Times Squared Read Online Free Page A

either,” Sydney muttered to me.
    â€œOh, Emma would never want to be a cheerleader!” Tess said cheerfully. “When would she have the time? Mathletes, spelling bee. Science Olympiad. Payton, your sister is a true role model.”
    That was true. And I was proud of her. But maybe not at this exact moment, as Emma added an awkward jump and clap.
    â€œKeep trying, math people,” Reilly, one of the cutest boys in drama club, snorted. “Drama Geckos rule. Especially since our cheers make sense.”
    We all watched the mathletes cheer. I had to stop Emma. I pulled out my cell phone to text her that.
    Brrrzt!
    My phone was vibrating. Oh, I had a text message from my mom waiting.
    Remember both of your bags! Xoxo Mom
    Yup, I’d remembered my bags. I had a little rolling suitcase that was bright green. I was carrying it very carefully because there was something very, very important in it.
    My dress!
    I was bringing a dress I’d been saving for a special occasion. It was the most beautiful dress I ever owned! It was a Summer Slave dress. This past summer, I’d gone to camp with a bunch of girls who were total fashionistas. One of them was a girl named Ashlynn. She had the coolest clothes, and she traded me some of them in exchange for doing her bunk chores.
    To get this dress, she made me go to the canteen every day and wait in the long line to get her a frozen fruit bar. (Okay, that part wasn’t so bad. But she also made me curtsy in front of the whole cabin when I gave it to her. Totally embarrassing, I know, I know!)
    But the dress really was worth it.
    I also had brought a tote bag with things for the bus:
    iPod with my new mix
    Lip gloss (apple flavored, for the Big Apple!)
    Watermelon gum
    Water bottle
    Mostly I figured I’d be talking with people, though, like Tess! Tess had asked me if I wanted to sit with her on the bus. Definitely.
    I was a little worried about Emma. The Drama Club was sitting at the front of the bus. The mathletes were sitting at the back of the bus. Usually on buses I sat with Emma. I hoped she had someone to sit with.
    I looked over to check on her. Thankfully, she had stopped cheering. But also . . .
    Ooohhhhh!
    She was talking to Ox. Ox! Maybe she’d sit with Ox on the bus! That would be so, so sweet. Sharing a bus seat, a love seat, to New York City together.
    So romantic!
    Ox walked away and Emma stood there smiling. I went over to Emma and squealed.
    â€œWhat?” Emma said to me.
    â€œYou and Ox!” I squealed.
    â€œYes.” Emma sighed happily.
    â€œYou and Ox, sharing a seat on the bus to New York City.” I clapped my hands. “It’s so, so romantic.”
    â€œAnd so, so not happening.” Emma shook her head and frowned. “I’m sitting with Nima. She’s in mathletes.”
    â€œOh,” I said. “I’m sorry.”
    â€œSorry for what?” Emma asked. “I asked her to sit with me. This is a mathletes competition. Nima aces her conic geometry questions, which as you know, is my weakest section, so she’s going to dissect previous years’ problems. See how much better that works out?”
    Um, no.
    â€œNo distractions,” Emma said sternly. Then she smiled. “Until maybe after the mathletes competition.”
    Bus ride home = Emma + Ox! Romance!
    â€œDramatic Geckos!! Be ready to board!” Mrs. Burkle was yelling.
    â€œOkay!” I said. Then I leaned over and gave Emma a huge hug.
    â€œEven for a Dramatic Gecko, you’re being a little overly dramatic,” Emma pointed out. “We’re going to be on the same bus.”
    â€œBut still! You’ll be in the back with the mathletes. I’ll be in the front with the drama crew. We go our separate ways, and then the next time we meet we’ll be in New! York! City!”
    Emma shook her head as she walked to the mathletes line.
    â€œSee you in Manhattan!” I called to her as I went