"Amanda! Hurry up! We'll be late for Bio again!" Alexia hopelessly tries to speed up Amanda as she shuts the locker.
"It's okay! We got nothing to worry about..." Amanda replies but got interrupted by Arte's squeal. They both looked up and saw her running towards them.
Arte was well, Arte. She's really good at drawing and painting....especially decorating. Her parents didn't hesitate when they named her Arte.
She came to a stop in front of them, out of breath.
"Guys...." she said, "Look at this..." Alexia took the paper that was in her hand and silently read through it.
"All yours." She said, giving it to Amanda, who took it. She read:
Culinary Arts Contest
Your entree to the world of food
Our culinary arts certificate puts
You in the kitchen with top chefs.
Applications in the guidance office.
Deadline: April 26
"Where did you get this?" She demanded.
"The billboard," Arte replied proudly, like a little kid showing her drawing to her teacher.
"You should enter." Alexia nodded her head, while impatiently tapping her fingers on the locker.
"Guys, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but not this year." Amanda held the paper out back to Arte, who looked up at Amanda with sad eyes.
"Awe...you said that last year."
"I know...." the bell rang, and Alexia slapped her forehead.
"Guys! Cone on! Now we're definitely tardy!!" She grabbed their hands and half dragged them to 3rd period.
---
It's not that Amanda doesn't want to enter. She does. But she just doesn't feel ready yet. Then again...that's the same story every year. She felt bad for making Arte upset. That's why she's going to make it up to her.
A few years back, when they just became friends, they decided to get a summer job.
With no luck, they realized they had similar talents. Arte was good at being creative, Alexia was more good at technical stuff, and Sam, Amanda's older brother was....well... just a mascot, but a very good one at that. (Unbelievably he enjoyed being in the kitchen as much as Amanda did.)
Since most parents worked during the summer, and no time for cooking, they all decided to help them out by making a get-food-fast business. Sounds cheesy. But it was a good start.
The first year they didn't have much customers, but the second and third, they we're on full time during the week. Amanda gave orders and did most of the cooking.
Ever since high school, they went from summer, to all year, but only on weekends, since school was:
A-terrifying-experience-for-a-baby-elephant.
Don't ask. Arte came up with it.
---
Amanda shuffled home. And closed the door behind her.
Throwing her bookbag in the nearest corner, she went to the kitchen and got out the mixing bowl, preparing to make Brownies.
"Hay Squirt." Sam said, peeking into the kitchen.
"Hi." Amanda replied, not looking up, measuring all the ingredients.
"What got into you." He asked, as he crossed his arms across his chest.
"Why do you think something happened?" She said plainly.
"Your face shows it." He walked over to the counter, where Amanda already started the mixer, and was now fiddling with the oven timer.
One reason why Sam was a mascot was because he's really good at heartening your mood.
Amanda sighed.
"Arte found an application for the culinary arts thing."
"And?" He noted.
"And...I made her upset by not signing up...again."
Sam smiled, "Why don't you sign up."
That made her roll her eyes, he already knew why. "Sam, because I just don't feel ready."
Now it was his turn to roll his eyes. "Manda, if you didn't feel ready, you wouldn't be having this business." And with that, he left.
Maybe he's right. She should at least go for it. If she wasn't good enough, then this business would have long gone callapsed. She put the Brownie dough into the oven, and set the timer.
She'd attempt. Just once. If she can't make it to the finals, well. Thats the end of that.
Sorry the chapter was bad and choppy. So what did you think about the gang? Off to a bad start, right? Well it'll get better from here...or is it?😅Lol, nah, it'll get better. Who would love to have Sam as their big brother? *hand shoots up*
