"Can it wait until we finish talking to Jessica?"

"That's what we wanted to talk to you about," Joan said.

Just what I need, Jessica thought. With those two on the witness stand, I'll probably get sent to the electric chair.

"OK, come in, girls. You were with Jessica that day. Maybe you can tell us what happened."

"Jessica couldn't have been going as fast as the policeman said she was," Jean stated. "It's not possible."

Mr. Wakefield smiled at them. "I know you want to help Jess, but she was tracked by radar. She was doing seventy."

"She couldn't have been, Mr. Wakefield. Those radar guns sometimes make mistakes. My dad told me that once a big old oak tree was clocked at forty miles an hour."

"And besides that," Joan put in, "I always get carsick at high speeds, and I felt just fine that day."

Jessica blinked in astonishment. They were defending her. They were actually on her side.

"And about that dent," Joan continued. "Jessica started backing out first. That man in the other car was more to blame than she was."

"It looks like you have a couple of pretty good defense attorneys," Ned Wakefield said, smiling. "What do you think, Alice?"

"I think you and I may have overreacted, Ned," she answered. "Perhaps this was a case of carelessness, not recklessness." She turned to Jessica, catching the look of total relief. "But don't think you're off the hook entirely, young lady. There will be a punishment. Your father and I will discuss this further and talk to you about it later."

Jessica smiled happily. She could hardly believe her good luck. "Thanks, Mom and Dad. Thanks so much! You have my solemn promise that I'll never go even a half mile over the speed limit again!" She threw her arms around her mother, hugging her tightly.

Alice Wakefield found it impossible not to laugh along with her daughter. Disentangling herself, she suggested, "Don't you think you should save some of the thanks for your two friends?" She nodded in the direction of Joan and Jean as she and Mr. Wakefield left the room.

Jessica eyed the two girls for a moment. What in the world was she supposed to say to them? The twins exchanged glances and then looked at Jessica.

"We're sorry we were so much trouble for you, Jessica," said Joan.

"Trouble?"

"Well, you know, the night of the drive-in and then again with the auditions."

"Well, I'm sorry I yelled at you so much," Jessica said.

"Oh, that's all right," Joan said.

"We get yelled at lots more sometimes. That was nothing."

"Really? Your parents yell at you?"

"Oh, no," said Joan.

"Never," added Jean.

"It's Mr. Minor, our flute teacher. Boy, he's nuclear!" They both giggled.

"Besides, we never had so much fun," said Joan.

"Never," Jean said. "Boy, going to a real drive-in! With making out and everything."

"Wait a minute," Jessica said.

"Nobody ever takes us places like that," said Joan. "Wait till we tell the kids."

"Listen, you two," Jessica said, "cool it, see? You weren't supposed to be there." But she looked at their solemn little faces and couldn't help laughing.

As Jean and Joan left the room, the closeness between them was obvious. It made Jessica want to cry. She and Elizabeth had been like that, sharing everything, protecting and sticking up for one another. But not anymore. And she missed that closeness. Losing out on dates, having her parents angry at her-none of that was important. She needed Elizabeth, her sister ... her friend.

"Hey, Liz! Wait up!"

Elizabeth turned around and saw Bill Chase coming down the corridor toward her. He was wearing his usual land outfit of jeans and a T-shirt. His long, straight blond hair was dry for a change, and he was carrying books instead of a surfboard.

"How's the surf these days?" she asked, smiling up at him in a flirty way that took him by surprise.

"Terrific-as usual."

Since he was only truly alive when he surfed or gave surfing lessons, Bill didn't spend much time hanging out with the kids at school. But Todd Wilkins was a good friend of his, so he did know that Todd and Elizabeth were not going together any longer.

Bill remembered how surprised he'd been when Todd told him how cold Elizabeth was being.

"Is it really all over?" he had asked. "What happened?"

"It's over, Bill," Todd had said sadly. "But I'd rather not talk about it."

"I'm not trying to pry, Todd, and I really feel bad for you. Sounds like Elizabeth is acting rotten."

Todd sighed. "No, Bill. But she seems mixed up. If she'd find someone else who's special, that would be one thing. But she just doesn't act like she knows what she's doing."

"Todd, you're really worried about her."

"Yes, I am."

"You know I've always cared about Liz."

"I know."

"I mean, if it's really over between you two, I was wondering if you'd get mad at me if I asked Liz out."

Todd turned away, and Bill thought at first he was really angry. But then Todd sighed again and looked back. The expression on his face wasn't anger. It was worry and sorrow.

"It isn't up to me who she goes out with," he murmured.

"I know, but I don't want you mad at me."

Todd looked down at his shoes. "Don't worry about it, Bill. I won't mind if you ask her out. I haven't got the right. I'll see you later."

Bill hadn't needed any more urging. He had been half in love with Elizabeth from a distance for ages.

"I was wondering if maybe you'd like to go to the beach club dance with me Saturday night," he asked Elizabeth hesitantly.

"Beach club? Hmmmm..."

"If you've got other plans, it's OK. I didn't really expect you to be free."

"Why not? Sure, I'll go-on one condition," she said, surprising him. "I'll go if you'll take me surfing the next day."

"I've never seen you do much surfing," he said, confused. Afraid that she might change her mind about Saturday night, he quickly added, "Sure, I'll take you surfing."

"Can I go way out, Bill, where you go?" Elizabeth's smile was almost hypnotizing him.

Bill blinked in surprise. "That's kind of dangerous for an inexperienced surfer," he warned.

"But I wouldn't be in any danger with you along to protect me, would I, Bill?"

Bill Chase suddenly knew what it meant to be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

"I'd always take care of you, Liz."

"See you Saturday night, then."

Bill stared after her in amazement as she walked sexily down the hall.

He would also have been amazed to hear her on the phone with Bruce Patman later that day.

"Hi, baby, how are you?" Bruce asked.

"I'm just terrific, Bruce. How's your glass jaw?" She laughed.

"You little wildcat. You like the idea of two guys fighting over you, don't you?" he accused.

"Well, Bruce, it was kind of fun, but I wish you'd been the winner."

"Yeah? Well, how about proving it Saturday night? My folks are away for the weekend, and we could go to the beach house. We'd have it all to ourselves, just you and me together, the whole night through. What do you say, sweet Liz?" Bruce kept his voice low and sexy.

Elizabeth didn't even hesitate before saying, "You've got a date, Bruce. But don't pick me up here. My folks are a little square when it comes to certain things. I'll meet you around the corner from my house."

A nervous Bill Chase rang the Wakefields' bell that Saturday night. He was still surprised that Elizabeth had agreed to go out with him.

"Bill Chase, what are you doing here?" Jessica asked as she opened the door.

"Hello, Jess. I'm here to pick up Liz. Is she ready?"

"Liz? Uh-come in."

She led Bill into the living room and told him to wait, trying frantically to think of a way of covering for her absent sister.

"I'll be right back," she said, dashing up the stairs.

"Oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy!" she muttered as she dialed Enid Rollins's number. Elizabeth had said she was spending the night there, obviously forgetting she had a date. When did those two become friends again? Jessica wondered.

"Enid, it's Jess, let me speak to Liz," she snapped, in no mood to be polite. She listened for a moment, then banged down the phone.

"Great! She's not there," Jessica muttered to herself. "That could only mean she's out with someone else-someone she shouldn't be with. Talk about fast lanes! I'd better give Bill the bad news." She started out of her room, then stopped when an idea hit her.

Why should Liz have all the fun? she asked herself.

Five minutes later she surveyed the transformation. She was wearing Elizabeth's flowered peasant skirt and ruffled blouse. She strolled down the stairs and into the living room.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Bill."

He smiled. "You're worth waiting for, Liz."

At the same time that Bill was driving off with the Wakefield twin he thought was Elizabeth, Bruce and the real Elizabeth arrived at the Patmans' luxurious beach house. Bruce led her from the car around to the pool in the back of the house.

"Nice, Bruce, very nice." Elizabeth looked around at the beautifully landscaped deck area, the lounge chairs arranged near the pool, the glass-topped table, the subdued lighting. It was a California dream house.

"How about a swim?" Bruce suggested.

"I didn't bring my suit," she replied.

"Who needs a suit?" Bruce grinned suggestively.

"First things first, Bruce," she said. "Show me around this gorgeous place."

"You're right. We'll cool off later. Much later." He pulled her down onto a lounge chair and into his arms for a long, probing kiss.

"This is the pool deck," he whispered between kisses.

Fourteen.

"Bruce!" Elizabeth protested laughingly, breaking free of him.

"Hey, what's the matter? I thought you liked me. You certainly liked me the other night." Bruce's handsome face was flushed with anger. Girls did not usually play hard to get with him.