Amy shook her head. "Wait a second. This story's going to be in The Oracle, for everyone at school to read, right?"
"What's wrong with that?" Elizabeth asked her. "Don't you want people to know more about the clinic? You might even attract a few more volunteers."
Amy wrapped a strand of blond hair around one finger. "That's true," she murmured. "Are you interviewing Barry, too?"
"Right after you," Elizabeth replied.
Amy smiled. It might be fun, seeing their interviews side by side. And she was full of ideas about the clinic. She had just completed her report for Ms. Jacobi and discovered her sociology grade was up to a B +!
"OK. I'll tell you about it. But I can't reveal our clients' real names, and some material is confidential," Amy said earnestly.
For the next twenty minutes Amy described exactly what a phone counselor did at the clinic, who made the calls, and the philosophy of Project Youth. "I guess what I like best about the job is that I can help people without having to be super 'professional.' Sometimes what works best is just being myself," she told Elizabeth.
Elizabeth put her pen down and smiled at Amy. "I really admire you, Amy. It sounds as if you all do a wonderful job. I'm not sure I'd have the confidence to field calls from kids who really need help."
Amy shrugged. "At first, I didn't think I did, either. But you figure things out as you go."
Like most things, Amy thought. Like learning to have more confidence in herself. Like learning she could stand on her own two feet, with or without a boyfriend.
"I'm glad you're doing the story," Amy said suddenly. She hoped that when it was published, everyone would read it. Including Kirk Anderson!
Last time he ever calls someone a dumb blonde, Amy thought with a chuckle. He was going to have to learn that people were not always what they seemed!
Jessica could barely control her excitement. "Have you heard about the beauty pageant, you guys?" she demanded as she joined Lila, Cara, and Amy at lunch.
Amy looked up accusingly. "Ssshh. I was just telling everyone about the concert on Saturday night. You interrupted the best part."
"What beauty pageant?" Lila asked.
"The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring it, and supposedly there are some great prizes." Jessica's eyes were dancing. "There'll be a bathing suit competition and a talent competition!"
"God," Lila groaned. "Talent isn't the word for the drippy things those girls do. None of them are any good. It's pathetic."
"Why so negative, Li?" Jessica demanded. "I seem to remember you were pretty keen to get on Eric Parker's TV show. I thought you loved being in the spotlight." Jessica liked to remind Lila that she, Jessica, had won the coveted spot on The Eric Parker Show.
Lila frowned. "That wasn't a beauty contest. That was more of a talent contest. The winner had to have talent. Or she should have had talent," she added dryly. "Those things are always rigged."
Jessica ignored Lila's sour grapes comment. "Well, I'm going to enter the beauty pageant. I want to wear one of those banners and swoosh along the runway like the contestants on televised pageants." Jessica stood up and did a practice turn, and everyone clapped.
Amy put down her fork. "Maybe I should think about competing," she said. "I always wanted to get into modeling, and if you win one of those contests, it could launch your career."
"You wouldn't really want to enter a local beauty pageant, would you?" Jessica asked. Amy would be real competition, at least as far as looks went. Of course, when it came to talent, Jessica had no doubt that she was the natural winner.
"What are you going to do for the talent competition, Jessica?" Cara asked.
Lila giggled. "How about a cheerleading routine?"
Jessica was getting annoyed. "That's not such a ridiculous idea, you know. I could do one of our special routines."
Amy rolled her eyes. "You're only saying that because you know that's what I want to do, Jessica."
"Well, I'll choose some other talent then." Jessica's eyes sparkled. "I'm going to enter this contest, and what's more, I'm going to win!"
"This I can't wait to see," Lila said. Cara laughed in agreement.
But Amy said nothing. She was wondering how Barry Rork would feel about her entering a beauty pageant.
"So listen," Barry said as he and Amy sat over a hamburger special that evening at the Dairi Burger. "I consider this our first real date. You got those tickets to the concert with someone else in mind."
Amy giggled. "How do you know the whole thing with Tom wasn't just an elaborate ruse?" she teased him.
Barry took a bite of his hamburger. "Well, that's a flattering thought." He looked at her closely. "So are you going to keep working at Project Youth?"
"I'm supposed to talk to Kathy about that tomorrow," Amy told him. "She mentioned the possibility of staying on for a while, and I'd really like to."
"Good." Barry grinned. "More time to look at those gorgeous eyes of yours."
Amy fiddled with her straw. "You know," she said casually, "Jessica was saying today at lunch that the Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a beauty pageant in Sweet Valley. You don't think I'd have a chance of winning, do you?"
"A chance? Are you kidding? Amy, don't you have any idea of how beautiful you are?" Barry cried.
Amy smiled. That was exactly the kind of encouragement she had hoped for. "And how would you feel about a cheerleader-telephone counselor-beach bum moonlighting as a beauty pageant contestant?" she asked, only half kidding. Amy respected Barry a great deal. If he thought beauty pageants were awful, she had a feeling she would seriously reconsider entering.
"I'd feel just fine," Barry said. His fingers inched their way toward her. "Amy," he added seriously, "I like the fact that you're you. You happen to be a sensitive, thoughtful person who's also a lot of fun. And you're drop-dead beautiful. Why not enter a contest if you want to? I think it sounds like fun."
Will the beauty pageant turn out to be a dream come true—or a nightmare? Find out in Sweet Valley High #76, MISS TEEN SWEET VALLEY.
Amy's True Love (Sweet Valley High Book 75) Page 10
