Free SVH11-Too Good To Be True by Francine Pascal Page B

an inquiry, but that was just a formality. The truth was, things looked pretty grim for Mr. Collins.
    The part Elizabeth hated the most was that so many people actually seemed glad about it. Mr. Collins had always been popular with the students, but some parents viewed his teaching methods as too liberal. Now they were happy to have a good excuse to get rid of him.
    Elizabeth was among those who would be sorry to see him go. Even knowing he'd done a terrible thing, she couldn't bring herself to hate him. In fact, every time she thought about his leaving, she felt sick. She was glad Todd felt the same way. At least she wasn't the only one who was torn.
    "What's Mr. Collins got to say about all this?" Todd wanted to know. "Has anyone asked him?''
    "Dad talked to him the night it happened. According to him, Mr. Collins seemed pretty
    upset. But he said he wasn't going to go around publicly denying it because people were still going to believe what they wanted even though it wasn't true."
    "Sounds like something Mr. Collins would say."
    They were on their way over to Cara's to meet some of the other kids from school and pool their resources for Lila's birthday present. Elizabeth wasn't thrilled over the prospect of going to Lila's party that evening, but she supposed there was no getting out of it without appearing rude. Besides, Suzanne had agreed to go with Aaron Dallas, and the two couples were planning on spending some time together at the party. After the ordeal Suzanne had been through, Elizabeth wanted her last night in Sweet Valley to be fun.
    Todd suddenly smacked the steering wheel with the heel of his hand. "What if Mr. Collins is telling the truth? What if Suzy imagined the whole thing?"
    "I wish it were true," Elizabeth said. "But, Todd, you didn't see her. She was so upset she could hardly talk. I practically had to pry the story out of her. Besides, why would anyone make up an awful thing like that?"
    "You're right." Todd made a left turn onto Cara's street. "It would be crazy to want to
    get a nice guy like Mr. Collins fired for no reason."
    The group that was gathered on Cara's back patio was divided into two factions: the get-Mr. Collins-fired bunch versus the ones who were loyal to him, no matter what.
    "I don't care what anyone says," spoke frizzy-haired Olivia Davidson, her blue eyes flashing with indignation. "I don't believe Mr. Collins would do something like that."
    Olivia worked on the paper, too, and was devoted to the handsome young faculty adviser. She shared his liberal views and hated injustice just as much as he did.
    "Well, I believe it," said Cara, who was passing out sodas. "I've always thought he was the lecherous type. I've caught him looking at me more than once. Besides, he gave me a D on my last English essay."
    Todd and Elizabeth exchanged looks. Cara was one of the biggest gossips in school, as well as being Jessica's best friend. She was probably responsible for the rumor spreading as quickly as it had.
    Perhaps recalling his own experience at being the center of rumors, Ken spoke up in Mr. Collins's defense. "Aw c'mon, Cara, you think
    every guy is looking at you. Anyway, if Mr. C was so hot for you, why'd he give you a D?"
    Cara glared at him, but she had no real comeback. Elizabeth couldn't suppress a tiny smile. It wasn't often that Cara was struck speechless.
    "I don't think someone should be hanged before all the evidence is heard," said John Pfeifer, sports editor for The Oracle. "I'm not saying he didn't do it. I'm just saying we should hear his side, too."
    "I'm with John," Enid agreed. She, too, had suffered at the hands of gossips once upon a time when an ugly episode from her past was exposed by Jessica.
    "Not me. The whole thing is just too disgusting for words," Caroline Pearce pronounced, giving her carrot-red hair a prim toss. "I mean, to think a maniac has been on the loose at Sweet Valley High all this time and no one even suspected!"
    Tom McKay snickered. Obviously the