Take Two (7 page)

“Now
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.

“No sense in ruining my cute hoodie when I'm cleaning,” Payton explained.

“Hah, you're changing out of your Summer Slave clothes so you can be a Stage Slave!” I said.

“Now
your
concept of humor is disturbing,” Payton said.

“Stage Slave,” I teased her.

“Number two,” she shot back.

“Hi, Payton! Hi, Emma!” The voice behind us made us both jump.

Oh. Tess.

“Hi, 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 known
Jazmine and Hector since they were the three kindergartners in their school's gifted-and-talented program.

“So, are you nervous or excited?” Tess asked Payton.

“For what?” I asked her.

“For 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.

“I'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?”

“Then Payton will clean up the vomit,” I said.

“Emma!” Payton said.

“Payton, just tell her,” I said. “She's going to find out anyway.”

“It's so humiliating,” Payton said. She hid her face in her locker.

“Payton 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.”

“You have to clean?” Tess asked Payton. “You can't try out?”

“No,” Payton said. “I was going to tell you, of course, but I felt so stupid.”

“I 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. . . .”

“Thank 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.

“So, anyway, Payton can't try out,” I said to Tess. “But, Tess, that's good news for you. Less competition.”

“I don't care about that,” Tess said sadly. “I want Payton to be in the play with me!”

“Hmm,” 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—”

“—coming down the hall,” Payton said. “Shush.”

Jazmine, followed by Hector,
was
coming our way. I did my calming breathing trick as Jazmine straightened up tall. She was seriously intimidating in her crisp white shirt and tall black boots.

“I love those boots,” Payton blurted out.

“Thanks, Payton,” I muttered. “So helpful.”

“I heard you were here,” Jazmine said to Tess, ignoring both Payton and me. “I came to see if you'd changed your mind and come to your senses about choosing Drama over mathletes. You're not really going to audition and commit your time to frivolity, are you?”

“Yes,” Tess said quietly.

“I'm disappointed,” Jazmine said. “Mathletes needs you. Our team is looking somewhat weak.”

“Well, Emma's on it,” Payton said loyally. “She's the reigning champion of our old school.”

“Emma
was
what I was referring to as ‘weak,'” Jazmine said.

“Maybe Emma will improve since she's being tutored by those little boy twins,” Hector said, and he and Jazmine cracked up.

“You guys . . .,” Tess said.

Interesting. She was actually going to stick up for me? Well. No need for her to face the wrath of Jazmine. This was my battle and I intended to prevail. I stepped in front of Tess and looked at Jazmine, using my best stare-down technique—the one normally reserved for sudden death rounds of academic competitions.

“Insults are the sincerest form of jealousy,” I said. “So Tess and I thank you both for your correct perception of the inevitable.”

Jazmine took a step back.

“And Jazmine?” I added. “Your boots would look better with a slightly shorter skirt. That length makes your body appear unbalanced.”

Jazmine's eyes flickered down to her skirt. Ha! Score!

“Come on, Hector,” Jazmine said. She turned and swished away, Hector on her heels.

“I didn't understand the first part, but the part about the boots was awesome,” Payton said to me. “She was speechless!”

“Yeah, actually the first part didn't make a whole lot of sense,” I admitted, feeling a little shaky still.

“But effective, nonetheless!” Tess said, smiling at me.

I turned to Tess and smiled back. “Thanks for trying to stick up for me, Tess,” I said. “But I needed to do that on my own. I can't show weakness. Good luck with your tryouts. And, well, Payton, good luck with your . . . cleaning.”

“And, Emma, good luck with the tutor-twins,” Payton said, and waved.

Okay. I felt a little bit better now. If I could handle Jazmine James, I just might be able to handle those boys.

Payton

Seven

DRAMA/SCHOOL SERVICE

“Payton, I feel terrible,” Tess said. “We need to talk to Mrs. Burkle and get you an audition.”

“Thanks, but nope,” I said. “I have to do my school service hours. Trust me, my alternative is detention, and I can't risk that.”

“I think it's too harsh,” Tess said. “First you're off VOGS for two weeks and now this? I was really looking forward to being in the play with you.”

“Well,” I said. “I'll still be nearby, cheering you on.”

Okay, I might be underneath everyone, cheering them on. I felt a little more cheerful, though. Tess was turning into a new friend. I really would cheer her on. I just wished she could return the favor.

We headed into the auditorium. Tess went to a seat and gave me a sad face as I went up the steps and behind the
curtain. I found the trapdoor in the floor and climbed down the ladder.

I texted Tess:

Okay, it was time to get to work. I looked around the room. It was still a total disaster. I decided I would organize the huge pieces of wood that were used on the sets. One was an old giant fake tree that had peeling paint. One was a platform on wheels, so I rolled it off to the side. And I noticed another ladder along the wall leading up to another trapdoor.

I climbed up and pushed it open. A beam of light came through.

“There's no place like home!” I heard someone say dramatically.

Oh my gosh! I'd pushed the door open onto the stage! I'd just heard someone auditioning. I quickly closed the door. Then I pushed it open a little bit, just so I could hear. I noticed a latch and fastened it on. The door stayed open a crack and I could hear the wanna-be Dorothy.

“Oh, Auntie Em! There's no place like home!”

I heard applause. I paused to think about what part I would have tried out for. Definitely not Dorothy. I was not that talented. It would be fun to play someone evil, like the Wicked Witch.

“Next up, Sydney,” Mrs. Burkle announced.

Ha! I was just thinking of the Wicked Witch and—I laughed, and then covered my mouth. I didn't want to get busted.

“Thank you, Mrs. Burkle. I'd like to audition for the role of Glinda, the Good Witch,” Sydney said.

I debated shutting the trapdoor and saving myself the misery of hearing it.

“Are you a good witch or a bad witch?” Sydney's voice rang out.

Sydney had the sweetness down. It was amazing that someone so mean could sound so sweet.

“Wonderful!” Mrs. Burkle said.

And amazing how that same person could make adults think they were so sweet. Sydney = Glinda, definitely not!

I climbed back down the ladder and started moving things around. I cleaned and organized as I listened to the people trying out for different parts. I heard potential Scarecrows, Cowardly Lions, and Tin Men.

And then I heard Mrs. Burkle call Tess's name. I climbed quickly back up the ladder and held my breath.

“I'd like to read for Auntie Em,” Tess said, her voice wavering.

Auntie Em? I tried to picture Tess as Dorothy's aunt. Then she started to read Auntie Em's lines, and . . .

Wow. Tess was good. Really good. I listened to her for a while and smiled. Tess had a good shot at a part, I thought.

“Next up, Reilly Hamilton,” Mrs. Burkle said.

I heard a boy get up and introduce himself.

“Tess, I need someone to read against Reilly,” Mrs. Burkle said. “Can you just pop up here and please read Dorothy's lines while Reilly reads for The Scarecrow?”

“Payton!” a voice called down from the other side of the room. It was Zahra!

I closed the trapdoor and scrambled down the ladder. And I missed a rung, and fell flat on my butt.

Ow.

“Oh, sorry! I didn't see you,” Zahra said. “Mrs. Burkle said you can come up now. They're almost finished.”

“Thanks,” I said. I got up off the floor and walked gingerly over to the ladder. Ow. I was pretty sure I was going to be black and blue. I climbed slowly up the ladder, and came out onstage just as most everyone had packed up their stuff and started to leave. People were high-fiving and hugging each other. Everyone was excited and bonding and having so much fun.

Ow.

Then I saw Tess coming toward me. I forced a grin. Well, it wasn't too hard. I was genuinely happy for her. I was just bummed I didn't get my own chance.

“Congratulations!” I slid off the stage and ran up to her. “You were awesome!”

“You heard me?” Tess asked.

“Yes, and you were great!” I said. “Mrs. Burkle even had you read lines with some boy. That's a good sign, right?”

“Do you think?” Tess asked, unsure. “I think it was because I was the last person, that's all.”

“Tess, you were really good,” said a voice from behind me. I recognized the voice of the boy who read for the Lion. I turned around and saw a supercute boy with dark blond hair and blue eyes standing there.

“So were you,” Tess squeaked. “Reilly.”

“Good luck!” he said, smiling at both of us.

We watched for a second as he went over and joined his friend.

“Okay, he is cute,” I whispered. “Seriously cute.”

“I know, I was shaking so hard when I was reading with him,” Tess said. “He looks like a movie star.”

Oh, why can't I be in this play? Great roles. Cute boys. Costumes. Hugging and high-fiving and audience applause! And I was missing out.

“Hey, wait a minute,” the boy who was over with Reilly called out, and came over to us.

“Squeee!”
I squeal-whispered to Tess.

“My friend and I were talking about you,” he said—and stopped in front of me. Me!

I looked at Tess. She was like,
Oh my gosh!!!

“Reilly is shy,” the boy said to me. “I told Reilly I'd ask you a question.”

What! What was the question? Was he . . . going to see if I'd go out with Reilly? Ask me to practice lines with Reilly? Ask me to be his leading lady for the rest of our lives?

“Is it true that you and your twin sister were Siamese twins and stuck together by your ears?” he asked.

“What!” I said. I
so
could not believe he just asked that. I felt myself turning bright red.

“Oh my gosh, that is not true,” Tess said. “It's not true, right?”

“Duh! Of course it's not true,” I said.

Reilly came up to us.

“Hey,” he said.

Ah! Cuteness!

“I'm not a Siamese twin,” I blurted out.

“Uh . . .” He gave me a weird look. “Okay.”

Awkward silence. Then the other boy started laughing really hard.

“You didn't tell him to ask me if I was once attached to my sister at the ears?” I asked Reilly.

“Uh, no,” he said. He turned to the other boy. “Charlie, you're a dork.”

The Charlie guy was laughing so hard he fell into a seat.

“Ignore my friend,” Reilly said to me.

Gladly.

Emma

Eight

LIBRARY AFTER SCHOOL

“Focus,” I said, “on the fun of solving math problems.”

Four identical eyes stared at me. Mason and Jason were sitting across the small rectangular library table from me.

I gave my intimidation stare back, but it didn't work. I lowered my eyes down to the papers I'd laid out on the table.

“So, um, Jason,” I said. “Here's a set of warm-up problems from mathletes. You can work on these while I work with Mason.”

One of the twins reached out and took the paper. (Okay, so that one is apparently Jason.)

Jason started on the math sheet without complaint. Whew. One down. One twin to go.

“Mason, we're going to learn the multiplication tables today!” I said, feigning enthusiasm.

“What fun!” Mason said, mimicking my cheeriness.

“Actually, it is kind of fun to fill out the table,” I said. Not fake cheery, just being myself. “There are lots of cool patterns. Let's start with the twos. Just skip count.”

As both boys wrote on their pages, I surveyed the library. I was looking around for the library media specialists, hoping they'd notice what a good role model I was.