Sweet Valley High #59 In Love Again
In Love Again
In honor of Easter (for those of you who celebrate it), a book about love abandoned, love found, love lost, and love found again. Twoo Wuv. This book details the Return of Todd. The Return of the New, Richer, Snobbier, Better-Looking Todd to be exact. So in between your day of barbecuing chocolate rabbits and microwaving peeps, take a breather to read about the love that never dies--except when it does.
Cover:
I hate to say it, but Todd looks pretty cute in that picture. Even with his 80s hair, he holds up pretty well. Maybe a little doofusy, but not bad overall. And I know Liz’s hair is supposed to be gorgeous blonde, but it looks green in my copy. And she is supposed to be a size six? Totally looks like an 8 in that picture. ;)
The book begins with everyone at school discussing the big news. It turns out that Elizabeth Wakefield broke up with Jeffrey French and got back together with Todd Wilkins over the weekend. We learn some of the back-story, how Todd went away to Vermont and they tried to do the whole long-distance thing (for all of two weeks), but it was too hard because Liz was a cheating cheater with Nicholas Morrow, so they decided to date other people. Well, Todd is back and his dad is now president or veep, I don't recall exactly, of the company, and they are rich. Todd doesn’t even go to SVH anymore, he is at Lovett Academy. Jessica spends some time praising the school and mentioning that she wants to transfer there. The academics are better because Jessica has always been known for her academic aspirations. Plus there are a lot more cute, RICH guys at the school. Sure, her last Lovett Academy boyfriend didn’t work out-Sheffield Eastman was more interested in community service than in making Jessica into a modern princess-but she thinks that was just a fluke. She heads over to Liz to find out more about the Academy. Cue the “so similar in appearance, so different in personality” bit. Plus, they have perfect size-six figures, didjya know? For some strange reason, Elizabeth and Enid don’t take Jessica’s interest in Lovett very seriously. The place is very conservative and they have to do tons of homework there. Jessica, the careless carefree one, would not fit in. Plus, the Wakefields aren't rich and not having that season's LV bag is social suicide at a private school like Lovett.
In class, Liz is suffering mentally. She is so upset at having to hurt Jeffrey (who will be conveniently shuffled off to the sidelines and never mentioned again as far as I know), because her old feelings for Todd came back-only stronger. Of course, sometimes Todd seems very different from when he left, but they are still totally perfect for each other, Liz is positive. Todd is “so funny, so kind, and so clever.” Are we talking about the same guy? Liz loves Todd more than ever; her feelings are so strong. Jessica has Liz drop her off downtown after school so she can look up stuff about Lovett Academy. Liz tells her again that she wouldn’t fit in, and she doesn’t think Todd fits in either-he is too down to earth for the snooty school. Jess mentions that she saw Jeffrey moping around and Liz-the-Queen-of-Sensitivity is ignoring his pain and suffering because she doesn’t know what else to do. Jess says that Jeffrey will never forget Liz, no matter how popular and cute he is because no one ever forgets a Wakefield twin once they’ve had one. Okay, she doesn’t say that, but she implies it. Then she says that Jeffrey was a “little on the bland side. Whereas Todd is fantastic.” Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? Did someone do a brain replacement on Jessica? She always hated boring Todd. But, the ghostwriter doth decree that Todd is cool and awesome and Jeffrey is boring and lame, so it must be true. I guess it makes it all better that Liz dumps her boyfriend of several months over a weekend for a former boyfriend. Jeffrey is "lame" so ditching him is a-okay.
That evening at dinner, we learn again how perfect the Wakefield family is. They eat outside to enjoy the perfect California weather. They are having grilled steaks that Alice prepared after her 10-hour work day. Elizabeth of course, helped. Aww. Jessica tries to convince the ‘rents that she should be transferred to Lovett Academy. They bring up the Switzerland Debacle and Jess replies that Switzerland is a bit extreme, she was talking local. Her parents tell her that they didn’t ever feel strongly one way or the other about public vs. private so Jessica has their permission to research it some more. Liz heads over to Todd’s new mansion and they watch a movie in the screening room. They make plans to meet the next day at Seca Lake, but Liz will have to duck out of an important Oracle meeting because Todd has twisted her arm to meet him. She also didn’t do her homework for the next day because she wanted to see him. SMRT, Lizzie.
The next day, Jeffrey is at the Oracle meeting because of course he is on the newspaper too. Olivia embarrasses Liz by mentioning that she didn’t have her homework done, and Liz angers Penny by ducking out early. Jessica is annoying Amy because all Jess is doing is looking at Lovett Academy stuff. Jess plans on taking the entrance exams in two weeks. She thinks it will be a breeze. Back to Liz and Todd, they are heading to the lake. Liz asks Todd about his day because though their feelings are strong, they do need to spend time getting to know each other again. Todd mentions that people at lunch were name dropping because one guy was having dinner at MICHAEL JACKSON’s house. Stay out of the bedrooms, I guess. But really, this was the 80s and that was the height of name-dropping? But Todd has made a few friends who don’t suck. Liz still worries about Lovett being the right place for Todd since Liz is now Todd’s mummy. Todd also mentions that he missed a basketball practice to be there with Liz. Liz is happy to spend time with Todd but knows they are going to have to make some changes so they don’t keep disappointing the people who count on them. The week wears on and the troubles keep piling up. Liz turns in an article that has FOUR, count ‘em FOUR typos!!!! She about throws herself off a cliff in shame. Todd meanwhile has missed THREE, count ‘em THREE practices and is about to be thrown off the team. They decide that they can only hang out in the evenings and on the weekends. The separation might kill them, but it is the only way the relationship will work.
Driving by the restaurant where Todd and Liz are having their heart-to-heart is Courtney Kane. No relation to Erika Kane except in over-the-top personality. When Todd returned to SV, Courtney was determined to make him hers. Their parents also work together. Well, Courtney’s big scheme was ruined and Todd picked Liz over her. Courtney vows revenge on the two of them. At home, Courtney’s dad tells her about a convenient “Battle of the Schools” that will be waged. The winning school will be on some commercial. Courtney is convinced that they will “cream” any school they come up against. Sweet Valley gets the news about the “Battle of the Schools” on Monday. The events will be swimming, running, track and field (which would include running, right?), and tennis among others. There will also be a spelling bee and a College Bowl. So the smart kids (*cough*nerds*cough*) can compete too. Jessica figures she can’t compete against Lovett because she’ll be going there soon and incurs the wrath of all her friends. Liz is also uncertain about the whole competition. She hasn’t met anyone at Lovett that she likes and she is fretting about it. She heads to Lovett after school to meet Todd. Courtney appears on the scene and invites Todd to a pool party. Todd says that if Liz can’t go, he isn’t going. Courtney asks Liz if she plays polo. Liz almost laughs at her but takes the high road and says she’d love to watch everyone else play. Courtney then invites Todd to a private golf game which he for some reason accepts. Liz knows that Courtney has something planned for Todd but tries to be friendly anyway.
That weekend, Liz gets ready of the party. Jessica offers to go in her place. Liz laughs and says that Todd might notice. No, Liz, from past experience, Todd probably won’t notice. But Liz doesn’t let Jess take her place anyway. Todd picks her up in his new Beemer and is very stand-offish. Instead of asking him what is wrong, Liz dances around the subject. They arrive at the Country Club where the party is and the first person they run into is a guy in a blazer named Campbell Rochester which has to be the most stereotypical “Country Club snob” name ever. Campbell is Courtney’s date and they head off to play golf. Liz is playing golf also. She sees Ben Orson, some guy from SVH and says “hi” which is a total faux pas since he is the caddy and the “hired help.” People giggle at Liz and Todd says nothing. The day goes from bad to worse because Campbell keeps sexually harassing her and Todd keeps disappearing. Liz finds the Lovett kids superficial and stuck-up. But really, if they are Courtney’s friends, what do you expect? As Liz and Todd leave, Todd mentions that he didn’t have any fun either and Liz feels better because it wasn’t just her hating it. Though Liz does worry that Todd is changing-he talks about money a lot more and has new interests. Oh no! New interests? Someone find that box he escaped from and put him back in there.
At school on Monday, the teams are announced. Bruce Patman and Kristin Thompson are on the tennis team, Aaron Dallas is on the track, Bill Chase is swimming, Winston and others are on the College Bowl team, Olivia is spelling, and on the relay team-Liz, Robin, Ken Matthews and … Jeffrey French! Ruh-roh, Shaggy. That afternoon at relay team practice, Todd has come to watch. And guess what, he is on the Lovett relay team. Talk about cruel fate. Ken and Todd joke around but then he asks Todd to leave so he doesn’t learn the SVH team’s secret plan to win or something. Later that evening, Liz and Todd have a mini argument about it. Todd jokes that Liz should quit and just cheer him on but Liz takes it seriously. Trouble in paradise. The next day, Liz and Todd have a date planned. Todd is half an hour late and Liz tries not to take it personally. He starts talking about some of his Lovett friends and Liz is all offended at how shallow he sounds. She manages to pick a fight but he totally gets into it too. He defends Lovett though she never actually criticized it and says it would kill his dad if he didn’t fit in there. Liz knows Mr. Wilkins and doubts he’ll die of shame if Todd wants to come back to SVH but before she can say anything, Todd goes into a woe-is-me, I have to adjust rant. Liz comes back with a “poor little rich boy” rant, and Todd says that they should break up until they figure out what they each want. So, they break up. All in the space of two pages of text. Ah, teenage angst, allowing ghostwriters to shortcut actual characterization for hundreds of years.
Liz spills her sad, sad story to Enid and then heads off to relay practice. The relay has weird stages. A three-legged race which Jeffrey and Robin will do, a sprint with an egg which is Ken’s section, and a rope climb which is Liz’s job. If I were the coach, I’d swap Liz and Ken since girls often have better balance and football players more upper body strength, but I am sure there is a plot reason for the mismatched roles. Or else put Liz and Robin together since they are probably more similar in height than Robin and Jeffrey. Whatevs. Liz is really struggling at the rope climb. There aren’t any knots to help her up but Jeffrey is such a nice guy, he gives her some tips and she finally makes it to the top. She frets some more about Todd and the state of their relationship. At Lovett Academy, Todd and team are also practicing. Courtney comes up (she isn’t involved in something as icky and childish as a relay race) and invites Todd to a Lakers game. Todd says “maybe” but Courtney takes that as a “I’d love to go with you, you hot thang!” which shows the depth of her delusions. Todd and team pick roles in the relay and of course Todd picks rope climbing. On Todd vs. Liz at rope-climbing, my money is on Todd. Courtney assures her friend that Lovett will definitely beat all the other schools there, especially SVH. Turns out her dad is one of the judges which you’d think was a major conflict of interest, but the story requires it therefore it is. Mr. Kane tells Courtney that despite her wheedling, he isn’t going to favor Lovett-it isn’t just a competition, it is business. Courtney then decides that if she can’t win by fixing the judges, she’ll have to do something else. My vote goes for grease on a rope, what think y’all? I could be wrong because at the meet, Lovett does really well in track and field, but SVH takes over in tennis and swimming. For the relay, Todd beats Liz by a hair so Lovett is in the lead and SVH in a close second. The two teams will then face off at the final two days hence. Amy takes the time to flirt with Ken while Jessica ogles the Lovett Academy grounds.
The next day, Jessica has an interview at Lovett before the entrance exams the next day. She starts to think she won’t fit in but then sees a cute guy and knows she can make a place for herself there. Todd comes up thinking she might be Liz. He asks about Liz and is all mopey. Jess figures she could tell Todd that Liz is miserable too but decides not to make it easy on him. She then reports to Liz that Todd is all sad and stuff. Liz thinks that Todd should be the one to make the first move and Jess tells her how dumb that is. So Liz calls the Wilkins’ house but gets the answering machine. Jess says that maybe he has a hot date and Liz gets all angsty. He might have a hot date, but it isn’t with Courtney. Courtney is at home with her friend scheming on ways to cheat at the competition. Giving people answers at the College Bowl is her first idea. That only works if you are smarter than the people competing, honey. Her friend tries to talk her out of it but is able to be bribed by the promise of a green sweater with a black border. Hot.
At the College Bowl competition, the questions are all true and false. Courtney has an answer book and will tug once for false, twice for true on the curtain by the stage. Of course the Lovett Academy team wins with this help but Jessica notices that they are cheating. She doesn’t speak up then though because she doesn’t want to jeopardize her chances at getting into the school. By the time the relay race comes up, the teams are tied. Courtney somehow gets in on the setting up of the course and the guy in charge (who should have set up earlier, IMO, but again, what the story demands…) helpfully mentions which rope belongs to which team and not to take the one in the back because it is rotted through. Guess which one Courtney takes for Sweet Valley and Elizabeth to use? Well, during the relay, SVH pulls ahead so Liz attacks her rope first. She is halfway up and Todd has started climbing his. Jessica, in the audience, then notices that Liz’s rope looks like it is getting thinner and thinner and suddenly it snaps and she falls. What, like three feet? She gives a cry of pain. The crowd goes silent except for Courtney who yells at Todd to keep going. He doesn’t. He drops down and gathers Liz into his arms. Everyone rushes around her. It is very dramatic. But Liz is alright. Todd is very concerned about her and she can see the love in his eyes. They turn into big beating hearts like on the cartoons. Once everyone knows that Saint Elizabeth is all right, they decide they need something to decide the competition. Bruce suggests a tug-of-war and everyone loves the idea. Liz is replaced by Jessica who has put her desire to got to Lovett behind her. Todd also bows out to stay with Liz and shocks the entire crowd. Someone takes his place. Courtney throws a tantrum saying that they already won and shouldn’t have to do anything else. Jessica tells her to shut up or else explain how her team won the College Bowl. The tug-of-war starts and at first Sweet Valley is losing. Then Todd yells “Go Sweet Valley High!” and this roar gives them the strength they need to fight through and win the war. Excuse me while I go barf. Todd says that if his parents and the school allow it, he wants to transfer back to SVH. At the Dairi Burger, everyone cheers Liz and Todd and even Jeffrey shakes Todd’s hand and gives Liz a hug. Everything is perfect. Jess explains that she doesn’t want to go to Lovett because she didn’t like the people there. She doesn’t mention the cheating for some dumb reason. Then the talk turns to Amy and her flirting with Ken. Amy wants Ken and is determined to get him. Find out what happens next in “That Fatal Night.” I don’t want to ruin it, but doesn’t fatal mean deadly as in someone dies? I don’t think anyone dies until the Jungle Prom. Oh, just checked, “fatal” can also mean momentous. So there you go. You learn something new every day.
# of parties: 1
# of dances: 0
# of days/weeks elapsed: 20 days (Started on a Monday, ended on a Saturday)
# of cheating cheaters: 0
# of times Todd punches someone/someone gets pushed in a pool: 0
In honor of Easter (for those of you who celebrate it), a book about love abandoned, love found, love lost, and love found again. Twoo Wuv. This book details the Return of Todd. The Return of the New, Richer, Snobbier, Better-Looking Todd to be exact. So in between your day of barbecuing chocolate rabbits and microwaving peeps, take a breather to read about the love that never dies--except when it does.
Cover:
I hate to say it, but Todd looks pretty cute in that picture. Even with his 80s hair, he holds up pretty well. Maybe a little doofusy, but not bad overall. And I know Liz’s hair is supposed to be gorgeous blonde, but it looks green in my copy. And she is supposed to be a size six? Totally looks like an 8 in that picture. ;)
The book begins with everyone at school discussing the big news. It turns out that Elizabeth Wakefield broke up with Jeffrey French and got back together with Todd Wilkins over the weekend. We learn some of the back-story, how Todd went away to Vermont and they tried to do the whole long-distance thing (for all of two weeks), but it was too hard because Liz was a cheating cheater with Nicholas Morrow, so they decided to date other people. Well, Todd is back and his dad is now president or veep, I don't recall exactly, of the company, and they are rich. Todd doesn’t even go to SVH anymore, he is at Lovett Academy. Jessica spends some time praising the school and mentioning that she wants to transfer there. The academics are better because Jessica has always been known for her academic aspirations. Plus there are a lot more cute, RICH guys at the school. Sure, her last Lovett Academy boyfriend didn’t work out-Sheffield Eastman was more interested in community service than in making Jessica into a modern princess-but she thinks that was just a fluke. She heads over to Liz to find out more about the Academy. Cue the “so similar in appearance, so different in personality” bit. Plus, they have perfect size-six figures, didjya know? For some strange reason, Elizabeth and Enid don’t take Jessica’s interest in Lovett very seriously. The place is very conservative and they have to do tons of homework there. Jessica, the careless carefree one, would not fit in. Plus, the Wakefields aren't rich and not having that season's LV bag is social suicide at a private school like Lovett.
In class, Liz is suffering mentally. She is so upset at having to hurt Jeffrey (who will be conveniently shuffled off to the sidelines and never mentioned again as far as I know), because her old feelings for Todd came back-only stronger. Of course, sometimes Todd seems very different from when he left, but they are still totally perfect for each other, Liz is positive. Todd is “so funny, so kind, and so clever.” Are we talking about the same guy? Liz loves Todd more than ever; her feelings are so strong. Jessica has Liz drop her off downtown after school so she can look up stuff about Lovett Academy. Liz tells her again that she wouldn’t fit in, and she doesn’t think Todd fits in either-he is too down to earth for the snooty school. Jess mentions that she saw Jeffrey moping around and Liz-the-Queen-of-Sensitivity is ignoring his pain and suffering because she doesn’t know what else to do. Jess says that Jeffrey will never forget Liz, no matter how popular and cute he is because no one ever forgets a Wakefield twin once they’ve had one. Okay, she doesn’t say that, but she implies it. Then she says that Jeffrey was a “little on the bland side. Whereas Todd is fantastic.” Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? Did someone do a brain replacement on Jessica? She always hated boring Todd. But, the ghostwriter doth decree that Todd is cool and awesome and Jeffrey is boring and lame, so it must be true. I guess it makes it all better that Liz dumps her boyfriend of several months over a weekend for a former boyfriend. Jeffrey is "lame" so ditching him is a-okay.
That evening at dinner, we learn again how perfect the Wakefield family is. They eat outside to enjoy the perfect California weather. They are having grilled steaks that Alice prepared after her 10-hour work day. Elizabeth of course, helped. Aww. Jessica tries to convince the ‘rents that she should be transferred to Lovett Academy. They bring up the Switzerland Debacle and Jess replies that Switzerland is a bit extreme, she was talking local. Her parents tell her that they didn’t ever feel strongly one way or the other about public vs. private so Jessica has their permission to research it some more. Liz heads over to Todd’s new mansion and they watch a movie in the screening room. They make plans to meet the next day at Seca Lake, but Liz will have to duck out of an important Oracle meeting because Todd has twisted her arm to meet him. She also didn’t do her homework for the next day because she wanted to see him. SMRT, Lizzie.
The next day, Jeffrey is at the Oracle meeting because of course he is on the newspaper too. Olivia embarrasses Liz by mentioning that she didn’t have her homework done, and Liz angers Penny by ducking out early. Jessica is annoying Amy because all Jess is doing is looking at Lovett Academy stuff. Jess plans on taking the entrance exams in two weeks. She thinks it will be a breeze. Back to Liz and Todd, they are heading to the lake. Liz asks Todd about his day because though their feelings are strong, they do need to spend time getting to know each other again. Todd mentions that people at lunch were name dropping because one guy was having dinner at MICHAEL JACKSON’s house. Stay out of the bedrooms, I guess. But really, this was the 80s and that was the height of name-dropping? But Todd has made a few friends who don’t suck. Liz still worries about Lovett being the right place for Todd since Liz is now Todd’s mummy. Todd also mentions that he missed a basketball practice to be there with Liz. Liz is happy to spend time with Todd but knows they are going to have to make some changes so they don’t keep disappointing the people who count on them. The week wears on and the troubles keep piling up. Liz turns in an article that has FOUR, count ‘em FOUR typos!!!! She about throws herself off a cliff in shame. Todd meanwhile has missed THREE, count ‘em THREE practices and is about to be thrown off the team. They decide that they can only hang out in the evenings and on the weekends. The separation might kill them, but it is the only way the relationship will work.
Driving by the restaurant where Todd and Liz are having their heart-to-heart is Courtney Kane. No relation to Erika Kane except in over-the-top personality. When Todd returned to SV, Courtney was determined to make him hers. Their parents also work together. Well, Courtney’s big scheme was ruined and Todd picked Liz over her. Courtney vows revenge on the two of them. At home, Courtney’s dad tells her about a convenient “Battle of the Schools” that will be waged. The winning school will be on some commercial. Courtney is convinced that they will “cream” any school they come up against. Sweet Valley gets the news about the “Battle of the Schools” on Monday. The events will be swimming, running, track and field (which would include running, right?), and tennis among others. There will also be a spelling bee and a College Bowl. So the smart kids (*cough*nerds*cough*) can compete too. Jessica figures she can’t compete against Lovett because she’ll be going there soon and incurs the wrath of all her friends. Liz is also uncertain about the whole competition. She hasn’t met anyone at Lovett that she likes and she is fretting about it. She heads to Lovett after school to meet Todd. Courtney appears on the scene and invites Todd to a pool party. Todd says that if Liz can’t go, he isn’t going. Courtney asks Liz if she plays polo. Liz almost laughs at her but takes the high road and says she’d love to watch everyone else play. Courtney then invites Todd to a private golf game which he for some reason accepts. Liz knows that Courtney has something planned for Todd but tries to be friendly anyway.
That weekend, Liz gets ready of the party. Jessica offers to go in her place. Liz laughs and says that Todd might notice. No, Liz, from past experience, Todd probably won’t notice. But Liz doesn’t let Jess take her place anyway. Todd picks her up in his new Beemer and is very stand-offish. Instead of asking him what is wrong, Liz dances around the subject. They arrive at the Country Club where the party is and the first person they run into is a guy in a blazer named Campbell Rochester which has to be the most stereotypical “Country Club snob” name ever. Campbell is Courtney’s date and they head off to play golf. Liz is playing golf also. She sees Ben Orson, some guy from SVH and says “hi” which is a total faux pas since he is the caddy and the “hired help.” People giggle at Liz and Todd says nothing. The day goes from bad to worse because Campbell keeps sexually harassing her and Todd keeps disappearing. Liz finds the Lovett kids superficial and stuck-up. But really, if they are Courtney’s friends, what do you expect? As Liz and Todd leave, Todd mentions that he didn’t have any fun either and Liz feels better because it wasn’t just her hating it. Though Liz does worry that Todd is changing-he talks about money a lot more and has new interests. Oh no! New interests? Someone find that box he escaped from and put him back in there.
At school on Monday, the teams are announced. Bruce Patman and Kristin Thompson are on the tennis team, Aaron Dallas is on the track, Bill Chase is swimming, Winston and others are on the College Bowl team, Olivia is spelling, and on the relay team-Liz, Robin, Ken Matthews and … Jeffrey French! Ruh-roh, Shaggy. That afternoon at relay team practice, Todd has come to watch. And guess what, he is on the Lovett relay team. Talk about cruel fate. Ken and Todd joke around but then he asks Todd to leave so he doesn’t learn the SVH team’s secret plan to win or something. Later that evening, Liz and Todd have a mini argument about it. Todd jokes that Liz should quit and just cheer him on but Liz takes it seriously. Trouble in paradise. The next day, Liz and Todd have a date planned. Todd is half an hour late and Liz tries not to take it personally. He starts talking about some of his Lovett friends and Liz is all offended at how shallow he sounds. She manages to pick a fight but he totally gets into it too. He defends Lovett though she never actually criticized it and says it would kill his dad if he didn’t fit in there. Liz knows Mr. Wilkins and doubts he’ll die of shame if Todd wants to come back to SVH but before she can say anything, Todd goes into a woe-is-me, I have to adjust rant. Liz comes back with a “poor little rich boy” rant, and Todd says that they should break up until they figure out what they each want. So, they break up. All in the space of two pages of text. Ah, teenage angst, allowing ghostwriters to shortcut actual characterization for hundreds of years.
Liz spills her sad, sad story to Enid and then heads off to relay practice. The relay has weird stages. A three-legged race which Jeffrey and Robin will do, a sprint with an egg which is Ken’s section, and a rope climb which is Liz’s job. If I were the coach, I’d swap Liz and Ken since girls often have better balance and football players more upper body strength, but I am sure there is a plot reason for the mismatched roles. Or else put Liz and Robin together since they are probably more similar in height than Robin and Jeffrey. Whatevs. Liz is really struggling at the rope climb. There aren’t any knots to help her up but Jeffrey is such a nice guy, he gives her some tips and she finally makes it to the top. She frets some more about Todd and the state of their relationship. At Lovett Academy, Todd and team are also practicing. Courtney comes up (she isn’t involved in something as icky and childish as a relay race) and invites Todd to a Lakers game. Todd says “maybe” but Courtney takes that as a “I’d love to go with you, you hot thang!” which shows the depth of her delusions. Todd and team pick roles in the relay and of course Todd picks rope climbing. On Todd vs. Liz at rope-climbing, my money is on Todd. Courtney assures her friend that Lovett will definitely beat all the other schools there, especially SVH. Turns out her dad is one of the judges which you’d think was a major conflict of interest, but the story requires it therefore it is. Mr. Kane tells Courtney that despite her wheedling, he isn’t going to favor Lovett-it isn’t just a competition, it is business. Courtney then decides that if she can’t win by fixing the judges, she’ll have to do something else. My vote goes for grease on a rope, what think y’all? I could be wrong because at the meet, Lovett does really well in track and field, but SVH takes over in tennis and swimming. For the relay, Todd beats Liz by a hair so Lovett is in the lead and SVH in a close second. The two teams will then face off at the final two days hence. Amy takes the time to flirt with Ken while Jessica ogles the Lovett Academy grounds.
The next day, Jessica has an interview at Lovett before the entrance exams the next day. She starts to think she won’t fit in but then sees a cute guy and knows she can make a place for herself there. Todd comes up thinking she might be Liz. He asks about Liz and is all mopey. Jess figures she could tell Todd that Liz is miserable too but decides not to make it easy on him. She then reports to Liz that Todd is all sad and stuff. Liz thinks that Todd should be the one to make the first move and Jess tells her how dumb that is. So Liz calls the Wilkins’ house but gets the answering machine. Jess says that maybe he has a hot date and Liz gets all angsty. He might have a hot date, but it isn’t with Courtney. Courtney is at home with her friend scheming on ways to cheat at the competition. Giving people answers at the College Bowl is her first idea. That only works if you are smarter than the people competing, honey. Her friend tries to talk her out of it but is able to be bribed by the promise of a green sweater with a black border. Hot.
At the College Bowl competition, the questions are all true and false. Courtney has an answer book and will tug once for false, twice for true on the curtain by the stage. Of course the Lovett Academy team wins with this help but Jessica notices that they are cheating. She doesn’t speak up then though because she doesn’t want to jeopardize her chances at getting into the school. By the time the relay race comes up, the teams are tied. Courtney somehow gets in on the setting up of the course and the guy in charge (who should have set up earlier, IMO, but again, what the story demands…) helpfully mentions which rope belongs to which team and not to take the one in the back because it is rotted through. Guess which one Courtney takes for Sweet Valley and Elizabeth to use? Well, during the relay, SVH pulls ahead so Liz attacks her rope first. She is halfway up and Todd has started climbing his. Jessica, in the audience, then notices that Liz’s rope looks like it is getting thinner and thinner and suddenly it snaps and she falls. What, like three feet? She gives a cry of pain. The crowd goes silent except for Courtney who yells at Todd to keep going. He doesn’t. He drops down and gathers Liz into his arms. Everyone rushes around her. It is very dramatic. But Liz is alright. Todd is very concerned about her and she can see the love in his eyes. They turn into big beating hearts like on the cartoons. Once everyone knows that Saint Elizabeth is all right, they decide they need something to decide the competition. Bruce suggests a tug-of-war and everyone loves the idea. Liz is replaced by Jessica who has put her desire to got to Lovett behind her. Todd also bows out to stay with Liz and shocks the entire crowd. Someone takes his place. Courtney throws a tantrum saying that they already won and shouldn’t have to do anything else. Jessica tells her to shut up or else explain how her team won the College Bowl. The tug-of-war starts and at first Sweet Valley is losing. Then Todd yells “Go Sweet Valley High!” and this roar gives them the strength they need to fight through and win the war. Excuse me while I go barf. Todd says that if his parents and the school allow it, he wants to transfer back to SVH. At the Dairi Burger, everyone cheers Liz and Todd and even Jeffrey shakes Todd’s hand and gives Liz a hug. Everything is perfect. Jess explains that she doesn’t want to go to Lovett because she didn’t like the people there. She doesn’t mention the cheating for some dumb reason. Then the talk turns to Amy and her flirting with Ken. Amy wants Ken and is determined to get him. Find out what happens next in “That Fatal Night.” I don’t want to ruin it, but doesn’t fatal mean deadly as in someone dies? I don’t think anyone dies until the Jungle Prom. Oh, just checked, “fatal” can also mean momentous. So there you go. You learn something new every day.
# of parties: 1
# of dances: 0
# of days/weeks elapsed: 20 days (Started on a Monday, ended on a Saturday)
# of cheating cheaters: 0
# of times Todd punches someone/someone gets pushed in a pool: 0