Secrets (7 page)

"Enid!" Surprise was stamped on Nora Dalton's pale features as she opened the door to her apartment to find Enid standing there. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"I--I hope you don't mind, Ms. Dalton," Enid said haltingly, "but I really had to talk to you, and since you haven't been at school ..." She let her voice trail off as she took in the unfamiliar sight of Ms. Dalton wearing a bathrobe in the middle of the afternoon.

"Of course I don't mind. It's just ..." She touched her straight black hair as if wondering if she'd remembered to comb it. "I wasn't expecting company. You'll have to forgive me if I look a mess. I haven't been very well these last couple of days."

"I, uh, heard you were sick. I'm really sorry if I'm bothering you."

Enid reddened, suddenly feeling terribly awkward. She'd been so wrapped up in her own problem, she hadn't given much consideration to the ordeal her teacher must have been suffering at the hands of Sweet Valley High's gossip hounds.

"You're not bothering me, Enid. Come in. I'm glad you came." Nora Dalton looked thinner and paler than the last time Enid had seen her. There were faint purplish smudges under her eyes.

They sat on the couch in the slanting late-afternoon sunlight while Enid poured out her story. Talking to her mother had been difficult ever since the divorce--Mom had enough problems of her own without being dumped on by her kids, Enid figured. But she'd always felt free to confide in Ms. Dalton, sort of like an older sister. The three days she had been absent seemed like the longest days
A
Enid's life.

"I'm probably the last person who should be advising you about this," Ms. Dalton said quietly when Enid had finished. "But I certainly know how you feel. It's not easy being convicted without a trial, is it?"

"The worst part is knowing it was your best friend who put your head in the noose."

Ms. Dalton shook her head slowly. "I still can't believe Liz would do such a thing."

"Who else could it be?"

"I don't know, but there has to be another explanation. Why would Liz want to hurt you? She's your best friend."

"Maybe it's like Jessica said. It just slipped out. But she
knew
how important it was to me that no one find out. That's what really hurts. It's like my feelings didn't matter to her at all."

"What does Liz have to say about all this?" Ms. Dalton asked, her hazel eyes filled with sympathy.

"She denies it, of course."

"Have you considered the possibility that maybe she's telling the truth?"

Enid stared at the carpet. "I--I guess I've been too busy being mad to really listen to Liz."

"You should listen, you know. No one should be condemned before all the testimony is in. If you don't trust Liz, aren't you doing the same thing to her that Ronnie did to you?"

"I never thought about it that way," Enid said sheepishly.

"Talk to Liz. I'm sure she'll understand. She knows how upset you've been. Sometimes people don't think things through when they're hurting."

Enid got the feeling Ms. Dalton knew all too well what she was going through. The latest rumor around school was that Lila's father had broken off with her.

"I doubt if Liz is still speaking to me," Enid said. "I haven't exactly been overly friendly to her lately."

"I don't think it's ever too late to say you're sorry in a situation like this, Enid."

Impulsively Enid threw her arms around her teacher. "You know something? I suddenly feel about a hundred pounds lighter. Even if I dori's have a date for the dance," she ended on a glum note.

"Why not go alone then?" Ms. Dalton suggested. "Just because you don't have a date, that's no reason to stay home. Plenty of kids go without dates. Just hold your head up, that's what counts. You might even surprise yourself and have a good time."

"Do you really think I should?"

"Of course I do! I'd go with you myself, if it weren't for--" She broke off, clearly uncomfortable about discussing her own problem with Enid.

"Oh, Ms. Dalton," Enid cried, "it's so unfair! I hate what everyone's been saying about you!"

"Enid," she said, her voice catching a little, "I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but I've been thinking quite seriously about resigning. I've spoken to Mr. Cooper about it, and he--"

"No!" Enid leaped to her feet in a blaze of indignation. "You can't. You can't just quit!

What about all that stuff you just told me? How can you expect me to hold my head up if you won't do the same?"

Ms. Dalton was staring at her with a dazed expression. "You don't understand, Enid. It's not the same thing."

"Why isn't it? We've both been accused of something we didn't do. What's the difference?"

All the tears Enid had been holding back now streamed down her cheeks. She got up and grabbed her jacket, suddenly feeling as if Ms. Dalton had abandoned her.

"Running away is running away--no matter what excuses you make!" Enid cried as she stumbled blindly toward the door.

She was gone before Ms. Dalton could reply.

The doorbell rang as Enid was applying a final coat of polish to her nails. She was so nervous that the noise startled her into knocking the bottle across her dressing table in a splash of pale pink.

"Darn!" she cried, dangerously close to tears once again. But this time she was determined not to give in to them. She'd spent the last hour applying her makeup, and she wasn't going to let anything spoil it.

Through gritted teeth, Enid addressed her reflection in the mirror: "You're going to have a

good time at this dance if it kills you, Enid Rollins!"

"Enid!" Her mother stuck her head through the bedroom door. "Someone's here to see you."

"Who?"

Enid couldn't imagine who would be stopping by at this time. It was nearly eight. Elizabeth would be too busy getting ready for the dance herself. The only other person she could think of was ...

"Ronnie!" She jumped to her feet, her heart taking off at a full gallop.

Mrs. Rollins shook her head, wearing a mysterious smile. "I'm afraid not, dear. But I don't think you'll be disappointed when you see who it is."

Enid flew downstairs, forgetting that she hadn't put on her shoes. She came to an abrupt halt when she reached the living room.

"George!" she gasped in disbelief.

This
couldn't
be the same George Warren she'd last seen two years ago. The boy standing before her now was at least a foot taller. A tower of tanned muscle topped by a gorgeous white smile and the sexiest eyes Enid had ever been hypnotized by. He was dressed in a suit and tie that made him look even more irresistible. She stepped forward as if in a trance to take the hand he held out to her.

"I know I should have called first," he said in a deep baritone, "but I was afraid maybe you'd tell me not to come over. Somehow I just couldn't stand the idea of not being able to see you, Enid."

"I--I'm glad you came, George," she stammered, finally regaining her senses. "Oh, George, I can't believe it's
you.
You've really changed!"

"So have you." He laughed. "For the better, too. I remember you when you were a skinny kid with bangs that kept falling in your eyes."

"And braces," Enid said. "Don't forget the braces."

"How could I?"

They both laughed. Within minutes, they were chatting away as if they'd seen each other only yesterday. Even more astounding than the physical transformation George had undergone, was the change in George's personality. Enid was utterly entranced. Gone was the angry, sullen boy who had blamed the world for his problems. George was now a responsible young man, a good student, and--he informed Enid to her delight--he had been accepted to Sweet Valley College for the next semester.

Of course, she'd known from his letters that he'd changed, but she'd escaped the full impact of it until just this moment. Besides, how could she have known from his letters how absolutely gorgeous he'd become? Enid couldn't stop looking at him.

"listen, Enid," George said, engulfing her hand in his large, warm grasp, "I just talked to Winston, and he told me everything that's been going on. I just want you to know I'm really sorry if my letters got you into any trouble."

"Trouble?" Enid forgot she'd ever had any troubles. The electric sensation of his touch traveled up her arm, tingling throughout her body.

"About the letters, though," he went on, "I have to tell you they were all that kept me going in the beginning when things were really rough. I could see how much you'd changed, and it really inspired me. You believed in me when I couldn't believe in myself. I guess that's why I wanted to see you--so I could thank you in person."

"Thank me?" Enid knew she was starting to sound like a parrot, but whenever she looked into those clear gray eyes, anything brilliant she might have said simply fizzled away.

"Yeah, and to ask you something." He cleared his throat. "I know it's kind of the last minute and all, but Winston told me about your boyfriend breaking your date for the dance, and I was just wondering ..."

Enid's voice returned all of a sudden, loud and clear. "Ronnie's not my boyfriend," she broke in. "As a matter of fact, I'm not sure he ever was. And, yes, George, I'd
love
to go to the dance with you."

He broke into a mile-wide grin. "When I saw you in that dress, I was sure I was too late. I figured some other lucky guy had beaten me to it."

"You look pretty special yourself," she noted, admiring his neatly pressed slacks and dark wool blazer. "Why so dressed up?"

"Well, you see it's like this. I was hoping you'd take one look and figure a clean-cut, preppy type like me was too good to go to waste."

He handed her a small white florist's box he'd been concealing behind his back. Inside was a dewy white orchid corsage tied with a purple bow.

"George--you liar!" Enid's eyes filled with tears in spite of the fact that she was grinning. "You knew all along I didn't have a date!"

"What's the difference? You do now. Isn't that all that matters?"

When they reached the front door, George looked down and started to laugh.

"What's so funny?" she demanded.

"Haven't you forgotten something?" he asked.

Enid glanced down at her feet. "My shoes!"

"Never mind, I like you barefoot."

George wrapped his arms around her, drawing her into a gentle, tentative kiss. His lips were warm and sweet, sending waves of pleasure rippling up her backbone. She curled her hand

around the back of his neck, holding him closer as their kiss deepened.

At that moment Enid would have walked barefoot over hot coals to go to the dance with George.

"Well--how do I look?"

Jessica twirled before her sister. She looked stunning in a slinky red silk formal with a wide embroidered belt and black sandal heels. Long rhinestone earrings dangled from her ears. She looked as though she'd stepped out of the pages of
Cosmopolitan
--which was exactly the look she was after.

"You look sexy, if that's what you want to know," commented Elizabeth, scarcely looking up from the ironing board as she finished pressing the ruffled hem of her own slightly less revealing voile gown. "Are you sure Ronnie can handle it?"

"You act like Ronnie's my boyfriend, for heaven's sake." Jessica sighed. "I
told
you, Liz, I'm only doing this as a favor to Enid."

"Yes, that's right--you did tell me something like that." Elizabeth pressed down hard on the ruffle, imagining it was Jessica's head she was flattening.

"Really, Liz, you've been acting very strange the past couple of hours," Jessica noted, narrowing her beautifully made-up turquoise eyes. "What's wrong with you, anyway?"

"Nothing, absolutely nothing. What could possibly be wrong?"

"Well, I don't know, but you've been looking at me like I was the Boston Strangler or something. It's giving me the creeps! Are you mad at me?"

"Mad? How could I be mad at
you,
Jess?" Elizabeth asked sweetly. "Maybe you just have a guilty conscience."

Jessica frowned, tapping her enameled nails against the dresser. "What would I have to feel guilty about? I haven't done anything wrong."

"In that case, you have nothing to worry about."

"Honestly, Lizzie, I don't know what gets into you sometimes. I should think you'd be eternally grateful to me for all the sacrifices I'm making!"

"Oh, I am, I am. I'm just trying to think of a way to show my appreciation for everything you've done."

"You are?" Jessica's expression brightened.

"Sure. I want to see you get everything you deserve."

"You're a doll, Liz. I take back all those mean things I said." She went back to admiring her reflection in the full-length mirror. "What do you think--should I put my hair up or leave it down?"

"Better leave it down. You might have trouble with the crown otherwise."

"Oh, Lizzie!" she shrieked. "Do you really think I'll get it?"

"Don't you always get what you want?"

"I certainly hope so tonight. I've been wanting to go out with Bruce Patman since we were freshmen. This is my big chance. Finally. Oh, I can hardly wait!"

"I wouldn't get too excited if I were you." Elizabeth unplugged the iron. "You know the old saying about counting your chickens before they're hatched."

"Tell it to Winston Egg-bert. Can you believe he's even running for king? Honestly, I don't know how he even got nominated in the first place."

"Oh, I don't know. I happen to think Winston would make some lucky girl a fantastic king."

Jessica wrinkled her nose. "Ugh! More like court jester." She sailed toward the door in a cloud of perfume. "Come on, Lizzie, will you please hurry up. Our dates will be here practically any second!"

It would be the first time in their lives that Jessica was on time and Elizabeth wasn't. Usually it was the other way around, with Jessica keeping everyone waiting ... and waiting. To Jessica's way of thinking, nothing ever really started until she arrived anyway, so why hurry?

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Elizabeth muttered, a sly smile flickering across her innocent features. It was the first genuine smile she'd managed in the past week. She was about to teach her dear sister a lesson she wouldn't soon forget.

The school gym, transformed into a fairyland by tiny lights and shimmery decor, was packed by the time Elizabeth and Jessica arrived with Todd and Ronnie at eight-thirty. The dance floor was crowded with couples moving to the driving beat of the music under flashes of starry light cast by a huge mirrored ball on the ceiling. The Droids were in fine form, with Dana belting out a steamy Linda Ronstadt tune.

"I can't wait for the voting to start," Jessica whispered to Elizabeth.

"Me neither," Elizabeth answered, wondering if her sister would be so anxious to win if she knew what was in store for her.

Elizabeth spotted Caroline Pearce, looking hideously girlish in a ruffled pink organdy dress that clashed with her hair, and wandered casually over to whisper something in her ear. Caroline

smiled, her eyes widening. The minute Elizabeth walked off, Caroline was busy gabbing to the person beside her.

Elizabeth figured it wouldn't take long for word to spread now that Caroline was in charge.

Elizabeth was dancing with Todd when a stir at the entrance nudged her out of her blissful trance. She craned her head to see what the commotion was all about and caught sight of Ms. Dalton sailing through the crowd with her head held high.

"I wondered if she was going to show," Elizabeth said. "I saw her name on the chaperon list, but I figured she'd still be too sick to come."

"Looks like she made a miraculous recovery," Todd observed appreciatively.

It was true that Ms. Dalton had never looked prettier. She wore a long velvet skirt and an old-fashioned blouse with lots of ruffles and tucks. Her hair was perfect, and she had a silk rose pinned over one ear. It was obvious she'd gone to a lot of trouble to appear at her very best.

"Hey, Ms. Dalton--where's Ken?" a rude voice hollered.

She halted. Elizabeth held her breath, not knowing what the teacher would do, but her only reaction after that momentary hesitation was to smile even more broadly. She continued

on to the refreshment table, where she was greeted warmly by the other chaperons, Mr. Collins in particular.

He took her hand and whispered something in her ear. Ms. Dalton nodded, and the two of them drifted onto the dance floor as The Droids launched into a slow number.

Elizabeth sighed in happy relief. "Looks like she's going to make it after all."

"People are still going to talk," Todd remarked.

"They'll get tired of it after a while and move on to something else."

"Let's just hope it's not
us."
He laughed.

"Hardly. What would they have to talk about? We're too boring. All we ever do is hold hands and kiss."

"Doesn't sound too boring to me." Todd's arms tightened about her waist as he tickled her ear with his lips.

"By the way," Elizabeth wondered aloud, "where
is
Ken? I haven't seen him. He's not still sick, is he?"

"You mean you didn't hear?"

"There've been so many rumors, I can hardly keep them straight."

"Well, I talked to Ken myself. He was supposed to take Lila Fowler to the dance, but when he found out she was the one who started that rumor about Ms. Dalton, he dropped her."

"Lila started the rumor?"

"According to Cara she did, but then I wouldn't exactly call Cara Walker a reliable source."

"If it's true, I'd say Lila got what she deserved."

Just like someone else is about to get what she deserves,
Elizabeth thought as she caught a glimpse of her sister flirting with Bruce Patman.

Elizabeth couldn't believe it when she turned and saw Enid floating in on the arm of an absolutely gorgeous boy. She was glowing with excitement, her cheeks flushed, her eyes shining. She wore a pale mauve off-the-shoulder dress that showed off her slender figure to perfection. Her hair was pulled back, anchored by delicate mother-of-pearl combs. The shimmering whiteness of the flower George had given her set off her radiant smile. Liz had never seen her look so beautiful.

She was dying to rush over and ask Enid what had happened and who she was with, but she fought the impulse. Suppose Enid snubbed her in front of everyone? All eyes were on Enid and her spectacular date as she sailed across the dance floor. Elizabeth couldn't risk the humiliation of having Enid cut her dead. Yet she would have given anything to talk to Enid, to have things the way they were before Jessica had ruined it all.

Todd had just gone off to the refreshment table to get some punch when Elizabeth noticed

Enid walking toward her. Her pulse quickened. Was Enid still angry with her? She felt the heat climbing in her cheeks as Enid approached. Enid wasn't smiling. She looked tense about something.

"Liz?" Enid placed a tentative hand on her arm. "Can we talk? I know you're probably furious with me, and you have every right to be, but--but I just want you to know how sorry I am for the way I've been acting."

"You're
sorry?" Elizabeth was stunned.

"I never really believed you were responsible for Ronnie finding out about the letters. Not deep down in my heart. I guess I was just so angry at everything, I was using you for a dartboard. It was wrong. I know you would never do anything to hurt me, Liz."

Tears filled Elizabeth's eyes as she hugged her friend. "Oh, Enid, I'm so glad! I was so afraid we'd never be friends again!"

"We're joined at the ear, remember?" Enid laughed. She was referring to their marathon sessions over the phone. Her own eyes shone with tears as well. "I'm just so relieved
you're
not mad at
me,
Liz. I was positive you'd never want to speak to me again."

"How could I not speak to you when I'm dying to know who that fabulous guy you're with is? Enid, what's going
on?"

Enid smiled, her face taking on a dreamy

expression. Quickly she filled Elizabeth in on everything that had happened.

"George is pretty special," she said, "and not just on the surface, either. I know I'd never have to pretend to be someone I'm not when I'm with him. You were so right, Liz--honesty really is the best way. I don't think it would have worked with Ronnie, even if someone hadn't told him about the letters."

"The fact remains that someone
did
tell," Elizabeth said. "And I happen to know who it was."

"Who?" Enid asked.

"I can't say, but I want you to know that the person responsible isn't going to get off without a few scratches of her own."

Enid shook her head in amazement at the way things had turned out. A week ago she would have wanted to strangle whoever had been responsible for ruining her relationship with Ronnie. Now she didn't really care. It was partly because of George and partly because her talk with Ms. Dalton had made her realize that a relationship that wasn't built on honesty and trust wasn't any kind of relationship at all. And that went for friendship, too. Friends had to trust each other, even when things got messy.

"You know something," Enid said, "I should really thank whoever did that to me. She really did me a favor in the end."

"Enid," Elizabeth admonished, "there is a point at which you can be
too
forgiving."

"No, I really mean it. If I hadn't broken up with Ronnie, I never would have realized how narrow-minded he was. And," she added with a sparkle in her eye, "I wouldn't be here with George, either."

Elizabeth hugged her best friend. "Oh, Enid, I'm so happy for you! I hope he knows what a terrific girl he's getting!"

"He'd
better,"
Enid replied. "I'm through with apologizing for myself. Whatever mistakes I made in the past are over and done with. I learned from them, and that's all that counts."

"Hey, when you two are finished gabbing, I'd like a dance with Cinderella here," George interrupted, appearing before them with a cup of punch in hand. Without taking his eyes off Enid, he gave the cup to Elizabeth.

Enid laughed breathlessly as he drew her into his arms. "Liz, I'd like you to meet Prince Charming. He's got this thing about shoes, you see."

"Actually," George said, trying to keep a straight face, "I'm nuts about her handwriting. Even if she is a little strange, she writes terrific letters."

Enid pretended to be hurt. "Is that all I am to you? Just a pen pal?"

"What do you think?" George turned to

Elizabeth with a mischievous look. "Should I trade in my pen and paper for the real thing?"

"I give it my stamp of approval." She giggled.

As George and Enid whirled off onto the dance floor, Elizabeth noticed a number of people staring. Enid had certainly never looked so lovely. And George made her the envy of every girl in the room. Even Jessica had pried her eyes away from Bruce long enough to take a good long look. Ronnie was the only one who appeared unhappy; he was scowling at George and Enid as if he'd like to murder them both.

Enid might never make queen if he had anything to do with it, Elizabeth realized. Somehow, though, she didn't think it would break Enid's heart if she lost.

"They're voting now," Jessica rushed over to whisper in her ear. "Oh, Lizzie, I don't know if I can stand the suspense!"