Read Online Drive Me Crazy by Terra Elan McVoy - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Terra Elan McVoy
Tags: General, Family, Juvenile Fiction, Travel, Social Issues, Girls & Women, Multigenerational, Adolescence, Social Themes
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said they couldn’t imagine a better way for me to get a little more independence. Grandpa Howe wenton and on about what a great time we were going to have, and even Grandma Tess told me one afternoon, when I was over there during one of Mom’s headaches, that she understood how I might want to get away and have some fun.
I know for certain now that just like when Grandpa Howe’s dad was building the porch, my parents need me out of the house. All that stuff about adventure and fun was just to get me out the door. Really Mom and Dad sent me away—and Grandpa Howe and Grandma Tess agreed to take me—so I won’t have to see how sick Mom is. How everything is falling apart.
Chapter Twelve
Cassie
I don’t think of bakers as a big celebrities, but the energy in the demo kitchen once we get to Visalia feels more like a concert than a cooking class. I know Howie and Lana are excited, but I’m surprised how into it Nono is. My whole life, Nono’s cooking abilities covered mainly spaghetti or lentil soup. The only time she wears an apron is for her art. Now, while we’re waiting for Brick Hasselback to appear, she’s singing, “If I knew you were coming, I’d’ve baked you a cup cake!” and bouncing like a little kid.
I decide to bounce along, only so Nono’s enthusiasm will wash over me, too. After that whole bit with Lana this morning, plus Cheyenne Taylor bugging me about tennis, and those pictures Izzy Gathing sent me in the car of herhorseback-riding session with Kendra Mack, I need some of my Nono right now. Not to mention something that will help block Fiona from my mind. I was thinking of her way too much at Hearst Castle. Her, and Cory Baxter.
“It’s starting.” Nono motions to the screens overhead. They’re flashing scenes from the cupcake show—towers of them toppling over, others held together in incredible sculptures. People at the other workstations are clapping and cheering, many of them holding copies of Brick Hasselback’s new cookbook. I guess this guy is a big deal.
A voice comes out through the speakers: “Here he is, ladies and gentlemen, award-winning confectioner and host of Cupstructions —Brick Hasselback!”
The room goes even crazier, and Howie whistles. Beside me Nono lets out a long “Wooot.” Lana grins up at both of them like she won a million dollars. When Brick Hasselback bounds out onto the stage, shouting hello to everyone in his green-and-white-striped baker’s apron, I can see what the fuss is about. He is drop-dead gorgeous. And Australian.
Lana leans in and says something close to my ear, but I can’t hear her over the noise. I nod anyway and briefly wish phones were allowed in the cooking studio. But I already texted Kendra Mack twice about good-looking boys, and neither of them was the one I really want to be talking about.
“All right, everybody, we’re going to have a fun afternoon here,” Brick Hasselback says, “but the key is going to be working together.”
Together. Right.
He goes on to describe the ingredients at our station and what we’ll be doing first. I try to focus. We divide up the tasks—Nono and Howie measuring out dry ingredients, Lana and I mixing the butter and eggs. As we work, thoughts of Fiona still keep mixing in my mind, even though I don’t want them to. Talking to Lana about my “boyfriend” is nice, and it’s flattering that Kendra Mack is so curious about my crush, but Fiona’s the only person who truly knows and understands everything about Cory Baxter. She was with me, after all, on that day I saw him waiting in line to get milk shakes and laughing with his friends. She’s the one I told about the sudden flutter in my heart I hadn’t ever felt before, when I realized that not only did I think Cory was cute, but I also wanted to know him.
Fiona already had a crush on Tyrick Nevin in her English class, so she knew exactly what I meant. She’d only been referring to Tyrick by his code name, Pencil, for a week or
I know for certain now that just like when Grandpa Howe’s dad was building the porch, my parents need me out of the house. All that stuff about adventure and fun was just to get me out the door. Really Mom and Dad sent me away—and Grandpa Howe and Grandma Tess agreed to take me—so I won’t have to see how sick Mom is. How everything is falling apart.
Chapter Twelve
Cassie
I don’t think of bakers as a big celebrities, but the energy in the demo kitchen once we get to Visalia feels more like a concert than a cooking class. I know Howie and Lana are excited, but I’m surprised how into it Nono is. My whole life, Nono’s cooking abilities covered mainly spaghetti or lentil soup. The only time she wears an apron is for her art. Now, while we’re waiting for Brick Hasselback to appear, she’s singing, “If I knew you were coming, I’d’ve baked you a cup cake!” and bouncing like a little kid.
I decide to bounce along, only so Nono’s enthusiasm will wash over me, too. After that whole bit with Lana this morning, plus Cheyenne Taylor bugging me about tennis, and those pictures Izzy Gathing sent me in the car of herhorseback-riding session with Kendra Mack, I need some of my Nono right now. Not to mention something that will help block Fiona from my mind. I was thinking of her way too much at Hearst Castle. Her, and Cory Baxter.
“It’s starting.” Nono motions to the screens overhead. They’re flashing scenes from the cupcake show—towers of them toppling over, others held together in incredible sculptures. People at the other workstations are clapping and cheering, many of them holding copies of Brick Hasselback’s new cookbook. I guess this guy is a big deal.
A voice comes out through the speakers: “Here he is, ladies and gentlemen, award-winning confectioner and host of Cupstructions —Brick Hasselback!”
The room goes even crazier, and Howie whistles. Beside me Nono lets out a long “Wooot.” Lana grins up at both of them like she won a million dollars. When Brick Hasselback bounds out onto the stage, shouting hello to everyone in his green-and-white-striped baker’s apron, I can see what the fuss is about. He is drop-dead gorgeous. And Australian.
Lana leans in and says something close to my ear, but I can’t hear her over the noise. I nod anyway and briefly wish phones were allowed in the cooking studio. But I already texted Kendra Mack twice about good-looking boys, and neither of them was the one I really want to be talking about.
“All right, everybody, we’re going to have a fun afternoon here,” Brick Hasselback says, “but the key is going to be working together.”
Together. Right.
He goes on to describe the ingredients at our station and what we’ll be doing first. I try to focus. We divide up the tasks—Nono and Howie measuring out dry ingredients, Lana and I mixing the butter and eggs. As we work, thoughts of Fiona still keep mixing in my mind, even though I don’t want them to. Talking to Lana about my “boyfriend” is nice, and it’s flattering that Kendra Mack is so curious about my crush, but Fiona’s the only person who truly knows and understands everything about Cory Baxter. She was with me, after all, on that day I saw him waiting in line to get milk shakes and laughing with his friends. She’s the one I told about the sudden flutter in my heart I hadn’t ever felt before, when I realized that not only did I think Cory was cute, but I also wanted to know him.
Fiona already had a crush on Tyrick Nevin in her English class, so she knew exactly what I meant. She’d only been referring to Tyrick by his code name, Pencil, for a week or
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