6:20 p.m.
.....Tara,who was paired with Jessica,held a bouquet of dahlias. Behind her Elizabeth,paired with Brenda,stood holding hands. Finally Julie was paired with Johanna. The grass of the Andes' backyard was newly wet from the rainstorm. Uncle Marty was playing a piano - the "Presentation of the Rose" music from Der Rosenkavalier.
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“Team 1 is Jessica Wakefield,Helen Bradley,Cherie Reese,Shanelle Spencer,Annabel Williams,and Tricia Martin.
Team 2 is Maria Slater,Alexa Pappadopolos,Susan Stewart,Ellen Riteman,Lavender Brown,and Rosa Jameson.
And Team 3 is Elizabeth Wakefield,Nikki Darling,Abbie Richardson,Tina Ayala,Dawn Schafer,and Caitlin Ryan.
The alternate team is Kelly Bates,Aline Montgomery,Leslie Forsythe,Cammi Adams and Amanda Hayes.”
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July 17,1995
7:22 p.m.
Cara sauntered into the bathroom,quickly taking her clothes off and entering the shower. Checking that her soulmark was still bright,she scrubbed it with soap. A cloud of steam was forming around her naked body,shielding it from view. She allowed herself to cough. Leaning against the shower wall,she wondered what Winston was doing in the hotel room.
So far,this road trip hasn't been bad,she thought. Getting to see more of the world than just Sweet Valley and environs has been both entertaining and enlightening.
July 18,1995
7:30 a.m.
The first thing Jessica did when she saw that Cara and Winston soulmarks had vanished was squeal. The second was to run up to and hug both of them.
"Oh my god,oh my god! This is so awesome! You two were totally meant for each other! This is,like,the best thing ever!"
"Thanks,Jess", Cara said as Jess' lips brushed her ear. She did the same to Winston.
"You're,like,the luckiest guy alive,Win. To have Cara Walker as your soulmate? I am so envious of you. Anybody would be!”
"Lynne, your singing was beautiful!", Jess praised effusively. "You should be a star!"
Lynne blushed. "It was nothing,Jess,but a favor to you and Mike. I'm happy for you two."
"Oh,come on,Lynne. You're so talented. You and Guy are just so sweet together. You've gotta sign with a record label or something,get your tunes out there! Imagine it:Lynne Henry,America's sweetheart!"
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“There'll be one cousin from each side in my wedding party,Jess", Liz said. "For Dad's side,Jeannie,and from Mom's side,Tara. I want Enid as my maid of honor and you joining her. That leaves two spots. For one,I think I'll choose Emily Mayer. For the other one,I think I'll pick Olivia Davidson.
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"Shhh!",Olivia said,blocking Ken’s lips with a finger. Ken obeyed and settled into his seat. The overture began,captivating the audience's attention. Armide,he'd learned from Olivia,was set during the Crusades. It was some story about a witch who attempted to ensnare a knight:however,he rejects her advances and wins the heart of a princess. Nikki was playing the title role while an actor named Pasquale Mastroianni played the knight -
"Holy cow!", Ken whispered. "Mastroianni kinda looks like Joey from school."
"He does,doesn't he?"
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The other girl was the wide receiver,an auburn haired junior by the name of Pansy Lester. She was well-regarded by team,peers,and teachers alike,something like Abbie Richardson or Maria Santelli had been once. Jessica could just bet that Pansy would be Prom Queen come June 2005. She waved at Jessica as she approached the field.
"Ms McAllery,I see they let you out for some fresh air!"
Try as she might Jessica couldn’t restrain the urge bubbling up inside her. She threw back her head and burst out laughing. This girl took funny to a new level.
"Oh my god,Pansy,oh my god! You're such a cut-up! Just like Cara was back in the day!"
The team stared at her in confusion. She couldn't blame them:few of them would know Cara Egbert née Walker even by sight.