Alexis and the Perfect Recipe by Coco Simon

frowned. I couldn’t tell if Matt and Joe were happy or annoyed. But the girls were definitely happy. They were super dressed up for a Sunday morning, in skin-tight jeans and tight sweaters with tiny down vests, and boots with high heels. Their hair was super-fluffy and they had on tons of makeup and perfume and dangly earrings. I wondered when Sydney had planned this little outing.
    â€œCan we play?” asked Sydney in her high, flirty voice. Callie at least had the grace to look nervous.
    Matt shrugged. “Okay.” He didn’t sound excited, but he didn’t sound mad, either. I think he was just being polite. Emma, on the other hand, was really mad. Her face was set like stone.
    â€œI think we need to play H-O-R-S-E again,” said Matt.
    â€œWhat’s that?” Callie said, giggling.
    Matt explained the game, and he went first, tossing the ball in high over his left shoulder, facing away from the basket. It was an impressive shot.
    Sydney clapped and whistled, and Matt grinned. Why hadn’t I thought to praise him like that? Then she stepped up to take the shot and threw it so badly that it just flew over her shoulder, landing nowhere near the basket.
    â€œWhoops!” she said with a laugh, covering her mouth with a hand that showed off fresh scarlet nail polish. Sydney clearly didn’t care that she had missed. In fact, she probably missed on purpose.
    Callie took the ball. She bounced it once or twice, then flipped it over her shoulder, but her sweater was so tight it made her lose control as the ball left her hand; it fell weakly to the ground and rolled away. “Oh dear! I stink!” Callie said, but it was clear she didn’t really care how badly she played either.
    Now it was my turn. If ever I had wanted something in my life, this was it. I focused like a laser beam and took a deep breath, closing my eyes. Then I bent my knees like Matt had and lifted the ball in a gentle arc over my shoulder. Slow and steady wins the race, I told myself. I didn’t dare to look, but when I heard the ball thump the backboard andMatt yelling, my eyes flew open. Matt had both fists straight in the air. “Yes!” he cried. “You made it!” He stuck out his hand for a high five and I slapped it, laughing in giddy relief.
    I stole a quick glance at Callie and Sydney and they were both standing there with their mouths open. Sydney started chewing on the end of a piece of her fluffy hair, probably wondering what she should do next. I had a new equation for my workbook:
    Sports skills + comfortable clothes = boys impressed by YOU!
    A few minutes later Mrs. Taylor pulled up to drop off Jake and pick up Matt and Joe to go to their friend’s house for a school project. I didn’t really get the chance to say good-bye to Matt, but it was all good. I was still on a high from my totally awesome shot.
    â€œLet’s hit it,” Sydney said to Callie as soon as the boys left. Sydney didn’t bother to say good-bye to Emma and me, but Callie turned to us with an awkward expression. “Well, thanks . . . ,” she said.
    â€œSee ya,” Emma muttered without bothering to look in their direction. We went inside, and Jake immediately went for the couch in the TV room. Emma started to make him a snack in the kitchen.
    â€œWow,” I said.
    â€œI can’t believe you made that basket!” said Emma, laughing.
    â€œMe neither!” I howled. “Talk about luck!”
    â€œIt was skill,” said Emma. “And Matt was impressed.”
    â€œYou think?” I asked, but I knew he was. My chest was bursting with pride and happiness.
    As we headed to the TV room with drinks and Jake’s snack, Emma said, “We still have to figure out Dylan’s dessert. Let’s get the others over here and bake.”
    â€œYay! Cupcakes!” Jake yelled.
    â€œGood idea,” I agreed, thinking of the extra cupcakes we could leave