looks like a bikini, kind of."

Elizabeth looked down at the tiled floor thoughtfully, then made a quick decision. "You know something, Robin? Todd and I and Enid and her boyfriend, George, are going to the beach on Saturday. We always play volleyball. You can be on our team, OK?"

"Really?" The look of thanks on Robin's tearstained face was almost too much for Elizabeth to bear.

"Really. We'll pick you up."

"Maybe it'll rain."

"It won't rain, Robin. We'll have a good time." And, thought Elizabeth, so will three witches I know.

Saturday was sunny and beautiful, as it almost always was in Sweet Valley. Elizabeth knew it was going to be a difficult day for Robin-and for her.

When Todd arrived, she greeted him with a special smile and a hug. It was wonderful to be able to spend her free days with him. Quickly she jumped into the car and explained the circumstances.

"You'll help?" Elizabeth asked, already knowing the answer.

"I'll help. Did you ever doubt it?" Todd kissed her nose lightly, then started the car.

Robin, self-conscious and red-faced, took off her terry tent robe, revealing a very tight two-piece suit to the amused looks of the usual Saturday beach crowd.

Robin hung in through the almost endless day, bolstered by Elizabeth, Todd, Enid, and George. Whenever possible, they encouraged her to laugh and always accompanied her into the water.

The volleyball game proved to be the toughest part of Robin's day. Bruce Patman, egged on by Lila and Cara, took obvious delight in shooting one ball after another right at Robin. Jessica didn't join in in encouraging Bruce, but she did send a few impossible shots in Robin's direction.

"Way to go, Wilson," Bruce jeered. "Anyone into blubber would call your moves awesome."

Somehow though, with a little help, Robin made it through the day. "You were right, Liz!" she said when most of the crowd had gone home. "I can do it!"

"I knew you could, Robin." Elizabeth looked around. "Well, all packed up. I guess we'll drop you off first, Robin."

"Oh, I don't need a ride home, Liz. Thanks anyway, but Jessica and Lila offered me a ride."

Wonderful, Elizabeth thought. Just what you need.

"I'm really impressed with you, Robin. We all are."

Praise from Jessica Wakefield? Robin was speechless.

"You've done everything we asked you to do. You've done-pretty well."

"Pretty well" from Jessica was like a standing ovation from anybody else. Robin was ecstatic. She jumped up and tried to hug Jessica.

"Wait, Robin," Jessica said, stepping out of range. "There's just one more thing you have to do to prove your loyalty to PBA."

"Anything, Jessica. Anything!"

"You have to get Bruce Patman to take you to the Discomarathon next Saturday night."

Three.

Elizabeth was on her way out the door of Sweet Valley High when she saw a forlorn figure sitting under a tree. It was Robin Wilson, hunched over, tightly hugging her knees to her chest, her books strewn carelessly on the grass.

Moving closer, Elizabeth saw a look of utter despair on Robin's face. Why wasn't she feeling better about herself? Elizabeth wondered. She had met all the challenges that Jessica, Lila, and Cara had thrown her way. She'd practically been Wonder Woman. They hadn't gotten the better of her for one moment. Not yet, anyway, Elizabeth thought, suddenly feeling a twinge of anxiety.

Robin Wilson was proving to be a first-class candidate for Pi Beta Alpha, if determination and grit meant anything. But Elizabeth couldn't escape the persistent feeling of guilt over nominating Robin for PBA. Maybe it had been a big mistake, she kept thinking. Jessica and Lila and the others could ruin Robin if this kept up.

"How goes it, Pledge Wilson?" Elizabeth asked cheerfully.

Robin looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. Her chin began to quiver uncontrollably.

"Robin, please don't," Elizabeth begged, but Robin couldn't help herself. Tears spilled from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks in unending streams.

"Omigod, Elizabeth," Robin wailed. "It's hopeless!"

"What are you talking about, Robin? What's hopeless?"

"I'll never make PBA now."

Elizabeth sighed with relief. Was that all? "Sure, you will. Everybody's amazed at what you've done."

Robin sniffled. "You think so?"

"Absolutely. I wouldn't have put you up for membership if I didn't think-"

"I never thought they'd make me do so many really hard things!" Robin cried out in a mixture of anger and desperation. "Nobody else ever had to."

Oh, how I'd like to get even with those snobs! Elizabeth thought.

"Well, Robin," she said, "it's probably because they know you can handle it."

"I have, haven't I?" said Robin, and she sounded surprised at the determination in her voice. "I sure have."

Elizabeth was relieved to see Robin showing some pride in herself.

"But now they've really finished me, Liz!" Robin moaned. "Sometimes I think they're just tormenting me. That they'll never let me be a Pi Beta Alpha."

"Who put you up for membership, Robin? I did. Elizabeth Wakefield! Do you think I would ever be involved with anything like that?"

Robin paused and looked away. "I don't know."

"Well, I know. And I'm here to help you. Don't you worry. You'll be a Pi Beta if I have anything to say. That's a promise!"

"But, Liz-they say I have to get-to get-omigod-I have to get Bruce Patman to take me to the Discomarathon next Saturday night!"

"Who?" Please, let me have heard her wrong, Elizabeth prayed. Anyone but him!

"Bruce Patman!"

Elizabeth's heart sank.

"I might as well ask Elvis Presley!"

"Robin," Elizabeth reminded her gently, "Elvis has been dead for-"

"That's just my point. I'd have a better chance with a dead superstar than a live Bruce Patman!"

How could they do such a thing? Elizabeth fumed. And before she knew what she was doing, the words were out.

"Robin, you go on and ask him. I know he'll say yes."

"What?"

You've gone off the edge, Lizzie, Elizabeth was thinking.

"Liz, are you feeling all right?"

"Bruce Patman should be honored to go to the dance with you, Robin. One of the smartest girls in Sweet Valley! One of the nicest-"

Robin was watching her now, anxiously.

"-and one of the warmest."

Robin looked down again. "Thanks, Liz. Nice try. But guys like Bruce don't care about those things. Me-ask Bruce Patman? No way."

"Promise you'll ask him."

"Positive thinking is one thing, Liz, but that's a fantasy!"

"Promise!"

"Oh, all right. But he'll never-"

"Robin."

"But he couldn't-"

"Robin!"

Robin shrugged in resignation. "Fantasy Island, here I come!"

She rose slowly and gathered her books. Trying to smooth out the wrinkles in her dark red tent dress, she shuffled off across the lawn, her head hanging.

Elizabeth watched her, wondering how even Jessica could have asked such a thing of Robin. She also wondered how she, Elizabeth, could have practically promised Robin that Bruce would take her.