Breaking Away (Sweet Valley University(R)) - Softcover

Pascal, Francine

3.55

133 ratings by Goodreads

9780553492217: Breaking Away (Sweet Valley University(R))

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0553492217 ISBN 13: 9780553492217

Publisher: Sweet Valley, 1998

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Is this the beginning of the end?

Elizabeth Wakefield is leaving SVU!  She and Scott Sinclair have been accepted to a journalism program that will take her far away from Sweet Valley...possibly forever.  Does Elizabeth really want to go?  Or is she hoping that someone will stop her?

Jessica Wakefield will do anything to keep her twin sister from leaving SVU--including impersonating her!  Is Jessica good enough to fool Tom Watts into believing he and Elizabeth still have a chance?

The last thing Dana Upshaw wants to see is Tom and Elizabeth back together.  She knows Scott feels exactly the same way.  When these two schemers hook up, will every last lingering feeling between Tom and Elizabeth be destroyed?

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

"Thank goodness it's Friday!" Jessica Wakefield exclaimed as she opened the door to room 28, Dickenson Hall. "Something smells delicious in here," she observed as she dropped her bag on her messy bed and walked over to where her twin sister, Elizabeth, stood stirring a pot of bubbling sauce on the hot plate in their small kitchenette. "You're making us lunch?"

"A special one," Elizabeth confirmed, smiling and brushing a strand of blond hair from her face. "Angel-hair pasta in a delicate tomato sauce, enhanced by fresh cream, garlic, and a touch of basil. What do you think?" She spooned a little of the thick sauce from the pot and held it up for Jessica to taste.

"Mmm, Liz, this is so good, you could convert a vegetarian!" Jessica exclaimed.
Elizabeth laughed. "Jess, it is vegetarian!"

"Well, what do you know?" Jessica replied, tossing her hair and heading for the fridge.

Elizabeth continued stirring the sauce while Jessica cracked open a can of diet Coke. The room smelled wonderful, and Jessica felt her stomach rumble with hunger. At the same time she was somewhat suspicious. Why had Elizabeth gone to all the trouble of cooking up a gourmet meal for the two of them when pizza was the norm?

I haven't done Liz any great favors lately, Jessica mused, and as far as I know I haven't won any awards for academic achievement....

Crunching a carrot, Jessica eyed Elizabeth and pondered the possible reasons behind the pasta, salad, fresh bread, and cherry cheesecake waiting on the countertop. And then a slow dread tugged at her insides. Maybe it had something to do with the rumor she'd heard yesterday. Could it be true? Was Elizabeth really thinking about leaving SVU?

And if she is, then why didn't she consult me first? Jessica thought angrily. Well, there's only one way to find out....

"So why all the fancy cooking?" Jessica demanded, trying to keep her voice light, hoping against hope that Elizabeth was simply in a good mood, and there was nothing more to it. "It's a long way from nachos and a side salad. Out with it, Liz. What's up?"

Elizabeth took a deep breath and faced Jessica with a tremulous smile. Then, hesitating, she shrugged and turned back to the stove.

"Elizabeth!" Jessica snapped, folding her arms. "You know I hate surprises! Spill!"

"OK, OK." Elizabeth licked her lips nervously and put down the sauce spoon. "I . . . I got an offer from another school, Jess. The Denver Center for Investigative Reporting, in Colorado. And I've accepted."

Jessica's mouth dropped open, and she felt as if she'd been kicked in the stomach. "You what?" she cried.

Elizabeth simply averted her eyes and went back to stirring the sauce.

So it's true! Jessica realized. Of all the rumors I hear, why does this one have to be on the money?

Yesterday afternoon Jessica had heard a few women in her dorm buzzing like mad about Elizabeth leaving SVU to go somewhere with her new boyfriend, Scott Sinclair. Jessica had been worried at first, but the more she'd thought about it, the less she'd felt she could take it seriously. Everyone had their own version of the rumor, each one more outlandish than the next. The only consistent element had been a huge argument between Elizabeth and her ex-boyfriend, Tom Watts, in the cafeteria. And that hardly came as a surprise to Jessica.

Even though they were no longer a couple, Elizabeth was still very emotional about Tom. Jessica figured that if Elizabeth had threatened to leave SVU at all, it was only a ploy to make Tom angry. It was just another round in the Wakefield-Watts battle, nothing more.

Anyway, Elizabeth would never do something that major without analyzing it for weeks until everyone she knew got sick and tired of the subject.

Maybe I just didn't want to believe it could be true, Jessica thought miserably. Maybe I didn't want to believe that Tom Watts had finally pushed her over the edge.

"So . . ." Jessica swallowed hard. "You're . . . you're really going to leave SVU? This isn't some kind of dumb joke?"
Elizabeth looked into Jessica's eyes beseechingly. "This is for real, Jess. I'm going."

Despite Elizabeth's apologetic expression, Jessica detected a glimmer of pride in her sister's eyes that angered her even more. She wants to go, Jessica thought. She probably can't wait to hotfoot it out of here and ,go strut her stuff in Denver!

"You're going," Jessica repeated, her voice brittle and low.

"I'd be a fool to pass this up, Jess," Elizabeth insisted. "It's a great opportunity for me, you know?" Biting her lip, Elizabeth touched Jessica's arm gently, her eyes pleading--even a touch watery.

Jessica felt a bolt of white-hot fury shoot through her. She wants my approval! She actually expects me to be happy for her!

"I know this is a shock," Elizabeth continued. "I mean, we've never been separated like this before.... But it won't be so bad, Jess. You'll see. I'll come back and visit, and we'll take ski trips in the Rockies and--"

"Save it!" Jessica cut in. "I hate ski outfits!"

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows and smiled tentatively.

She thinks I'm joking! Jessica realized, a flush of anger and hurt creeping up her neck. "I'm not kidding, Elizabeth," she said, her voice cold and even. "If you think I'm leaving Sweet Valley sunshine for Rocky Mountain frostbite, then you don't know me very well."

"Oh," Elizabeth responded, her voice small. She removed her hand from Jessica's arm, a look of pain crossing her face.

Momentarily Jessica felt a pang of guilt. She could see she had wounded Elizabeth. But it's not as bad as what she's doing to me! she reasoned.

After an awkward silence Elizabeth turned to Jessica with a begging look. "Jess, please, let's not fight," she began. "This is hard for me too."

"When are you leaving?" Jessica asked brusquely as she walked away to look out the window. Maybe I can buy some time and convince her to stay, she thought, her mind starting to tick. I could convince her that she really doesn't want to leave Sweet Valley, that I can't live without her and she can't live without me. . . .

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