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With a plastic tray of baklava in one hand, and a basket with a box of pink cupcakes lining the bottom, Pierrette happily strolled to the candy and baking aisle.

Well, she was SOMEWHAT happy, anyway. The reason she was in that aisle in the first place was because she needed to get ingredients to make a new dessert... after she botched her rice krispy treat recipe and ended up with marshmallow fluff decorating her hair instead of her usual bows or headbands.

So, three hair-washings later, Pierrette found herself in this aisle. The same aisle, coincidentally, that Marlo had turned his cart into-- Elzo weaseling behind him.

"I wouldn't recommend the chocolate-covered peanuts here, anyway," Pierrette piped up, "If you want chocolate-covered peanuts, you should go to the corner market down the street."

The short girl closed her eyes, treating the questions as a challenge.

"Sweet, but not too sweet... somewhat healthy, but fun, too..." Pierrette held a finger to her chin and concentrated, tilting her head from side to side as her curls bounced.

She opened up her eyes and looked over at Marlo. Sheepishly she stepped to him and looked at the whole wheat flour.

"What is it that you're making with this?" she asked, "I'd like to know, so I can give you the best dessert."

Her sheepish expression broke into an embarrassed smile as she looked from the disinterested brother to the over-enthusiastic one.

"I like to think of myself as a gourmet, though I'm still learning a lot about cooking."

"Oh, you two are staying at Hillworth?" Pierrette's 'bubbly disposition' didn't fade, she was obviously new in town... well, if her accent didn't give that away.

"I don't know that much about the school, but I've heard that it is very strict. You are lucky to be able to make pizza," she mused.

Relax, Elzo, it looked like she was new enough to have no idea about the school's reputation.

She took a step back from the two of them and thought: "Well, if you wanted something healthier and delicious, I would recommend baklava. However, since it has honey in it, it will be sticky and difficult to conceal."

She bit her knuckle, obviously thinking. She took her desserts very seriously, it seemed.

"I know! It isn't pre-made, but it requires no baking! Two cups peanut butter, one cup honey, and two cups powdered milk. It's healthy in small amounts, and easily storable!"

"Oh!" The two shots from the two boys hit Pierrette in the chest like two volleyballs. How awkward, she had just given her opinion. Even her corkscrew of a ponytail seemed to droop as she turned around and looked at the other aisle, trying to find something to distract herself with until she could make a graceful exit.

"I happen to like peanut butter," she said in short, snippy words. They weren't snippy because she was mad or offended, just because she didn't want to say anything else that might upset them (and, consequently, make them say more mean things). She picked up a bag of peanut butter chips and glanced down at them, her lips puckering into a pout.

"I guess the best advice I could give you, then, is to get some cookies and put them in a plastic tin. That way, they're small and compact, and can be hidden easily."

She drooped her head about another inch, "And you can choose the flavor you like that way."

Pierrette felt winded just from hearing the colorful English words coming out of Elzo's mouth. Still, she smiled gratefully and mouthed 'thank you' to him.

"Wait, you like dark chocolate?" Pierrette suddenly straightened up and clenched her fists with all the determination of a kitten fighting its own shadow.

"I saw something you might like! Come on, Mister, let's go this way!" she grabbed Elzo by the arm and started to drag him down the aisle, headed towards the bakery section of the grocery store.

"I am Pierrette!" the small girl called back to Elzo as she continued to dash across the store, "And we're going to the bakery!"

She planted her heels in the tile and skidded to a stop in front of a glass counter. Hidden inside the counter were rows upon rows of cakes: from cupcakes to tarts to birthday cakes with little clowns and puppies on top. However, that isn't what Pierrette went to. There was a rotating shelf that showed the best cakes-- some of them even decorated in Crystal Academy's colors. Pierrette stooped down and put her hand on the glass, practically drooling at one of the cakes that rotated and glistened under the light bulb.

"This... is a Black Forest Cake," she crooned, "Layers upon layers of dark chocolate with cut cherries in it..."

What a cake it was. Thick, dark frosting was elegantly swept down the side in intricate waves, looking more like the side of a gazebo than a cake. On top, red cherry syrup formed pretty swirls surrounding flowers made with chocolate petals and a cherry stuck in each one.

"This... is a real cake."

Pierrette drooped again, but this time it didn't appear as drastic.

"He's right," she explained, "There's no way you could hide something like that. It would be doing a disservice to the cake, too! It's so pretty..." Pierrette ignored her fingerprints as she put her other hand on the glass.

"And if you ate it here, it just wouldn't be as much fun. You wouldn't be able to laugh with friends and relax in the comfort of your room, right? If you ate the whole thing at once, wouldn't you get sick, too?"

Pierrette shook her head, "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. Maybe I should think of something else... but your situation is difficult..."