Too Sweet. | Haley x F. Farmer

xiii. pink cake

Athena's POV

The morning sun filters through the windows, casting a gentle glow over the vintage décor and rustic charm of the kitchen. In a sizable mixing bowl, I blend flour, sugar, and a touch of baking powder, whisking them until they form a pale, powdery amalgamation. The fragrance of vanilla extract adds a sweet note to the air as I drizzle it into the bowl, accompanied by a splash of milk, small amount of coffee powder and a dollop of creamy butter. As I combine the ingredients, the mixture metamorphoses into a smooth, velvety batter, its light hue foreshadowing the vibrant pink to follow. The oven preheats with a gentle hum, poised to metamorphose the batter into a fluffy, indulgent cake. I pour the pink batter into a round cake pan, smoothing it with a spatula for uniform baking. The anticipation heightens as the scent of vanilla and butter permeates the kitchen.

I let out a sigh of relief, grateful to Marnie for imparting her baking wisdom; at least I hadn't botched the mixing of ingredients. However, my confidence in the outcome of this baking endeavor remained shaky. Standing resolutely, I wiped away the beads of sweat forming on my forehead. A quick scan of the kitchen counter and dining table revealed a visible disaster, with ingredient leftovers strewn about haphazardly.

"I suppose I'll need to tidy up quickly before Leah and Emily arrive," I muttered, casting a glance at the inside of the oven. It would be done soon enough; it was the first batch of the first layer, and I hoped I wouldn't botch it. Why did I even bother putting effort into this? It's not as though I'm trying to reconcile with Haley.

Speaking of Haley, today happens to be her birthday, although Emily mentioned that Haley is out of town, perhaps at a mall or somewhere, using Emily's car. I'm glad they have a car since the bus schedule is limited. Emily urged me to continue making the pink cake so that when her sister finally returns home, we can surprise her at the saloon.

"I wonder how all of these things will turn out," I mused aloud, my thoughts swirling with anticipation and a hint of uncertainty.

time skip.

"Athena! We're here!" exclaimed Emily as she entered, followed by Leah carrying what seemed to be items for decoration.

"Ah, hey, come on in," I greeted them with a mix of calmness and slight exhaustion, huffing as I settled the finished product on the table. My brow furrowed at the sight of the cake-it wasn't exactly appetizing.

"Oh, wow, what a sight," Leah snickered, and I groaned at her reaction. "Do you have any leftovers of this cake?" she asked, and I nodded, pointing to a plate with an extra baked cake that looked slightly burnt.

She took a bite and hummed, her eyes seeming to glitter. Was it really that bad? "Sorry, I think I messed it up," I said dejectedly.

"Whoa, it may not look mouthwatering, but the taste is incredible! Emily, you have to try this!" Leah exclaimed, now holding a spoonful of cake in front of Emily's face, who eagerly took a bite.

"You're absolutely right! It's delicious!" Emily responded, nodding enthusiastically as she went in for another bite.

"It's not overly sweet, which is refreshing. The cake has a subtle hint of vanilla and coffee in the bread part, but it surprisingly blends well with the coating!" Emily commented as she finished the plate, leaving Leah glaring at her.

"But what about the cake's appearance?" I asked, a bit worried about whether her sister would even like the look of it. I doubted she would; she didn't strike me as the grateful type, which could be a pain.

"Don't worry about it. It looked a bit burnt, and the design is a bit sloppy, but it'll do. You put in the effort to bake it; surely my sister will appreciate that," Emily reassured me with a smile, though I still harbored doubts about the gratitude part.

"Shall we transport the cake to the saloon now? We still need to decorate the saloon, after all," Leah chimed in, eyeing the cake. "Oh yeah, Athena, you can go and take a bath. We'll have Sam take care of the cake. After that, head over to the saloon, okay?" Emily directed, pointing a finger at me before patting Leah's back.