Cara and Laney (ON HOLD)

Chapter 4: Laney

By listening to all these snickering, snooty girls, I have gathered some information.

Number 1: I was going to have to follow around that Cara McSnootyPants around the school for probably the rest of the summer. Swell.

Number 2: Everyone hates me.

Number 3: EVERYONE has to participate in at least one of those competitions mentioned. But I know exactly which ones I'd be participating in.

Trays and trays of food came out of the entrance door and I immidiately started drooling. They were filled with pastries. Crispy and flaky, cream-filled ounces of goodness. They reminded me of Betty's Boppin' Bakery from back home. But I'll have to see if these pastries taste even remotely close to Betty's pastries.

Lots of girls were getting up from their tables and lining up in an orderly fashion. Pfft. Typical.

I grabbed a plate and lined up as well. I picked out  5 cream puffs, 3 red velvet cupcakes, 2 strawberry tarts, and 1 bacon and egg sandwich. Once I sat back down at table 3, I prepared myself for the taste test. I had to be ready for either a retching cough, or a pint full of barf.

I took a small bite of one of  the cream puffs. My eyes widened. I felt like I was being lifted up and being sent to heaven. The cream puffs were so fluffy, buttery, creamy, and sweet.

I felt like I was back in Betty's Boppin' Bakery, listening to rockabilly tunes and sitting beside Sydney, laughing about some crazy celebrity. I sighed. Those moments felt like a lifetime ago.

Cara and her friends came back to the table and started eating their pastries. I should probably eat in a well-mannered way, just like them.

Aw, screw it. This food was way too good.

I started wolfing down my food like no tomorrow. When I was finished with my cream puffs, the other girls in table 3 stared at me with disgust. The feeling's mututal.

I continue devouring my tarts, sandwich and cupcakes until my plate was clean. The meal was a perfect balance of sweet, savoury, and tangy.

I leaned back on my chair and sighed as I took in the 'tea room'. It was full of dainty and frilly curtains, doilies, table cloths and vases of flowers. All the sight of pastel colors sickened me.

I straightened up myself when I saw that same old lady from the stage come walking towards our table. She still had a smile, and she looked like she wasn't used to using one very often.

"Hello young ladies, getting along swell I hope?"

"Yes Mrs. Prendergast! Very well in fact." Cara said cheerfully. Wow, she really knew how to suck up to her. And Mrs. Prendergast? What kind of name was that?

"Oh, that is very nice."

"Mrs. Prendergast, my you look cheerful today!"

"Oh, it's just that my grandson Michael has found a lovely wife!"

"Wow," said Cara, hiding the slightest hint of shock. "That is quite wonderful, isn't it? Who is this special girl?"

"It is lovely Jessica Varnes from Fennelbrook, just out of Almsmire. A sweet little blondie with big green eyes and a wide smile. She is such a cultured and well mannered woman it brings me joy, that she will bear my great-grandchildren." 

"That is so very amazing. Where did she and Michael meet?"

"Oh, by the Fennelbrook brook of course! A romantic picnic, oh that Michael; such a charmer!"

Cara's dark-haired friend bit her lip, while the red-head was covering her mouth with a handkerchief; attempting to conceal their laughs. 

"That is so sweet." said Cara, biting the inside of her cheek.

"Thank you darling. Well, I must be off! I have to announce the end of the 'Afternoon Tea'!" Mrs. Prendergast said walking to the stage.

The red-head let out a muffled laugh. Cara and the brown-haired girl stared at eachother bearing smiles.

"Hello, may I please have your attention!" Mrs. Prendergast hollared over the voices in the room. The noise quickly silenced. "Thank you. This is the end of the 'Afternoon Tea', please head to your 3rd period classes. I hope you had a swell time, and remember to clean up after yourselves before you leave!"

I put my plate on one of the empty trays like everyone else, and I followed Cara and her friends out of the 'tea room'.

This was going to be a long day.