Alexis and the Perfect Recipe (5 page)

But more important, I couldn't believe that I'd never paid any attention to the magazines and websites that Dylan and her friends liked to read. It was crazy to think that they were chock-full of all this scientific information about attracting boys, and I'd never known it! Well, I made a mental note to borrow some magazines from Dylan and go online as soon as I could.

Just then Emma came back into the kitchen holding my copy of
Jane Eyre
. She also had a funny look on her face. But I didn't want her interrupting my fascinating information session, so I kind of ignored her. But she just kept standing there, like she wanted to say something to me.

“What?” I finally whispered.

Emma looked at Dylan and her friends, then she shrugged and turned to go back to the TV room.
Whatever,
I thought, and sighed loudly.

Dylan turned to me. “Is that really a hint?” she snapped.

“What?” I was alarmed. I wasn't trying to get rid of them! “Oh, no, not at all!” I said quickly. “Take your time. I wasn't rushing you. . . .” My fear must've been obviously genuine, because Dylan's face softened.

“We're ready, actually,” she said. “Come on, girls. Let's go outside for a few minutes to work on cheering before we start the chem review.”

Meredith and Skylar gathered their mugs and things and, still chatting, went out to the yard. I wish I could have gone with them. I had really gotten some good intel, but it only left me hungry for more.

Then Emma and Katie wandered in. “Ready?” they asked.

“I guess,” I said, then realized how I sounded. What was I thinking? We were here to work on our business! We were here to make money! Why was I moping about some boy and filling my head with silly tricks and tips? This was so not me at all! “I mean, yes, I'm ready!” I said brightly. “Let's make some money!”

“Well, all righty then!” said Katie. And we eagerly set to work.

It wasn't until I got upstairs after everyone left that I found my Project M. T. notebook on top of
my desk. I had forgotten to put it away last night, not thinking anyone would see it. My heart raced as I thought about Emma. She must have seen it; that's why she gave me that look.

I flipped through it. Luckily, I never mentioned Matt's name. I only called him “The Crush.” I actually shivered in relief, but that was a close call. And now I'd have some sort of explaining to do with Emma if it came up (I certainly wasn't going to bring it up myself). I picked up the notebook and looked around the room. Everything in my room was as neat as a pin. All except one place.

I lifted a key out of my desk drawer and used it to open the top drawer in my antique wood dresser. It is a wide and deep drawer, and inside is total chaos. It's the only place in my world that's not organized . . . well, until now with this Matt thing. My messy drawer is where I stash makeup, cheap trinkets, sunglasses, and old candy. I dropped the notebook in and shoved the drawer closed, then relocked it. I was probably too late, but better late than never (which is definitely
not
one of my mottoes).

Mall Madness

T
he music they play at Icon is so, so loud, and the air freshener or incense or whatever they use to scent the store makes me gasp for clean air. Plus, it's dark. I mean almost pitch-dark. It is not a place I like to spend any time. But there I was on Saturday, with all the Cupcakers (including Emma, who was being a little weird), looking at the dresses that Dylan had placed on hold for me as “pre-approved” attire for her party.

I couldn't believe it. All three of the dresses she chose matched her party decor: black and gold. Was she trying to tell me that I was simply part of the decor? Whatever it was, I was annoyed. Black is really not my color. I don't think it makes me stand out, and I would like
to stand out a little—especially if Matt might be there.

Most of all it just got on my nerves that Dylan felt she could pick what I wore. As if otherwise I would wear something that would embarrass her.

Katie scrunched into the corner of the dressing room. “Can you make some room, please?” she shouted over the music. I don't think Mia could hear her, even though she was wedged right up against her. The attendant had warned us we wouldn't all fit, but we had insisted. I didn't want to do this alone.

The room was so tight that Emma was basically sitting on Mia's lap. I was in a corner, trying to pull the first dress over my head.

“What do you think?” I asked after I finally—after struggling for five minutes—got the dress on.

“What?” shouted Mia.

I sighed. Talking was pointless. I jerked my thumb at the door and then went out into the communal viewing area, which was packed with other girls. We waited our turn in front of the only mirror. Finally we got a spot with a spotlight right above it. At least I could now see myself!

I tipped my head to the side and looked at the dress. It was horrible, all black and droopy. Not my style at all.

“It's fine,” I said with a shrug, “if lumpy is the look I'm going for.”

“What?” yelled Emma.

“Never mind!” I shouted, then looked at the price tag. “Really never mind!” I added, though no one could hear me.

Katie, Emma, and I went back into the dressing room, but Mia decided to wait outside for my “reveal.” I looked at the other two dresses. One was short and flouncy. It had a black tulle skirt and a gold bodice. It was kind of prom dressish. The other one was strapless (nightmare!) and long, with a slit up one whole leg. I couldn't imagine my mother approving that one, but it was the kind of dress that a guy might like to see a girl in. Hmm. That would be my next choice. I grunted my way out of the first dress and slid the leg-slit dress over my head. It was no more than a thin piece of satin, with some gold details at the top in a kind of bandeau bathing suit style. Luckily, because it was so slinky, it slid down easily.

I went back out to look at the dress, then gasped when I saw myself in the mirror. Mia, Katie, and
Emma gasped too. I looked like I was twenty-five years old!

“Wow! You're a hottie!” yelled Katie.

“Yeah, you just need to take off the socks!” Emma said in my ear. I looked down. I had on fuzzy pink crew socks. That part did not look so good, but the rest of me screamed
Dancing with the Stars
!

Mia was nodding, but she had her head tipped to the side. “You look amazing, but you do not look like Alexis Becker.” She reached over to a dress hanging on a hook. “Here, I grabbed this from a girl who was going to put it back. Try it.”

I looked at the dress in her hand. It was not black. It was not gold. It was not too mature. It was a deep raspberry pink V-neck sweater dress—fuzzy and touchable!

“Look,” said Mia. “It has slits up each side to make it dressier, and you'd wear it with pale or gold heels, a gold belt—maybe a chain, even—and a great-looking chunky necklace. Go on! Try it!”

I took the dress from her and went back in alone. Seconds later I was out again and staring in the mirror. The color looked amazing on me. The fabric felt amazing. I really, really loved it!

Suddenly someone tapped me on my shoulder.
I turned around and it was Meredith, with Skylar.

“Hi, Alexis!” they yelled, waving.

“You look awesome!” said Meredith.

Skylar nodded. “If you don't get that, I'd love to try it on!” she said in my ear.

I smiled. “Sorry, but I am getting it!” I replied. “Even though it's not black and gold!”

“I can't hear you!” Skylar shouted, giving me two thumbs-up. “But you look great!” she yelled.

I suddenly felt warm and happy, even though I was a little nervous about what Dylan would say. But I decided that she couldn't control everything!

On my way to pay with the money Mom had given me, I looked around—and spotted the only other nonblack clothing in the store. It was a really nice ice-blue long-sleeved V-neck shirt. And it was marked down from $40 to $19.99! I held the shirt up in front of me. It was my size. And I did have enough cupcake money saved up. I decided I couldn't pass up this great bargain, so I looped it over my arm and walked toward the long line at the cash registers.

“We'll wait for you outside!” called Katie.

I nodded and waved to her. As the line snaked around, I looked at what other people were buying. I couldn't believe how many people liked dressing
all in black, and they weren't all Goth girls! Icon clearly knew what they were doing and how much people like buying cheap black clothes in a dark, loud, and stinky store.

I stood in line and found myself right behind Sydney and Callie. Before I could decide what to do, Callie said hi. She's kind of nice. I think if Sydney wasn't around to boss her, and Katie was okay with it, she might even be good in the Cupcake Club, but that just won't happen. I just hoped she liked Joe Fraser and not Matt Taylor. I didn't think I could compete with her.

I looked at Sydney, but she ignored me and talked away on her phone.

Callie pointed at my clothes and said, “Those look nice.”

I wasn't sure if she was being serious or ragging on me, so I simply shrugged. But it seemed like she was really interested in talking to me, so I asked, “What are you getting?”

She held up a silky black dress with gold detailing—it was my
Dancing with the Stars
dress!

I smiled. “Wow! That is some dress!”
For a grown-up,
I wanted to add.

Callie giggled. “I don't even have anywhere to wear it, but the price is good and when I tried it
on, it looked”—her voice dropped to a whisper—“amazing, if I do say so myself!”

“Yes, it would look great on you,” I said, trying to be nice.
Just don't wear it in front of Matt Taylor,
I added silently.

Just then the line began to move, and Sydney hung up her phone.

“See you later!” said Callie.

I waved and turned away, then looked back to see Sydney grab Callie's elbow and whisper something in her ear. Callie looked at me guiltily and then at Sydney. She shrugged but her smile faded. Sydney probably yelled at her for talking to me.
Whatever,
I told myself. But I did feel bad for Callie.

After I paid I caught up with the others outside the store.

“Do we need to go meet your dad now or do we have time to go look at stuff at Claire's?” asked Mia. “They have some chunky necklaces that would look pretty with your dress. Then we still need to find a gold belt and some gold shoes.” She thought for a moment, then added, “Kitten heels, I think.”

“Let's go meet my dad,” I replied. “I can't spend any more money! I'd rather be making money!”

“We know!” said Emma, and we all laughed.

I was just about to tell them about Sydney and Callie when who should come around the corner in front of us but Matt and his friend (was that Joe?)! I froze. How did I look? Was I wearing anything touchable? Pink? How was my hair? Did I smell good? What would I say?

“Hey,” said Matt. “What's so funny?” (Ooh, score one for Matt saying hi first! Even though it was to all of us, it still counted! I would need to write that down in my notebook.)

“Hey,” Emma replied. “Oh, we were just laughing about Alexis.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, Alexis! Always making the crowd laugh,” Matt said with a wink at me. I almost died! But I wished Emma hadn't said that they were laughing at me. What was I? Some kind of clown? Hmm. Okay, maybe it was all right if he thought I was funny. I mean, funny isn't bad, is it? Anyway, I was happy just to hear him say my name. I giggled and nervously looked around.

Then I caught Emma's eye. And I could tell that she knew. Cripes. What was I going to do now? I looked down at my shoes, which were my dorky-looking Merrells. I would absolutely have to ditch them forever when I got home. I looked up again and willed myself to say something, anything, when
suddenly someone called out, “Hey, boys!”

Ugh! Sydney! She and Callie walked up to our group, but their eyes were only on the boys.

Matt turned around. “Oh, hey,” he said very casually. I caught his friend looking over at Mia (what is that all about?) and then at Callie and Sydney. Ignoring the rest of us, Sydney linked her arm through Matt's and gave it a squeeze. I started to tense up.

“What are you boys up to?” Sydney asked in a very flirty way, flipping her hair from one side to the other. “Have you eaten lunch yet?”

“What? Oh.” Matt looked unsure. “Not yet. Have you guys?” he asked us.

Opportunity knocking! I started to shake my head no, but Emma spoke up. “No. We were just leaving. See ya!”

And she started walking away! Mia and Katie followed her, but I was stuck in my spot.
Wait!
I wanted to yell.
Let's stay! Let's have lunch with them!
Joe seemed to feel the same way because he looked disappointed as Mia walked away.