Times Squared by Julia DeVillers Page A

generous person Ashlynn is.”
    Ashlynn flashed me a (fake) smile.
    â€œBut I don’t know who my roommates are!” I said. “I won’t know where to go!”
    â€œI’ll send one of our parent chaperones to pick you up,” Mrs. Burkle said to me. “Enjoy, you two!”
    â€œWait! You’re leaving me alone with her?” I said, panicky. I needed witnesses! Ashlynn was totally going to torture me. I just knew it.
    â€œI have an adult guardian with me at all times,” Ashlynn said. “Because of my age. So you’re fine.”
    â€œWonderful,” Burkle said.
    â€œBut—” I said.
    â€œNo buts!” Burkle said. “Payton, I shall leave you now. Make us Geckos proud! I can only imagine what a fabulous time you two will have here in the heart of the theater!”
    I could only imagine Tessa and Reilly and Sam and Nick . . . sigh. Everyone was all, Yay! Let’s go see the hotel! Let’s go see our rooms!
    Except me! Because I was stuck here! With Ashlynn, and Jane, who came up to us.
    â€œI just adore your shirt.” Ashlynn smiled at me. “TC Couture, isn’t it?”
    â€œIt is an adorable shirt,” Jane said innocently. “It seems like something Ashlynn would wear. You two have the same taste in clothes.”
    â€œI know, right?” Ashlynn said. “I so totally would have worn that shirt . . . last year.”
    The insult went right over Jane’s head.
    â€œAh, memories. I’m remembering when Bertha Burkle and I first met as two young thespians,” Jane said. “Oh, the glory of friendships formed over the theater. You two chitchat and get to know each other.”
    She left us alone.
    I took a deep breath and waited for it.
    â€œPayton,” Ashlynn said. “Payton, Payton, Payton. What a surprise.”
    â€œFor me, too,” I said.
    â€œI was surprised you didn’t tell all your friends that you knew me,” Ashlynn said. “You would have gainedpopularity points for sure. Between knowing me and your shirt, you could be the coolest Dramatic Gecko today.”
    â€œI wasn’t sure you recognized me,” I said. That, and I knew she had such great potential to humiliate me, which was proven true anyway.
    â€œI didn’t,” Ashlynn said. “You’re so much paler now. But I definitely recognized my shirt and was like, Hey! That’s my old shirt that I gave to . . .”
    Don’t say it don’t say it . . .
    â€œSummer Slave!” Ashlynn laughed.
    She said it.
    â€œIsn’t this the most amazing coincidence?” Ashlynn said. “My Summer Slave is here. And about to be my Stage Slave!”
    Her what? Stage Slave? Nooo! Not in NYC! I’d already done my time under the stage for community service. I’d done my time!
    I had to say no. I thought about what Emma used to say to me at camp.
    â€œJust stand up for yourself,” Emma said. “Just say no to her. She’s manipulating you.”
    â€œBut this is the only way I can get the coolest clothes for middle school,” I had said to Emma. “I just have todo it for a couple weeks. Then I’ll never have to do it again. I’ll never see this girl again.”
    Augh! I didn’t know I’d see her again.
    â€œHm, you could clean my dressing room!” Ashlynn said, tapping her finger on her chin. “It’s totally trashed.”
    â€œI’m not cleaning your dressing room,” I said firmly.
    â€œWe don’t have a latrine here,” Ashlynn said. “Remember latrine duty, and we were all like, What does that mean? Ew! Cleaning the bathroom? Gross. So I got you to do it, remember?”
    How could I forget? I traded for a tank top and jeans. Oh, crud, the jeans I was wearing right now. Ashlynn and I both looked down at the same moment.
    â€œHey, you’re wearing my jeans too!” Ashlynn said.