I read these books when I was a kid. I haven't read the Sweet Life/Confidential whatever it's name is, and from the reviews I have seen, I don't plan on it. I hate what they have done to Todd and Liz, I never wanted her to end up with him, however, to put him with Jessica is a big slap in the face to all the loyal fans of this couple. I would have preferred Todd to end up with an entirely new character. So I have decided to add my own twist on things, I have changed several story lines and suited them to how I thought it should be. Also, this isn't a very modern story. The books began in the 80s, so I haven't put too much technology in it, so think about all of this happening in the late 80s to very early 90s, before all the modern innovations we have now. Things might not be completely accurate, but bear with me, after all, this is what fan fiction is all about. I will include a collage of pictures of various points in my story, places where I think a picture is worth a thousand words, whether it be a view, or a building. This will be in later chapters. Just to make things easier to imagine. Please note. I am way too lazy to put quotation marks, so I have bolded and italicized whenever there is dialog, and italicized whenever someone is thinking to themself. So here goes. Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, and this is for entertainment purposes only.

All that Glitters

Elizabeth Wakefield looked out the window of her seat in the plane and sighed. Two more hours and she'd be starting her new life. She didn't care that she had no place to live, no friends, no family, no money. It was a warm, beautiful March evening when she left Sweet Valley, but the last thing Elizabeth was focusing on was the weather. She just had to get away. Away from the sunny blue skies smiling down on her while she was miserable, away from the ocean, the same color of her eyes, inviting her to lose herself in it's caresses, away from the memories every time she drove by her old high school, and most of all, away from her twin sister Jessica and Todd Wilkins. She couldn't believe they had humiliated and hurt her like that. She couldn't believe how she let herself be manipulated so easily! How stupid she was, how naive she had been to get caught up in their web again! A smiling, chirpy flight attendant offered her a pillow. She declined it.

Just leave me alone,! Elizabeth wanted to scream.

It was bad enough that her ears were blocked from the pressure in the cabin. She was hungry after eating the miserly bag of peanuts provided by the airlines.

A six hour flight and all they give is peanuts!

And no, she didn't want another soda!

Soda was bad for you anyway. She was going to quit drinking it. She had always liked root beer from the Dairi Burger. Todd drank lots of soda. He always had a case nearby.

Forget him dammit,! she told herself.

The Dairi Burger was soooo high school. Todd was soooo high school. Let Jessica and Todd have each other! Her eyes were still red from crying after telling her parents that she was leaving to take a job in New York City. She knew she looked terrible, but she didn't care. She tried reading her in flight magazine, but nothing could distract her from the past few months.

She read the same page over and over, not being able to absorb the words. The man sitting next to her was snoring away, his head almost on her chest while she stared blankly at the tiny pin holding up his greasy toupee. Ordinarily, she would have found this hilarious, but she couldn't even muster up a smile.

The pilot came on the PA system to say they were 30 minutes from La Guardia airport. Mr Toupee woke up abruptly and coughed loudly.

Ohhhh, excuse me dear, he said, smiling at her. Just when she thought the day couldn't get worse, it suddenly did. The man adjusted himself in his seat and managed to knock over his glass right into Elizabeth's lap.

Count to ten, count to ten Liz, she said to herself.

Ohhhh, he said. I'm so sorry, so so sorry! The man's face was red with embarrassment as he grabbed some tissues and tried to wipe the spill.

It's alright, Elizabeth managed to mutter as she gritted her teeth. She grabbed hold of a napkin and tried to blot out the liquid.

You must think me very clumsy, he said, looking at her apologetically. Elizabeth wanted to yell at him till the entire plane heard her, but she decided she wasn't going to take her misery out on this poor man.

It really is alright, she said. I don't think it will stain, and it will dry soon enough, she tried to convince herself while looking down at her now wet pants.

Well, if you would like to have your clothes cleaned, you can send me the bill. I'm Mr Peter Avery, he introduced himself, holding out his hand. Elizabeth shook it politely, wishing he would let it go and let her try to sleep for the last half hour of flying.

My name is Elizabeth, she replied, forcing herself to smile.

Are you going home honey,? he said after examining her for a few seconds. She was in no mood to make nice with a complete stranger, but she decided she would be gracious. She explained that she was going to take a new job in the city, and while she had visited often, she had never really lived there for more than a couple of months.

Really? he said, his interest stirred. No wonder you didn't bite my head off and demand payment for your dry cleaning bill. You're not a New Yorker, he joked.

No, I'm from California.

I see. So are you going to live with friends? Family?

I'm not sure yet, Elizabeth said, not wanting to give him too much information.

Well, let me give you my card. I work in real estate, maybe I can help you get a place.

Elizabeth accepted it and put it in her purse. What am I doing,? she panicked inwardly. I don't even know where I am going to live yet! Mom and Dad were right!

At twenty one, she still felt like a child, and right at that moment all she wanted to do was crawl back into her bed on Calico drive and stay there forever. But she couldn't do that. A fresh wave of embarrassment came over her when she remembered the past few months of her life. The tears threatened to come out again and she squeezed her eyes to prevent them.

Just let me land, she thought. Then I can wallow in peace.

She had been home for a few months after leaving London, eager to start her job at the Valley News. Todd had been drafted by the NBA. For the past year, the money had been rolling in providing him with a very cushy lifestyle and money to burn. She couldn't believe that this was the boy she had loved in high school. The man he had turned into was clearly searching for the excitement that he felt she did not deliver. Jessica was obviously more his type, probably the one he had wanted all along.

Their whole relationship had been a lie. She had been seeing Todd for a while, not really in a romantic sense, but as an old comfortable friend that she could spend time with. Elizabeth was hoping it would turn into more, that they would recapture that old spark that made their relationship so special. So much had happened between them, she had always looked forward to spending time with him, reminiscing about old times and enjoying his company.

But then it all changed. She realized that she'd never have that again. Jessica made sure of it. Of course she pretended that she was fine with it. But it was like the wind had been knocked out of her. Like both of them slapping her on each side of her face.

It had all started with the recurrence of her nightmares, the ones that she suffered from so long ago. An event that had happened when she was sixteen, one that she could never clearly remember throughout all those years suddenly became more vivid, more real than ever before.

She kept having flash backs to that night, never understanding how she got to be in a state of intoxication, and had gotten behind the wheel of the jeep that she shared with her sister. She had gone through various scenarios over and over until her brain was sick with exhaustion.

It was a jumble of memories, ones that threatened to bring her down a dark spiral of madness. A chance encounter with a key element in this sordid debacle opened up a Pandora's box of recollections that she could no longer deny.

I remember you Blondie, he said to her.

You went to Sweet Valley right? I went to Big Mesa. Remember that night? I was pretty trashed myself, but I remember you. I never forget a pretty face like yours. I gave you something to drink, it was at that dance, remember? It was vodka. I had some and shared it with you. You promised you were going to party with me if I gave you some.

The revelation hit her like a ton of bricks. Why didn't she figure it out before? She never wanted to face it, never wanted to believe that her own sister would do something so heinous. She could have died that night!

Hey, you wanna go out on a date with me?

He winked at her as she stared blankly in shock at what he had just confirmed to her.

After weeks of contemplation, she had come to the very bitter revelation that Jessica did not love her, could not love her. Her life flashed back before her eyes and she stopped on this very painful episode in her past. It was the night of the jungle prom, the night that set the snowball rolling into a tragic avalanche that killed Jessica's boyfriend Sam Woodruff, and had nearly cost Elizabeth her freedom.

Her life was on the line and Jessica never cared. Jessica had been determined to punish Elizabeth for killing Sam when the whole time it was Jessica who spiked her drink and got her into the disastrous predicament in the first place. It had to have been Jessica. Finally the pieces of the puzzle fit together, and she was sure, two hundred percent sure that her sister had set her up.

Her sister would have let her rot in jail for manslaughter, all because she wanted to be prom queen that night. Jessica never confessed her guilt, never let it on that it was she to blame and not Elizabeth. She was content to let her sister stew in the courtroom so that she wouldn't have to face the consequences of her actions.

It was typical Jessica. Jessica went through life not really caring about who she hurt, as long as she got what she wanted. Although it happened five years back, it was far from being ancient history. This wound that she thought had healed suddenly became raw again, and now that she knew the truth of the matter, she knew there was only one answer. She had to exorcise Jessica from her life, once and for all.

She should have know it then. She had stupidly believed that their sisterly bond was enough to hold the two of them close together for life. Time and time again, Elizabeth had acted as a doormat, letting Jessica take advantage of her, knowing that Elizabeth never stayed mad for long. This time would be different. It was about getting away and having her own life, whatever it would ultimately be.

She was tired of living in Jessica's shadow, tired of seeing Jessica try to go after everything that was hers. Jessica was never satisfied. She wanted to have her cake and then eat Elizabeth's too, no matter who got hurt. Their mother had told them that Jessica had been the bigger twin at birth. Even from the womb, all she ever did was take more than her fair share.

She realized that she would never have anything of her own if she stayed in Sweet Valley. The warm, sunny town that she had called home for the majority of her life now seemed as cold as a morgue. It wasn't so much that she still wanted Todd. Seeing him again had brought back a barrage of happier times, memories and girlhood dreams that she still had hopes of coming true.

The part of her that still believed, that still had a deep affection for Todd had died right then. She remembered when Jessica and Todd had taken up with each other right at the moment when she was fighting for her life. She had been arrested and put on trial, her parents had aged before her very eyes, worried sick about their daughter.

She had been lonely, isolated, frightened and utterly miserable, when the two people who claimed to love her the most were purposely stabbing her in the back. The two of them had rubbed salt in her wounds, wickedly tagging each other in the process of betrayal. So why should she be surprised that once again, the two of them were in cahoots with each other?

She knew she could never compete with her sister. Jessica seemed to have it all, she was like a brilliant marigold while Elizabeth was always the wallflower. It had never really bothered her before. She had always been content to let Jessica bask in the spotlight. She had thought that what she had with Todd was special. Apparently she was very wrong.

She didn't let on to Jessica that she knew what she did all those years ago. She had been numb this past few weeks trying to understand how they could do this to her. Ice began to form in her veins. Butter would not melt in her mouth. Every time she thought about sitting in the courtroom, trying to defend herself when everyone thought there was no hope, and no real defense for what she had done, her heart would fill with hatred for her sister.

She thought back to those awful days, days filled with sorrow, with guilt, with self loathing. Everyone had turned against her, thinking that she carelessly and purposely drove drunk and killed another human being.

Let Jessica and Todd think it's all about them,! she thought. She wouldn't confront them. Let them get married and ride off in the sunset together!

Their wedding was coming up. There was no way she wanted to be there. She would leave town, leave without saying anything. Besides, there was no real point in bringing it up now. And who could she talk to about it? Her parents would be destroyed if they knew. She had always shielded them from her sister's schemes and manipulations, anything to prevent Jessica from getting into trouble. This time, she was doing it for them. She didn't want to hurt them this way.

The fasten your seat belt sign came on. Elizabeth looked out the window and saw several towers in the distance. From this height they looked like toys that she could pick up and play with. The early morning sun was hitting them and the buildings glowed like strobe lights.

She made out a few landmarks, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the white Citycorp building. She all of a sudden felt a level of excitement that fell over her whenever she thought of being in New York City. She perked up at the feeling of the wheels hitting the tarmac and vowed to make the most of her new beginning.

I refuse to wallow,! she thought. I will get my bags, check into a hotel and go down to the Cityscoop office to tell them I'm ready to start.

Cityscoop was the name of the upcoming magazine she had gotten a job with. They weren't known for their prize winning publications, but Elizabeth was desperate. She took the first job she could get. Anything to get away. After getting her luggage, Elizabeth made her way to the taxi line. She knew she should take the bus to save money, but she wasn't too comfortable with public transportation yet.

A woman rudely cut the line in front of her to walk to the bus, and she was shoved in all directions while bodies moved, all trying to get to their destinations. She looked up at the sky. The morning sun was hiding behind some grey clouds and the smell of exhaust made her want to gag. It took at least 20 minutes before she could get a taxi. The line looked like a mile long and she was surrounded by people all eager as she was to get a cab.

I guess I'm not in Sweet Valley anymore, she sighed as she got into her taxi. She told the driver where she was going. He had a turban on his head and was mumbling in some kind of middle eastern language. He drove in and out of traffic, pressing on the breaks so hard she thought she would get whiplash.

Take the midtown tunnel please, she instructed the driver.

That was one thing she remembered from the directions that she had been given. The hotel was somewhere on thirty fourth street and this was the best way to get there. The taxi reeked of cigarettes despite the No Smoking sign. Elizabeth yawned, suddenly realizing how tired she was. There was a line of cars up ahead, trying to get on the same exit as her driver was. After five minutes of frustration, she looked out the window to see that fat, heavy drops of water were beginning to bear down on the glass.

Great, she thought. It's just getting better and better.

She arrived at her hotel with the rain pouring down on the roof of the cab. Without a word, the driver got out, and put her luggage on the pavement. Elizabeth got out, not bothering to open her umbrella and paid him. With a blink of an eye, he was off, leaving her soaking in the rain.

The hotel was nothing fancy, but by New York city standards, it was very cheap. Seventy five dollars a night was all she could afford for now. She had to get a permanent place to live as soon as possible. There was no way she'd be able to live here for more than a week.

After checking in, she took the elevator up to her room. The room was drab, but it was clean. She had maybe five thousand dollars in her bank account as well as her credit cards. Her parents had each given her a thousand dollars. She looked at her watch. It was still five AM, California time. She took a long hot shower, got into bed and went right to sleep.