PREPARATIONS

Author's note: After reading this chapter you might notice that in my version I send Jessica and Elizabeth off to separate colleges. Jessica has decided to go to USC and Elizabeth, turning down Oxford because it was to far away has decided to go to Yale . Also you may find some similarities between my story and the actual book, this is because I picked out the aspects I liked in the real "sweet 18". You may also notice that the characters are a little more….racy in my version.

Enjoy and don't forget to review!

Elizabeth Wakefield hummed to herself as she packed her stuff into her large duffel bag. As she folded the clothes she had selected to carry on the road trip with her friends, she remembered the Sweet Valley High Graduation ceremony that had taken place the day before. She remembered her, well actually, Jessica's salutatorian speech and laughed silently as she remembered Maria's valedictorian speech. Maria, in a bold move, had happily proclaimed to the senior class that it was time to party, and they had lived up to her request at the huge bash Lila Fowler had thrown at their mansion. As her one of her all time favourite songs, "Dancing Queen" began playing on the radio, Elizabeth began singing along and dancing around her room to the tune. She, obviously was in a good mood.

Jessica Wakefield walked into her sister's room and flopped down on the bed. She had a dreamy expression on her face. She looked up at her sister's antics and laughed. She, also, looked like she was in a good mood.

Jessica picked up a random piece of clothing from her sister's bed and began fingering the fabric. "Liz, I am having so much fun!"

Elizabeth stopped dancing and gingerly placed a white baby-tee into her duffel bag. "Wow, I didn't know that my dancing was so good."

Jessica flung a pillow at her twin and missed by a mile. "Whatever. I mean, this is the first time all year, if you realize, that you and I have both been amazingly happy at the same time." She sighed happily.
"Yeah I know! That is so true." Elizabeth placed the duffel bag on the floor and sat down on the bed, looking tired. "I noticed that you and Jeremy did some major making up last night."

"Yeah, well, it was overdue," Jessica blushed. "We talked it all out and-"

"Yeah right, Jess," Elizabeth snorted. "Talked? I didn't see any talking going on over there. I mean, did you all get off that couch all night?"

"Yeah, yeah, look who's talking," Jessica angled an eyebrow up and wagged a disappointed finger at her sister. "Where, my sis, did you and Conner disappear to?"

Elizabeth laughed. "Well, you know, we kind of were looking for some privacy. At least we weren't tongue wrestling in front of the entire party!"

"Yeah, you were tongue wrestling at your own party," Jessica giggled.

Elizabeth turned serious. "I don't know, Jess, it seems like I have all this pent-up energy. I'm, like, feeling weird. Rebellious, even. Like, I just don't care any more. I mean, I am actually an adult, and I can make my own decisions."

"I know!" Jessica turned on her side and looked at her sister, wide-eyed. "Like, we're free!"

"Yes! And in two days, we'll be out of here. On. Our. Own."

"I can't believe it! I can't wait!" Jessica squealed.

"Me neither." The two of them lay there, silent for a while. Then Jessica sat up straight.

"Liz, did Todd ask you out after graduation? I heard Lila talking about it."

"Uh, yeah he did," Elizabeth said. "I turned him down."

"Wow. He still wants you."

"Yeah, but, I think it would be dumb to go down that road again. Besides, I mean, Conner." Elizabeth smiled.

"Yeah, like that road is so unexplored." Jessica said rolling her eyes.

"I don't care, Jess. I just want to give us another chance. And seeing that he decided to go into the music department at U of Connecticut, it seems we will both be in Connecticut for college." Elizabeth smiled happily.

Jessica grinned. "This is going to work out so well. You and Conner in Connecticut, Me and Jer in Cali…wow, can it get better that this?"

Elizabeth looked at her sister. "I don't think so, Jessie, I really don't."