Free Times Squared by Julia DeVillers Page A

look, she’s wearing the new TC Couture skirt that isn’t even in stores yet!”
    â€œShe’s sooo cool,” Sydney breathed next to me.
    â€œShe’s not so cool,” I muttered.
    I was having flashbacks of how cool she wasn’t—at least to me. Ashlynn laughing as I did her bunk chores. Ashlynn naming our bunk “Ashlynn and The Fashlynn’s Plus Payton.” Because, she explained, I couldn’t qualify as a “fashlynn” since I had no “fash.”
    That’s when I started doing chores for her clothes. Oh sure, everyone in my bunk knew I was getting herhand-me-downs. But nobody in my new middle school would know that, and it would be worth the suffering.
    â€œHello, hello, children,” Ashlynn said dramatically, while standing in the spotlight on an almost-Broadway stage.
    Children?!! Oh, please. She was my age. In fact, she was two months younger than I was.
    And that’s when I heard a noise coming from the back of the theater.
    GAK! GAK! GAK!
    â€œIs someone choking?” Mrs. James whispered.
    Everyone started turning around to see what it was. Except me, because I knew what it was. It was Emma laughing. Well, not exactly laughing, but it was the noise she made when she was trying not to laugh. Of course, Emma must have been trying not to laugh because she recognized Ashlynn. Emma always thought it was funny/slightly insane how I let myself be treated by Ashlynn.
    Oh no! Ashlynn! Ashlynn, onstage, stopped talking and started looking out into the audience too.
    Shhhh! Emma! Don’t let Ashlynn spot you!
    Phew, my twin telepathy must have worked because the choke-laughing stopped. I could not believe I wassquished between Jazmine on my left, Sydney on my right, with Ashlynn in front of me and my twin making disturbing noises behind me!
    This was an NYC nightmare!
    â€œAs I was saying, ” Ashlynn said loudly, “your Drama Club teacher asked me to do an acting exercise with you.”
    â€œExcuse me!” Jazmine raised her hand. “Excuse me!”
    â€œYes?” Ashlynn looked over our way. I scrunched down again.
    â€œWe’re not all Drama Club students,” Jazmine said. “Many of us have an important mathletes competition. Perhaps our time would be better served if we left now to go study.”
    Jazmine started to stand up.
    â€œSit down, Ms. James!” Mrs. Burkle’s voice boomed. “This cultural experience is valuable for all Geckos. You will remain.”
    Jazmine sighed and sat back down.
    â€œHa-ha,” Sydney sang under her breath.
    â€œI’ll share a theater exercise I learned in my exclusive acting class with world-renowned acting coach Harriet Greenspan,” Ashlynn said. “Hm, I will need some volunteers to assist me.”
    I could not have slumped down any farther without being under my seat.
    â€œFirst, the girl who already volunteered,” Ashlynn said. She pointed at Jazmine.
    â€œWhat?” Jazmine sputtered. “I didn’t volunteer.”
    â€œJazmine James, go onstage!” Burkle’s voice boomed out.
    Jazmine scowled and went up the aisle to the stage.
    â€œMe!” Sydney started waving her hand. “Me! Me!”
    Hopefully, Ashlynn would pick Sydney, and then I’d be free of both of them.
    â€œDefinitely the boy in the blue shirt.” Ashlynn smiled. She pointed at Reilly.
    â€œOoooooh” Sam and some other guys started making kissy noises. Reilly stood up and flexed his arms.
    â€œAnd the boy in the brown.” She pointed at Ox.
    â€œThat’s okay, I’m here with math club, not drama.” He shook his head.
    â€œOh, you’re definitely leading-man material,” Ashlynn cooed. “Come on up.”
    Ergh. I sneaked a look back at Emma. She was frowning. Yeah, Ashlynn’s not so funny anymore is she, Emma?
    â€œShe’s picking the hotties,” Sydney grumbled.
    â€œAnd I need another