The Cupcake Theory

2) The Next Jackie Chan

2) The Next Jackie Chan

"You can do this Mace. It's not that hard, most girls can do this effortlessly," Zoe says trying to encourage me but instead is making me more anxious.

"I'm not sure what leads you to assume that I would be able to do this 'simple' task. I think we both know there is a very good reason why I rarely touch makeup, especially eyeliner. It feels like I'm about to poke myself in the eye. Which I will probably do in the next 30 seconds," I look at the mysterious black stick that I am supposed to use to draw on my face.

I hear Zoe huff and mumble to herself, "You're useless, you know that?" she takes the liner and applies it to my eyelids like second nature. Zoe is the only reason I don't leave the house looking like a hobo in the mornings. I'm still working out why she's kept me as a friend after all these years, my personality thankfully hasn't scared her away just yet.

I hear a groan in the background "Why am I here exactly?" I turn and realise that Charlie is currently lying unhappily on my bed with his head in Jess's lap. They have the point of braiding each others hair boredom it seems from the miniature plaits in Charlie's fringe.

"Because," Zoe says all the while throwing clothes around my room "this is Mackenzie's first date and we are supportive best friends who are going make sure she doesn't embarrass herself. More than usual."

"Thanks for all the faith guys!" I mumble under my breath. "It's not that big of a deal anyway, it's just a little going away lunch between two friends."

"Just a little going away lunch?" Zoe's head flicks around "Let's get one thing straight, watching Charlie guess what mystery meat is on his sandwich is ' just lunch'. Going to meet Jay in the library to eat cupcakes and reminisce and decide on the names of your future children is not 'just lunch' ." She waves her hands frantically in the air like it gives her point more urgency.

"Future children? Do you want me to freak him out so he blocks me on all social media?" my voice has reached an octave I didn't know existed.

Charlie shrugs "Well, you've gotten this far without completely ruining your friendship... How bad can it get?"

Sometimes I wonder why I keep my friends as moral support.

***

I look down at the note that Jay handed me this morning.

Can't wait to see you but have to change it to our free period, so we don't have to share food with friends that 'just so happen to be passing by'.   JAY

Typically I don't meet up with people in mysterious locations in my study break (I'm not even going to try to come up with a reason how he knows my timetable) but today is an exception. I really don't have anything better to do in my study period, so why not spend it eating cupcakes with good company? 

I walk into the copy room to find candles lit around the room and a table set up with plastic cutlery and plate.

Jay scares me as he walks out of the shadows saying "I'm so glad you could make it."

I am frozen on the spot, not quite sure what my next move should be. I can say with complete confidence that there is a very loud voice inside my head yelling 'RUN'. It sounds a lot like Zoe. Maybe I should have let her do a bit more internet research on Jay.

Ignoring the yelling voice in my head I take a step forward. "Yeah, right back at you. I bought cupcakes," He smiles at my response. That's a good start.

We stare at each other in an ever-expanding silence that broken with the stifle of laughter. "I'm sorry," Jay's cheeks turn flushed in our combined embarrassment. "My mind totally blanked when you walked in."