Read SVH08-Heartbreaker for Free Online Page B

thing, I could really talk to Liz. We were friends. I happen to think that's pretty important. Two people really have to like each other if it's going to be a good relationship."
    Bill nodded slowly. That's the way it had been with Julianne. She wasn't just his girlfriend, she was his best friend. They could just hang out together, talking about everything under the sun or feeling comfortable not talking at all. He had to admit it wasn't that way with Jessica. But did love have to be the same every time?
    "Thanks for the advice, Todd," Bill said, rising stiffly. "But don't worry, I can take care of myself."
    Todd looked up at him with a concerned expression. "Hey, Bill, you're not mad, are you? Maybe I shouldn't have said anything...."
    "No, I'm not mad at you, Todd," Bill said.
    As he walked away, he realized it was the truth. He was angry, but not at Todd. The person he was angry with was himself. Only he didn't know why.
     

Six
     
    Jessica wiped a damp strand of hair from her eyes. It had to be at least five hundred degrees, she thought, and they'd been stuck indoors rehearsing all morning! And she'd always thought Saturdays were for fun. She glanced at Bill, who was carrying on an animated conversation with DeeDee over by a stack of props. Well, the day wasn't over yet....
    Jessica sidled up to Bill, snaking an arm through his. "I'm so hot I could absolutely die. What do you say we all go over to my house and dive into the pool?"
    Like mercury rising in a thermometer, a slow flush crept up the sides of Bill's neck until it had turned the tips of his ears bright red.
    "Gee, Jessica, I'd like to"--his eyes shifted uneasily from Jessica to DeeDee--"but I promised DeeDee I'd take her surfing."
    Jessica knew all about the surfing lessons.
    Bill had been taking DeeDee out a lot lately. He couldn't stop bragging about how good she was becoming--something that was really starting to get on Jessica's nerves. According to Bill, DeeDee had gotten good enough to enter the Women's Junior Surfing Championship, which would be held in two weeks. With the play also two weeks away, Jessica couldn't help wondering where on earth either of them found the time or energy. She was doubly annoyed by the fact that it didn't fit in at all with the image she liked to have of Bill sitting around at home pining for her.
    Artfully, she let her smile drop, as if the disappointment were too much to bear. "Oh, that's really too bad, Bill. I was counting on having you there. I wanted to make up for missing our last date." She glanced briefly at DeeDee. "Of course, you're invited, too," she added as an afterthought.
    DeeDee didn't reply. She was staring at Bill with a stricken expression, waiting for him to make up his mind, waiting for him to choose between her and Jessica.
    Bill hesitated only a moment before conscience won out. "Maybe next time," he mumbled.
    Jessica was fuming. She couldn't believe that any boy, much less someone who was supposed to be as infatuated with her as Bill was,
    , would rather be off with dorky old DeeDee when he could be with her.
    She slid her hand lightly down Bill's arm, curling her fingers over his. "It's just that it won't be much fun without you. But don't worry--I understand. Why would you want to swim around in our dinky little pool when you could have the whole Pacific Ocean?"
    Bill's response was to turn even redder. "It's not that, Jessica. I really would like to come. But I promised D--"
    DeeDee couldn't stand it a minute longer. "That's OK, Bill," she cut in swiftly. "Why don't you go ahead? I really think I need to practice on my own for a change." She forced a cheery smile, but inside her heart was breaking.
    Bill made only a very feeble attempt to talk her out of it. "Are you sure?" Relief was written all over his face.
    "Sure I'm sure. If I'm going to enter the championship, it's going to look awfully funny having you holding my hand the whole time. Of course, I could always say you were my Siamese twin,