My name is Mia Rossi, and im actually very late right now. im squirming in one of the stools in Sophie's kitchen: Emma and Sophie are discussing about what fondant figures to add on top of the cake for Mrs. Angie's daughter's birthday party next wednesday.

Me and my friends Elizabeth, Emma and Sophie are the Sisters club, we also make cakes for parties and events and we hang out every weekend to bake and 

        Chapter 1

  wrong since the beggining...

Oh no!

To go to the mall or for ice cream.

But our baking meetings can sometimes take a very long time because we all have different oppinions on stuff and we almost never figure anything out, especially when it comes to the decorations.

"I think hearts are best, because Mrs. Angie said the party colors are red and pink" Sophie pointed out.

"I think flowers: girls like flowers" Emma proposed.

"Flowers are harder to make in fondant" Elizabeth said, she was obviously on Sophie's side, i didn't know what i prefered since my mind was just on getting to my job on time.

Yes, i have a job. And yes! Im very late right now.

my grandma owns a library downtown, and she hired me! She said it was just "for fun" but i started to take it more seriously and so did my grandma and everyone in my family. i only got the job two weeks ago and i have always been on time. my turn starts at 4:15 pm, i looked at my watch, and it was 4:45!!

I sighed and propped my chin in my hands.

"I insist, lets make hearts! It is logical, red: hearts, pink: hearts!" Sophie said, not annoyed, but neither superhappy.

"I still think flowers, we could make pink and red 

Roses" Emma said.

"Even harder!" Exclaimed Elizabeth.

"What do you think, Mia?" Sophie asked me, as if she had just noticed me there.

"Eh" i said, i wanted to say: im late to my job and i really need to leave or else my grandma will fire me, thank you very much, but i just bravely mouthed: "i don't really know, but right now, im just a BIT late to my job at the library, but no biggie! My grandma will understand" after that i tought: i hope she does.

"Oh! Go! No worries" Emma smiled "we are all done here anyways" 

I really felt bad to leave just like that, but it was either that or i risked losing the job of my life, all tough, it is not like it is the BEST job on earth, the reception is not very homey: the reception lady called Miranda really gets annoyed at everything i do and say and she is always looking for ways to get me in trouble.

But i still couldn't be that late.

"Are you sure?" I asked wearily.

"Of course! Go!" Sophie said.

i beamed and i left for the door.

"Wait! Just one more thing" Elizabeth called to me.

Emma and Sophie glanced at her.

I stopped in my tracks and i spun around.

"Good luck!" Elizabeth said.

I smiled and opened the door to leave.

I walked solidly along the crowded streets downtown to the library after hopping off the bus. and when i got there, i relaxed a lot: i love libraries, everything is so quiet and peaceful. so different from home with my noisy brother Charlie.

I took a deep breath as i walked past the reception counter, hoping Miranda wouldn't notice me, that was the last thing i wanted right now.

       Chapter 2

  that Miranda again!!

(plus some more trouble)

"You are late" Miranda said accusingly, she is only three years older than me and she is just as annoying as my cousin Mayce, who is also older.

"I-" i began to stammer, but i said nothing else.

"You- you -I" Miranda imitated my stammering and then laughed.

"Where even is your backpack, Rossi?" She asked in a whisper.

"My name is--" there was no use in correcting her.

Had i left my backpack at Sophie's?

"Ugh, whatever" i muttered, walking to the area i was in charge of: Cooking and Fantasy.

I heard Miranda laugh quietly behind me.

Ugh.

Im just so glad i get to work in the cooking area, 

i always find treasures in there.

After i helped a woman look for a cook book called: Cooking's secrets, and i helped a teenager find a book on elves and robots, my turn was over. And i took the bus back home.

When i got there, Dad was waiting for me in the front door, he looked annoyed and worried.

Oh no.

Was i in trouble?

Had Grandma told dad about my lateness?

I trudged to the front door and Dad led me inside.

He asked me for a little talk in the big dining table.

In our family, a "little talk" means someone is in trouble or something really serious happened or is happening at home.

I got myself ready to say: "i didn’t mean to be late! My friends took their time deciding the decorations for the cake" i had those words in the tip of my tounge, and i was ready to shoot them out if Dad 

Mentioned anything about me being late to my job.

"Mia, i heard you were late today to your job, and i really think you should organize your schedule better and not lose track of the time you have" Dad said.

"my friends can take time on our meeting" I began, i really didn't blame them, i wasn't trying to accuse them either "i lost track of the time, but it won't happen again" i finished.

"That's fine, i wanted to talk to you about something else" dad said, looking nervously at me.

"You know the boiler in the little room beside 

The kitchen?" He asked. I nodded.

"Well, it is starting to leak water, a good lot of water" he said worriedly "im afraid we are going to have to buy a new boiler, your Mom and i are gathering up our savings, but they still don’t add up to what a boiler costs these days" i could tell where he was going with all this: he wanted to "borrow" my money.

"I was hoping you had some money in your piggy bank so i could borrow a bit. I never like to ask you this, but you could help us more that you can imagine, if not, our house will turn into an aquarium" he said jokingly, but the look on his face told me it

Wasn't a joke at all.

"Okay" i said annoyed "I guess i have no choice" 

"You don’t" dad said, standing up "i will pay you back after, i promise" he said, going to the kitchen.

I sighed heavily.

 The next day after i arrived home from work, i ran upstairs to stash my library money in my piggy bank.

When i slammed my room door open, i rushed to my desk to count my savings (most from the library job)

I was so excited to know if i could afford a beautiful pink fluffy dress i saw at Kandi, my favorite chlothing store.

I opened my piggy bank.

 Chapter 3

a frustrating and    stressful day.

5+6+4 = ___?

It was empty!

I almost squealed.

i looked all around my room for the money, but it was no where to be seen.

I started crying, i was SO close to getting that dress! And now ALL my money disappears all of a sudden?

I went downstairs with tears in my eyes and my face hot and red.

"Who did it?" I asked with closed fists.

"What? Who did what, honey?" Mom looked up from the sweater she was sewing.

"Who took all my money?" I asked angrily.

Mom and dad exchanged glances.

"Were we robbed?" Asked Charlie, who is really into police stuff right now.

"Ha-ha" i muttered at him, closing my fists harder.

"Mia, i talked to you last night" dad said "i told you i needed money for the boiler" 

"But you didn't tell me you were going to take ALL my money!" I wailed, tears welling my eyes.

"I didn’t take all your money, i took a bit for the boiler and Mom borrowed a bit for Charlie's new baseball uniform and backpack" dad said.

"That left me with NO MONEY, for your information!"

I screamed, wiping my wet eyes on the sleeve of my button-down shirt.

Dad looked at the counter worriedly.

I flared again.

"And i was so close to getting that pink dress! It is all over now, all because of you guys" i said, crying harder. 

"What pink dress?" Asked Mom.

"oh, forget it! Im never going to be able to buy it thanks to you!" I rushed back upstairs in tears and i slammed the door very hard, im surprised it didn't break! I sat sulkily on my desk chair.

All because of the boiler, all because of Dad, all because of Charlie's baseball class, witch id rather not have agreed to mom enrolling him in.

Mostly all because of the boiler! That ugly boiler ruined my life! I tought as i weakly picked up my pen to work on my math homework.

If what happened this afternoon was an equation, it would have looked somehow like this:

A uniform for baby Charlie + new backpack + expensive boiler = no money left for me.

Or maybe more like this:

Dad borrowing money + mom buying stuff with my money for dress / backpack + uniform = totally ruined Mia.

I scribbled on my notebook so hard i rumpled my paper.

What was i going to do?

no, not about the paper, about the dress! 

 The next day, i woke up and messed my hair up, i looked at my piggy bank in my desk and that reminded me of what happened the day before.

I walked downstairs without a word.

"how are you, Mia?" Mom asked me as she served some milk on my cereal bowl.

I didn't answer.

           Chapter 4

       Another event.

Mom passed me the bowl with just milk.

"You forgot the cereal" i muttered. and you forgot to not talk! You are angry, aren't you? The best way to show it is not talking! i told myself inside my head.

Mom opened the cereal cabinet and grabbed the Choko flakes box.

"Its the only cereal i have right now" mom said sweetly.

"Why don’t you buy some more with Charlie's birthday money while you are at it" i muttered.

You forgot to not talk again! What is wrong with you, Mia? Are you a parrot?! i scolded myself.

I was no parrot, so for the rest of the morning until i finished my breakfast and i went to school, i kept silent.

When i was at lunch with my friends, i gave up on my "Silence Strategy" and i spoke up.

"So, what are your plans for this week?" I asked as casually as i could, and i opened my lunch bag, i found a note laying there, it said:

We are sorry for taking your money yesterday, Mia.

                       - Mom, Dad.

I hid it in my pocket.

"What did that note say?" Asked a voice behind me.

I turned around to find Olivia and Kasey standing behind me, followed my Callie (Emma's old friend who dumped her to make a club with Olivia and Kasey) "is it from your mom?" Olivia asked, that made Kasey laugh, Callie sort of joined her but more quietly. 

"No" i lied hoping for them to walk away.

Olivia tossed her long black ponytail and looked at me suspiciously.

"What? Im not lying" i said, even tough i was.

"Leave us alone, Olivia" Sophie said bravely.

I flashed her a grateful smile. I really was hungry but i didn't want to eat in front of Kasey, or Olivia.

"Well" Olivia said "i guess i will--" she yanked the note i have been crunching in my hand and before she could open it, Sophie stood up and dragged Olivia by her shoulders.

"Ugh, stop this right now! You are getting dirt on my new shirt!" Olivia said, Sophie sat her down.

Sophie returned to our table in a minute, beaming.

"You are good! I could never stand up to her like that!" Emma said.

Sophie smiled at us all and opened her lunch bag, she pulled out a big baguette with cheese.

I was more than glad that none of them mentioned about the note i made such a fuss over, mostly because Olivia would read it out loud, and my friends would hear, and they would worry about me and i really didn't want them to worry about me, they would offer to help me and lend me money, witch i didn't want because they probably had more important stuff to buy, more important than a dress.

"Well, i actually wanted to discuss about my sister Katie's sixteenth birthday party on wednesday" 

Emma explained.

I almost choked on my juice.

"You mean next wednesday?" I asked.

"Yes, oh! I know we already have Mrs. Angie's daughter's party that day, we will work things out, i know we will!" Emma said, unwrapping her sandwich and taking a huge bite.

"So..." i carefully opened my yoghurt cup and dipped my spoon into it "what cake are we making for Katie's?" I asked in my most casual tone, crossing my fingers, hoping would be simple. We already had a lot on our plate with the other cake.

"Katie wants her party to be black, white and gray"

Emma said, and Sophie did a face.

"I know! I don’t know what got into her!" Emma said, noticing Sophie's reaction, "she usually prefers pastel colors and pretty things, i guess she is just aging out of it" 

Sophie looked at her pastel-colored bracelet.

And i looked down at what i was wearing, i had on black jeans, a red skirt over them, a white shirt, a tie and bright yellow and blue shoes, i looked really awkward, but i don’t mind fashion as much as Elizabeth does, i normally just wear what i like but

 that doesn't mean i will look like a mismatching mess.

"She even picked out some dresses for me at Idol

I wanted to go after school, what do you say?" Emma asked.

I tought about the dress at Kandi, and i totally regreted saying "yes, okay" to Emma's offer.

I looked down at my plate.

"What is wrong?" Asked Elizabeth "is there something you want to tell us?" 

I got ants in my pants, and without even knowing, i spilled my beans to them acidentally: "my mom and

dad took all the money i had saved for the pink dress at Kandi, so now i need to make more myself, and that's it" after that, i pressed my lips together in a thin line, no more secrets could slip out.

"Wait, what happened exactly?" Emma asked me. 

i sighed, i had no where to run "the boiler started leaking water and my dad asked to borrow a bit of MY money. And then mom borrowed the rest for Charlie's new uniform and backpack, and they left me completely broke and ruined for life" i said.

"Well then.." Sophie said toughtfully.

I knew what was coming, they wanted to lend me the

Money, and i absolutely didn't want that.

"So, black and white cake, huh? Cake flavor? Maybe... hmm, dark chocolate?" I said, i was willing to do anything to change the subject.

"Maybe, or vainilla" Said Emma.

Just then, the lunch bell rang and i launched off my chair.

Thankfully, the awkward lunch was over and no one mentioned the money for the rest of the day.

 After school, me and my friends met at the mall.

I felt very embarrased to be dressing in what looked like my school uniform with the black jeans, and my hair was frizzy and hanging in my eyes.

But anyways, as we walked to Idol we passed by Kandi, i saw my favorite saleswoman behind the counter.

we walked in to look at some cute clothes that Sophie wanted to check out.

     Chapter 5

way too much on my plate