“So, what did you think?” Jayden asked Jessica after the film was finished and the lights were brought back up. He took her hand and looked deep into her eyes.

“It was absolutely fabulous,” Jessica squealed. “You’re such a brilliant filmmaker. And I’m so incredibly hot – how could you have gone wrong?”

“We do make a good team, Jessica Wakefield,” Jayden said, giving her a soft punch on the arm.

It was as if she’d been knocked back into reality from her reverie of being ridiculously rich and famous. Jessica looked around for her twin. “Where’s Elizabeth?” she asked, sounding a little worried.

“I don’t know,” Jayden replied. “I was too busy watching pieces of hot young ass get it on to really pay attention to where she and Bruce went.”

Jessica caught Amy Sutton’s arm as she walked by. “Hey, Amy, have you seen Liz around anywhere?” she asked.

“No, I haven’t,” Amy said icily, her eyes flashing. She yanked her arm out of Jessica’s grasp and walked quickly toward the table piled high with refreshments.

Amy’s acting kind of weird, Jessica thought. I wonder what the hell her problem is?

“Forget your twin for a minute,” Jayden said, squeezing Jessica’s hand. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“What is it?” Jessica asked, alarmed.

“Well, I’m going to be leaving tomorrow,” he said. “I’ve got all the footage I need, so I’m going back to L.A. so I can work on the final cut and we can get this thing packaged and sold.”

“Do you have to leave tomorrow?” Jessica asked, her eyes wide.

Jayden nodded. “It’s time to go back,” he said apologetically. “There’s so much to do – marketing, design, commercials—”

“Commercials?” Jessica repeated. “You mean, like, television commercials? I’m going to be on TV?”

“Well, yeah,” Jayden answered, laughing. “They’ll be airing late at night and there will be a giant censor bar over your naughty bits, but yes, you’ll be on TV.”

“That’s so cool!” Jessica squealed. “I’ve got to go tell Lila!”

She started to walk away, but Jayden caught her by the arm.

“What’s your hurry?” he asked softly. “We need to make the most of tonight while we can.”

“What do you have in mind?” Jessica asked coyly.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Jayden said, pretending to be lost in thought. “Do you think Lila has a spare bedroom available?”

Jessica snorted. “She has a whole spare wing available,” she said.

“Then come on, smart ass,” Jayden said teasingly, taking her by the hand and leading her from the living room.

On the way out, they nearly ran smack into Bruce and Elizabeth. Both of them looked flushed, and Elizabeth’s hair was kind of messed up – three hairs were out of place. Bruce’s shirt was buttoned up wrong.

“Where have you been?” Jessica demanded.

“Nowhere,” Elizabeth said nervously, clearing her throat.

Jessica looked from her twin to Bruce and back to Elizabeth again. “Look at you! You’re positively glowing!” she exclaimed. “What have you been up to?”

“Getting’ laid,” Bruce said with a grin. He flashed Jessica a thumbs up.

“Stop it!” Elizabeth said, letting out a giggle and giving Bruce a playful smack.

“I knew it!” Jessica cried. “You just have to upstage me, don’t you?”

Elizabeth groaned. “Not this argument again,” she said.

“It’s true!” Jessica cried, stamping her foot in indignation. “You’ve already done it twice, and I’ve only done it once!”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me we’re going to start competing over this now,” she said.

“Elizabeth,” Jessica said, a warning tone in her voice, “we compete over everything. Everything.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “Well, if I’m not mistaken, it looks like you were just on your way to make it number two,” she said.

“I was,” Jessica said, sticking out her tongue at her sister. “Also, I’m going to be in a commercial.”

“Good for you, Jess,” Elizabeth said warmly. “That’s so exciting!”

“It is, isn’t it?” Jessica asked. “Hopefully, I can convince Jayden to not put you or Lila in the commercial!”

Jayden shook his head, laughing. “Come on, Jess,” he implored. “Let’s go.”

“Maybe he should rename the movie ‘Skanks Gone Stupid: Jessica Wakefield,’” Elizabeth teased.

“He really should,” Jessica purred, hooking her arm through Jayden’s arm and giving him a mildly threatening look. “How does that sound, Jayden?”

“I’ll think about it,” Jayden promised, giving Jessica a kiss on the forehead. “Now can we go find that spare wing of the house we were talking about?”

“You have such a one-track mind,” Jessica said. She pinched Jayden’s cheek affectionately.

“All right, enough, you two,” Elizabeth said sternly. “Get a room!”

“That was kind of the plan,” Jessica said, rolling her eyes. “Duh.”

Elizabeth watched them walk away. She slipped her hand into Bruce’s and sighed with happiness. She surveyed the scene. It was a typical Sweet Valley High party, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Even Enid was having a good time. It seemed she had caught Owen’s attention, and the two of them were in the corner, involved in earnest conversation.

Todd and Ken were slow dancing to The Droids’ latest number. Elizabeth was happy that he’d finally found someone to have hot man-on-man action with, and although a part of her missed him and the wonderful, close relationship they’d had, she knew the two of them would always be special friends.

Sandra and Jeannie were suddenly all-out lesbians, Elizabeth realized as she saw the two of them groping each other on the couch. And Annie Whitman was now admired for being a chronic slut, instead of ostracized. Jade Wu, the token Asian in Sweet Valley with the token Asian name, was busy regaling Aaron Dallas and Bill Chase with tales of Japanese shit porn, even though she was Chinese.

Cara Walker and the twins’ brother, Steven, were laughing and joking as they twirled each other around on the dance floor. Elizabeth conveniently dismissed any disgusted thoughts she had about the potentially incestuous implications of her brother viewing the film she and Jessica were a part of. Also, Cara looked about a week pregnant, Elizabeth observed.

So much has happened lately, Elizabeth mused. Surely it won’t be hard to write my Eyes and Ears column this week! And why have I never before pondered the irony of myself advising all the incurable gossips in Sweet Valley to stop gossiping, while I myself enjoy writing a gossip column? She shrugged. Oh, well, I guess it gives me the advantage! I totally get to scoop them!

Also, I wonder what Mr. Collins is up to, Elizabeth thought. I hope he’s enjoying his Saturday night.

Had Elizabeth turned around at that very moment, she would have seen what Mr. Collins was up to – hiding in the perfectly manicured bushes outside the living room of Fowler Crest as he had been all night, spying on Elizabeth, Jessica and the rest of the Sweet Valley High crowd.

And over by the punch bowl, Amy Sutton was furiously ladling punch into a paper cup. I wonder if she’s okay, Elizabeth thought, throwing Amy one of her patented looks of condescension. Amy sure looks mad about something!