Trading Faces Read Online Free Page A

stepped right into the path of a girl carrying a large musical-instrument case.
    Oh. No. It was like slow motion. I watched as the contents of my unzipped backpack flew through the air. My folders! My mechanical pencils! Oh, noooo! I bent down and tried not to get stepped on as I scooped up mysupplies. There was no time to reorganize. I just had to stuff everything into my backpack.
    Grr. This was so Payton’s fault.
    â€œEmma!” I heard Payton’s muffled voice. “Let me out!”
    I couldn’t reach the doorknob from my crouching position on the floor.
    â€œNot yet! People are going by!” I lied. I jumped up and zipped my backpack. “Okay, you’re clear.”
    She came out. I gave her a look.
    â€œHow ironic is it that the outfit you slaved for falls apart the first day of school?” I asked her. There. That would teach her a lesson to stop focusing on trivial stuff like clothes and fashion. And ruining my whole first-day-of-school organization plan. Gosh, I was so much more mature than Payton. No wonder I was six minutes older.
    A boy walked past us and stopped.
    â€œWhoa,” he said. The boy looked at both of us. “Are you two twins?”
    â€œYes!” Payton said, smiling a weird grin.
    â€œFreakish,” he said. Then he was gone.
    â€œAnd so it begins,” I said. “Our first twin question of middle school.”
    We walked past a case full of trophies. I vowed toadd to that collection. Then we passed the boys’ bathroom. Oh, no. I just remembered something . I looked at Payton, and she was smiling.
    Payton, don’t even go there.
    â€œRemember that first day of kindergarten, when you got the doors to the boys’ and girls’ bathrooms mixed up?” she said. “And you walked in on Joseph Jones when he was going into the bathroom?”
    Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. She went there.
    Thanks, Payton. I’m nervous enough without remembering my past school trauma. Do not show weakness! I told myself.
    Here’s a secret: I was so scared about being in a class without Payton. Of course, she never helped me with schoolwork. And I was looking forward to being in advanced classes instead of just doing advanced work in a class with everyone else. (Joke!) But . . . (this is embarrassing) when Payton is in my class, then I can count on having at least one friend. So the more classes we have together the better.
    Uh, not like I didn’t have friends at my old school. Well, friend. Lakisha and I had study dates at each other’s houses on a regular basis. And it wasn’t all work and no play. We mixed in some Othello and snacks, too.
    But having my sister around always makes my life easier.
    The Payton Advantage:
    If I get too serious, she knows how to crack me up.
    She invites me into her group of friends so I never have to feel left out.
    Another thing I can count on from Payton is reassurance. She understands me. So if I tell her I’m a little nervous, she’ll say something like, Silly Emma. You’ll have nothing to worry about. You’ll be the school genius, as always, and everyone will admire you.
    â€œPayton, I’m kind of worried about today,” I said.
    â€œOkay,” Payton said seriously. “I’ll give you some important advice.”
    See? I knew I could count on her.
    â€œThe boys’ room will say ‘Boys’ on it,” she said. “Use the other one.”
    Oh, ha ha. Very amusing. Shall I remind Payton of her past fiascos? Yes. I shall . The Great Burp of Fifth Grade. The Third-Grade Stairs Incident. The—
    â€œOkay, okay!” she laughed. “No more school embarrassing moments!”
    Past, present, or future, I hoped. Moving onward. Down these stairs and around the corner should be the gym. I slowed down on the stairs, just to be on the safe side, so Payton wouldn’t trip and fall again. Payton followed me down the hall and around the corner. And then—
    I