Free SVH12-When Love Dies by Francine Pascal Page A

Jessica felt. It was so unfair! Elizabeth thought. If only they knew what Tricia was really like, how sweet and wonderful she was. If they knew about the sacrifice she was making, they'd be ashamed.
    Elizabeth was digging into her locker when someone touched her elbow. It was Enid Rollins, her best friend, and at this moment a very welcome sight. Enid's cheeks were pink, as if she'd been running. Her large green eyes sparkled with excitement.
    "Guess what? I did it--I-.got an A on my chemistry quiz! I was so afraid I wouldn't make it. You know how tough Mr. Russo can be, treating us all as if we're budding scientists and--" Enid stopped to look at Elizabeth. "Liz, what's the matter? You look like you're about to cry. Did you and Todd have a fight?" she asked quietly, remembering the last time Elizabeth had looked this upset--the time she and Todd had almost broken up.
    Elizabeth shook her head mournfully. "I wish that was all it was."
    "Come on, we have a few minutes before our next class." Gently Enid steered her friend over to one of the benches that lined the corridor. "Do you want to tell me about it?"
    Elizabeth moaned. "I can't. It's a secret, and I promised I wouldn't tell."
    Enid was far too discreet to pry. She only nodded in sympathy. She knew what it was like to have secrets. And that was what friendship was all about--understanding and trusting, even when you didn't know all the facts.
    "Are you sorry you promised? Is that what's bothering you?" Enid asked as if she'd read Elizabeth's mind.
    Elizabeth buried her face in her hands. "Oh, Enid, it's all wrong! Everything. I never should have promised. How can a secret be any good if it's destroying the people it's supposed to be helping?"
    "Some secrets shouldn't be kept," Enid replied. "Remember how afraid I was when I was going out with Ronnie? I was so afraid he'd find out about the trouble I'd gotten into when I was younger. It turned out to be a good thing when he found out. It showed me what a narrow person he was."
    "This is different," Elizabeth said. "It's not really my secret, so I can't make that decision. I wish I could. I feel so awful about it, I don't know if I can stand it!"
    "It sounds like too much responsibility for one person," Enid advised thoughtfully. "I think you need to talk to someone. Someone older. Can you tell your parents?"
    "No. They're too close. Oh, Enid, how can I tell anyone? I promised!"
    Enid slipped an arm around Elizabeth's
    trembling shoulders. "I can see what this is doing to you. Liz, you've got to tell somebody."
    Elizabeth sensed that Enid was right, but she still remained uncertain. Who? she wondered. Who can I tell?
     

Chapter Eleven
     
    "This is good, Liz. It shows a lot of feeling and enthusiasm. I think we should run it."
    Mr. Collins, faculty adviser for The Oracle, held up the typewritten pages Elizabeth had turned in a few days earlier. It was the first in a series of articles she'd planned to call "A Candy Striper's Journal." She'd been enthusiastic about it when she started it, but now she could only shrug dispiritedly in spite of Mr. Collins's praise.
    "Thanks," she said. "I guess I was feeling pretty enthusiastic when I wrote it."
    "But you're not feeling that way now?" He perched on the edge of her desk, his sky-blue eyes intent on hers. "You're not thinking of
    giving up volunteering at the hospital, are you?"
    "No, I still love it." She couldn't meet his gaze. Could he tell that she'd been crying? "It's just that--well, sometimes it can get to you."
    "I know. I feel the same way about teaching sometimes."
    Mr. Collins smiled warmly. He was by far the handsomest teacher in school, but that wasn't what Elizabeth liked best about him. What mattered to her was that he was the easiest teacher to talk to. She'd gone to him more than once in difficult situations. He was always sympathetic, never judgmental. He led her toward discovering the wisest course of action rather than coming right out and telling her what