Cherry On Top

Chapter 5: New Building Scandal

It had been a few weeks since Samantha first arrived. We were becoming good friends, and I was enjoying having someone to fangirl with. I was surprised at how well she was adapting to America, and how people talk and eat here. I suspect things must be really fancy in Britain. Every night after dinner we would go up to the loft, Reese right by my feet, and talk. She would ask to hold Reese every once in a while but he would get really uncomfortable and jump out of her arms to come back to me. I don't think it's anything against her personally, he just doesn't like new people. It was the same with Arabella for the most part, she would start crying if it Samantha held her for too long, but I think she's getting used to her.

Life here had sort of fallen back into our regular schedule. Mom was gone to the bakery before we were up, in order to make the food in time. She was typically back by 8:15. Dad was usually leaving right as we were heading down for breakfast, but he had time to heat up whatever mom had made and tell us goodbye. He got home around 10:30. Mrs. Faye left as soon as we got home from school, so Samantha and I had a lot of time to ourselves. Sometimes we would go to the park, walk Reese, ride bikes, go swimming, see a movie, etc. Samantha called home every night to talk to her parents and brother. It was like the recently stirred up dust had settled back to the ground, but not for long.
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"What do you guys think that new building is gonna be?" I asked Samantha, Kass, and Claire on our way home from school.

"I don't know, hopefully an Italian restaurant, I've been craving it since Luigi's Pizzeria closed." Said Kass. Kass LOVES Italian food, I don't blame her, Italian food is delicious.

"I was sort of hoping it would be an ice cream parlor. I love your moms bakery, but I've always wanted an ice cream shop in Crosby." Did I mention that Claire was a dessert fanatic?

"Or it could be a Barnes and Noble. I do love the library, but a book store would be nice as well." Of course Samantha would suggest that, but I agree.

"Well, whatever it is, I guess we'll find out soon enough. Let's ask my mom when we get to The Better Batter Bakery." I suggested.

The bell tinkled as we walked in the door. "Hey mom!" I greeted.

"Hey Mrs. Lacey!" Kass, Samantha, and Claire said.

"Hey girls." Mom said. She seemed upset. After ordering, we asked about the new building. "Well, it's.. it's a Starbucks, and it's opening tomorrow." I just looked at her.
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I thought about it all week and I came up with the worst scenario. We go out of business and have to move to get another job. I highly doubt it though. I mean, we'll always have the locals, right? Wrong. Mr. Arthur from down the street used to come in every day on his way to work and order and Americano with no sugar, just a tad bit of cream. He has been coming since the week The Better Batter Bakery opened. Unfortunately, Mr. Arthur hadn't been seen in our shop for three days. Mom tried to tell me that everyone just wanted to give it a try, and they would come back again, but I didn't know what to think. My mom had always been a baker, it was her passion! If we go out of business, we can't force her to choose a different career path, we would have to move. And it's not like Dad has to work in Crosby, he is a nurse, nurses are needed everywhere. It would be okay for him to move. What would we do if we had to leave? Would Samantha have to stay with another family? What about Kass and Claire? I don't know how I would get through making new friends without them! What was I supposed to do? How can just one girl change everything? But then I realized, it wasn't just one girl, it was four.
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"So, why are we here?" Claire questioned.

"Well, as you all know, there is a Starbucks coming in across from The Better Batter Bakery. My plan will assure that we don't go out of business because of it. And even in the slight chance that we do, we will go out with a bang." I took a breath before continuing. "So, all of the popular girls at school are obviously gonna choose Starbucks, and their little "boyfriends" will be close at their heels. But, with no coffee, no business. They close at 8:00 PM. My parents are having dinner with the mayor tonight about some new music school or something. We are meeting the mayor at his office and his secretary is driving them to dinner. My parents only want me to come so we can meet him and be polite. We will be in his office talking to him, and while he is distracted, Samantha will set her purse by his desk. So, we pretend to start walking home until we see them drive away, and then we go back in and say to the woman at the front desk that Samantha left her purse in there. Then we go to his office and grab the ring of keys off the hook on the door. He has keys to every building in Crosby. Then, we-" Kass cut me off.

"I don't think this sounds like a very good idea." She said.

"Oh, just let me finish." I said. "Then we go to Starbucks and fill all their ice machines with ice made out of vodka. We then take all the whipped cream out of their canisters and fill it with whipped cream cheese. Finally, we coat all of their pastries in pickle juice." I said, with a smirk on my face.

"I don't know about this, what if we get caught?" Kass asked.

"We won't, this isn't enough of a scandal for the police to fingerprint people or anything. Besides, we are the last people anyone would think would vandalize Starbucks." I promised.

"I'm in, I'll be the spy!" Claire said excitedly.

"I'll be the pro liar of the operation," Samantha volunteered.

"I guess I'll tag along." Kass finally agreed.

"Good, I'll see you all tonight!"

And that was that.