Katie Starting from Scratch Read Free

know?”
    â€œWell, I don’t know if this is such a good idea,” Alexis said.
    â€œWhy not?” I asked.
    â€œYeah, it’s perfect,” Emma said. “We always sell a lot of cupcakes at school events.”
    Alexis started to twirl a strand of her wavy red hair. “I guess I meant that it’s not a good day for me. I’m pretty sure I have a conflict.”
    â€œWell, that’s okay,” I said. “Emma and Mia and I could sell the cupcakes. As long as there’re three of us, it’s usually enough.”
    â€œSure. Right,” Alexis said. She was acting a little weird. “Yeah, I’ll add it to our schedule.”
    â€œOoh, we could do the two-toned cupcakes in school colors,” Emma suggested.
    I nodded. “Awesome,” I said. “Hey, you know what? We should show Mia.”
    I cut one of the frosted cupcakes in half and took a picture on my phone. Then I sent it to Mia. She texted me back right away.
    Luv it! Save one 4 me!
    â€œSo it’s official,” I said. “We’ve got a new cupcake in our repertoire.”
    â€œOui! Oui!” Emma said with a giggle, practicing her French.
    â€œRight,” Alexis said. She wasn’t acting weird anymore. “So, next Saturday we’re meeting at Mia’s house to make the cupcakes for the flower show. Katie, you’re shopping for the ingredients?”
    I nodded. “Check.”
    â€œAnd you’re bringing Emily,” Alexis said, typing it into our schedule.
    â€œCheck, again,” I said.
    I was feeling okay about bringing Emily to the next meeting. It was nice that my friends werecool with it (but of course they would be). And she was really sweet and helpful, and I guess Mom was right—we could always use an extra pair of hands.
    But most important, it gave me a new feeling—a big-sistery kind of feeling. I’ve never had that feeling before, and it felt kind of . . . nice.
    Weird, right?

CHAPTER 3
The Only Brown?
    M onday morning I was happy to see Mia on the bus. I miss her when she’s with her dad.
    â€œHow was Manhattan?” I asked.
    â€œNice,” Mia said. “Ava and I went to a sample sale. That’s when designers sell the sample clothes they make really cheap. I got this skirt there for ten bucks.”
    She looked down at her red skirt, which I could tell was shorter in the front and longer in the back. She had on a cute white shirt with it and red flats.
    â€œIt’s nice,” I said. “You look like a candy cane.”
    â€œRed and white is a clean and classic combination,” Mia informed me. “I read that in a magazine somewhere.” She’s really into fashion, partly because her mom is a fashion stylist, and Mia alwayslooks like she could be in a magazine. The only way my picture would be in a magazine is if the magazine were called Messy Cooking or something.
    â€œHow’s Ava?” I asked. Ava is Mia’s best friend in Manhattan. I used to be a little jealous about that, until I realized that I am her best friend in Maple Grove. Besides, Ava’s nice.
    â€œShe joined the soccer travel team,” Mia said. “She plays, like, all the time. So it was nice to see her. Hey, did you bring me a cupcake?”
    I reached into my backpack and took out a cupcake container that perfectly fit one cupcake. “Of course!”
    â€œDid somebody say ‘cupcake’?”
    George Martinez stuck his head over the back of my seat. George is my friend who’s a boy who I like, and I guess like like him, sometimes, if you know what I mean. And I’m pretty sure he like likes me, too.
    â€œI’m so hungry,” George said.
    â€œIt’s seven thirty in the morning,” I said. “Didn’t you eat breakfast?”
    â€œEggs, bacon, oatmeal, toast, and a banana,” he replied. “But I’m still hungry.”
    â€œWell, I might have brought some