Emma: Lights! Camera! Cupcakes! by Coco Simon Page B

your help tonight,” said Mona, sliding a white envelope from The Special Day to me.
    â€œMona! I didn’t do anything! You can’t pay me to take a tour of Romaine Ford’s childhood home. I should be paying you!”
    â€œStop this silliness. I’ve never met anyone like you. You never want any of my money. Come on. Take it!” She flapped the envelope at me.
    Patricia nodded. “Go on.”
    I sighed heavily and took the envelope.
    â€œThat’s my girl!” said Mona with a cackle. “Never forget you’re a businesswoman! Don’t sell yourself short!”
    â€œThanks. And thank you for taking me. It was a really fun night and a major privilege. I was proud to be there with you two.”
    â€œWe were proud to have you, darling!” said Mona, and then to Patricia, “Isn’t she divine?”
    â€œJust divine.” Patricia smiled, and I got out of the van.

    The next morning I had an e-mail from Mona. “Call me, darling. I have a brilliant idea!”
    I could hardly resist from calling, but it was only six thirty, so it would have to wait until at least lunchtime.
    At our lockers that morning, Katie told me she had all the supplies for the premiere samples and we should meet at the bike rack after school to go to Alexis’s house for our baking session. She was so excited and happy and nice about it. My tongue hurt where I had to bite it, so I wouldn’t tell her about my evening at Romaine Ford’s house. It was eating me up inside to keep all this incredible news a secret from my best friends. I felt like a traitor—like someone I didn’t even know. How could I be doing this?
    At lunch I snuck into the girls’ bathroom and managed a call to Mona.
    â€œEmma, darling! Why do you sound like you’re calling me from the train station?”
    I laughed. “I’m in the bathroom at school!”
    â€œThen I’ll make this quick. Tell your friends I need ten dozen cupcakes for an event Saturday morning. We can route the billing through me—everything. Just follow the specifications Romainegave to you, and you can even deliver them here if you’d like, early though, because we’ll be leaving by eight thirty to go to the Fords’.”
    â€œOh, Mona!” I breathed a huge sigh of relief. “That is a perfect idea.”
    â€œI realize you still can’t tell your friends the complete truth, but this is better than nothing, yes?”
    â€œYes! Thank you! I’ve got to run. I’ll talk to you soon!”
    I was flooded with relief at the idea of sharing this new cover story with the Cupcakers. Now they could help me and I wouldn’t have to do it all alone or risk coming up with some dumb lie.
    I left the stall and who was standing there but Olivia Allen, slowly washing her hands and looking at me in the mirror.
    â€œGood news?” she asked finally.
    Frantically, I replayed my end of the conversation in my mind. Had I given anything away? I didn’t think so. Oh boy. I decided I’d better wash my hands too, which I did quickly and without making any more eye contact with Olivia.
    But still, as I left, Olivia said, “Good luck,” (not that nicely, by the way) and began applying clear lip gloss. The whole encounter left me rattled.
    And yet again I found myself at lunch withbig news to deliver to the Cupcake Club.
    â€œReady?” I began.
    â€œOh boy,” joked Mia. “What’s next? Romaine Ford’s wedding cake?”
    â€œHa-ha.” I laughed weakly. OMG. How did she guess that right off the bat? “No, just a big job from Mona. Very exciting. Great exposure,” I added meaningfully as I looked at Alexis. She nodded like an executive waiting at a boardroom table for the underling to begin her presentation, which is what I felt like.
    â€œSo what is it?” asked Katie excitedly.
    I plastered a smile on my face. “Instead of her usual