Still, it was only her opinion. Some judges, she knew, favored power and speed over grace and style, so there was no way of guessing who had racked up more points.

She could hear Lila Fowler talking to someone behind her.

"No question about it. He makes Bill Chase look like a chimpanzee on skis. Did you see the way he cut in front of Bill just now? Oh, did I tell you he invited me out to a party afterwards?..."

A few of the other surfers with less experience had dropped out by the time the judges were getting ready to call the contest to a close. Dink Halstead limped up the beach after wiping out on some rocks. There was a thin trickle of blood on his cheek.

"I've had enough," he called to one of his friends. "Let David and Goliath battle it out. It's their show anyway."

Finally it was time for the judges to tabulate their points and announce the winner. Elizabeth held her breath as the voice over the megaphone blared the names of those in fourth and fifth places. Sonny and Bill were just now straggling in, looking exhausted as they peeled off their wet suits.

"In third place, with one hundred and eighty points, Gary Wallace...."

A sprinkling of applause, and then the crowd held its breath.

"In second place, with two hundred and thirty points"-the megaphone squeaked, the shrill note scraping along Elizabeth's nerves like fingernails on a blackboard-"Sonny Callahan. And the champion with two hundred and thirty-six points-a close call, folks-is Bill Chase."

A wild cheer erupted. A number of Bill's fans surged down to lift him, enthroned atop his board, onto their shoulders. The normally low-keyed Bill raised a triumphant fist, grinning from ear to ear. Winston Egbert jammed a hastily woven crown of seaweed onto Bill's head. A dark-haired boy Elizabeth didn't recognize was busy pouring a can of beer over him as well. Bill snatched the can before it was empty and took a long swig, streams of foam dribbling down his face.

"You should call your article 'Rocky of the Deep,'" Enid suggested, contentedly munching on the hero sandwich she'd brought along.

"I've already got a title," said Elizabeth, holding up her note pad so they could see what she'd written: "Chase Is One."

"Clever," remarked Todd. "Very clever."

Sonny Callahan was engaged in a furious argument with the judges, a display of poor sportsmanship Elizabeth was quick to make note of. His golden aura of confidence had been tarnished. Even Lila seemed to have lost interest. She had joined the crowd that hovered about Bill, and she was congratulating him as if she'd known all along that he was going to win.

Cara spotted Elizabeth and her friends and rushed over.

"Where's Jessica?" she wanted to know. "I've been searching absolutely everywhere for her. Didn't she come with you?"

"Jessica couldn't make it," Elizabeth replied. "She's sick today."

"What's wrong with her?"

"Nothing too serious. Just a raging case of poison oak." Elizabeth didn't add that it was a result of getting lost in the woods the day Jessica had sneaked off with Scott.

"Gee, that's too bad," Cara remarked. "I know how much she was looking forward to this. Now she'll have to miss the party and everything. Is she really bummed out about it?"

"I'd say she wasn't too happy." Elizabeth suppressed a tiny smile, remembering Jessica's howls of rage when she discovered that the pesky little rash that had been plaguing her all week had erupted into a volcano of swollen, red blisters. Elizabeth was surprised at herself for not feeling sorrier for Jessica than she did, but she couldn't help wondering if Jessica didn't deserve it after all.

She recalled their mother's bewildered look as she shook her head over Jessica, wondering aloud, "I simply can't imagine where on earth you could have picked up such a thing...."

Fourteen.

"Had enough?" Todd draped an arm about Elizabeth's shoulder as they huddled near the crackling driftwood fire.

"If I eat one more marshmallow, I'm going to turn into one myself," she joked, snuggling against him as she licked the last of the sticky golden-brown sweet from her stick. An hour earlier she'd been hungry enough to devour two hot dogs, a generous helping of potato salad, and several root beers. It hardly seemed possible.

"I know what you mean," Todd said. "I can't remember the last time I ate so much. Unless you count Thanksgiving and Christmas."

When his lips found hers, she could taste the smoky sweetness of toasted marshmallows. He kissed her lingeringly, drawing lazy circles against her back with the flat of his hand. Several other couples were cuddled under blankets by the fire, but Elizabeth felt uncomfortable about getting too affectionate in public. She drew away, tucking her head against his shoulder.

Reading her thoughts, Todd whispered, "Too bad we're not off somewhere by ourselves. I could get addicted to this."

"Me, too," she confessed.

"Let's go for a picnic next Saturday," he suggested. "Just the two of us. I know this great little cove where we can really be alone. It's private, but a friend of my aunt has a key to the gate."

"I'd love to go," Elizabeth said.

"Great. We'll take my motorcycle. I'm picking it up at the dealership on Friday. Wait until you see it, Liz! I'm even getting another helmet just for you."

Elizabeth stiffened. "Todd, I-"

"I know what you're thinking," he broke in, "but, listen, everyone's a little nervous the first time they ride on a motorcycle. Don't worry, you'll get used to it in no time."

"That's not it." She pulled away from him, tucking her knees against her chest. How could she tell him? She'd been postponing this moment, and now she couldn't put it off any longer.

"What is it, then?"

"I-".

They were interrupted just then by Ken Matthews and his date, petite, redheaded Julie Porter, who had sauntered over from the neighboring campfire to find a can opener.

"Some lamebrain lost ours in the sand," Ken explained. "He's over there now digging a hole to China trying to find it."

Elizabeth laughed. "Wish him luck for us. Hey, take the rest of these marshmallows while you're at it. I don't think I'll ever be able to look at another one as long as I live."

"Thanks!" Ken caught the bag she tossed in his direction as if he were intercepting a pass on the forty-yard line. "The same nerd who lost the can opener forgot to bring the marshmallows, too."

"Tell Winston we said hi," Todd deadpanned, earning a ripple of appreciative laughter from those who were familiar with Winston Egbert's clownish antics.

Someone had turned up a radio, and silky music riffled the warm night air. Snuggled under a blanket across from them, arms entwined, George and Enid held a quiet, intense conversation.

"I'm glad you decided not to go swimming with Jaws," Todd whispered, nuzzling Elizabeth's ear. He'd forgotten his earlier question about the motorcycle, which left Elizabeth feeling relieved but also strangely depressed.

"I don't think it would have been nearly as much fun," she confided as she tipped her head back to receive his kiss. "Besides, I don't think sharks eat marshmallows, do they?"

Elizabeth pushed her nagging concern to the back of her mind, letting the sensation of Todd's kisses spread outward from her center like ripples on a pond. She knew she would have to tell him sooner or later. Her parents had forbidden, absolutely forbidden, either Jessica or herself to ride on a motorcycle. It was practically one of the Ten Commandments as far as they were concerned.

Elizabeth certainly understood why. A while back one of their cousins had been killed riding a motorcycle. She still remembered how upset their mom had been over it. If she knew Elizabeth was even contemplating getting on one of those things ...

Elizabeth shuddered to think of the consequences.

And yet how would Todd take it when she refused to share what was obviously going to be a major part of his life from now on? It was sure to put a dent in their closeness, she realized with a sick feeling of dread.

"I'll bet you'd look cute in a crash helmet," Todd murmured as he twirled a lock of her hair about his finger. "Maybe I'll get you one in bright blue."

Elizabeth killed any further conversation on the subject by winding her arms about his neck and kissing him with such fervor that he fell backward onto the sand.

Tomorrow, she promised herself, stifling the tiny stitch of fear in the pit of her stomach. I'll tell him tomorrow....

Will Todd's motorcycle drive them apart? Find out in Sweet Valley High #6, DANGEROUS LOVE.

A special bonus for fans of Sweet Valley High! Here's more about some of the people you've met in Sweet Valley and would like to know better....

? BILL CHASE The kind of guy people at Sweet Valley High love to speculate about. He's good-looking-a real California golden boy with wind-tossed blond hair, summer-blue eyes, and a deep tan-but he's somewhat of a loner. He hangs out at the beach a lot and seems to answer only to the call of the waves. Bill practically lives to surf, and he's really good, too. He's already won several surfing championships and plans to go to the world championship in Hawaii someday.

Girls, especially Jessica Wakefield, are attracted to him, but he seems immune to their flirtations. Once, Jessica really went after Bill, even going so far as to ask him to a dance. He turned her down, and she was furious. Nobody had ever turned her down before! She's been looking for a way to get back at him ever since. Knowing Jessica, she'll find it, too.

What most people don't know about Bill is that he's terribly shy. One of the reasons he likes surfing so much is because it's a solitary sport. He feels most content when he's alone out on the water, at one with the wind, the waves, and the sky. No wonder his favorite book is Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea. Bill feels very close to the ocean, and though he hasn't discussed this with anyone yet, he's thinking about becoming a marine biologist someday. In spite of the time he puts in at the beach, he's a pretty good student. His grades are high enough to get him into college after he graduates.

Another thing people don't know about Bill is that he had a girlfriend once, someone he loved deeply. It was before his parents got divorced and he moved with his mother from Santa Monica to Sweet Valley. Her name was Julianne. They went steady for two years and had even talked about getting married someday. They were devoted to each other and enjoyed doing all the same things together. Julianne was a surf nut like Bill. One of the things they loved best was getting up at the crack of dawn, piling into Bill's truck with their surfboards, and driving down to the beach. They would watch the sunrise while they rode the waves. Bill can never forget how wonderful it was sharing his life with Julianne.

It ended two days before her sixteenth birthday, when she was killed in a horrible car accident. Bill, haunted by her death, blamed himself. They'd had an argument that night. They were at a party, so she grabbed a ride home with someone else-a boy who had been drinking. It was raining, and his car skidded out of control and hit an embankment. Julianne died instantly.

If only they hadn't gotten into that silly argument! he thought over and over. If only he'd insisted on driving her home himself!

For a long time he couldn't even look at another girl without seeing Julianne's face. The night after she died, he went surfing even though there was a storm raging. He nearly drowned. The result was a bad case of pneumonia that kept him in bed for weeks. During that time, he thought a lot about Julianne and finally came to the conclusion that she wouldn't want him to blame himself for her death. She was much too sweet and generous for that. He realized that the right way for him to remember their love was to go on living as best he could.

It's been almost a year, and there have been a lot of changes in his life since then. He's had to adjust to his parents' divorce. Bill was really close to his father, from whom he inherited his freewheeling spirit and love of the outdoors. Bill's father is a forest ranger who lives in Idaho now. The previous winter, Bill spent Christmas in the mountains with his father and discovered he liked skiing almost as much as surfing.

Bill has more trouble getting along with his mother. She's the nervous type and is always afraid Bill is going to hurt himself. They argue a lot about his surfing, which she thinks is dangerous. Bill loves her, but he's not going to let her run his life the way he thinks she tried to run his father's. In his own quiet way, he's very strong-willed.

All in all, Bill is getting his life together again. He'll never forget Julianne, but he doesn't ache so much for her anymore. He would even like to fall in love again, but he doesn't feel ready to make a move with any of the girls he knows. The only girl he can really talk to is Elizabeth Wakefield, and she already has a boyfriend. Sometimes, when he's depressed, he's afraid he'll never find someone to love the way he loved Julianne.

Little does Bill know what fate has in store for him where love is concerned!

? LILA FOWLER Pretty, rich, spoiled, and the daughter of George Fowler, one of the richest men in Sweet Valley. The Fowlers represent the new money brought into the valley by the prospering computer-chip industry. They're in direct opposition to the Patmans, once the most powerful family in town, who are fighting to keep Sweet Valley the same as it was thirty years ago, when the big industry was canning.

Lila's main concern in life is status and image. She's one of the biggest snobs at Sweet Valley High. She has little patience for those who don't measure up to her standards. It's one of the reasons she and Jessica are such good friends. Together they intend to keep Pi Beta Alpha, the snobby sorority to which they belong, free of nerds, fatties, and other types they've deemed undesirable. Elizabeth steers clear of Lila whenever possible. If there's one thing she hates, it's snobs.

The truth about Lila, though, is that she's very insecure. Although she has a sleek, sophisticated image, she feels unloved and neglected. Her parents have always given her anything she wanted-except their attention. Now they're divorced, and she's living with her father, who travels a lot of the time. Mother is living it up in Europe with her jet-setter friends. Lila is an only child, so she doesn't have any brothers or sisters to hang out with. A live-in housekeeper is her closest companion at home. Though Lila would never admit it to anyone, she's so lonely she could scream.

Once Lila was caught shoplifting in the mall. Her father couldn't understand it. Why would she steal something she could easily afford to buy? If she needed more money, why didn't she just ask him? He doesn't realize that Lila was trying to get his attention the only way she could. Obviously, being pretty, popular, and talented isn't enough.

Something she found out this year has made her more insecure than ever. During one of her mother's infrequent visits, she admitted to Lila that George Fowler isn't her real father. Mrs. Fowler was pregnant with Lila when she met him, but he agreed to marry her and give the baby his name. Lila sees him in a new, more unselfish light, but at the same time she's worried sick. Since she's not George's real daughter, maybe he'll lose interest in her altogether someday. Maybe that's the reason he doesn't want to spend time with her, she thinks. She's terrified he'll get married again and have a child of his own. Also, she wonders about her real father. Who is he? Her mother won't tell. "Better not to open old wounds," she tells Lila. Nevertheless, Lila is dying of curiosity. Maybe he's someone rich and famous-a Hollywood celebrity. Her mother used to be a bit actress in Hollywood before she met George. Now, whenever Lila goes to the movies with her friends, she searches the faces of the actors on screen for any resemblance of her.

When Lila's mind isn't on her father, she's thinking about boys. The summer before, while visiting relatives in Boston, she fell in love with a boy named Ted Whitlock. For once in her life, Lila learned what it was like to be looked down upon. The Whitlocks are old, old Boston society-their ancestors came over on the Mayflower. Ted was crazy about Lila, but his parents didn't approve. Lila wasn't socially acceptable as far as they were concerned. Nevertheless, Lila and Ted managed to sneak out together quite a bit. They played tennis, went for long walks, and hid out in museums and movie theaters. When it was time for Lila to return home, they kissed tearfully and promised to write. Well, Lila wrote-five letters. Ted wrote her once-to ask her why she hadn't written. Lila's positive his parents have been intercepting the letters she sent him. The one time she tried to phone, Mrs. Whitlock icily informed her Ted wasn't home. Lila is desperate for some way to show Ted she still cares. He's the most fantastic guy she's ever met-also the richest and most well-connected. The boys she's dated at Sweet Valley High are nothing compared to Ted.

Lila's dream is to marry Ted Whitlock someday. Also, she wants to become a professional tennis star like her idol, Chris Evert Lloyd. When she's a big star, married to a man who's even richer than her father, then Daddy will have to notice her, won't he?

Dangerous Love.

Pascal, Francine.

Dear Reader, The minute I came up with the idea of Sweet Valley High, now thirty years ago, I knew it was perfect. But I knew it needed something else. And that something else was girl power. Unlike the Sleeping Beauty version of romance novels, where the heroine has to wait for the wake-up kiss, in my series the girls would drive the action. And there would be two of them; the good and the bad in all of us.

After that all I needed were the stories. With my three daughters and my own teenage years to draw on, I had endless possibilities. I started with a bible where I developed the characters, the school, and the town, and then began writing the stories for first twelve books, and then twelve more and more and more until I had written 144 stories. And then with the help of other writers, they became the 144 books of the Sweet Valley High series, which more than 100 million fans have loved.

And now it's all back as e-books for a whole new generation of teenagers who want to lose themselves in the world of Sweet Valley, the fantasy of the eighties, and the best high school no one ever went to.

And for the grown women who want to look back at the love of their high school lives and revel in the nostalgia of life with the most incredible twins, read away.

Sincerely, Francine Pascal.

One.

"I still can't believe you got permission to take the Spider to school today," Jessica Wakefield said, opening the passenger side of the red Fiat convertible. "How'd you do it?"

"Um, I told Mom it was a-a special occasion," her twin sister Elizabeth stammered, sliding in behind the wheel.

Jessica turned the rearview mirror to her side and checked her makeup. She had run late this morning and had dashed out of the Wakefields' split-level house without performing her usual ritual before the bathroom mirror. Not that she really needed it. Tan, blond, with a model-sized waist and a clear, satin-smooth complexion, both she and her identical twin were among the best-looking students at Sweet Valley High.

"What special occasion?" Jessica asked, rummaging in her large leather shoulder bag for her makeup kit.

As Jessica brushed a little more color onto her sun-kissed cheeks, Elizabeth nervously tried to think of something to say. She didn't want to talk about the real reason she was driving to school that day. Jessica would find out soon enough.

"Oh, the reopening of the Dairi Burger," Elizabeth finally blurted out, surprised that she hadn't thought of it before. She returned the mirror to its proper position. "I'm running low this week on information for 'Eyes and Ears,'" she said, referring to the gossip column she wrote for the school newspaper. "I figure everyone's going to be there, so there should be plenty to write about."

Jessica eyed her sister with skepticism. There was something in Elizabeth's voice that made Jessica suspect that her twin was being less than honest with her. "I'd hardly call the reopening of that grease pit the event of the century. Besides, I'd think you'd have all the info you could use from the surfing championship that Bill Chase won." As she talked, Jessica held a pocket mirror in one hand and combed out her shoulder-length hair with the other.

"That was last week, remember?"

Jessica groaned as she put away her comb and reached for her lipstick. "Please don't remind me," she said, the memory of the case of poison oak that had kept her home still fresh in her mind. Where did Elizabeth find the time to get ready? she wondered. Her hair tied back with a blue ribbon, dressed in jeans, blue oxford shirt, and dark blue blazer, Elizabeth looked as fresh and attractive as could be. But then, Jessica reflected, Elizabeth didn't bother with much makeup, using only a tiny hint of blush and mascara.