Times Squared by Julia DeVillers

will be announced. Then, the individuals with the top twenty highest scores will compete onstage in the head-to-head lightning round.”
    â€œYou forgot the calculator rule!” another small, familiar voice yelled. And there, walking across the stage, was Mason’s twin brother, Jason. He reached up and took the microphone from his stunned father.
    â€œRule number two,” Jason began.
    â€œHe said ‘number two’!” Mason shouted from his mother’s lap in the back row.
    Now everyone was swiveling their heads from the stage to the back row. Jason to Mason back to Jason.
    â€œThey’re twins!” a girl from another school exclaimed, and the room broke out in giggles.
    â€œExcuse me,” Jason said. “This is serious. Rule number two states that calculators are allowed in the workbook round, but they are forbidden during the lightning round.”
    â€œI have my very own scientific calculator, see?” he said, holding it up.
    What was that?
    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a small figure racing by, down the aisle. Mason! I schlumped down. At least this time I was not their tutor. I was not in charge of them. Mason and Jason had nothing to do with me.
    â€œHey, Emma!” Jason yelled into the microphone. “Hi! I know you’re going to beat everyone here tomorrow!”
    By now Coach Babbitt had come out of his stupor and was trying to wrest the microphone out of Jason’s hands. Mason raced up onto the stage.
    â€œI see Emma too!” he yelled, jumping up and down. Then he bent over and stood on his head.
    Everyone in the audience was cracking up. Except me, of course. I schlumped farther and chewed my hair.
    â€œThis is a fiasco,” I muttered.
    â€œThis is hilarious,” Jazmine said. “More boy toys for Emma. You’ll never be able to focus now.”
    â€œBe quiet, Jazmine,” I said. I was fed up with Jazmine James and embarrassed by the twins I tutor and annoyed that my big New York City trip was being ruined.
    â€œWe’re supposed to be on the same team,” I hissed at Jazmine.
    â€œThere is no ‘Jazmine’ in ‘team,’ ” Jasmine said. “Iplan to take number one in individuals, and that’s all that matters.”
    Wow. I intended to get first place myself, but I was also rooting for the Geckos. Jazmine James had been my nemesis since the day I’d met her. She was mean and selfish then, and obviously nothing had changed.
    I looked at the stage and sighed. Coach Babbitt and Counselor Case had corralled the boys and were carrying them off the stage. Things hadn’t changed there, either. Mason and Jason were still the terror twins.
    I closed my eyes to block out everyone—Jazmine, the twin boys, even Ox. Nothing on this trip was going as planned.
    I hoped Payton was having fun right now, because everything here seemed to be one big mess.

Fifteen
    BACK AT THE THEATER
    â€œAshlynn, what a wonderful thing you are doing,” Mrs. Burkle said as we stood in a room off the stage where the set pieces and costumes were stored. “Giving a Drama Gecko a backstage look at being a star.”
    The rest of the Drama Geckos were in the theater. I could hear them being sent back to their chaperones and groups. I had a sudden longing to be back with Sydney, Jazmine, and even Mrs. James again. Even that would be better than this.
    â€œIf someone else wants to do it, they can,” I said. “I, um . . . might be catching a cold. Achoo! ”
    I fake-sneezed.
    â€œI don’t want to get the star of the show sick,” I said, sniffling. “I better go back to the hotel with everyone else.”
    â€œAlthough you do look kind of sick, it’s probably just nerves,” Ashlynn said. “I’m sure you’re not used to being around a celebrity.”
    â€œNothing to be nervous about,” Mrs. Burkle said. “We already see what a friendly,