Slightly Less Badass

~Chapter Eighteen~

Rina and I arrive at the bakery the next morning to see that Eliza is already waiting for us. She waits until I've unlocked the front door and we've all stepped inside to ask her question.
"Did you do it?"
"Yea and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed that. I don't know why I never thought about pranking Cameron before. Rina, why did we never think about that?"
"Hm I don't know. Here are the pictures we took. Ya, he'll definitely be coming into work late today," Rina says and hands Eliza my phone. We used Saran Wrap to tie Cameron to his bed and then wrapped every object in his first room. It surprises me how heavy of a sleeper my friends and family are.
"I don't know what Jacob was talking about. You guys are awesome," she says.
"We were this badass in high school. Why has no one realized it until now?" I question.
"Eh that's not true. We're slightly less badass than before," Rina says.
"But only slightly. Wait, what did Jacob say about us?"
Eliza just laughs and shakes her head.
Talking about school makes me remember something very important. How I could forget about it, I don't know. Random noises and words fly out of my mouth.
"Shoot. Fuck. Gah."
I rip off the apron I just put on and pick my car keys off of the counter. I yank my phone out of Eliza's hand and look up at the clock. More cuss words leave my mouth.
"What's wrong?" Rina asks.
"I am have a meeting today. Cameron was supposed to run the place while I was gone. Shit. I have to run home and get him out of that wrap then drive him back here because I don't know if he has a car yet then drive all the way to-"
"Mira, slow down. What's going on?"
"There's this middle school down the street that I have a meeting with. They called last night about it. Something about my cookies. The meeting is at 8:30 but I wanted to get there fifteen minutes early but the school is about fifteen minutes away so I'd have to leave by 8:00. But getting Cameron will take at least a half an hour. The bakery opens at 8 but it's 7:45 so I should've left about twenty minutes ago and I can't leave because there's no one here to run the place. Damn. And I can't go to a meeting in these old clothes."
At the same time, Eliza and Rina say, "I can run it."
"No you can't. Your both new and no offense but I don't trust you. I guess I better just drive fast and hope I don't get caught. In the meantime Eliza, start stocking up. Rina start making some more cupcakes and muffins. Bye!"
Both give me looks of confusion but I don't have time to stick around. Hopefully no one comes in to the bakery until Cameron is back and Eliza and Rina can manage things by themselves until then. I'm probably making a huge mistake leaving them alone with practically no training. I dial Dad's number and pray that he picks up.
"Hello?"
"Dad! Cameron is tied to his bed with Saran Wrap and you need to-"
"He's already on his way. I heard him yelling and cut him free. He left about five minutes ago."
I can't even describe the relief I feel at hearing those words. I sigh loudly and turn in the direction of my apartment. Now all I have to do is worry about changing outfits and getting there on time. I try to plan out in my head which outfit of mine is the nicest, most professional, and- most importantly- the cleanest. Dad's voice reminds me that I was on the phone with him.
"Am I supposed to be going to that meeting?"
"Uh I don't know. They didn't say. I suppose if you want to then you can."
"Eh I don't feel like getting off of the couch. Just call me after and tell me how it went."
"Alright. Bye Dad, love you."
"Love you."
I hang up. I go back to trying what outfit is appropriate to meet a principal of an elementary school.
////////////
"Ummm... That's a lot of cookies," says Cameron. He looked like he was attempting to hide his shock but he isn't doing a very good at it.
"Yes I'm aware it's a lot of cookies. But it's also a lot of money," I reply, exhausted. "I need a nap."
"Well this is fantastic isn't it? Lots of money plus more people will know about your food," Rina excitedly says.
"Ya ya super. Can I go to sleep now?" I reply. I stumble behind the counter and tie my apron on. I sit down on the stool and stare out the window tiredly.
"That's what you get for staying up so late with Rina, you dummy," Cameron says. "And by the way I didn't appreciate being included in your stupid prank. I think I should get a raise or else I might consider quitting."
"Thanks mom for that unhelpful input. And no you can't have a raise and no you can't quit because you're too busy with school to find another job. Plus, it was Eliza that wanted us to prank you so don't blame us. Alrighty. Guess I better get started on these cookies... I don't wanna though. Maybe, just maybe, if I sit here and just imagine really hard, the cookies will magically make themselves."
I squeeze my eyes shut and bury my head in my arms. Someone pokes me. Then they poke me again.
"I don't think that's how it works," Rina whispers in my ear. She standing uncomfortably close to me.
There's a loud click of heels against the wood floor someone enters the room and then Eliza asks, "Is she dead? Did you guys kill the nice lady who pays me?"
"No Mira's fine. She's just being overdramatic as always," Cameron replies.
"This is gonna be so much work," I groan. Then an idea comes to mind. I quickly snap my head up and look at the three startled people in front of me. A slow grin starts to form.
"Oh no. That's her evil face. This won't be good," Rina says.
"Of course I don't have to do any work. I can just lay here and relax while you guys do everything. I mean, that is what I hired people for, so I could be lazy. Get to work everyone! You've got 4,000 cookies to make before Monday."
"Holy shit," Eliza gasps. "Who the heck needs 4,000 cookies?"
"Hydepark Grade School. It's a few blocks away from here. I just got back from the meeting with the principle. Apparently they're having some ginormously huge event or something up there and the lady who was going to make the cookies for it went into labor. So now we get to do it. Also, they're paying extra since it's such late notice."
"Nice! So what kinda cookies are we making?"
"I was thinking we'd make it easy and make four different kinds so that way we'd just to make 1,000 of each type- M&M chocolate chip cookies, regular sugar cookies, iced cookies, and triple chocolate."
"What's triple chocolate?" Eliza questions.
"The cookie dough is chocolate then it has chocolate chunks and chocolate chips in it. It's only the most amazing thing on this planet," Rina replies.
"Yup now get to work people. You have a lot of things to do."
"I dislike you sometimes," mutters Rina. She glares at me then heads towards the kitchen.
"I dislike you a lot of times," Cameron says. Him and Eliza follow Rina.
"I'll be in there to taste the batter soon!" I yell after them.
---------
I feels like it days have passed since this morning. I slam the front door shut and drag my feet as I walk into the living room. If I was tired earlier, then I'm behind exhausted now. I fall onto the couch and try not to fall asleep. The apartment was silent and not even the tv was on like it usually was.
"Jay!" I yell.
"I'm in the kitchen," he yells back. I groan obnoxiously and force myself to get up. The smell that greets me when I enter the kitchen is delicious. I sit down in one of our crappy plastic chairs and lay my head on the table.
"You're home later than usual," Jay says.
"We have to make 4,000 cookies by Monday night. We only made 350 today."
He opens his mouth to say something but I cut him off by saying, "Don't ask."
"Alrighty so it sounds like you had a super day. Want some dinner?"
"Depends. What did you make?"
"Chicken parmigiana."
I pout and look over at the stove. There were no pots sitting on top of it cooking the food I wanted most. Chicken parm did sound good but what I really wanted at the moment is macaroni.
"No mac&cheese?" I ask. Jay sighs loudly in exasperation. I either asked for macaroni or French fries with almost every meal we ate.
"Do you really want that? I don't think macaroni necessarily goes with this."
"Mac&cheese goes with everything."
"Whatever. Dinner will be ready soon."
I drag myself out of the plastic chair and go back into the living room. I lay face down on our comfy couch and don't move until I hear Jay walk into the room. I slowly push myself up and reposition myself so I'm sitting upright. Jay hands me a plate full of food. Trying not to tip the plate, I scoot closer to Jay. He knows how much I hate listening to the sound of people chewing so he turns on the tv to a random show to drown out the silence.

After we're done eating we set our plates on the table and get comfortable on the couch.
"Have you caught up on all of our shows?" Jay asks as he scrolls through our list of recorded things.
"Our shows? Since when are they our shows? They're mine. I just forced to watch with me and now you love them. I watched a few episodes but I haven't caught up on anything."
He turns on one of our many tv shows and I snuggle closer to him. We get through two episodes before my eyes become heavy and I'm trying to force myself to stay awake. Jay nudges me and whispers, "Do you wanna go to bed?"
"Nah. Let's watch the next episode," I reply sleepily. I rub my eyes and repress a yawn.
::::::
When I open my eyes again I'm moving in the hallway. I look around in confusion and Jay's face is only inches from mine. It takes me a few groggy seconds to realize that he was carrying me.
"What's going on?" I whisper.
"You fell asleep on the couch. I was just carrying you to bed."
"Oh. What time is it?"
"Around 2:30am. Apparently we both fell asleep on the couch."
"Okay. Goodnight then."
I was too tired to say anything else. I close my eyes and lay my head on his shoulder. I feel slightly guilty for making him carry me to bed but not guilty enough to get up and actually walk. I feel him kiss the top of my head and then I'm laying on our wonderful bed. I back asleep within seconds.