Alexis and the Perfect Recipe by Coco Simon Read Free Book Online

“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.
    Sydney was now sort of pushing Callie at Matt, and they were both looking embarrassed.
    â€œBye!” Matt called to us.
    â€œLater,” I said in as casual a tone as possible. Iturned to go with my friends, and I was trying my best to look like I didn’t care at all that I just lost out on a chance to have lunch with Matt.
    We rode the escalator down in silence to meet my dad in the parking area. I hated Sydney, but that was nothing new. I also kind of hated Matt now. And Emma. Why couldn’t she have said, “Oh, sorry, Sydney Horrible Whitman, but we are all going back to my house with my cute brother and his cute friend and we are going to hang out all day and play Wii and you are so not invited.” Why couldn’t she have done that?
    Outside my dad waved from his spot in the pickup area. He looked so happy to see us that I felt a tiny bit better.
    What cheered me up more was when he said, “Want to go to Harrison’s for lunch?”
    Harrison’s Roast Beef is my absolute favorite lunch place in the whole world. It would be hard to stay upset if I was going there. Plus, if we all went to lunch together, it meant Emma would not catch me alone and have a chance to grill me about what she found out today.
    So I called back, “You betcha!” to my dad, and we all hurried to the car.
    I’ll have another chance to say hi to Matt again soon, I told myself. And maybe I’ll be dressed better then, anyway, I thought, looking at my boring outfit. Maybe it was a good thing this happened. This way I could keep up a mysterious air and let Matt think I’m really funny without me having to actually prove it. (“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” That quote is one of my mottoes.)

CHAPTER 7
    My Sister Really Takes the Cake!
    D uring lunch at Harrison’s my father and I told the Cupcakers about the dance we were planning for Dylan’s party. We had been practicing most nights after I finished my homework.
    â€œYou have to see how graceful Alexis is!” my father bragged. “She can really cut a rug.” He nodded proudly. Some people might say he is a total nerd, but I love him.
    â€œOh, Dad !” I said, like I was embarrassed, but I wasn’t really. Our dance was the one thing that I was feeling really good about, as it took me away from all the crazy feelings that were going through my head: my dislike of Sydney, my crush on Matt, my frustration with Emma, the nervousness I was feeling about Dylan and the cupcakes we were about to present to her.
    We had a great time at Harrison’s. Dad kept us laughing with his corny jokes.
    When we got home, Dylan and Mom were at the kitchen table, addressing the last of the party invitations on black envelopes with gold gel pens.
    â€œHello, Mom! Hello, Dylan!” I called as we walked in.
    Dylan nodded at us without saying a word before going back to writing. The scent of the pens was so strong that I could feel it going to my head and making me a little light-headed. I was dying to see if Dylan had addressed the invitation for the Taylors yet; I wouldn’t believe Matt was actually invited until I saw it in black and . . . gold. I craned my neck to see where she was on her list (created as an Excel spreadsheet on the computer, of course).
    Dylan looked at me. “What?” she demanded.
    â€œOh, nothing!” I replied, waving my hand, and got ready to start baking.
    â€œJust get going on the cupcakes, because I have to