Alexis and the Perfect Recipe (9 page)

My hand ached after copying all of this down. I couldn't wait to put everything I learned into practice. I only wished I could discuss it all with my best friends.

“Thank you, Dylan,” I said. “This is so helpful.”

Dylan smiled, looking a little weary after sharing everything she knew.

Just then the phone rang. Would you believe it was Emma, inviting me over? I couldn't get the words out of my mouth fast enough. “Be right over!” I said, and hung up before I made the mistake of asking if Matt was going to be there. I was dying to, but slow and steady wins the race, I reminded
myself. I might have to add that to my list of mottoes.

Dylan winked at me. “Go get him, tiger,” she said.

“So, I'll let you know how it goes, in case he's there?”

“Who?” Dylan asked.

What?
“Dylan!” I cried.

“Kidding!” she said with a laugh.

“Thanks again,” I yelled as I ran down the stairs, hopped on my bike, and flew to the Taylors in record time.

Slam Dunk!

H
ey,” said Emma when I walked in. “You look nice.” She circled me and took in my outfit and hair and everything.

My stomach was all butterflies, and I glanced uneasily around the kitchen. “What's up?” I asked. I wasn't going to tell her about the makeover. Not now, anyway.

And then Emma flatly said, “He's not here.”

“Who?” I asked, a little taken aback.

Emma made a face. “Lover boy,” she said, exasperated.

I blushed. “What?”

“I knew it!” shrieked Emma. “I was just testing you, but now I know for sure!”

“Know what?” I persisted.

Emma leaned in close. “I know you're in love with Matt,” she whispered.

“Me? Matt?
What?
” I felt the heat rising in my cheeks.

Emma nodded, a look of satisfaction on her face. “I figured it out yesterday when we saw him at the mall. You got all blushy and nervous and then I saw that kooky notebook on your desk—”

“You did?” I interrupted.

“Ha!” said Emma. “So you are.” It was a statement, not a question.

I sighed and looked down at my feet. “Yes. I'm sorry,” I mumbled. It felt good to finally admit it, although it felt really weird. I looked at her. “I just can't help it!”

“It's a little awkward,” she agreed. “And why Matt? I mean, Sam, maybe. He's cute and girls seem to really like him. But Matt? Smelly sock Matt? Computer geek Matt?”

“Cute, funny, nice Matt,” I countered.

“Gross!” Emma exclaimed, playfully slapping me on the shoulder. After a moment she added, “Too bad Callie likes him too.”

“Oh!” I said. “I wasn't sure if she liked him or Joe. I thought Sydney might like Matt.”

“I can't believe you like my brother,” Emma said as she shook her head.

“Well, it's not that surprising. I mean, you and I are good friends, and our moms are good friends. I guess the Taylors and the Beckers are just well-suited to each other!” Emma smiled. “I wonder if he likes you back?” Then she added in a mischievous tone, “Want me to find out?”

“No!” I screamed. “
Please
don't ask him, Emma.” I was begging her, but part of me really did want to know.

“Well, at least he'll be at Dylan's party. Even if my mom has to drag him there,” said Emma.

“You don't think he wants to go?” I asked, feeling a slight sting.

“No way! He and my mom had a big fight about it. Sam, of course, wants to go, because there'll be all those cute girls there. Jake will go anyplace where there's Mia or cupcakes, and both is even better. Matt is just . . . I don't know. I think he might be kind of shy about girls.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised. From what I'd seen, he seemed pretty comfortable with the attention he got from girls. “He doesn't act that way.”

Emma thought for a minute. “Hmm . . . I think what I mean is that I don't know if he's mature
enough to like girls, you know. The thing he's really into is sports, especially basketball. So you could brush up on your dunking! That's something to put in your notebook.”

The notebook! “Look, the notebook was just—”

“Pure Alexis,” Emma said, laughing. “Always taking the business approach. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about it. And I'm sorry for looking at it. I shouldn't have, but I thought it was a math notebook!”

“Yes, you shouldn't have,” I replied. But I couldn't be mad at Emma. She was one of my best friends. Besides, I was happy we were talking about Matt!

“Let me see, what other ‘data' can I give you?” Emma asked, looking upward and tapping her chin with one finger. “He loves cupcakes. And he's really into computer graphics. Maybe you could call him up and ask him to help on a project for the Cupcake Club? And then pay him in cupcakes?”

“Oooh! Good idea,” I lied. As if I'd call him again.

Emma looked at me with a serious expression. “Can I ask you if you want him to be your boyfriend? I can't imagine Matt being anyone's boyfriend, but whatever.”

I hesitated. Should I tell Emma my goal? She was my friend, but she was also Matt's sister. She looked at me expectantly. My goal was much easier to explain than any of my other feelings, so I took a deep breath and confessed, “I want to dance with him at Dylan's party.”

Emma's eyes widened. “Wow. That's it? It seems like a small thing, but it actually may be impossible to accomplish. I don't think he dances.”

I hadn't thought of that! “Well . . . ,” I said, not knowing how to respond.

Suddenly the back door opened. “Hello!” hollered Matt.

“Eek!” I squealed. I was totally caught off guard, even though I had been hoping he would show up.

Matt was all sweaty from practice and had on a hideous pair of ripped sweatpants and a T-shirt. His hair was sticking up every which way. But he still looked gorgeous to me.

He seemed surprised to see me. “Oh, hey, Alexis,” he said.

My heart leaped. He had said hi first! I couldn't wait to log
that
data in the notebook!

“Got any cupcakes?” he asked.

I laughed nervously. “No. Not yet.” Should I ask him a question now? I didn't know what to do
or say. Thinking of Sydney, I flipped my hair from one side to the other. “Huh,” was all he said before heading for the fridge.

“Where's Mom?” he asked Emma.

“At Jake's practice,” Emma replied, then she winked at me. “Hey, Alexis and I were just going out to shoot some hoops. Want to come give us some pointers?”

I stared at her. What was she doing? I couldn't believe what she had just suggested! I looked over at Matt, who was chugging a Gatorade. He turned and looked at us over the rim of the bottle. When he finished, he let out a really loud burp and grinned.

The burp was gross, and I wondered why he felt it was okay to do that in front of me. But then he said, “Sure,” and shrugged, and the next thing I knew I was playing H-O-R-S-E in the driveway with Matt Taylor, man of my dreams! I silently forgave him for burping and quickly got caught up in the game.

I have to say that I am decent at basketball. Not sure why, but maybe because it's kind of like dancing to me. I don't know. Anyway, we were having a pretty good time. I think Matt was even impressed by my skills. This was definitely the normal girl approach, and it seemed to be working.

After about fifteen minutes, Joe Fraser showed up, and he joined the game too. I was so happy! Emma and I challenged the boys to a two-on-two, but they insisted we split the teams, so Matt and I played Joe and Emma. It was awesome. We were winning, 8 to 2, when suddenly somebody called out, “Yoo-hoo!”

Sydney and Callie!

Emma and I looked at each other and frowned. I couldn't tell if Matt and Joe were happy or annoyed. But the girls were definitely happy. They were super dressed up for a Sunday morning, in skin-tight jeans and tight sweaters with tiny down vests, and boots with high heels. Their hair was super-fluffy and they had on tons of makeup and perfume and dangly earrings. I wondered when Sydney had planned this little outing.

“Can we play?” asked Sydney in her high, flirty voice. Callie at least had the grace to look nervous.

Matt shrugged. “Okay.” He didn't sound excited, but he didn't sound mad, either. I think he was just being polite. Emma, on the other hand, was really mad. Her face was set like stone.

“I think we need to play H-O-R-S-E again,” said Matt.

“What's that?” Callie said, giggling.

Matt explained the game, and he went first, tossing the ball in high over his left shoulder, facing away from the basket. It was an impressive shot.

Sydney clapped and whistled, and Matt grinned. Why hadn't I thought to praise him like that? Then she stepped up to take the shot and threw it so badly that it just flew over her shoulder, landing nowhere near the basket.

“Whoops!” she said with a laugh, covering her mouth with a hand that showed off fresh scarlet nail polish. Sydney clearly didn't care that she had missed. In fact, she probably missed on purpose.

Callie took the ball. She bounced it once or twice, then flipped it over her shoulder, but her sweater was so tight it made her lose control as the ball left her hand; it fell weakly to the ground and rolled away. “Oh dear! I stink!” Callie said, but it was clear she didn't really care how badly she played either.

Now it was my turn. If ever I had wanted something in my life, this was it. I focused like a laser beam and took a deep breath, closing my eyes. Then I bent my knees like Matt had and lifted the ball in a gentle arc over my shoulder.
Slow and steady wins the race,
I told myself. I didn't dare to look, but when I heard the ball thump the backboard and
Matt yelling, my eyes flew open. Matt had both fists straight in the air. “Yes!” he cried. “You made it!” He stuck out his hand for a high five and I slapped it, laughing in giddy relief.

I stole a quick glance at Callie and Sydney and they were both standing there with their mouths open. Sydney started chewing on the end of a piece of her fluffy hair, probably wondering what she should do next. I had a new equation for my workbook:

Sports skills + comfortable clothes = boys impressed by YOU!

A few minutes later Mrs. Taylor pulled up to drop off Jake and pick up Matt and Joe to go to their friend's house for a school project. I didn't really get the chance to say good-bye to Matt, but it was all good. I was still on a high from my totally awesome shot.

“Let's hit it,” Sydney said to Callie as soon as the boys left. Sydney didn't bother to say good-bye to Emma and me, but Callie turned to us with an awkward expression. “Well, thanks . . . ,” she said.

“See ya,” Emma muttered without bothering to look in their direction. We went inside, and Jake immediately went for the couch in the TV room. Emma started to make him a snack in the kitchen.

“Wow,” I said.

“I can't believe you made that basket!” said Emma, laughing.

“Me neither!” I howled. “Talk about luck!”

“It was skill,” said Emma. “And Matt was impressed.”

“You think?” I asked, but I knew he was. My chest was bursting with pride and happiness.

As we headed to the TV room with drinks and Jake's snack, Emma said, “We still have to figure out Dylan's dessert. Let's get the others over here and bake.”

“Yay! Cupcakes!” Jake yelled.

“Good idea,” I agreed, thinking of the extra cupcakes we could leave behind for Matt!

Confession

O
f course, after that wonderful Sunday morning, I didn't see Matt for an entire week. I wore each of the outfits that Dylan had planned for me, and I took great care with my hair (down) and makeup, but no luck. My friends all noticed the change though, and Mia and Katie pestered me about my new look. I was happy that Emma did not let on about my crush, but it wasn't long before they figured it out.