if i got three wishes, first i'd find out all about how wishes work

[self_composed]

Bella brings two blank notebooks to school the next day. Her old one is safely computerized and boxed up with its predecessors.

At lunch, she sits with Angela; Jessica and Eric and Lauren sit at the same table but mostly talk to each other, and Mike is nowhere to be seen.

Bella is just about on time to gym, thanks to an overnight icing that means she has to pick her way with extreme care across the slippery grass or the slick sidewalks. The second time she falls down, she gives up on attempting any dignity at all, and, cradling her thwacked elbow, scoots the rest of the way to the gym on her rear. This leaves her with damp jeans but no further injuries, and they were a little damp anyway from the falls.

She doesn't have time to do more than smile and wave at Alice on her way to get her mat and get out of the way of careening balls. She spends the class doing the subset of her safe activities that won't stress her elbow.

Comments

[edgeofyourseat]

So does Alice!

[self_composed]

And with all the roses in place, the adventure cake is complete.

"Mm," Bella says. "Is this for after dinner?"

[edgeofyourseat]

"Yes it is," says Hilary. "And you can take some home, too, if that strikes your fancy. In the meantime, who wants to help me make spaghetti?"

"Me!" says Alice.

[self_composed]

"Is spaghetti a multi-person job?" Bella asks. "I'm happy to help, especially if this is fancy Hilary-the-cake-goddess spaghetti, but I'm not sure how extra hands would be useful."

[edgeofyourseat]

"It is fancy spaghetti," she says, "and I'm sure I can find a use for you."

"By help she mostly means get in her way and learn things," Alice translates.

"That too."

[self_composed]

"Ooh, learning things," says Bella. She has her notebook in her pocket. She removes it from her pocket.

[edgeofyourseat]

"I don't know why your father won't let you do this the rest of the time," Hilary mutters, presumably not to Bella, as she fetches another cookbook.

"Because he is kind of an asshole?" suggests Alice.

"No comment." She puts the book in the book-holding contraption.

[self_composed]

"You're not allowed to cook when he's home?" Bella asks. She peers at the recipe. Huh, fennel seeds.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Nope. Too girly," Alice says succinctly.

[self_composed]

Bella blinks.

"Housewifery is traditionally girly. Chefs are traditionally men."

[edgeofyourseat]

"I tried telling him that," says Hilary. "And yet."

Alice shrugs. "Maybe he thinks I like it for the wrong reasons."

[self_composed]

Since Bella herself has critiqued some of Alice's behaviors on the grounds that he likes them for wrong reasons (among others), she doesn't have a good reply there, at least not when Hilary's around.

She just sighs an exasperated sigh and hopes there's a hex in the stash.

[edgeofyourseat]

Making spaghetti with Hilary is both fun and informative. She clearly gets along very well with Alice, and he is clearly very fond of her.

At last, it's all done and ready to eat.

"Laney, would you go grab your mother for me? Bella, help me carry everything to the table?"

"Sure," says Alice, and departs.

[self_composed]

Bella ferries dishes, inhaling appreciatively.

[edgeofyourseat]

Hilary handles the enormous pot of spaghetti herself, perhaps because she fears that Bella might drop it, and arranges the plates; she lets Bella take care of setting out cutlery and bowls of sauce. No place is set at the head of the table, but there are two places along each side, to a total of four; apparently, Hilary gets to eat with the family tonight.

By the time they're finished, Alice is back with his mother in tow.

[self_composed]

"Hello again," Bella says cheerfully. "We made spaghetti and an evil cake."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Oooh," says Mrs. Hammond. "Well, I'm glad you've been keeping busy."

She takes her accustomed seat, as does Alice. Hilary sits beside Mrs. Hammond.

[self_composed]

Bella places the last fork and sits down. She splashed a little sauce on her hand during the cooking process - earning her a triangle and an early taste - and she knows exactly how nice this is going to be.

[edgeofyourseat]

It is exactly that nice.

"You're the best, Hilary," Alice declares after his first bite.

Hilary beams. Smugly. "I know."

[self_composed]

Bella giggles around a mouthful of spaghetti and nods enthusiastically.

[edgeofyourseat]

Dinner ensues. Apparently everyone is too busy with the deliciousness to talk much, because the conversation is almost nonexistent.

When all plates are empty and no one is eyeing the pot for seconds, thirds, fourths, or fifths, Hilary gets up to go fetch the cake. Contrary to last time, she serves it right at the table, which means everyone gets to request the size of their slice.

"Judith?"

Mrs. Hammond eyes the cake with mild trepidation. "Ooh, just a little one, please."

"There you go. Laney?"

He measures out dimensions in the air that amount to twice the cake his mother got.

"Done deal, you glutton. Bella?"

[self_composed]

"Mmm... I can take some home, you said. So somewhere between those two sizes."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Your wish is my command," says Hilary, causing Alice to giggle uncontrollably.

[self_composed]

Bella takes only a moment to grin at Alice before taking her first bite of cake. And oh, it is an evil cake.

[edgeofyourseat]

It is evilly delicious.

Hilary takes a slice about the size of Bella's and sits down again.