

But Jessica didn't even bother to laugh at his joke. Aaron was Jessica's sort-of boyfriend, and he was funny and very cute. "Make sure you pick the best name out of the hat, Lila," Aaron Dallas joked from across the room. Right now, he was rolling his eyes, and Jessica had to stifle a giggle. He also seemed to have a great sense of humor. He was taller than most of the boys in the seventh grade, although he was in the sixth. He had wavy blond hair and gorgeous bright green eyes. Jessica thought he was an absolute dreamboat. That much was obvious from the way he kept smiling at her from his seat across the room next to Lila. Jessica didn't know him very well yet, but she could tell that he thought she was cute. Mike had moved to Sweet Valley from Florida only about a month ago. She had to fight the urge, but Jessica decided not to say anything, because she wanted Mike McClusky to think she was a kind, generous person. Even though Lila was her best friend, sometimes Lila's constant bragging drove Jessica crazy. Don't I always go first?" Lila Fowler asked as she swept her long brown hair over her shoulder. They were drawing names out of a hat to see whom they would be "Secret Santa" for. Everyone they had invited was now gathered around Jessica in the Wakefields' living room. In two days, Jessica and her twin sister, Elizabeth, were hosting a Christmas Eve party. This was the first day of Sweet Valley Middle School's Christmas vacation. "Lila, you go first." Jessica Wakefield held the big hat full of tiny scraps of paper out to her best friend.
