Jessica obeyed and moments later followed her twin up the staircase to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Now that they were alone, she felt no compulsion to take the invasion of her privacy lying down. "How could you do it?" she cried. "I can't believe my own sister has so little faith in me she feels the need to check up on my whereabouts."

"That's a funny thing to say considering my suspicions were right, Jess. But I'm not going to get into that right now. I want to talk about Roger Barrett. I know you saw him tonight, and I have to make sure you don't breathe a word to anyone."

Jessica snickered. "Why shouldn't I? It's only the hottest item to hit school in months. Big track star poses as night janitor. I suppose you want it to remain a big secret until you reveal it in 'Eyes and Ears'?"

"If I wanted to put it in the column, I could have done it weeks ago," Elizabeth said. "But I'm respecting Roger's wishes and keeping it confidential. The money he makes doesn't go for a car or fancy clothes or money to spend on girls-it pays his family's rent. It would kill him if anyone found out about it-and I mean anyone, Jessica. Understand?"

Jessica shifted her weight on Elizabeth's bed. "It'd put a big fat crimp in his relationship with Lila if she knew," Jessica said aloud. "God, I'd love to see her face when she finds out she's been chasing after a cleaning boy."

"You're not going to tell her, are you, Jess?" Elizabeth shook her head in exasperation. Nothing was ever easy with her sister.

"Oh, you never know," Jessica replied airily. "Something that juicy might slip out accidentally."

"Then you leave me no choice. I'll have to tell Dad what I saw tonight." Elizabeth sighed sadly. "It's going to break his heart...."

How can she do this? Jessica thought frantically. She's using one of my very own tricks to get me! It was unlike Elizabeth to resort to blackmail, but nevertheless Jessica couldn't help but feel a reluctant sense of admiration for her twin's scheme. Under the circumstances, it was in Jessica's best interest to go along with her sister's request. "OK, you win, Liz. I'll keep my mouth shut about Roger." For the time being, she added silently, crossing her fingers behind her back.

Elizabeth gave her sister a hug. "Thanks," she said. "It really means a lot to me."

Jessica pushed any guilt she might have felt about deceiving Elizabeth to the back of her mind. Ordinarily she'd never break a promise to her sister, but news like this was too good to be kept under wraps forever. She'd just have to be extra careful about how and when she revealed it.

"Hey," Jessica said, steering the subject away from herself, "how does Todd feel about your sudden interest in Roger?" She winked. "You sure you two don't have something going on between you?" She gave Elizabeth a playful tap on the arm.

"No way," Elizabeth said. "I just feel for the guy, that's all. And now that this is settled, tell me about this guy you've been seeing."

"So you'll have more ammunition for Dad?"

"You know me better than that, Jess." Elizabeth pretended to pout. "Truthfully, I think he's cute."

Jessica smiled, glad she could at last pour out her feelings to her sister. "His name's Dennis Creighton, and his father has the office across from Daddy's. He's very nice, Liz, and very sensitive about the things that really count with a girl. I've been waiting for a guy like him to come around for a long time."

"He sounds very special to you."

"He could be," Jessica said hopefully. "Of course, given my working situation, I've only been able to spend time with him at Dad's office."

"You've got the weekends," Elizabeth pointed out.

"I know, but that's the funny thing. So far he hasn't asked me to go out with him-on a real date, that is. I'd thought by now he'd want to do other things than hang out in Daddy's office with me, but he seems content to leave it the way it is." She left unsaid her realization that until Dennis grew tired of the arrangements, she'd have to stay on a job she was hating more and more with each passing day. "Naturally, I expect to go to the Bart dance with him. But he'd better act soon. I'm a very impatient person."

"Don't I know-"

Elizabeth's response was cut short by the ring of the telephone. The twins' parents recently had had extensions installed in each of the girls' bedrooms. Jessica leaned across the bed and picked up the phone. "Oh, hi, Lila," she said cheerfully. "Hold on a sec, OK?" Holding her palm over the mouthpiece she whispered, "I'm going to take the call in my room. And don't worry about a thing." She gave Elizabeth a reassuring squeeze as she got up, then hurried through the bathroom that connected her room to her sister's.

She settled down on her own bed. "Hang up, Liz," she yelled. Then she spoke into the phone. "What's up, Lila?" she asked.

"It's about Roger," Lila said. "I've got to find a way to land him for good. I need some help. Got any ideas?"

Jessica sat straight up. It wasn't often that Lila came running to her for help. "Let me think," she said, delighted to play the role of Lila's savior. Jessica picked up her brush and began to run it through her hair. "By the way, did Roger enjoy your pool this afternoon?"

"He never made it over," Lila said. "That's part of the reason for this call. Roger's still playing hard-to-get with me. You know I usually like to take care of these things myself, but I've tried everything I can think of."

Jessica chuckled to herself. Lila sounded so desperate! "Are you sure you really want him?"

"Of course I do." Lila's patience was wearing thin. "Can't you think of anything I can do?"

"I'm not a computer, Lila. Give me some time to mull it over. I'll call you later tonight. OK?"

Jessica put down the receiver. If Lila wanted Roger, Jessica thought, she'd help her get him, even though she realized her friend would run away from Roger as fast as she could if she knew the truth about him. As open as Lila tried to appear, Jessica knew that she'd never in a million years want anything to do with him if she knew he was a poverty-stricken janitor. Lila had often commented pityingly on the boys who worked weekends at the Dairi Burger or the Valley Cinema. She couldn't see how any girl could put up with a boy who had to work Friday and Saturday nights. "What kind of relationship could someone like that ever have?" she'd often asked.

But Jessica had promised Elizabeth not to tell Lila anything, so what could she do, she thought gleefully, but come up with a way to get Lila and Roger together.

Rejecting about a dozen schemes before feeling satisfied, she finally came up with a plan she felt was destined to succeed. She snapped her fingers assuredly. Not only had she figured out a way to lure Roger to Lila's place, but she had also managed to work in a little dividend of her own. If things worked out right, she would end up the star of the party with her new boyfriend, Dennis.

Feeling proud of herself, Jessica quickly dialed Lila's number. "The wizard strikes again," she announced. "Lila, your worries are over."

"You've got a plan?"

"Do I ever. Here goes," Jessica said. "You know that Coach Schultz is leaving school after the race."

"Tom McKay told me it's because he's got cancer."

"I heard it was his heart. But that doesn't really matter. The point is he'll be gone, and the school doesn't appear to be doing a thing for him. That's where you come in. You could throw a party in his honor right before the dance Saturday night. A small affair by the pool."

"And invite Roger as my escort?" Lila filled in.

"You've got it. He may be reluctant to accept a regular invitation from you, but he can't pass up a celebration for his own coach. It'd be unethical. Then, of course, since we'll all be going to the dance from there...."

"It'll be very convenient for the two of us to go together. Very clever, Jessica."

Very clever, indeed, Jessica thought, proud of coming up with a solution that dovetailed very nicely with her own desires. Dennis still hadn't asked her to the Bart dance, but she was sure he would say yes if she asked him to this party. Lila's would be the perfect place to introduce him to her friends. With so many people expected at the Bart dance, her grand arrival with Dennis might go unnoticed. But everybody who mattered could be invited to Lila's to get a firsthand look at her latest conquest.

"Talk up this party with the gang, Lila. But make sure everyone realizes it's a tribute to the coach. I just have a feeling that's the key to convincing Roger to come."

"I think it just might work, Jess," Lila said.

"I think so, too," Jessica said. But her thoughts were already focused on how she could make the most of the moment with Dennis. True, it would be Lila's party, and the attention would be centered on Lila and Roger, but Jessica had a way of fixing that, too. She could see it now. Everyone who was anyone-from her sorority sisters to the guys on the boys' tennis team-would be gathered around Lila's lushly landscaped swimming pool. Right in the center of things would be Lila, making sure everyone was aware that Roger was the object of her affection. Then, as the hors d'oeuvres were being passed around, Jessica could casually mention to Cara how nice it was that Roger got time off from cleaning toilets to come to this affair. Within minutes everyone would be looking at Lila strangely-and she'd try to discover why. Soon she'd be off hiding in embarrassment, trying to figure out how to get out of this one. That would set the stage for Jessica's introduction of Dennis and her taking over as star of the party. Jessica giggled inwardly in anticipation of the event. "I'll start making calls now if you want," Jessica offered.

"Oh, that'd be terrific," Lila gushed. "I don't know what I'd do without a friend like you."

Jessica hung up then, and before she had a chance to make any calls, the phone rang again. She picked it up the same time as Elizabeth did, but when she discovered the call was not for her, Jessica hung up.

After Elizabeth got off the phone, Jessica walked into her sister's room. "Liz, has the gossip column gone to press yet?" she asked, an innocent lilt to her voice.

"I still have a couple of days. Why? Do you have something for me?"

"Only the biggest news of the year. Lila's going to have a tribute to Coach Schultz right before the dance on Saturday. All the best people will be there. It should be the party to end all parties."

From the smirk on her sister's face, Elizabeth could tell that Jessica was up to no good. "Thanks for telling me, but why should I rush it into this week's column? Parties usually make news after they've happened, not before."

"This is different," Jessica insisted. "This party is exactly what I need. It's the perfect place for me to introduce Dennis to everyone."

"Hmm, and I'll bet it's the perfect setting for Roger and Lila, too. I imagine you can't wait to see them together at the party," Elizabeth noted dryly. "But I wouldn't count on it. My hunch is that it'll never come off."

"It has to," Jessica said. "Roger might make an excuse to her about a regular party, but he can't pass this up. Look how disappointed in him the coach would be."

"I think the coach is going to be even more disappointed than you think. Because I don't think Roger's going to run in the race at all."

Jessica's jaw dropped. "You know this for a fact?"

"I was just on the phone with Olivia Davidson. She said Roger told her his boss won't give him the time off. So you can forget about your plan, Jess. It's not going to happen."

"Don't you think there's any chance you could be wrong, Liz?"

"Why? So you could get a laugh out of seeing Lila and Roger together? Olivia said Roger's really worried you'll tell the whole school you saw him."

Jessica bypassed the issue. "My big concern is getting the chance to introduce Dennis. If Roger doesn't run, Lila won't have the party, and it'll ruin everything. Liz, isn't there something we can do? Roger's got to be in the race!"

Elizabeth stifled a giggle. She agreed with Jessica, even if her twin's motives were less than honorable. Roger's running would be a boon to Sweet Valley, and more people than the coach and Jessica and Lila would be disappointed if he failed to show up. "I want to see him run, too," Elizabeth said. "And maybe there's a way to make it happen." Struck with a thought, she got out of her desk chair and headed out to the hallway.

"Where are you going?" Jessica asked.

"I've got a brainstorm," Elizabeth said. "And if it works, you'll see Roger on the starting line-and at Lila's party-on Saturday."

Nine.

The following morning Elizabeth was standing by her locker talking with Enid when Roger came whizzing down the corridor. "Roger, stop! I've got to talk to you," she called.

Roger was nearly up at the next bank of lockers when he turned around. "What's up?"

"Enid, could you excuse us a moment?" Her friend backed off gracefully as Elizabeth led Roger toward an unoccupied stretch of hallway. "I know Jessica saw you last night. I wanted to let you know that I spoke to her and she's promised not to say a word about you."

"Can you trust her?" Roger asked.

"She's my sister," Elizabeth said. "When she gives her word to me, she means it."

Roger shook his head. "I'm glad to hear that, Liz. And I appreciate what you've done for me. But I think Lila's going to find out today anyway. As soon as I can, I'm going to go to Coach Schultz and tell him I'm dropping out of the race. The truth is I never wanted to run in the first place. It was just an ego thing for me, to see if I could do it. Well, I proved I can, and that's good enough for me. If it's not good enough for anyone else around here, that's tough."

"You don't really mean that, Roger," Elizabeth said.

"Hey, don't put words in my mouth," he said, his voice rising in anger. "This school doesn't need me, anyway. You've got Bruce Patman. That should be enough for anyone."

Elizabeth kept her voice low. "I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth," she explained. "What I meant to say was that I know you're afraid of losing your job."

"Olivia tell you?"

Elizabeth nodded. "But I think there's a way you can run and keep your job at the same time."

Roger looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. "Sure, and Santa Claus really comes down the chimney at Christmas. Maybe miracles happen in your life, Liz, but not in mine. The fantasy is over for me. At least the part about the race."

As Roger walked off, his eyes downcast, Elizabeth made a move to go after him but then changed her mind. Maybe she shouldn't tell him her father was going to plead his case with Mr. Pendergast. It was better not to offer him false hope, just in case things didn't work out.

Before heading to Coach Schultz's office, Roger went to his locker and took out and carefully folded the sweat suit the principal had given him. He didn't feel right keeping it any longer, and he planned to return it to Mr. Cooper after his meeting with the coach.

Roger should have had plenty of time to take care of everything before his first class, but he hadn't counted on running into Lila. She looked particularly attractive that day in a pale, close-fitting linen dress cut low in the back.

"Roger, I'm so glad I caught you. I have the most marvelous news to tell you."

"I have something to tell you, too," he said. His nervousness clearly apparent, he let the sweat suit topple to the floor.

Lila picked it up. "What are you carrying that around for?" she queried.

He took a deep breath. "I'm returning the suit."

"Why? Don't you like the fit? I thought it looked great on you."

"The fit has nothing to do with it. I didn't buy this suit, Lila. The principal gave it to me, a sort of thanks for winning the trials the other day."

"So why are you giving it back?"

"Lila"-he looked into her brown eyes, trying to read her thoughts-"how important is it to you that I run in the Bart?"

"What a silly question, Roger."

"Is it? Would your feelings about me change if I didn't run in the race?"

Lila snorted. "I'm not going to answer that, Roger, because I can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't run. It's only the most prestigious sporting event of the year."

Roger was beginning to feel sick inside. He had the awful feeling that Lila had already given him the answer he didn't want to hear, but he had to continue. She'd know soon enough, anyway.

"Well, I have a very good reason for not running," he told her. "I work in an office building, Lila. Every day from three to nine and all day Saturday you'll find me there, making sure that all the wastepaper baskets are emptied and all the floors are shining."

Lila couldn't hide the feeling of disgust that began to run through her. "You're a cleaning boy!"

"I prefer the term janitor," he said, an unexpected feeling of pride coming over him. "We're not all born rich. I don't like being poor any more than you'd like it. That's why I'm working my fingers off at this job. All that talk about wanting to be a doctor is true, Lila. I want that more than anything, and one way or another I'm going to make it. If it takes missing the Bart, it's a sacrifice I'm prepared to make. I don't need the prestige that comes with running in the race, but I do need the money from my job." Roger could see that the sparkle was gone from Lila's eyes. "Now, what was it you wanted to tell me?"

Roger's integrity was admirable, but Lila wanted nothing to do with it. Sacrifice was a word that wasn't in her vocabulary. She certainly hoped no one else knew about his job. "Oh, it was nothing important," Lila said, her party plans now ruined.

"Somehow I'm not surprised," Roger said, feeling both angry and hurt. "I realize you've just answered all my questions. See you around, Lila. I've got some people to talk to."

But the coach would have to wait, Roger thought as the warning bell rang. Forced to rely on his speed, he dashed down the hall and up the stairs to his first-period class, getting there with plenty of time to spare.