Free Take Two by Julia DeVillers

was fine. She told the boys that Jason will go with you next time and Mason will stay with me.”
    â€œFine, I’m just glad it’s not today,” I said. “I’ll be under the stage cleaning. And I’ll hear everyone getting their parts.”
    The roles were being announced for The Wizard of Oz . I, of course, would be happy for everyone. Just sad for me. The first big play and I didn’t even get to try out.
    I sighed as I shoved my “school clothes” into my locker. Today I was going to clean behind the shelves—a particularly dirty job. So, into my locker went my Summer Slave light blue tank and my purchased-by-Emma-when-she-was-pretending-to-be-me-at-the-mall gray cardigan. I was now wearing an oversized green T-shirt from my summer camp over my jeans. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail.
    â€œNo comment on my clothes,” I said to Emma. “Nobody’s going to see me under the stage.”
    â€œ I’m not the twin who comments on fashion choices,” Emma said.
    â€œI have a serious mess to clean up today,” I continued grumbling. “And I’m exhausted. You weren’t the only one who didn’t get sleep last night with you having nightmares and shouting ‘Geckos!’”
    â€œGeckos! Geckos!” someone yelled.
    Emma and I both looked at each other.
    â€œThat was weird,” Emma said.
    â€œOh, no,” I said. “There’s my gecko nightmare.”
    Sydney was walking our way, followed by Cashmere. Sydney was in her green-and-yellow cheerleading outfit.
    â€œGo, Geckos!” she shouted, and kicked a cheer jump.
    I quickly got my backpack, hoping I could escape before Sydney passed us.
    â€œEw, it’s the twins,” I heard. Suddenly a green pom-pom landed at my feet.
    Too late.
    â€œOoopsie!” Sydney said. “Dropped my pom.”
    â€œIgnore,” Emma said under her breath.
    I couldn’t help it. I gave the pom-pom a flying kick.
    â€œPayton, you better hurry up or you’re going to be late for Drama,” Sydney said, scooping up her pom-pom. “We’re finding out the cast today! Oh, wait, you couldn’t try out.”
    Cashmere laughed. Erg.
    â€œHey, Cashmere,” Emma suddenly called out. “How come you didn’t try out for Drama? Sydney tell you not to because she’s afraid of competition?”
    I had to give Emma credit. She was not backing down from Sydney. Unlike me, who was practically hiding in my locker.
    â€œNo,” Cashmere said. “Sydney told me not to because—wait, why couldn’t I try out, Syd?”
    â€œOh, puh-lease, like you’d be competition,” Sydney said. “I mean, because you’re so busy with your other . . . activities.”
    â€œOh, what are you involved in, Cashmere?” Emma asked.
    â€œWell, we go to the mall Wednesdays and Fridays and . . .um . . .,” Cashmere said, looking suspiciously at Sydney.
    â€œWhatever,” Sydney said. “What are you wearing, Payton? I thought you were supposed to be the fashionable twin. Oh, that’s right. You have to clean the basement.”
    â€œOh, look, I have a text!” Emma said, cutting her off.
    â€œIt’s probably Ox,” I said.
    Sydney’s eyes narrowed. Zing!
    â€œCome on, Cash,” Sydney said. “Let’s go find out what part I have in the play.”
    They trotted off down the hall. Ergh.
    â€œSo who was the text really from?” I asked Emma.
    â€œThere was no text, genius. I was saving you. And then you had to go say that about Ox? I can’t believe you said it might be Ox,” Emma said, and then groaned. “So embarrassing. And what if Sydney says something to him?”
    I knew Emma felt like she was on shaky ground with Ox.
    â€œSorry,” I said. “I choked. But it got rid of Sydney, didn’t it? It was the only thing I could think of to bother her.”
    The bell