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Jess ♥ AJ, Lila ♥ Jess
Jun. 22nd, 2009 08:33 amPlaying For Keeps
October 1988
What's come over Jessica?
Split personality...
Jessica Wakefield is head over heels in love with handsome A.J. Morgan. She knows he likes her, but Jessica's convinced he'd really fall in love with her if she were studious and reserved, like her twin, Elizabeth. So Jessica sets out to change her personality completely.
But her plans are threatened when she hears about a fashion contest she just knows she could win. How can she compete and still be the shy, sweet girl that A.J. thinks she is? When the contest turns into a battle to keep A.J. as well as a competition for a designer wardrobe, Jessica has to make some difficult decisions. Will the old Jessica reappear-and risk losing A.J.-or is the quiet, serious new Jessica here to stay?
If you ever wondered how early Jessica sees her sister, a peek at Playing For Keeps will shed some light on that. In order to conform to the idea she has of A.J.'s taste in girls, Jessica decides to model herself after Elizabeth. And, if you ignore the fact that a relationship is pretty much doomed to failure if one person is pretending to be someone else, I can see Jessica's logic here. Since she actually likes AJ, Jess is reduced to normal girl around him. She can't find the witty comeback, she can't make the right kind of small talk, she blushes way too much, and she basically goes brain dead once he gets too close. So... she acts like Liz, really, when Liz was first around Todd. Elizabeth's Jessica impersonation around AJ failed miserably and Jess became convinced that if she acted like herself, she would lose AJ. So she decides to change.
But only when he's around. She studies. She goes to the library. She always wants to discuss her Deep Thoughts. She is so boring SHE can't stand to be around herself. And she can tell that A.J. is losing interest, so she decides that maybe all her half baked opinions are getting in the way. You know Liz. Such a crusader. So... Jessica decides to always let A.J. decide things. What sort of pizza they have, where they go, what they do... Seriously, the girl has no mind of her own and not merely because she's a fictional character.
Lila, Amy, Cara, and Liz can't take it anymore. So they do something about it. Liz, being the free thinker that she is, decides to tell Jessica what an idiot she's being. Thing she didn't remember? She's a sap. So when Jessica cries that she really loves A.J. and that she knows that he'd never like the real Jessica Wakefield... Liz doesn't go behind Jessica's back and do anything exciting. Even when A.J. confesses that Jessica seemed like his type at first, but good God, she's just too serious all the damn time and is making him feel like a horrible person. Usually not a good sign for a relationship, y'know? Head may meet desk when Liz refuses to tell Jessica what A.J. has said. There's even a bit of an internal monologue as to why, but mostly you want to shake her and tell her that she who initiates the first pool dunk of the series can do ANYTHING, damn it!
Luckily Lila is on the case. She finds out about a fashion show/contest that Lisette's is having. The winner gets a new wardrobe designed by Nadine, one of the bigger names among Lisette's labels. Lila is convinced that Jessica should enter because she'd win easily, but Jess is pretty sure that A.J. wouldn't like a girl who would do something like that. ...Really? You're killing me here, Wakefield. Jess does have the sense to ask why Amy wouldn't enter, and Amy tells us that Nadine's designs make her look fat. I admit it, I snorted gleefully at that. But why isn't Li entering? Because she's scheming here, people! If Jessica enters the fashion show, odds are good she'll revert to her bitch-tastic ways and boring Wakefield twin will go back to being Elizabeth. The problem is... Jessica keeps stalling on the whole entry process.
Sooooooo. We're left with A.J. A.J. is confused. He's clearly attracted to Jessica, but at the same time she's boring him senseless. She's so serious and she never seems to want to have any fun... which is an odd thing seeing as she's always willing to do whatever he even mentions in passing. She's wearing him out and half the time he's not even sure he wants to be around her. But he can't shake the initial attraction and he doesn't want to hurt her. Tellingly, he doesn't really see himself as dating her so much as just spending a lot of time with her. At the same time, he doesn't feel he can just date whomever else he wants because there's obviously something going on between the two of them. So not what he signed up for.
While pondering these things, A.J. and Jessica stumble across a girl drowning in the ocean. AJ rushes in and rescues the girl and when they return to shore Jessica [and AJ] realize the girl is a knockout. The victim, Pamela, takes one look at AJ and acting-like-a-doormat-Jessica and decides the best way to repay him is to steal him away from Jessica. So she turns on the charm and out Jessicas the old Jessica. AJ isn't completely unaware of this fact [other than he doesn't know his Jessica is capable of such actions as well] and Jessica is seething. She can't smack the bitch down or even fight back because the persona she's so carefully crafted dictates that she's just too sweet and kind and good to do such a thing.
Which is what Pamela is counting on. She's pretty successful in stealing AJ away, though he does feel guilty and a little confused as to why he's falling for someone who is so not his type. I'm thinking meeting her in the ocean while having to hold her voluptuous self pretty damn close is probably helping a great deal here, but what do I know?
Meanwhile, Liz is getting a little worried. She's pretty sure that by holding on in such an annoying way, Jess is really just pushing AJ away, but still she won't tell her twin that AJ's already halfway out the door. There's this fun blowup where Liz demands to know if Jessica really thinks she's as boring and awful as she's been pretending and... yeah. She does. That right there is probably worth reading the book for.
Lila, as always, is carefully plotting. She enlists Elizabeth's help in convincing Jessica to sign up for the fashion show and while at Lisette's, Pamela appears. Pamela makes the cardinal sin of insulting Lila [to her face, no less] and Lila instantly vows to take the conniving rich Whitehead Academy [really, whitehead? And not a single SVH kid points out that that's also a zit? Really?] bitch doooooooooown. She's all kinds of a good friend to Jessica throughout this and my Lila love is off the charts.
Eventually Lila realizes the only way to shock Jessica back into being herself is to play up what an amazingly gorgeous girl Pamela is and how it's no wonder AJ's eyes are wandering and she'll probably be impossible to beat in the fashion show, knowing full well that the competitive streak that lies within all Wakefields will burst forth. At the same time, Li is banking on Pamela being such a bitch that she'd sink to at the very lead goading Jessica. Even better. Pamela cheats. She ruins outfit after outfit of Jessica's and the only way for Jess to save face is to drop the Liz act and be herself. Unafraid, self centered, fantastic Jessica. And with each trip down the runway, everyone's hopes rise, just a little. That is, until the swimsuit portion of the evening.
Pamela dumps water on Jessica [yes, Pamela, use water on the only outfit that should look even BETTER when wet. You moron!] and Jessica loses her cool. She and Pam square off and everyone in the audience can hear them. Including AJ. Jessica rips Pamela's backbone out and uses it to strengthen her own fledgling spine, and just in time for the real fun, Lila and Amy pull back the curtains and everyone gets to see the showdown. Jess looks amazing [Liz describes it weirdly. I get sister crush vibes and I try very hard not to get those from these books] and naturally no power on Earth can stand up to a Wakefield at the end of a book, so... Nadine crowns Jessica the winner, AJ realizes that he can have his attraction to Jessica and his attraction to bitchy Alpha females all in the same package... and Lila is just awesome.
There's talk of Jade Wu and her amazing dancing and this show that's going to be put on in the next book, but my eyes glazed over at this point.
Trivia:
Quotes:
"Hey, Most Popular," he teased, referring to one of the slam book categories in which Elizabeth's name had appeared frequently.
She grinned and stuck her tongue out. "Only tied for first place, don't forget."
"Well, I don't know if that really counts," Enid said. "I mean, two people who look exactly alike and talk alike and everything else- that's not really sharing first place. You're most popular as a unit." - another reason Jeffrey/Enid/Elizabeth is fun. Enid doesn't have to worry about being lame and instead is insightful. p 3
Of course, nearly everyone at Sweet Valley liked and admired Jessica, too, but for completely different reasons. Her attitude towards life was positively regal. She liked to believe that everything revolved around her. - So... Jessica is a cat? p4
"A.J.? Can I read you something?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"One of my favorite poems," she replied, meeting his eyes with a luminous smile.
It had been one of her favorite poems since she found it the night before. - If you need me, I'll be on the floor giggling. p 15
Time is a grinding wheel of merciless pain
We are trapped in our lives
until the hour of death.
But love breaks our chains and lets us fly
into the universe
Where everything is real and alive
Forever.
"Hey, maybe you're right. Something sweet and beautiful. Oooh!" She hugged Elizabeth again impulsively. "You're the greatest sister in the world, Liz. How about something about a rainbow? Or flowers?" - Cuz that's a poem any normal teenage boy would loooooove to read. From merciless pain to rainbows and flowers. Where, I ask, are the fluffy kittens? p39
"Amy, you weigh about ten million pounds," she added with a petulant frown. - Lila love! p95
"I hope you liked what we picked," Jessica said in a bright cheerful voice. "I can't always remember who sings what, you know? I don't know much about contemporary music." This is after Liz has assured poor AJ that Jess loves all music. Oh sweet, sweet timing. Plus, um, contemporary music? I'm having a Bowie/Bing flashback. Excuse me a moment. p109
"Jess. Please, please stop acting that way around A.J."
"What way?" Jessica prompted, her cheeks warming.
"You know. Spineless. Weak-like a complete airhead! You're going to lose him if you keep it up!"
Jessica swallowed hard. She met her twin's eyes and said, "I'm only acting the way you do." -Ooooh. p111
I'd forgotten how awesome Lila was in this book. Each time she stood up for Jessica and came to the rescue, my tiny little heart grew three sizes. This might be one of the first times Lila actually proves she's a really good friend to Jessica, and it doesn't have everything to do with shocking Jess into acting like she used to. She stands up for Jessica when Jessica won't let herself, she plots and schemes and it's never about making Jess lose AJ. You know Lila figures AJ will love Jess even more when she drops the damn act. And there's nothing in it for Lila.
So, if I can make conspiracy theories for everyone else, I'm going to pretend Lila pulled strings and had Nadine throw the show just so Jessica would win. Cuz, I don't know if you heard, but Lila's rich like that. :P Pamela sure as hell missed that memo.
As a kid, I had a serious thing for AJ. I don't know why seeing as he's kind of a bore as I re-read these, but I do like that we're given numerous chapters [okay, at least two] from his point of view and that he's not oblivious to the game Pamela is playing. Also? As a kid, I loved the hell out of this puzzle. It was usually the one on top of my dresser because I thought they looked like an adorable couple and I thought it was the cutest thing that Jessica had finally found someone. Annnnnnd because I'm a big old dork, I bought another one. This also happens to be one of my favorite covers.
October 1988
What's come over Jessica?
Split personality...
Jessica Wakefield is head over heels in love with handsome A.J. Morgan. She knows he likes her, but Jessica's convinced he'd really fall in love with her if she were studious and reserved, like her twin, Elizabeth. So Jessica sets out to change her personality completely.
But her plans are threatened when she hears about a fashion contest she just knows she could win. How can she compete and still be the shy, sweet girl that A.J. thinks she is? When the contest turns into a battle to keep A.J. as well as a competition for a designer wardrobe, Jessica has to make some difficult decisions. Will the old Jessica reappear-and risk losing A.J.-or is the quiet, serious new Jessica here to stay?
If you ever wondered how early Jessica sees her sister, a peek at Playing For Keeps will shed some light on that. In order to conform to the idea she has of A.J.'s taste in girls, Jessica decides to model herself after Elizabeth. And, if you ignore the fact that a relationship is pretty much doomed to failure if one person is pretending to be someone else, I can see Jessica's logic here. Since she actually likes AJ, Jess is reduced to normal girl around him. She can't find the witty comeback, she can't make the right kind of small talk, she blushes way too much, and she basically goes brain dead once he gets too close. So... she acts like Liz, really, when Liz was first around Todd. Elizabeth's Jessica impersonation around AJ failed miserably and Jess became convinced that if she acted like herself, she would lose AJ. So she decides to change.
But only when he's around. She studies. She goes to the library. She always wants to discuss her Deep Thoughts. She is so boring SHE can't stand to be around herself. And she can tell that A.J. is losing interest, so she decides that maybe all her half baked opinions are getting in the way. You know Liz. Such a crusader. So... Jessica decides to always let A.J. decide things. What sort of pizza they have, where they go, what they do... Seriously, the girl has no mind of her own and not merely because she's a fictional character.
Lila, Amy, Cara, and Liz can't take it anymore. So they do something about it. Liz, being the free thinker that she is, decides to tell Jessica what an idiot she's being. Thing she didn't remember? She's a sap. So when Jessica cries that she really loves A.J. and that she knows that he'd never like the real Jessica Wakefield... Liz doesn't go behind Jessica's back and do anything exciting. Even when A.J. confesses that Jessica seemed like his type at first, but good God, she's just too serious all the damn time and is making him feel like a horrible person. Usually not a good sign for a relationship, y'know? Head may meet desk when Liz refuses to tell Jessica what A.J. has said. There's even a bit of an internal monologue as to why, but mostly you want to shake her and tell her that she who initiates the first pool dunk of the series can do ANYTHING, damn it!
Luckily Lila is on the case. She finds out about a fashion show/contest that Lisette's is having. The winner gets a new wardrobe designed by Nadine, one of the bigger names among Lisette's labels. Lila is convinced that Jessica should enter because she'd win easily, but Jess is pretty sure that A.J. wouldn't like a girl who would do something like that. ...Really? You're killing me here, Wakefield. Jess does have the sense to ask why Amy wouldn't enter, and Amy tells us that Nadine's designs make her look fat. I admit it, I snorted gleefully at that. But why isn't Li entering? Because she's scheming here, people! If Jessica enters the fashion show, odds are good she'll revert to her bitch-tastic ways and boring Wakefield twin will go back to being Elizabeth. The problem is... Jessica keeps stalling on the whole entry process.
Sooooooo. We're left with A.J. A.J. is confused. He's clearly attracted to Jessica, but at the same time she's boring him senseless. She's so serious and she never seems to want to have any fun... which is an odd thing seeing as she's always willing to do whatever he even mentions in passing. She's wearing him out and half the time he's not even sure he wants to be around her. But he can't shake the initial attraction and he doesn't want to hurt her. Tellingly, he doesn't really see himself as dating her so much as just spending a lot of time with her. At the same time, he doesn't feel he can just date whomever else he wants because there's obviously something going on between the two of them. So not what he signed up for.
While pondering these things, A.J. and Jessica stumble across a girl drowning in the ocean. AJ rushes in and rescues the girl and when they return to shore Jessica [and AJ] realize the girl is a knockout. The victim, Pamela, takes one look at AJ and acting-like-a-doormat-Jessica and decides the best way to repay him is to steal him away from Jessica. So she turns on the charm and out Jessicas the old Jessica. AJ isn't completely unaware of this fact [other than he doesn't know his Jessica is capable of such actions as well] and Jessica is seething. She can't smack the bitch down or even fight back because the persona she's so carefully crafted dictates that she's just too sweet and kind and good to do such a thing.
Which is what Pamela is counting on. She's pretty successful in stealing AJ away, though he does feel guilty and a little confused as to why he's falling for someone who is so not his type. I'm thinking meeting her in the ocean while having to hold her voluptuous self pretty damn close is probably helping a great deal here, but what do I know?
Meanwhile, Liz is getting a little worried. She's pretty sure that by holding on in such an annoying way, Jess is really just pushing AJ away, but still she won't tell her twin that AJ's already halfway out the door. There's this fun blowup where Liz demands to know if Jessica really thinks she's as boring and awful as she's been pretending and... yeah. She does. That right there is probably worth reading the book for.
Lila, as always, is carefully plotting. She enlists Elizabeth's help in convincing Jessica to sign up for the fashion show and while at Lisette's, Pamela appears. Pamela makes the cardinal sin of insulting Lila [to her face, no less] and Lila instantly vows to take the conniving rich Whitehead Academy [really, whitehead? And not a single SVH kid points out that that's also a zit? Really?] bitch doooooooooown. She's all kinds of a good friend to Jessica throughout this and my Lila love is off the charts.
Eventually Lila realizes the only way to shock Jessica back into being herself is to play up what an amazingly gorgeous girl Pamela is and how it's no wonder AJ's eyes are wandering and she'll probably be impossible to beat in the fashion show, knowing full well that the competitive streak that lies within all Wakefields will burst forth. At the same time, Li is banking on Pamela being such a bitch that she'd sink to at the very lead goading Jessica. Even better. Pamela cheats. She ruins outfit after outfit of Jessica's and the only way for Jess to save face is to drop the Liz act and be herself. Unafraid, self centered, fantastic Jessica. And with each trip down the runway, everyone's hopes rise, just a little. That is, until the swimsuit portion of the evening.
Pamela dumps water on Jessica [yes, Pamela, use water on the only outfit that should look even BETTER when wet. You moron!] and Jessica loses her cool. She and Pam square off and everyone in the audience can hear them. Including AJ. Jessica rips Pamela's backbone out and uses it to strengthen her own fledgling spine, and just in time for the real fun, Lila and Amy pull back the curtains and everyone gets to see the showdown. Jess looks amazing [Liz describes it weirdly. I get sister crush vibes and I try very hard not to get those from these books] and naturally no power on Earth can stand up to a Wakefield at the end of a book, so... Nadine crowns Jessica the winner, AJ realizes that he can have his attraction to Jessica and his attraction to bitchy Alpha females all in the same package... and Lila is just awesome.
There's talk of Jade Wu and her amazing dancing and this show that's going to be put on in the next book, but my eyes glazed over at this point.
Trivia:
- When asked what she's thinking about, Jess responds, "Nuclear war. You know- how terrible it would be if there was one and everything."
- Amy manages to find herself upgraded to Jessica's best friend. Cara, however, has been downgraded. This is not a good trade, Wakefield. Not a good trade at all.
- Jess reads If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking [Emily Dickinson] to AJ. It's from the book One Hundred and One Famous Poems. When that fails to knock his socks off, she begins to read "O Captain, My Captain!" which is great for Dead Poets Society [and that memory gives me the warm fuzzies] but... AJ is a bit horrified at the thought of hearing the whole damn thing.
- Alice is trying to lower Ned's cholesterol.
- Liz has upgraded her recorder to a less plastic piece of crap version.
- Jess panics and says she wants to see a "green crested pod-eater" while she and AJ are hiking. He does an admiral job of not laughing himself to death. Well played, Morgan. Well played.
- Don't tell Winston, but Jeffrey was the one who forgot to bring the napkins for the picnic at Secca Lake. Apparently someone always forgets something.
- In the game of Skins versus Shirts, AJ plays Skins. You may swoon. Or not. I mean, redheads are traditionally freckled and while I'm on the swoonage side, I gather not everyone else is. But most of the SVH girls are swooning. No word from Tom McKay, though.
- Pamela Janson goes to Whitehead Academy in Bridgewater. She has dark, curly hair, a "voluptuous" figure, huge blue eyes fringed by thick, black lashes. She's gorgeous, but doesn't have the sense not to mock Lila to her face. Nor is she particularly subtle. She drives a white Mercedes convertible, which AJ drools over.
- Pamela's house is gray stone on the rocks [seriously] with a small Japanese garden by the front entrance, and a hot tub back by the greenhouse.
- Pamela's parents are in Denver when she tries to seduce AJ.
- While AJ is trying not to cheat on Jessica [but wanting to], and Jessica's waiting for him in the library, Lila and Amy appear at the library to photocopy stuff out of an encyclopedia. Ah, memories. And feeling old.
- Nadine's designs make Amy look fat.
- AJ's got brown eyes. Dreamy!
- Liz is more than okay with the idea of a fashion show, but later she'll pitch a fit over beauty pageants. Which, normally I'd say is different enough that it's not exactly a case for the Continuity Police, but since Nadine is attempting to find someone with enough moxie to inspire her, it's not merely a fashion show. It's still a contest as well. On the other hand, maybe she wants non-nuclear war Jessica back.
- The big event for the next book is a fund raising show. I... really do wonder about the wisdom of putting on a show like that after the total cheese [with love!] of the fashion show. I mean really.
- Amy delights in telling us she took tap and pointe dancing. Oh, Amy. No one cares.
- The Modern Girl Fashion Show is at the East end of the Mall, where Santa's workshop is during the holiday season, at 1PM, with the rehearsal Friday at 6pm.
- Slam books aren't forgotten. Jess makes most schizophrenic. Additional slam book categories: Most Popular was split between Jessica and Elizabeth. Future High School Coach - Ken Matthews, which is a bit of a burn because, um, as cool as some coaches are, there are plenty who aren't. I love you anyway, Ken. Girl with the Most of Everything - Lila and the Girl Most Likely To Appear On The Cover of Time - Amy.
- Much is made about how good Jade is at dancing, but what makes her better than Bruce's blonde from Troublemaker?
- Pamela snagged Jessica's nubby blue dress, broke the zippers on her denim outfit, and drenched her bathing suit and cover up.
Quotes:
"Hey, Most Popular," he teased, referring to one of the slam book categories in which Elizabeth's name had appeared frequently.
She grinned and stuck her tongue out. "Only tied for first place, don't forget."
"Well, I don't know if that really counts," Enid said. "I mean, two people who look exactly alike and talk alike and everything else- that's not really sharing first place. You're most popular as a unit." - another reason Jeffrey/Enid/Elizabeth is fun. Enid doesn't have to worry about being lame and instead is insightful. p 3
Of course, nearly everyone at Sweet Valley liked and admired Jessica, too, but for completely different reasons. Her attitude towards life was positively regal. She liked to believe that everything revolved around her. - So... Jessica is a cat? p4
"A.J.? Can I read you something?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"One of my favorite poems," she replied, meeting his eyes with a luminous smile.
It had been one of her favorite poems since she found it the night before. - If you need me, I'll be on the floor giggling. p 15
Time is a grinding wheel of merciless pain
We are trapped in our lives
until the hour of death.
But love breaks our chains and lets us fly
into the universe
Where everything is real and alive
Forever.
-Oh, Jess. I had a similar poem on my fridge when I got those magnetic poetry boxes. Only mine was Hell is more than torment throughout time. Liz is, of course, stunned. p36
"Hey, maybe you're right. Something sweet and beautiful. Oooh!" She hugged Elizabeth again impulsively. "You're the greatest sister in the world, Liz. How about something about a rainbow? Or flowers?" - Cuz that's a poem any normal teenage boy would loooooove to read. From merciless pain to rainbows and flowers. Where, I ask, are the fluffy kittens? p39
"Amy, you weigh about ten million pounds," she added with a petulant frown. - Lila love! p95
"I hope you liked what we picked," Jessica said in a bright cheerful voice. "I can't always remember who sings what, you know? I don't know much about contemporary music." This is after Liz has assured poor AJ that Jess loves all music. Oh sweet, sweet timing. Plus, um, contemporary music? I'm having a Bowie/Bing flashback. Excuse me a moment. p109
"Jess. Please, please stop acting that way around A.J."
"What way?" Jessica prompted, her cheeks warming.
"You know. Spineless. Weak-like a complete airhead! You're going to lose him if you keep it up!"
Jessica swallowed hard. She met her twin's eyes and said, "I'm only acting the way you do." -Ooooh. p111
I'd forgotten how awesome Lila was in this book. Each time she stood up for Jessica and came to the rescue, my tiny little heart grew three sizes. This might be one of the first times Lila actually proves she's a really good friend to Jessica, and it doesn't have everything to do with shocking Jess into acting like she used to. She stands up for Jessica when Jessica won't let herself, she plots and schemes and it's never about making Jess lose AJ. You know Lila figures AJ will love Jess even more when she drops the damn act. And there's nothing in it for Lila.
So, if I can make conspiracy theories for everyone else, I'm going to pretend Lila pulled strings and had Nadine throw the show just so Jessica would win. Cuz, I don't know if you heard, but Lila's rich like that. :P Pamela sure as hell missed that memo.
As a kid, I had a serious thing for AJ. I don't know why seeing as he's kind of a bore as I re-read these, but I do like that we're given numerous chapters [okay, at least two] from his point of view and that he's not oblivious to the game Pamela is playing. Also? As a kid, I loved the hell out of this puzzle. It was usually the one on top of my dresser because I thought they looked like an adorable couple and I thought it was the cutest thing that Jessica had finally found someone. Annnnnnd because I'm a big old dork, I bought another one. This also happens to be one of my favorite covers.
