#5 Icing on the Cake (2 page)

“Come on. Let's get to class,” I said to Logan when they were gone.

“You don't know what you just did. They're in the gang Oynx. They'll kill you.” Logan motioned for me to check them out. “Look, their bandanas are their mark.”

I looked down the hall and saw that they all had on black bandanas on different parts of their bodies. This was serious. Though I did what I thought was right, I exhaled, thinking I might have started my own personal war.

Twenty minutes later in class, I was supposed to be cutting carrots. I was almost about to chop
my hand off. I was shaking so bad because I was nervous. When my teacher, Ms. Jenson, started to help another student, I picked up my phone and sent a group text to my sisters.

I texted, “Does anybody know who the people wearing the black bandanas are?”

I got several quick replies. Shelby texted me, “That's the gang Onyx.”

Ansli texted, “Stay away!”

Slade hit me back and wrote, “Yeah, don't even go near them.”

Inquisitive Sloan texted, “Why'd you ask?”

At that point I started hyperventilating, truly not feeling good at all. How could I stay away from a gang I had already crossed? And what was a gang doing at our upscale Marks High School?

“Answer Sloan's question, why don't you already?” Shelby texted back.

“Girrrl, have you said something out of the way to them!?!” Slade asked with a bunch of emphasis. “Yup, that's it because you're not texting back. What class are you in?”

I still couldn't respond. Sloan texted back, “She's in Jenson's room … 212.”

That girl had my schedule stored. I did need them because I was in a mess. I must have looked like the color had gone from my face because Ms. Jenson came over.

She put her hand on my shoulder and said, “Yuri, this isn't like you not to finish preparing a meal. You okay, dear?”

I just shook my head. No way was I anywhere close to being alright. There was a knock on the door, and when all the boys started whistling, I knew Slade was there. Why she dressed so provocatively, I didn't understand. She was so beautiful. But she showed just enough cleavage that it was acceptable for school. Yet at the same time, she showed just enough that it was appealing to the guys.

“Excuse me, Ms. Jenson, can I see my sister for a second?”

Ms. Jenson walked me over to the door and spoke to Slade. “I don't think she's feeling well. Will you let me know if she needs to go to the office?”

“Yes ma'am,” Slade said as Ms. Jenson went back into class and shut the door. “Okay, uh,
what's going on with you? Sloan said to tell me everything too. I know y'all like to keep stuff from me, so I won't scold you, but this is creepy, you talking about Onyx. Somebody gets a hold of your phone and sees their name in it, you could be in trouble just for that.”

“I'm already in trouble with them. I pushed them off of this girl, Slade,” I said, wiggling my sister's arm for help.

“You did what? You got in the middle of a fight? Why? You're the shyest, little wimpiest thing around. Why'd you do that?”

Stomping, I said, “Because they were picking on this girl, Logan, and she's so sweet. Okay she does have an extra couple pounds that she's trying to lose, but I
had
to help her. She was getting picked on, and it reminded me of kindergarten.”

“When you were getting picked on because your chicken pox scars took forever to go away?” Slade squinted and asked me.

“Yes, the scars all over my face just felt like people thought they could laugh at me or something. I hated school and myself after that. I
knew how she felt. I didn't realize they were in a crazy gang. They told me I'm in trouble. Slade, what does that mean?”

My sister just hugged me tight. When I pulled away, she reached out and hugged me again. She squeezed me extra hard.

“So does that mean that I'm really in trouble? Oh my gosh!” I said, pacing. I was not feeling any better physically.

“Okay, you've got to calm down.”

“I'm gonna die,” I shouted.

I was a little too loud, and Ms. Jenson came rushing to the door. “Yuri, what is going on?”

“I need to take her to the office, Ms. Jenson. Can we have a pass please?” Slade asked.

Ms. Jenson scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it to Slade.

We headed to see the coolest principal in the world. Dr. Garner happened to be friends with our dad. Usually, I could talk to him, but at that moment, I couldn't speak for myself. I was looking over my shoulder even though we were in the office. I was so paranoid, but Slade held me up and explained everything that was going on.

“Well, until they do something wrong, I can't just kick them out of school.”

“But they threatened my sister, sir. You need them to kill her before you take action?” Slade asked, before I gave her a horrified look. “I'm just saying. I'm not saying they're really going to kill you, but I'm just telling him he needs to do something before that happens.”

I hated being the youngest sister because sometimes I just didn't think straight. I let everybody else think for me. The one time that I tried to put on my big girl panties and help somebody else out, I might have signed my own death warrant.

“How bad is Onyx?” I asked Dr. Garner.

He shook his head. “I want to get them out of my school, that's for sure. I suggest you use a buddy system. Don't go anywhere by yourself. Definitely keep a low profile, and I'll be watching the situation. I hear your sister, and she raises a good point. I can't make you a sitting duck, but because there is no recording of them threatening you, hearsay can't really do anything. But you're going to be okay.”

Slade looked over at the Keurig machine in Dr. Garner's office. “Could I get her some hot tea, cocoa, or something?”

And when she said that, I brightened up. Dr. Garner was called out of his office and told us to take a second for me to collect myself.

As Slade fixed me something to drink, I said, “You think everything's going to be okay right?”

“Yeah, just like my showcase. I've got to have one for my music soon. I'm trying to put the whole thing together. When you're the record company, it's not just like an artist comes and preforms and goes home. No, I'm in charge of the guest list, getting press there, the reception, having some hors d'oeuvres, and I can't even find a caterer,” she uttered as she handed me a cup.

All of a sudden, I wasn't caring about Onyx at that point. I was caring about me and my opportunities. Slade had given me cocoa and hope.

“Let me help,” I blurted out.

“Help me how?”

“Let me cater it. Make it a dessert social.
Mom was just telling me I make the world's best cupcakes. They're pretty and yummy. It'll save you a ton of money,” I said to her.

“Hmm, I might need to get you stressed out more often,” Slade teased. “What you gonna charge me to make it?”

“I'll work within your budget,” I said, before I knew I needed to up the ante. “I'll go under budget.”

“You're hired.”

I put down my cup and embraced her. “Thank you, Slade. Obviously, I need something positive to channel all of this crazy energy.”

“We're not a match for a gang,” Slade said as she put her hands on my shoulders, “but we are your sisters, and for someone to mess with the baby of the family, they're going to have to come through the rest of us. And to add insult to their injury, we're the last girls they might want to be thinking about messing with. Particularly, if they want to stay in operation. You know what I'm saying? Don't worry. But don't mess with them again. Alright?”

I nodded, as I picked up the cup and drunk
up. She didn't have to worry. I was the baby of the group, but I learned quick, fast, and in a hurry. No more messing with Onyx, and I just prayed that they would not mess with me. But no need to focus on that. Now I had my first catering gig. I was excited. I was growing up. I was proud of me.

The day that I had been waiting for—the chance to allow many to taste my cupcakes—was here. I had been baking for two days straight, getting ready to feed the hundreds of guests coming to Slade's new artist's release party. Shelby and Ansli couldn't help me. Shelby was helping the artist's dress. She was the stylist for the day. Ansli was setting up to photograph the important players who were coming to the event, as well as get pictures backstage.

Thankfully, my mom and Sloan were there for me. I think I was getting on their nerves though. I was obsessing about everything.

“Be careful. The box is fragile. We've got to set them down in the trunk just right because if
they tilt over, the cupcakes are ruined.”

“Ohhh, Yuri, they look so delicious. I just want to taste one,” my mom said. “Red velvet, caramel crunch, cheesecake, key lime, and vanilla … you go girl.”

“Mom, don't even think about touching any of them,” Sloan said, seeing our mom truly unable to resist. “Or your daughter is going to lose her mind.”

Shelby was kind enough to have her boyfriend create me a logo. Yuri's YumYums looked so cute and delicate. There were two stands that displayed the logo, and I had a professional-looking sign that went in the front of my table.

When we arrived at the back of the location, there was another truck that was unloading all types of desserts. I looked at Sloan, and she looked back at me. She seemed confused. This cute blonde-headed dude was taking in many desserts.

“If she was going to get somebody else to do this, she just should have told Yuri,” Sloan said to my mom, saying everything I was feeling inside.

In a calming voice, my mom said, “Well, we don't know. Maybe they have more people, maybe she wanted more than just cupcakes. Clearly they've got an array of desserts over there. As I've taught you girls, it's usually not a perfect world.”

When my mom saw the sign of the truck she said, “Oh, that's the lady who has a shop not too far from the house. Treats by Ms. Pinky.”

“Yeah, but mom I thought I was the one providing refreshments,” I said, barely hiding my disappointment.

“Well, you are providing refreshments, Yuri. Don't get caught up in the fact that you're not doing this solo.”

“Wait ‘til I find Slade,” Sloan said in an upset tone.

“Come on, let's hurry up and get set up. The event starts in less than an hour.”

When I saw all of the tables and set ups and booth coverings they were pulling out for Ms. Pinky, I didn't want to go in. Sloan saw me sitting in the car extremely intimidated.

As she approached my mom rolled down the window and Sloan said, “Mom, can you go and find out where her table is going to be set up.”

“Oh yeah sure,” my mom said, scurrying away.

“You can do this,” Sloan tried to encourage.

“Yeah, but look at all that stuff that lady has. I'm going to look like a kindergartner compared to a professor. Nobody is going to want my food. Look what they're pulling out now: little, individual miniature glasses with pudding and stuff inside.”

Sloan put her arm around me to comfort me and to tell me I could do it. It was all going in one ear and out the other. The more and more I thought I could, the more stuff Ms. Pinky and her crew were taking out of the truck. I had a few different flavors of cupcakes, whoop dee do. She had cookies, slices of cake, pudding, mousse, pie, ice cream, and, of course, cupcakes too.

“Mom said I need to come and get you guys and show you where your table is,” Slade opened the car door and said.

Sloan grabbed her collar. “How could you do Yuri like this?”

Slade yanked back. “Do her like what?”

“Not tell her that somebody else is going to be serving,” Sloan said, folding her arms.

Slade rolled her eyes. “Because it's my show, and I didn't think it was any of her business. She asked for an opportunity, I gave it to her.”

I frowned. I could not believe they were talking about me like I wasn't there. True, I wasn't as strong as them, but this hurt.

“Oh, what? You thought you were going to be the only one?” Slade said, looking at me like that was the craziest idea.

“Look, you're new at this, and I'm giving you a chance. I can't believe you're giving me grief when I got to get out there and win people over with this song. Support me today. It's not about you, Yuri. I'm making you a part of this. You'd think you'd be grateful, dang,” Slade said as she started to walk away from the car window.

“You could have told her about it,” Sloan said before Slade got far away.

“What was I supposed to do? This is my partner's aunt's restaurant. I'm helping my sister out, her aunt wants to help us out. It's all family. Get over it, get your stuff out here, and set up,” Slade demanded. “And I've got to get ready for a show. I can't believe y'all are giving me drama.”