Take Two by Julia DeVillers Read Free Book Online Page B

snickered.
    â€œWhat?” I asked her.
    â€œIt’s so funny how Jason answered the question for you in mathletes.” Payton grinned. “And how Mason said ‘number two.’ Hah!”
    I so should not have told her that story.
    â€œYour concept of humor is disturbing,” I said. “And alsodisturbing is that today I’m tutoring twin horrors who apparently have no shame about humiliating me.”
    â€œThey’re little kids,” Payton said. “Not monsters.”
    â€œSpeaking of monsters, did I tell you about the green tail?” I asked her.
    â€œUm, no,” Payton said.
    â€œI swear I saw a green tail come out of one of their shirtsleeves.” I shuddered. I had a nightmare last night about twin giant green monsters attacking me with their tails.
    â€œNow you sound disturbed. I think you need to get more sleep,” Payton said.
    Payton pulled off her hoodie, so she just had a plain white long-sleeved T-shirt on. The hoodie was one of her Summer Slave clothes.
    â€œNo sense in ruining my cute hoodie when I’m cleaning,” Payton explained.
    â€œHah, you’re changing out of your Summer Slave clothes so you can be a Stage Slave!” I said.
    â€œNow your concept of humor is disturbing,” Payton said.
    â€œStage Slave,” I teased her.
    â€œNumber two,” she shot back.
    â€œHi, Payton! Hi, Emma!” The voice behind us made us both jump.
    Oh. Tess.
    â€œHi, Tess,” I said tensely.
    I didn’t completely trust Tess. I’d met Tess first as one of Jazmine James’s sidekicks. Tess had told me she’d knownJazmine and Hector since they were the three kindergartners in their school’s gifted-and-talented program.
    â€œSo, are you nervous or excited?” Tess asked Payton.
    â€œFor what?” I asked her.
    â€œFor play tryouts!” Tess said. “Didn’t Payton tell you we have tryouts today?”
    Yes, however, apparently Payton hadn’t told Tess that she couldn’t try out.
    â€œI’m both nervous and excited,” Tess said. “I had a nightmare last night that I was up onstage and I threw up in front of everyone. What if that really happens?”
    â€œThen Payton will clean up the vomit,” I said.
    â€œEmma!” Payton said.
    â€œPayton, just tell her,” I said. “She’s going to find out anyway.”
    â€œIt’s so humiliating,” Payton said. She hid her face in her locker.
    â€œPayton can’t try out for the play because her school service is cleaning the filthy drama supply room,” I explained. “That’s where she disappeared to yesterday during class.”
    â€œYou have to clean?” Tess asked Payton. “You can’t try out?”
    â€œNo,” Payton said. “I was going to tell you, of course, but I felt so stupid.”
    â€œI thought you were just getting ready for the headshots when you were gone,” Tess said. “When you came back for your picture your hair looked so nice and shiny. . . .”
    â€œThank you,” I said under my breath.
    Payton shot me a dirty look. Well, hey. That was my hair that was clean and shiny. I’d read about this new conditioner in one of Payton’s fashion magazines. I, of course, was skeptical about ads, especially in teen magazines. However, the ingredient list caught my eye. And it truly did make my hair extra shiny. I’d have to recommend it to Payton.
    â€œSo, anyway, Payton can’t try out,” I said to Tess. “But, Tess, that’s good news for you. Less competition.”
    â€œI don’t care about that,” Tess said sadly. “I want Payton to be in the play with me!”
    â€œHmm,” I wondered out loud. “You really aren’t a Jazmine James clone, are you? Jazmine would take out the competition in an instant. Jazmine would be thrilled. Jazmine would be—”
    â€œâ€”coming down the