Chapter 2: Flowers Made From the Pieces They Threw Away
The first flower took seven minutes.
The second took five.
By the time I finished the sixth, my fingers were trembling.
I had decided to make chocolate-covered cake flowers.
Instead of throwing away the broken sponge, I had transformed it into small, dense cake centers. I shaped each one into petals, attached them around a central chocolate core, and dipped the finished flowers in melted dark chocolate.
Some were deep brown.
Others had delicate streaks of white chocolate.
I used crushed pistachios for the centers and a little edible gold dust from my original decorating kit.
For the stems, I wrapped wooden skewers in green fondant.
The result was unlike anything I'd ever made.
A bouquet.
Not a cake.
A bouquet made entirely from the pieces of the cake that had been taken from me.
I arranged the flowers in a small paper-covered container I found beneath the table.
It wasn't elegant at first.
The container was slightly crooked, and one of the chocolate leaves had cracked.
But I kept going.
I added delicate green leaves, tiny chocolate buds, and a ribbon made from leftover fondant.
Then I stepped back.
For a second, I forgot about my mother.
I forgot about Tessa.
I forgot about the competition.
I simply looked at something I had created with my own hands.
It was beautiful.
"Excuse me.""
I turned.
A woman in a navy blazer stood beside my station. She wore a judge's badge and carried a small notebook.
Her name tag read DR. ELEANOR PRICE.
She was one of the senior judges.
"What are you making?"" she asked.
"A chocolate cake bouquet.""
She tilted her head.
"From what?""
I hesitated.
"Leftover cake.""
"Leftover from your entry?""
I looked toward Tessa's station.
"Yes.""
Dr. Price followed my gaze.
She saw my original cake.
Then she looked back at me.
"Why isn't it on your table?""
I swallowed.
"My mother gave it to my stepsister.""
Her expression changed.
"Did you agree to that?""
I shook my head.
Before she could respond, Gloria appeared.
"Dr. Price!""
Her voice was suddenly sweet.
She approached with Tessa beside her.
"Isn't my daughter doing wonderfully?""
Dr. Price looked at the cake on Tessa's table.
"Which daughter?""
Gloria blinked.
"Well, Tessa, of course.""
Tessa smiled brightly.
Dr. Price looked at the bouquet.
"And this one?""
Gloria's smile tightened.
"Oh, Aaliyah is just playing around with scraps.""
I felt my cheeks burn.
Dr. Price didn't look away from me.
"Are you entering this?""
"I'd like to.""
"Then finish it.""
Gloria laughed nervously.
"Surely you can't accept that. It's not a proper cake.""
Dr. Price turned toward her.
"Did I ask you?""
Gloria's lips parted.
For the first time that afternoon, someone had interrupted her.
Tessa quickly stepped forward.
"Excuse me, but I think there's been a misunderstanding. That cake on my table is my entry.""
Dr. Price glanced at the contestant card.
"Did you make it?""
"Yes.""
"All of it?""
Tessa's smile faltered.
"Well, my mother helped.""
Gloria jumped in.
"She means I encouraged her. The work is hers.""
I looked at the floor.
My throat felt tight.
I could have told the truth right there.
But I knew Gloria.
She would turn the story around, cry, and accuse me of jealousy.
So I returned to my bouquet.
Dr. Price watched me for another moment.
Then she spoke quietly.
"Sometimes the most interesting work comes from unexpected limitations.""
She moved to the next station.
I kept working.
At 2:45 p.m., a bell rang.
"Final five minutes!"" announced the event coordinator.
The auditorium erupted into activity.
Contestants adjusted their displays, wiped their tables, and checked their labels.
I added the final flower.
It was the largest one, with dark chocolate petals surrounding a center made from crushed hazelnuts.
I placed it in the middle of the bouquet.
Then I stepped back.
The arrangement looked like a small garden frozen in chocolate.
There were twelve flowers, each slightly different.
Some petals were smooth and glossy.
Others had delicate textured edges.
I had used every usable piece of the stolen cake.
Nothing had been wasted.
A volunteer approached.
"Your contestant number?""
I looked at the card lying beside my table.
I hadn't been given one because I'd nearly withdrawn.
"My name is Aaliyah Brooks.""
She checked her clipboard.
"You're registered, but your entry wasn't submitted.""
"I know.""
She examined the bouquet.
"Is this what you're entering?""
"Yes.""
She hesitated.
"Are you sure? The rules say entries must be edible and prepared by the contestant.""
"Everything is edible. I made it myself.""
The volunteer smiled.
"Then let's get you registered.""
She wrote my name on a fresh card.
AALIYAH BROOKS — CHOCOLATE CAKE BOUQUET.
I placed it in front of the arrangement.
Across the room, Tessa noticed.
She leaned toward Gloria.
"Mom, look at that ridiculous thing.""
Gloria glanced over.
Her expression hardened.
"She can't be serious.""
Tessa laughed.
"She's entering garbage.""
Gloria approached my station again.
"Pack that up.""
I continued straightening one of the leaves.
"No.""
"Aaliyah, don't embarrass this family.""
I looked up.
"You already did that when you took my cake.""
Her eyes narrowed.
"Watch your tone.""
Tessa appeared behind her, holding a glass of water.
"You know what, Aaliyah? Even if they accept that thing, it doesn't change anything. My cake is still better.""
I looked at the three-tier masterpiece.
Its gold decorations reflected the overhead lights.
For one brief moment, I felt the familiar sting of wanting it back.
Then I looked at my bouquet.
"No," I said quietly.
"It doesn't change what you stole.""
Tessa rolled her eyes.
Gloria leaned closer.
"Listen carefully. After the judges finish, you will congratulate your sister, smile for the photographs, and stop making trouble.""
I held her gaze.
"Why should I congratulate someone for stealing my work?""
Gloria's face turned red.
"Because I said so.""
Before I could respond, the event coordinator took the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, contestants and guests, judging will now begin.""
The auditorium fell silent.
Three judges moved between the tables.
Dr. Price examined Tessa's cake first.
She studied the sugar roses, leaned toward the lower tier, and inspected the chocolate glaze.
Tessa stood beside her, smiling.
"Thank you," she said when Dr. Price complimented the decoration.
Then the second judge approached my bouquet.
He stopped.
He leaned closer.
He circled the table once.
"Who created this?""
I raised my hand.
"I did, sir.""
He looked at the arrangement.
"These are cake truffles shaped into flowers?""
"Yes. They're made from chocolate sponge, frosting, and tempered chocolate.""
"And the stems?""
"Fondant-covered skewers. The flowers are all edible, except the wooden supports.""
He picked up the entry card.
"Aaliyah Brooks.""
"Yes.""
He looked at me.
"Did you make the original cake as well?""
My mouth went dry.
Before I could answer, Gloria spoke from behind the crowd.
"That has nothing to do with this entry.""
The judge turned.
"Ma'am, I'm speaking to the contestant.""
Gloria fell silent.
I nodded.
"Yes, sir. I made the original cake, too.""
He looked toward Tessa's station.
Then back at my bouquet.
"Interesting.""
He made a note.
A few minutes later, the judges gathered near the stage.
The coordinator returned to the microphone.
"We have completed the preliminary evaluation. Before announcing the finalists, we would like to share something unusual about this year's competition.""
My stomach tightened.
Tessa adjusted her hair.
Gloria straightened her jacket.
The coordinator continued.
"This year's judging panel has selected one entry for a special technical distinction. The decision was unanimous.""
A spotlight moved across the contestants.
It stopped on my bouquet.
I froze.
The coordinator smiled.
"Please welcome our youngest contestant, Aaliyah Brooks, to the front.""
For one second, nobody moved.
Then the auditorium began applauding.
I looked at my mother.
Her smile had disappeared.
Tessa's mouth fell open.
May you like
And as I walked toward the stage, Dr. Price picked up the microphone and said something that made Gloria grip the edge of her chair.
"Before we announce the award, we need to address the ownership of another contestant's cake.""
