Emma: Lights! Camera! Cupcakes! (2 page)

“Well, maybe if you didn't charge one hundred dollars per cupcake,” teased Matt. They were both laughing and looking at each other all googly-eyed, and I wanted to barf so I had to turn away. Sometimes it's superfun and convenient to have your best friend like your brother, and other times it's superannoying.

For example, later that night, all the Cupcakers went to my room to change into our pj's before we watched a movie downstairs. But this time Alexis
refused to change into her pj's. I thought it was odd, but then I got it. She didn't want to wear her pj's in front of Matt.

It's just little stuff like that that adds up. I'd never say anything to Alexis though because then she would be sorry but also a little mad, and I wouldn't want to start all that up. I had enough trouble with trying to keep my bridal salon work a secret from my friends, never mind alienating them officially.

Sometimes it's so complicated just being me that I can't imagine how Romaine Ford is her.

I
got up early to shower and blow-dry my hair since Mona had warned me that I might do a little modeling today. The other girls were up and eating cereal when I came out of the bathroom; Mia and Katie were in their cute pj's, but Alexis was fully dressed, of course. I sighed. I kind of wished I could hang out with these guys rather than work this morning.

“Lookin' good, Emma!” said Mia approvingly.

“Thanks,” I said with a smile as I grabbed a bowl off the counter.

“Very pretty, sweetheart,” said my mother, coming to plant a kiss on my cheek.

“Yeah,
sweetheart
,” sang Matt as he strode into the kitchen, also fully dressed. Usually, if he doesn't
have sports, he sleeps late and then spends as long as possible in his pj bottoms and a ratty old T-shirt. Hmm.

“Can it, mister,” I said.

“Kids!” warned my mom. I glared at Matt.

“Looking pretty spiffy yourself there. Going somewhere?” Now I was annoyed and wanted to embarrass him.

“Wouldn't you like to know?” he said sarcastically as he pulled out a stool from the counter and sat. My dig had not fazed him at all. Annoying. Alexis had her back to him, but I could tell by her face that she was totally attuned to his every move, even though she couldn't see him.

“Actually, I wouldn't,” I said. “I'm sure it's something gross.” I wanted to tease him that he was going to meet a girl, but I realized that would hurt Alexis's feelings, and I couldn't very well tease him about her with her there. Ugh! Now I couldn't wait for this sleepover to end, so I could get to work.

“Em, we'll go in five minutes, okay?” said my mom. “I'm just going to run upstairs for a sweater. Girls, I'm not kicking you out—you're welcome to stay as long as you like—but if anyone wants a ride home, you can come with us and I'll drop you off after I drop Emma at the store.”

Mia and Katie were heading into the city to see Mia's dad, so they had their plans set. I looked at Alexis, who I knew wished she could stay, but staying without me here would be really weird. She struggled for a minute, then said, “I'll come with you, Mrs. Taylor. Thanks!” She stood to take her bowl to the sink, and I watched her try to avoid looking at Matt. But then he said something totally lame, like “Rushing off to work on a business plan, boss lady?” She started giggling like she'd been waiting for any excuse to laugh with him, and I wanted to puke.

I shoveled in my last bite of cereal and went to get my coat. Katie and Mia said they'd call Mia's mom for a ride to the train station and would clean up the air mattresses and blankets in my room before they left. I glanced at Alexis and saw her struggle again with the idea of staying, but now it was kind of too late; she had to follow through on leaving with me. I hugged Mia and Katie and got into the car while Alexis went up to get her bag.

A minute later my mom hopped in and said, “Are we taking Alexis?”

I rolled my eyes and said, “You mean Matt's girlfriend, Alexis?”

My mom laughed. “She does like Matt, doesn't
she? It's cute. Puppy love! So sweet.”

“Puppy puke!” I said, crossing my arms tightly.

“Oh, Emma, don't be a bad sport. It's very safe to have a crush on your best friend's brother. I had one on my friend Sandy's brother when I was a girl.”

“What did Sandy think about that?”

“She didn't mind. I don't think.”

“Aha! But you don't
know
!”

“Well . . . we lost touch.”

“See?”

Just then Alexis got into the car, and my mom gave me a knowing smile. I was too annoyed to even turn around.

“All set?” my mom said to Alexis.

“Yup! Thanks!” said Alexis, closing the door and buckling up.

“Oh! I forgot the cupcakes!” I said, smacking my forehead. I began unbuckling my seat belt as I reached for my door handle.

“Got 'em,” said Alexis. She patted the cupcake carrier, and it made a hollow thunking sound in the back.

“Oh. Thanks,” I said. I guess Alexis isn't all bad. I mean, she has been my best friend for my whole life. I turned around to smile at her, and she smiled
back. She had no idea I was annoyed at her, and, honestly, why should I be? It wasn't her fault she liked my brother. And it wasn't her fault he liked her back. Actually, maybe it would be worse if he didn't like her back. I sighed and listened to my mom and Alexis discuss the big premiere the whole way to the mall. It took all my self control to not yell, “And I'm going to see Romaine in a few minutes!”

When I got to the usually serene The Special Day, it was chaos. Controlled chaos. And that only means one thing.

“Emma! Hiiiiii!” said Patricia, Mona's assistant, as she flew past me with an armload of white cut flowers.

“Daaarling!” said Mona as she sailed across the room to fluff the sofa cushions.

I turned to one of the salesgirls hurrying past and said, “Big customer here yet?”

She winked at me and shook her head. “Not yet,” she said.

I smiled in excitement. “Mona, I'll go set up the cupcakes, then let me know what I can do to help,” I called. I went into the back where they have a tiny kitchen and began to plate the cupcakes on one of
Mona's beautiful three-tiered china display platters.

Patricia came in to fill a vase with more water.

“She's coming in today, right?” I whispered.

She nodded and smiled. “The second to last fitting, actually!”

“Wait, so then it's just the final fitting, which is always the day before the wedding, right?”

“Yup!” said Patricia with a wink.

“And that would be when . . .?”

“Can't tell!” she sang, and then she flitted out of the room.

“Patricia!” I complained as she skipped away, and I could hear her laughter floating back through the hall. I knew I'd find out sooner or later, though. I always do.

Sure enough, Romaine arrived with her mom, her sister, and three bridesmaids, one of whom was the famous singer and piano player (and fashion model), Samantha Holmes, right before the store opened! I was peeking out from a dressing room, and I saw them all walk in. I wasn't sure if they'd need me in there or just as a runner (that's someone who runs and gets things, like a different size or more pins), so I stayed put until further instructions. But soon I heard Mona calling me, and I left my little cocoon and walked slowly to the largest of
the private dressing rooms Mona uses for brides. I had butterflies in my stomach, and now I wasn't so confident Romaine would remember me. I mean, she must meet thousands of people a year!

I opened the door and ducked inside, already blushing. And then I heard, “Emma!”

“There she is!”

“Hey, Emma!”

And Romaine crossed the room to give me a big hug. I couldn't believe it!

“I—I wasn't sure you'd remember me. Th-thanks!” I stammered awkwardly.

“Remember you? How could we forget? Between the wonderful cupcakes for my shower and your great job at the camp talent show and all your cute friends!” Romaine was beaming at me and suddenly I felt like I was the star and she was the fan. It was amazing! I laughed.

“Oh, you look just as pretty as ever, dear!” said Mrs. Ford from across the room. Mona had given me a bridesmaid's dress to wear. I usually wore different dresses when I was at the store, so the brides could see how they looked on an actual person. The one I was wearing today had a really pretty pink satin bow.

“Thanks,” I said, playing with the bow. Then I
stopped. Mona always told me not to fuss with the dresses—especially when I'm wearing them.

Mona was smiling proudly at me, and I smiled back. Then she said, “Now, we have lots of Emma's cupcakes for this morning, so, Emma, why don't you run and get us some of those, please, and then we'll see if we need you to stand in again as a fit model for Romaine's niece. Meanwhile, Patricia and I will go get the dresses, and the bridal party can try them on.”

I scurried out to get the cupcakes, and when I returned I passed them out on small linen napkins, the way Mona had shown me. Everyone took one, and it was pretty quiet for a minute as they all savored the treats.

“Oh! These are so delicious!” said Samantha, nibbling on a vanilla cupcake. “I could eat a hundred of them, but then my dress won't fit!” She laughed.

I smiled at her, glad to have a chance to make eye contact. I was so used to seeing her on YouTube music videos, playing the piano and singing: her long arms toned in a sleeveless gown, gracefully outstretched while she sang and played the piano without even looking down at the keys. She even played at this past year's Super Bowl halftime show,
watched by a billion people! It was too weird to see her here, sitting in front of me in jeans and a T-shirt.

“They could let it out for you,” said Romaine's sister Florence with a wink.

“My manager would kill me!” said Samantha.

“Oh, these managers are so ruthless! Mine tells me every pound shaves a hundred thousand dollars off my paycheck,” Romaine said, groaning.

A hundred thousand dollars!

“Girls,” scolded Mrs. Ford.

“Sorry,” said Romaine. “Tacky to talk about money in public!”

Mrs. Ford nodded approvingly, and Romaine rolled her eyes like a teenager. “Mom's the boss,” she said with a shrug.

“Sorry, Mrs. F.,” said Samantha.

“You girls are talented enough to not have to talk like that,” said Mrs. Ford with a sniff.

Wow,
I thought. Mrs. Ford had power. Imagine scolding a three-time Grammy Award winner, and an Oscar winner, at the same time! Then I thought about it. After all, Mrs. Ford was still just Romaine's mom, even if Romaine was a big star. My mom would probably still correct me if I had bad manners about something too, even if I was a movie star.

“Let's have another, then!” Samantha giggled,
and I circled back to her with the platter.

She popped a cinnamon one into her mouth this time. “Mmmm! That one is just as delicious as the other! Romaine, maybe you should have a
cinnamon
-flavored wedding cake! That would solve all your troubles!”

I looked at Romaine and saw her sigh.

“I love Liam so much, but the one thing we can't agree on is a wedding cake. He thinks that big fancy white wedding cakes are old-fashioned, and I kind of agree, but I'm not going to reinvent the wheel, you know?”

I passed the platter to Romaine, and she selected another vanilla cupcake.

“Oh, Emma, these really are the best. Too bad you don't make wedding cakes!”

“Hey!” said Romaine's sister, who looks a lot like her. “I saw on that TV show
Cupcake Connections
that they did a cupcake tower for a wedding. It was really pretty!”

I wanted to say the Cupcake Club
had
actually done a cupcake tower for Mia's mom's wedding and for a bridal fashion show, but I didn't want to get too involved in their conversation. I was just there as a server after all. Mona had been pretty strict when I started working at the salon that I
wasn't really supposed to chat with everyone. I was supposed to be working.