These Are The Days Of Our Lives

The Chocolate Cake

Beth's POV

"Started making it...had a breakdown...bon appetit!"

Me, Evie, Ed and James were all sat on my sofa watching Bake Off. We were all laughing except, of course, James.

"Mate, what were you on?" Ed asked through his laughter.

"I was on being awake for thirty six hours straight along with the worst jet lag imaginable." James explained, frowning. "Does that answer your question?"

"Yeah, yeah, of course it does." Ed said, noticing his slight embarrassment at the whole thing. "Sorry."

"Oh baby, It's okay." I assured James, kissing him softly on the cheek. "You were tired. At least you did it without falling asleep - I'm sure if Evie was that tired her head would end up in the flapjack mixture."

"She's right." Evie laughed, her head rested on Ed's shoulder. "Hey, can we watch your episode next, babe?"

"Of course we can." Ed chuckled. "If it's okay with these two."

"I don't think I've watched your episode, Ed." James admitted. "I sort of swore off Bake Off for ages after my episode."

"It's great!" Evie exclaimed, having watched it what felt like hundreds of times.

"Yeah, maybe." I said, deep in thought.

"What are you thinking, Beth?" Evie asked.

"I dunno, I guess watching this has put me in a baking mood." I said. "But we don't-"

"Ooo, baking!" She exclaimed. "How about it guys, want to do some baking?"

"I like the sound of that." Ed smiled, licking his lips.

"I don't know, Evie..." James said hesitantly. "I'm not all that good at baking, we all know that."

"Come on James, you were just jet lagged!" I begged. "Please?"

"Yeah come on James, please, please, please!"

He sighed. "Fine, but if it turns out inedible it's on you."

"It won't." I assured him. "Right, what do we want to make?"

"You know what I fancy." Evie said. "Chocolate cake."

Ed looked at her in agreement, his eyes shining with delight.

"Oh yeah, chocolate cake." He mused. "Mmm..."

"Come on Beth, let's make a chocolate cake!" Evie exclaimed. "Please!"

"Okay okay, chocolate cake it is!" I laughed. "Come on, to the kitchen!"

We all made our way there, stopping them just before they could begin to grab anything.

"Right, before we begin I have a couple of ground rules." I said firmly. "Rule one, no fighting."

My eyes darted between them, catching James's gaze especially.

"Rule two, there will be no licking of the bowl." I said, looking especially hard at Evie and Ed this time. "Unless of course, you want to get salmonella."

Evie rolled her eyes. "Fine."

"Rule three, listen to me and do exactly as I say." I said. "If you don't listen and do exactly as I say, I'll make you sit on the sofa. Oh, without telly too."

My eyes widened and I rushed to grab the remote from the sofa. I paused the episode that had just started and turned the television off, placing it on top of one of the kitchen cabinets.