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around the past couple of days--and what she discovered had only made her feel a million times worse.
    Not only had Todd been seeing Patsy before she moved away, they'd been dating only
    each other. Now she was back--more gorgeous and sophisticated than ever, according to those who'd known her before. Elizabeth felt a stab of uneasiness every time she thought about it, which lately had been about a hundred times a day.
    She longed to talk to Todd about it. They'd always been so close, no secrets between them. But this really had her worried. She was afraid of what she might find out if she asked for the truth. She tried to push this problem to the back of her mind and refocus on the one at hand.
    "I know DeeDee's probably jealous, but it's not Jessica's fault she's got the lead opposite Bill," Elizabeth said. She felt compelled to defend her sister, even though she secretly believed Todd was right.
    "What I saw just now didn't look like any rehearsal to me. Come off it, Liz. We've been through this before. I know what Jessica is like. You don't have to defend her to me."
    "If you know her so well, then you must also know that she can be really sweet a lot of the time."
    "Sweet like a barracuda." Todd shoved in the last bite of his hamburger.
    Elizabeth leaped to her feet. "You just don't know when to quit, Todd!"
    Instantly he was contrite. From the look on his face, he obviously knew he'd gone too far.
    He put out a hand to stop her from running away.
    "Look, Liz, I'm sorry. You're right. I shouldn't have opened my big mouth."
    "You said it!"
    Elizabeth knew she was probably overreacting, but keeping her feelings to herself about Patsy for so long had really put her on edge. It was like sitting on a time bomb. Nevertheless, she struggled to keep her temper.
    "OK, let's forget it," she muttered. "I'll meet you after school."
    "I'll be at the rehearsal," Todd said. "I promised Bill I'd stick around."
    As she walked toward her locker, Elizabeth couldn't help wondering about all the time Todd had been spending at rehearsals lately. But she'd been pretty busy herself, working on an article for the school paper on summer job opportunities, so she really couldn't complain. It wasn't until she ran into DeeDee in the corridor that things started falling into place.
    DeeDee seemed to have recovered from the incident in the cafeteria. Her eyes looked a little red, but any unhappiness she might have been feeling was masked by the warm smile with which she greeted Elizabeth.
    DeeDee groaned laughingly as she held up the enormous shopping bag full of clothes she was lugging. "Costumes for the play," she explained. "Patsy's really been going all out
    collecting this stuff. Personally, I think she's gone a little overboard. I mean, this isn't exactly Broadway."
    "Patsy?" Elizabeth echoed.
    "Yeah, she's doing the costumes for the play. Didn't Todd or Jessica tell you?"
    Elizabeth shook her head slowly. "No."
    "Actually, it was Todd's idea. He told Mr. Jaworski how Patsy used to model clothes for this boutique in Paris. You've got to admit, she's really got style. I'm not sure Sweet Valley High is ready for her, though."
    Elizabeth was speechless. A dull, hammering fear had started up inside her.
    Suddenly it was all horribly clear--the reason Todd had been spending so much time at rehearsals, the reason he'd tried to pick a fight with her at lunch. It didn't take a genius to figure it out. Todd was interested in Patsy--as more than just a friend.
    Elizabeth fought the urge to run away. While DeeDee chattered on about the play, Elizabeth bit her lip to keep from crying. The ache in her chest was getting worse and worse.
    She was so wrapped up in her misery, she practically plowed into Enid, who was trudging toward her next class.
    "Whoa!" Enid cried. "What's with you, Liz? You look like you just found out you flunked every course. And I know that can't be it."
    "Oh, Enid ..." Elizabeth let out a long, shuddery sigh. "It's Todd."
    "Uh-oh, I