"Jessica," her father said calmly, "I didn't mean to upset you. I was only—"

  "Well, I am upset!" Jessica told him. "And I don't want hamburgers for dinner, either. If you guys will excuse me, I'm going up to my room!"

  "Liz, let her go," Jessica heard her mother saying. "She'll cool down in a few minutes."

  I will not, Jessica thought furiously, racing upstairs and slamming the door to her room as hard as she could. She'd had just about enough of her family treating her badly.

  And since her plan to impress them had been such a miserable failure, she was going to have to come up with some other way of changing their minds about her.

  Only I'd better think of something fast, she told herself, tears trickling down her cheeks as she threw herself onto her bed. Because I don't think I can stand things the way they are around here for another minute!

  Jessica embarks on a desperate course of action in Sweet Valley High #21, RUNAWAY.

  A LETTER TO THE READER

  Dear Friend,

  Ever since I created the series, SWEET VALLEY HIGH, I've been thinking about a love trilogy, a miniseries revolving around one very special girl, a character similar in some ways to Jessica Wakefield, but even more devastating—more beautiful, more charming, and much more devious.

  Her name is Caitlin Ryan, and with her long black hair, her magnificent blue eyes and ivory complexion, she's the most popular girl at the exclusive boarding school she attends in Virginia. On the surface her life seems perfect. She has it all: great wealth, talent, intelligence, and the dazzle to charm every boy in the school. But deep inside there's a secret need that haunts her life.

  Caitlin's mother died in childbirth, and her father abandoned her immediately after she was born. At least that's the lie she has been told by her enormously rich grandmother, the cold and powerful matriarch who has raised Caitlin and given her everything money can buy. But not love.

  Caitlin dances from boy to boy, never staying long, often breaking hearts, yet she's so sparkling and delightful that everyone forgives her. No one can resist her.

  No one that is, but Jed Michaels. He's the new boy in school—tall, wonderfully handsome, and very, very nice. And Caitlin means to have him.

  But somehow the old tricks don't work; she can't seem to manipulate him. Impossible! There has never been anyone that the beautiful and terrible Caitlin couldn't have. And now she wants Jed Michaels—no matter who gets hurt or what she has to do to get him.

  So many of you follow my SWEET VALLEY HIGH series that I know you'll find it fascinating to read what happens when love comes into the life of this spoiled and selfish beauty—the indomitable Caitlin Ryan.

  Thanks for being there, and keep reading,

  A special preview of the exciting

  opening chapter of the first book

  in the fabulous new trilogy:

  CAITLIN

  BOOK ONE

  LOVING

  by Francine Pascal,

  creator of the best-selling

  SWEET VALLEY HIGH series

  "That's not a bad idea, Tenny," Caitlin said as she reached for a book from her locker. "Actually, it's pretty good."

  "You really like it?" Tenny Sears hung on every word the beautiful Caitlin Ryan said. It was the petite freshman's dream to be accepted into the elite group the tall, dark-haired junior led at Highgate Academy. She was ready to do anything to belong.

  Caitlin looked around and noticed the group of five girls who had begun to walk their way, and she lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Let me think it over, and I'll get back to you later. Meanwhile let's just keep it between us, okay?"

  "Absolutely." Tenny struggled to keep her excitement down to a whisper. The most important girl in the whole school liked her idea. "Cross my heart," she promised. "I won't breathe a word to anyone."

  Tenny would have loved to continue the conversation, but at just that moment Caitlin remembered she'd left her gold pen in French class. Tenny was only too happy to race to fetch it.

  The minute the younger girl was out of sight, Caitlin gathered the other girls around her.

  "Hey, you guys, I just had a great idea for this year's benefit night. Want to hear it?"

  Of course they wanted to hear what she had to say about the benefit, the profits of which would go to the scholarship fund for miners' children. Everyone was always interested in anything Caitlin Ryan had to say. She waited until all eyes were on her, then hesitated for an instant, increasing the dramatic impact of her words.

  "How about a male beauty contest?"

  "A what?" Morgan Conway exclaimed.

  "A male beauty contest," Caitlin answered, completely unruffled. "With all the guys dressing up in crazy outfits. It'd be a sellout!"

  Most of the girls looked at Caitlin as if she'd suddenly gone crazy, but Dorothy Raite, a sleek, blond newcomer to Highgate, stepped closer to Caitlin's locker. "I think it's a great idea!"

  "Thanks, Dorothy," Caitlin said, smiling modestly.

  "I don't know." Morgan was doubtful. "How are you going to get the guys to go along with this? I can't quite picture Roger Wake parading around on stage in a swimsuit."

  "He'll be the first contestant to sign up when I get done talking to him." Caitlin's tone was slyly smug.

  "And all the other guys?"

  "They'll follow along." Caitlin placed the last of her books in her knapsack, zipped it shut, then gracefully slung it over her shoulder. "Everybody who's anybody in this school will just shrivel up and die if they can't be part of it. Believe me, I wouldn't let the student council down. After all, I've got my new presidency to live up to."

  Morgan frowned. "I suppose." She took a chocolate bar out of her brown leather shoulder bag and began to unwrap it.

  Just at that moment, Tenny came back, empty-handed and full of apologies. "Sorry, Caitlin, I asked all over, but nobody's seen it."

  "That's okay. I think I left it in my room, anyway."

  "Did you lose something?" Kim Verdi asked, but Caitlin dismissed the subject, saying it wasn't important.

  For an instant Tenny was confused until Dorothy Raite asked her if she'd heard Caitlin's fabulous new idea for a male beauty contest. Then everything fell into place. Caitlin had sent her away in order to take credit for the idea.

  It didn't even take three seconds for Tenny to make up her mind about what to do. "Sounds terrific," she said. Tenny Sears was determined to belong to this group, no matter what.

  Dorothy leaned over and whispered to Caitlin. "Speaking of beauties, look who's walking over here."

  Casually Caitlin glanced up at the approaching Highgate soccer star. Roger Wake's handsome face broke into a smile when he saw her. Caitlin knew he was interested in her, and up until then she'd offhandedly played with that interest—when she was in the mood.

  "And look who's with him!" Dorothy's elbow nearly poked a hole in Caitlin's ribs. "Jed Michaels. Oh, my God, I've been absolutely dying to meet this guy."

  Caitlin nodded, her eyes narrowing. She'd been anxious to meet Jed, too, but she didn't tell Dorothy that. Ever since his arrival as a transfer student at Highgate, Caitlin had been studying him, waiting for precisely the right moment to be introduced and to make an unforgettable impression on him. It seemed that the opportunity had just been handed to her.

  "Hey, Caitlin. How're you doing?" Roger called out, completely ignoring the other girls in the group.

  "Great, Roger. How about you?" Caitlin's smile couldn't have been wider. "Thought you'd be on the soccer field by now."

  "I'm on my way. The coach pushed back practice half an hour today, anyway. Speaking of which, I don't remember seeing you at the last scrimmage." There was a hint of teasing in his voice.

  Caitlin looked puzzled and touched her fingertips to her lips. "I was there, I'm sure—"

  "We were late, Caitlin, remember?" Tenny spoke up eagerly. "I was with you at drama club, and it ran over."

  "Now, how could I have forgotten? You see, Roger"—Caitlin sent him a sly, laughing look—"we never let the team down. Jenny should know—she's one of your biggest fans."

  "Tenny," the girl corrected meekly. But she was glowing from having been singled out for attention by Caitlin.

  "Oh, right, Tenny. Sorry, but I'm really bad with names sometimes." Caitlin smiled at the girl with seeming sincerity, but her attention returned quickly to the two boys standing nearby.

  "Caitlin," Dorothy burst in, "do you want to tell him—"

  "Shhh," Caitlin put her finger to her lips. "Not yet. We haven't made all our plans."

  "Tell me what?" Roger asked eagerly.

  "Oh, just a little idea we have for the council fundraiser, but it's too soon to talk about it."

  "Come on." Roger was becoming intrigued. "You're not being fair, Caitlin."

  She paused. "Well, since you're our star soccer player, I can tell you it's going to be the hottest happening at Highgate this fall."

  "Oh, yeah? What, a party?"

  "No."

  "A concert?"

  She shook her head, her black-lashed, blue eyes twinkling. "I'm not going to stand here and play Twenty Questions with you, Roger. But when we decide to make our plans public, you'll be the first to know. I promise."

  "Guess I'll have to settle for that."

  "Anyway, Roger, I promise not to let any of this other stuff interfere with my supporting the team from now on."

  At her look, Roger seemed ready to melt into his Nikes.

  Just at that moment Jed Michaels stepped forward. It was a casual move on his part, as though he were just leaning in a little more closely to hear the conversation. His gaze rested on Caitlin.

  Although she'd deliberately given the impression of being impervious to Jed, Caitlin was acutely aware of every move he made. She'd studied him enough from a distance to know that she liked what she saw.

  Six feet tall, with broad shoulders and a trim body used to exercise, Jed Michaels was the type of boy made for a girl like Caitlin. He had wavy, light brown hair, ruggedly even features, and an endearing, crooked smile. Dressed casually in a striped cotton shirt, tight cords, and western boots, Jed didn't look like the typical preppy Highgate student, and Caitlin had the feeling it was a deliberate choice. He looked like his own person.

  Caitlin had been impressed before, but now that she saw him close at hand, she felt electrified. For that brief instant when his incredible green eyes had looked directly into hers, she'd felt a tingle go up her spine.

  Suddenly realizing the need for an introduction, Roger put his hand on Jed's shoulder. "By the way, do you girls know Jed Michaels? He just transferred here from Montana. We've already got him signed up for the soccer team."

  Immediately the girls called out a chorus of enthusiastic greetings, which Jed acknowledged with a friendly smile and a nod of his head. "Nice to meet you." Dorothy's call had been the loudest, and Jed's gaze went toward the pretty blonde.

  Dorothy smiled at him warmly, and Jed grinned back. But before another word could be spoken, Caitlin riveted Jed with her most magnetic look.

  "I've seen you in the halls, Jed, and hoped you'd been made welcome." The intense fire of her deep blue eyes emphasized her words.

  He looked from Dorothy to Caitlin. "Sure have."

  "And how do you like Highgate?" Caitlin pressed on quickly, keeping the attention on herself.

  "So far, so good." His voice was deep and soft and just slightly tinged with a western drawl.

  "I'm glad." The enticing smile never left Caitlin's lips. "What school did you transfer from?"

  "A small one back in Montana. You wouldn't have heard of it."

  "Way out in cattle country?"

  His eyes glimmered. "You've been to Montana?"

  "Once. Years ago with my grandmother. It's really beautiful. All those mountains . . ."

  "Yeah. Our ranch borders the Rockies."

  "Ranch, huh? I'll bet you ride, then."

  "Before I could walk."

  "Then you'll have to try the riding here—eastern style. It's really fantastic! We're known for our hunt country in this part of Virginia."

  "I'd like to try it."

  "Come out with me sometime, and I'll show you the trails. I ride almost every afternoon." Caitlin drew her fingers through her long, black hair, pulling it away from her face in a way she knew was becoming, yet which seemed terribly innocent.

  "Sounds like something I'd enjoy,"—Jed said, smiling—"once I get settled in."

  "We're not going to give him much time for riding," Roger interrupted. "Not until after soccer season, anyway. The coach already has him singled out as first-string forward."

  "We're glad you're on the team," Caitlin said. "With Roger as captain, we're going to have a great season." Caitlin glanced at Roger, who seemed flattered by her praise. Then through slightly lowered lashes, she looked directly back at Jed. "But I know it will be even better now."

  Jed only smiled. "Hope I can live up to that."

  Roger turned to Jed. "We've got to go."

  "Fine." Jed nodded.

  Caitlin noticed Dorothy, who had been silent during Jed and Caitlin's conversation. She was now staring at Jed wistfully as he and Roger headed toward the door.

  Caitlin quickly leaned over to whisper, "Dorothy, did you notice the way Roger was looking at you?"

  Her attention instantly diverted, Dorothy looked away from Jed to look at Caitlin. "Me?" She sounded surprised.

  "Yeah. He really seems interested."

  "Oh, I don't think so." Despite her attraction to Jed, Dorothy seemed flattered. "He's hardly ever looked at me before."

  "You were standing behind me and probably couldn't notice, but take my word for it."

  Dorothy glanced at the star soccer player's retreating back. Her expression was doubtful, but for the moment she'd forgotten her pursuit of Jed, and Caitlin took that opportunity to focus her own attention on the new boy from Montana. She knew she only had a moment more to make that unforgettable impression on him before the two boys were gone. Quickly she walked forward. Her voice was light but loud enough to carry to the girls behind her.

  "We were just going in your direction, anyway," she called. "Why don't we walk along just to show you what strong supporters of the team we are?"

  Looking surprised, Roger said, "That's fine by us. Right, Jed?"

  "Whatever you say."

  Caitlin thought he sounded pleased by the attention. Quickly, before the other girls joined them, she stepped between the two boys. Roger immediately tried to pull her hand close to his side. She wanted to swat him off, but instead, gave his hand a squeeze, then let go. She was pleased when Diana fell in step beside Roger. Turning to Jed, Caitlin smiled and said, "There must be a thousand questions you still have about the school and the area. Have you been to Virginia before?"

  "A few times. I've seen a little of the countryside."

  "And you like it?"

  As they walked out the door of the building, Jed turned his head so that he could look down into her upturned face and nodded. There was a bright twinkle in his eyes.

  Caitlin took that twinkle as encouragement, and her own eyes grew brighter. "So much goes on around here at this time of year. Has anyone told you about the fall dance this weekend?"

  "I think Matt Jenks did. I'm rooming with him."

  "It'll be great—a real good band," Caitlin cooed. In the background she heard the sound of the others' voices, but they didn't matter. Jed Michaels was listening to her.

  They walked together for only another minute, down the brick footpath that connected the classroom buildings to the rest of the elegant campus. Caitlin told him all she could about the upcoming dance, stopping short of asking him to be her date. She wasn't going to throw herself at him. She wouldn't have to, anyway. She knew it would be only a matter of time before he would be hers.

  It didn't take them long to reach the turnoff for the soccer field. "I guess this is where I get off," she said lightly. "See you around."

  "See you soon," he answered and left.

  Caitlin smiled to herself. This handsome boy from Montana wasn't going to be an easy mark, but this was an adequate beginning. She wanted him—and what Caitlin wanted, Caitlin got.

  "You going back to the dorm, Caitlin?" Morgan asked.

  "Yeah, I've got a ton of reading to do for English lit." Caitlin spoke easily, but her thoughts were on the smile Jed Michaels had given her just before he'd left.

  "Somerson really piled it on tonight, didn't she?" Gloria Parks muttered.

  "Who cares about homework," Caitlin replied. "I want to hear what you guys think of Jed."

  "Not bad at all." Tenny giggled.

  "We ought to be asking you, Caitlin," Morgan added. "You got all his attention."

  Caitlin brought her thoughts back to the present and laughed. "Did I? I hadn't even noticed," she said coyly.

  "At least Roger's got some competition now," Jessica Stark, a usually quiet redhead, remarked. "He was really getting unbearable."

  "There's probably a lot more to Roger than meets the eye," Dorothy said in his defense.

  "I agree. Roger's not bad. And what do you expect," Caitlin added, "when all he hears is how he's the school star."

  The girls started crossing the lawns from the grouping of Highgate classroom buildings toward the dorms. The magnificent grounds of the exclusive boarding school were spread out around them. The ivy-covered walls of the original school building had changed little in the two hundred years since it had been constructed as the manor house for a prosperous plantation. A sweeping carpet of lawn had replaced the tilled fields of the past; and the smaller buildings had been converted into dormitories and staff quarters. The horse stable had been expanded, and several structures had been added—classroom buildings, a gymnasium complete with an indoor pool, tennis and racketball courts—but the architecture of the new buildings blended in well with that of the old.

  "Caitlin, isn't that your grandmother's car in the visitors' parking lot?" Morgan pointed toward the graveled parking area off the oak-shaded main drive. A sleek, silver Mercedes sports coupe was gleaming in the sunlight there.