Free Secrets by Francine Pascal Page B

other only yesterday. Even more astounding than the physical transformation George had undergone, was the change in George's personality. Enid was utterly entranced. Gone was the angry, sullen boy who had blamed the world for his problems. George was now a responsible young man, a good student, and--he informed Enid to her delight--he had been accepted to Sweet Valley College for the next semester.
    Of course, she'd known from his letters that he'd changed, but she'd escaped the full impact of it until just this moment. Besides, how could she have known from his letters how absolutely gorgeous he'd become? Enid couldn't stop looking at him.
    "listen, Enid," George said, engulfing her hand in his large, warm grasp, "I just talked to Winston, and he told me everything that's been going on. I just want you to know I'm really sorry if my letters got you into any trouble."
    "Trouble?" Enid forgot she'd ever had any troubles. The electric sensation of his touch traveled up her arm, tingling throughout her body.
    "About the letters, though," he went on, "I have to tell you they were all that kept me going in the beginning when things were really rough. I could see how much you'd changed, and it really inspired me. You believed in me when I couldn't believe in myself. I guess that's why I wanted to see you--so I could thank you in person."
    "Thank me?" Enid knew she was starting to sound like a parrot, but whenever she looked into those clear gray eyes, anything brilliant she might have said simply fizzled away.
    "Yeah, and to ask you something." He cleared his throat. "I know it's kind of the last minute and all, but Winston told me about your boyfriend breaking your date for the dance, and I was just wondering ..."
    Enid's voice returned all of a sudden, loud and clear. "Ronnie's not my boyfriend," she broke in. "As a matter of fact, I'm not sure he ever was. And, yes, George, I'd love to go to the dance with you."
    He broke into a mile-wide grin. "When I saw you in that dress, I was sure I was too late. I figured some other lucky guy had beaten me to it."
    "You look pretty special yourself," she noted, admiring his neatly pressed slacks and dark wool blazer. "Why so dressed up?"
    "Well, you see it's like this. I was hoping you'd take one look and figure a clean-cut, preppy type like me was too good to go to waste."
    He handed her a small white florist's box he'd been concealing behind his back. Inside was a dewy white orchid corsage tied with a purple bow.
    "George--you liar!" Enid's eyes filled with tears in spite of the fact that she was grinning. "You knew all along I didn't have a date!"
    "What's the difference? You do now. Isn't that all that matters?"
    When they reached the front door, George looked down and started to laugh.
    "What's so funny?" she demanded.
    "Haven't you forgotten something?" he asked.
    Enid glanced down at her feet. "My shoes!"
    "Never mind, I like you barefoot."
    George wrapped his arms around her, drawing her into a gentle, tentative kiss. His lips were warm and sweet, sending waves of pleasure rippling up her backbone. She curled her hand
    around the back of his neck, holding him closer as their kiss deepened.
    At that moment Enid would have walked barefoot over hot coals to go to the dance with George.
     

 

     
     

    Twelve
     
    "Well--how do I look?"
    Jessica twirled before her sister. She looked stunning in a slinky red silk formal with a wide embroidered belt and black sandal heels. Long rhinestone earrings dangled from her ears. She looked as though she'd stepped out of the pages of Cosmopolitan --which was exactly the look she was after.
    "You look sexy, if that's what you want to know," commented Elizabeth, scarcely looking up from the ironing board as she finished pressing the ruffled hem of her own slightly less revealing voile gown. "Are you sure Ronnie can handle it?"
    "You act like Ronnie's my boyfriend, for heaven's sake." Jessica sighed. "I told you, Liz, I'm only doing this as a favor