Alexis and the Perfect Recipe by Coco Simon

She lookedreally beautiful in her gown, and I even started to tear up a little. I think I was just relieved that we were done with all those weeks of arguing, the cupcakes were done, and this day was finally here!
    I watched as Dylan glanced nervously at the front doors. I knew how she felt. I kept waiting to see handsome Matt walk through the door myself (never mind that he’d be with Emma!) and had gone to the ladies’ room twice to check my appearance in the mirror.
    I had worn my hair down and in loopy curls (thanks to Meredith). I had on a little bit of Mom-approved makeup and a tiny bit of vanilla spice perfume (thanks to Dylan). I was wearing the fuzzy pink dress (thanks to Mia) with a gold chain belt of my mother’s and some gold sandals of Dylan’s. I had a chunky ice-cube necklace from Mia, and it looked fantastic. I had to admit, I was looking pretty good.
    The band was warming up, and my father asked them to play a little bit of “The Way You Look Tonight,” so we could practice our dance. They played the whole thing and when we finished our dance, the whole band applauded!
    Just before seven, people started to arrive. That’s when I got really, really nervous. Luckily,Mia and Katie arrived together right at the start. Emma had gone home after getting ready, so she could come with her family. I wasn’t sure what I would say to her when she came. Still, I watched the door eagerly for the arrival of the Taylors—and for Noah!
    Mia and Katie were getting a soda by the bar and I was saying hi to Dylan’s godmother when Sydney and Callie walked in! And would you believe Callie was wearing that black Dancing with the Stars -type dress from Icon!
    I rushed over to Dylan. “Look who’s here!” I said angrily, grabbing her arm.
    She looked at the door, just as a gorgeous, tall, blond guy walked in.
    â€œNoah!” she screamed.
    â€œNoah? No, no, not him!” I said. “He’s cute though! No, Sydney and Callie are here! There they are!” I pointed across the room to where they were standing.
    â€œDid you invite them?” Dylan asked as she hurried to the door to meet Noah. She didn’t seem concerned at all that the devilish duo had crashed her party!
    â€œOf course not!” I said, trying to keep up with her.
    â€œCallie is Jenna Wilson’s little sister, right? Jenna’s here,” said Dylan. Of course! Callie’s older sister was on cheerleading with Dylan. So of course she’d be invited, but that didn’t explain Callie and Sydney.
    â€œWhy don’t you go find out why they’re here?” Dylan said just as we got to the door. “I’m going to say hi to Noah.”
    I watched as Noah kissed Dylan on the cheek, and then Dylan took his hand, guiding him toward the drinks. I was happy for Dylan that Noah showed up, but superannoyed that she wasn’t mad that Sydney and Callie had shown up at her party uninvited! (And after the hard time she’d given me about inviting my friends!)
    I stared at Sydney and Callie for a minute, trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Just then Callie pulled Sydney with her across the room, toward an older girl who I now recognized as Callie’s sister. Jenna had been talking with her friends, and turned around when Callie tapped her on the shoulder. Jenna seemed genuinely shocked to see Callie and Sydney and looked really annoyed.
    Mia and Katie came over. “Did you invite them?” Mia asked, nodding her head toward Sydney and Callie.
    â€œAs if!” I said.
    â€œThen why are they here?” Katie asked.
    â€œI . . . ,” I started to say, but then something—or rather, some one —caught my eye. It was Emma, with the rest of the Taylors. I wanted to run across the room to greet them, but then I remembered my fight with Emma, and I held back.
    I checked my dress and my hair, patting everything nervously as the Taylors walked