Read Online Times Squared by Julia DeVillers - Free Book Online

Jasmine said. “It’s definitely a fraction. One-fourth?”
    â€œOh, this is painful,” Sydney said. “Look at what we’re missing. Shopping. Fun restaurants. A TV station!”
    â€œSports restaurants!” Reilly added. “Sports-stuff stores!”
    â€œComic stores,” Sam said miserably. “Candy stores.”
    We all sighed as we passed a candy store.
    â€œWe’re probably going to a math store next,” Reilly said.
    We marched along in silence. I tried to keep up and not get run over by the crowds pushing along the sidewalk. Or trip over other tourists who were pulling rolling suitcases.
    â€œHey, Payton,” Sydney said.
    Or walk near Sydney. I walked even faster.
    Sydney caught up easily. “Look, there’s another group over there.” I could see some of our classmates on the other side of the street, with one of the dad chaperones in the geeky Gecko cap.
    â€œSo?” I asked.
    â€œThere’s Ox,” Sydney said. “Do you think he knows? Somebody’s definitely going to tell him. Do you think he’s going to get really upset? Do you think he’s going to go punch Nick out?”
    What the heck was she talking about?
    â€œNo, he won’t punch Nick out,” she continued. “Emma’s not worth it.”
    â€œSydney, what are you talking about?” I asked her.
    â€œDuh, how your sister, Emma, was cuddling up withNick on the Ferris wheel?” Sydney said. “How he had his arm around her? I know Emma and Ox aren’t officially boyfriend and girlfriend but—”
    â€œAugh!” I yelled out. Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh omigosh omigosh! I had not even thought of that! People saw me and Nick on the Ferris wheel except . . .
    I was supposed to be Emma!
    â€œAnd aren’t you so mad at her too?” Sydney went on. “It’s pretty obvious you had a crush on Nick. And now your very own twin sister is stealing him.”
    â€œNo!” I blurted. “That’s not what’s happening! It wasn’t—”
    â€œYou’re in denial,” Sydney sighed. “It is shocking. I mean, who would have thought your brainiac geek of a sister was such a guy magnet?”
    Okay, okay. How was I going to explain this one? Maybe I should just tell her it was me. I mean, the whole thing was an accident.
    But how could I prove that? And after the mix-up switch-up, we should have told a teacher or something. Sydney could totally use this to get us in trouble. Or she’d hold it over my head so I would be worrying that she could tell on us at any time.
    I was so confused. Plus feeling kind of dizzy andpukey still from the Ferris wheel. I needed to text Emma. She would know what to do. I pulled my phone out of my bag. I realized it was turned off so I clicked it on.
    â€œWe are here!” Mrs. James announced.

Eight
    SIDEWALKS OF NYC
    â€œNew York, New York!” Tess sang out, raising her hands to the skies. Which were drizzling rain down on us as we walked along the sidewalk.
    My mood felt like the weather. Dismal.
    â€œYou’ve got a great voice,” said one of the eighth graders in my group. I didn’t know her.
    â€œThanks.” Tess blushed. She looked at me and Nick. Neither of us had said much since leaving the toy store.
    â€œEmma! Nick! Cheer up! We’re in the Big Apple!”
    â€œBig Apple?” Mrs. Nicely turned back to check on us. “Did I hear the mention of food? Good timing, I say,because our next stop is the pretzel stand on the corner ahead.”
    â€œPretzels, yay,” I said, attempting to sound enthusiastic.
    â€œPretzels, yum,” Nick said, sounding suspiciously like me.
    â€œSheesh!” Tess sighed. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you two, but if you don’t snap out of it soon, I’m hanging out with . . . excuse me, what’s all you guys’ names