SVH08-Heartbreaker by Francine Pascal Read Free Book Online

but I'm not sure they'd buy it."
    DeeDee knew she was running off at the mouth, making jokes to cover up for what she was really feeling. It was an old defense that dated back to when she'd been a chubby little girl and the only way she could keep the other kids from making cracks about her was to make
    them laugh first. DeeDee's smile was plastered on so tightly that it was beginning to ache. Tears stung behind her eyelids.
    "I think DeeDee is absolutely right,'' Jessica put in. "A girl really needs to be self-sufficient these days."
    No sooner were the three of them outside than Jessica gave a tiny cry and turned to Bill. "Oh, dear, I must have left my script back onstage. Would you mind terribly, Bill? ..."
    Of course he didn't. DeeDee couldn't stand to watch. Around Jessica, Bill was like a puppet, with you-know-who pulling the strings. Mumbling an excuse, DeeDee rushed off before Bill could return. With her chin tucked low against her chest to hide her tears, she didn't see where she was going and nearly collided with Roger Barrett.
    "Aren't you going swimming over at Jessica's?" she asked, hoping to put him at ease with a little conversation. If such a thing were possible, he looked even more flustered than she felt.
    "I--I didn't feel like it," he stammered, blushing.
    It was obvious he was hiding the real reason for not wanting to go, but DeeDee didn't want to pry. Now that she thought about it, it seemed Roger was always rushing off as if he had something important to do but didn't want anyone to know what it was.
    Maybe he was a spy, she thought. The idea would have made her laugh if she'd been in a better mood. Roger, with his shaggy haircut and scuffed loafers, and the glasses that kept slipping down his nose, was a far cry from James Bond. It wasn't that he was bad-looking. Underneath his glasses and misfit clothes, she suspected he could even be handsome. The trouble was, he lacked confidence.
    DeeDee felt sorry for him. She knew what it was like being on the outside looking in. In her case, it had always been "good old DeeDee." Everybody's friend, nobody's girlfriend. Especially not Bill's, she thought. He'd made that perfectly clear, hadn't he?
    "Well, see you." DeeDee waved at Roger as she headed off toward her car in the parking lot.
    She knew she should get to the beach while the tide was still up, but suddenly she didn't feel like hurrying. Suddenly the beach seemed like the loneliest place in the world.
    "Watch, everybody! I'm going to attempt the famous Wakefield dive!"
    Bill shaded his eyes against the sun, but nothing could protect him from the dazzling sight of Jessica as she stood poised on the end of the diving board in a white bikini that showed
    off her golden tan. Bill's own heart executed a dive as she raised her arms and did a running jump that sent her sailing out over the clear turquoise water. She landed cleanly, barely ruffling the water's surface as she disappeared below it. The kids who were scattered around the pool broke into spontaneous applause and hoots as she emerged wearing a triumphant grin.
    "Good going, Jess!" Tom McKay called.
    Tom wasn't part of the drama club crowd. He'd stopped by on his way back from a tennis match over at the country club. Bill envied the easy, confident way Tom could banter with Jessica. He wished he didn't get so tied up in knots every time he spoke to her.
    Suddenly Tom was in the water beside Jessica. He grabbed her by the waist while she squealed with laughter and tried to splash water in his face. Watching them, Bill felt a surge of jealousy. Jessica had acted as if she really wanted him to come in the beginning, but ever since Tom had arrived, she'd really ignored him.
    The way you ignored DeeDee, a tiny voice inside reminded him.
    At the thought of DeeDee, Bill immediately felt guilty. He shouldn't have dropped her like that, even though she'd insisted. She was a good friend, and he had promised he'd take her surfing. He was really proud of the