Free Triple Trouble by Julia DeVillers Page B

away from me.”
    We walked into the school lobby, Emma pausing for a moment as always in front of the trophy booth to see her name on some of the trophies.
    â€œHi, Emma!” Nick came into the lobby too. “So, Payton, how did it go?”
    â€œI’ll let you two chat,” Emma said. “I’m going to go to the bus and make sure I get my front seat.”
    â€œSee you in a minute,” I said to her. Then I turned to Nick. “It went great. Thanks so much for making me talk to Burkle.”
    I told him about my idea for Multipalooza.
    â€œCool,” he said, looking impressed.
    â€œSo, um . . .” I looked down at the floor. “I know it’s the same day as the dance, but would you want to come and be the cameraperson? We’d get back in time.”
    â€œSure,” Nick said. “I need to help the decoratingcommittee with the lights, but I’m not in charge of it. Let me ask my mom.”
    It would be another field trip for me and Nick! The first time was New York City. That was back when I was feeling definitely less comfortable around him. I never would have had the nerve to ask him to go somewhere before. Now that we were going to the dance together, I felt so much more casual and cool around him!
    â€œPayton?” Nick asked.
    â€œWe can get a couple of people to work on it with us,” I said. “Maybe Lakiya as a sound person and—”
    â€œPayton—” Nick interrupted me.
    â€œOr if you don’t want Lakiya, you can choose someone else,” I said hastily. “Maybe Willa?”
    â€œPayton! Is that your late bus?” Nick asked, pointing to a bus that was closing its doors.
    Ack! Yes! Yes, it was!
    â€œWhy, yes,” I said, casual and cool-like. “I’ll talk to you later.”
    The bus started pulling away.
    â€œOh no!” I yelped. So much for casual and cool. I ran down the sidewalk toward my bus.
    â€œHey! Wait!” I yelled. “Waiiiit!”
    My heavy tote bag banged against my leg as I ranawkwardly toward the bus. I could see people’s faces as they laughed and pointed at me. And then, thankfully, the bus slowed down and came to a stop. The doors whooshed open, and I jumped on board.
    â€œYou’re lucky I waited,” the bus driver growled at me. “If it weren’t for your sister driving me crazy . . .”
    Emma sat in the seat behind the driver, looking smug. I slid into the seat next to her, breathing hard.
    â€œI merely informed him that official district policy was that if a student is in sight trying to reach the bus, all efforts to wait for the student should be taken,” Emma said.
    â€œI didn’t see her,” the driver said.
    â€œEmma, shush, you’re embarrassing,” I whispered.
    â€œWell, I saw her, so she was in sight,” Emma said to the driver loudly. Then she turned to me. “ I’m embarrassing? Shall I do an imitation of you running to the bus? The bus that would have left without you had it not been for your loving twin?”
    â€œErgh.” I sank in my seat. “I meant to say, ‘Thank you, Emma.’ ”
    â€œThat’s better,” Emma said.

Fourteen
    THE NEXT DAY, BEFORE SCHOOL
    â€œWelcome to the team of our first On the Scene VOGS cast!” Mrs. Burkle clasped her hands joyfully. “That’s what I’ll be calling our traveling broadcasts: On the Scene with VOGS !”
    We were sitting in the VOGS room. Mrs. Burkle had called Payton and me into a meeting before school started. I yawned. It was too early for Mrs. Burkle’s enthusiasm.
    â€œHooray!” Payton was wide awake and full of excitement.
    â€œEmma, although you are not a member of VOGS, you will be a special correspondent!” Mrs. Burkle sangout. “When we’re at Multipalooza, you’ll be coreporting with your twin sister.”
    â€œI will?” That woke me up.
    â€œShe