In summer, the creek was the perfect place to cool off with the many kids and companions splashing in the shade. Now that it was January, the water no longer tempted anyone, but that didn't stop them from enjoying their haven away from adults and homework. Teens raced their deer through the undergrowth, snakes peeked out of sleeves to spook unsuspecting newcomers, and a chorus of birdsong mingled with children's laughter.

Away from the chaotic crowds, termite mounds towered above a secluded clearing, with insects zooming around the twisting spires in a thick, buzzing cloud. To the five kids gathered beneath the bugs, the noise was not a nuisance but a welcome reminder that they were among friends. Mason's termites were as familiar to Taylor and Anna as their own companions, and while Jack's boar and Eliza's hummingbirds were very different from their bugs, they didn't let that stop them from hanging out together anymore.

Now, whether someone's companions happened to be creepy crawlies didn't matter. All that mattered was they always had each other's backs. Whether they were picking flowers to inspire Taylor and Eliza's art projects or venting about people who weren't as accepting of their companions, they were always ready to help each other.

When Anna told everyone about how badly the bakery was doing, Mason was devastated. "Mom and I get double chocolate chunk cookies every Monday since they're Dad's favorite. We've been going there as long as I can remember." Mason's fingers rubbed the piece of a termite mound he kept in his pocket. "What are we supposed to do if Sweet Surprise shuts down?"

"That's not gonna happen if I can help it," Anna said firmly. "I've been trying to figure out how we can get more people to come to Sweet Surprise, but it's been real hard coming up with stuff we could try. Do you guys have any ideas?"

They all sat quietly for a minute as they thought about what they could do.

"I know you said your parents don't think giving free samples at the bakery would work," Mason began, "but what if you tried selling some cookies by the creek? I bet there are tons of people around here who'd love to try some."

"I could bring some of our leftovers," Anna said. "Beats throwing most of them away, but I dunno if folks bring much money to the creek. Might have to give them a discount." Even if she had to give them away for free, that would at least help spread the word about the bakery. Besides, her grandpa always said the whole point of Sweet Surprise was to make people's lives a little sweeter.

"I could ask my dad if he'd let us sell some cookies at the store," Jack said. His boar, Harry, nudged his hand with a squeal. "Oh yeah, and speaking of my dad, he showed me something the other day—"

"Could you maybe tell me about it some other time?" Anna said. "I kinda have a lot on my mind."

"But I think it might—"

"Later."

Jack's jaw twitched as Harry stamped his hooves. Anna's bees drew closer to her, fully prepared to drown him out with their buzzing, but all he did was mumble something to himself and sigh. "Fine."

Eliza cleared her throat. "Maybe you guys could try selling something to go with what y'all bake," she said hesitantly. Her hummingbirds fluttered so close to her their wingbeats whipped her hair. "I mean, lots of people like getting both flowers and chocolate for Valentine's Day, so maybe you could do something like that."

"You don't think what we make is any good by itself?" Anna's bees buzzed sharply, flashing their stingers. Sweet Surprise might not get as many customers as it used to, but everything they made still tasted amazing.

Eliza's hummingbirds chirped in alarm, zooming away from the bees. "I just mean people aren't buying enough of it right now, so selling something else people like might help." She looked down at her shoes. "I never said it tastes bad," she muttered.

Taylor slipped Anna's hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. "What your family bakes tastes awesome. We just need to get folks to give it a try."

It was only when Anna took a deep breath that she noticed her bees.

The swarm pulsed with an angry hum as they circled the kids. Jack's boar firmly planted itself between Eliza and the insects, its fur bristling. Mason ran his hands over the termite mound he'd braced himself against as his termites joined Taylor's flies in surrounding Anna's companions.

Anna focused on her bees. She hadn't practiced directing her companions as much as Taylor had, but while she couldn't guide them as precisely as her girlfriend could control her flies, she'd at least gotten the hang of calming them down. As she steadied her breathing, the bees quieted until they were lazily drifting alongside the rest of the bugs.

Anna gave Taylor a grateful smile. She could always count on her to help keep her bees—and her temper—under control.

With everybody calmed down, Taylor told everyone her idea. "I could make some fliers for us to hand out. That way, we could advertise at the creek even if you can't get your folks to let you bring leftovers." She rubbed the back of her neck, a blush darkening her cheeks. "Maybe I could paint a little something to decorate Sweet Surprise, too."

It took all of Anna's self-restraint not to tackle her in a hug. "That would be awesome, Tay! Is there anything I can do to help?"

"If you could take some pictures of what you guys make, that'd be great. It always helps to have somethin' to reference." Taylor jotted down a couple notes in the notebook she always kept with her. "I might try doing something with my flies again. They take longer than painting by hand, but people loved how my project turned out."

"Speaking of our projects," Jack said, "didn't you make brownies or something, Anna?"

"Cookies." They'd been the first recipe she'd ever created by herself. Her grandpa had treated them like the best thing since chocolate chip cookies, but she knew they weren't even half as good as anything he made. "They weren't anything special."

"They were delicious," Mason said firmly.

"I dunno how they tasted since I didn't get to try one, but I figured you might be interested in this." Jack pulled a crumpled-up piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Anna. "Dad saw people advertising tryouts for some kind of competition the other day, and I thought maybe you'd want to give it a shot."

Anna gasped. This wasn't just any contest. It was Sliced, the most popular baking show on the Craving Channel. She absolutely loved watching it with her grandpa after dinner, debating who should win the ten thousand dollar prize and critiquing each contestant's recipes. Only the best young bakers from around the country got to set foot in the Sliced kitchen.

If she managed to win, she'd get the money her family needed to keep the bakery open.

Anna ushered her friends closer so they could all see the flier. "Sliced is one of the coolest shows there is!" she exclaimed. "Says here all I have to do is pass an audition. Doesn't sound too bad. I'll just need to make something with a few mystery ingredients, and...oh."

An entry fee glared up at Anna from the bottom of the flier. One hundred dollars.

"I don't have that much money," she said. There was no way her parents would pay for something that expensive, and by the time she saved up enough allowance money, auditions would be over.

"We can help," Taylor said. "A hundred dollars is way easier to get than however much your folks need."

Mason pulled five dollars out of his pocket. "I was going to get some sandpaper to help shape my termites' mounds, but this is more important."

"We'll definitely figure something out," Jack said. His boar squealed his agreement.

"You just worry about getting ready for the audition, and we'll help you get money." Taylor's smile was as bright as the sun peeking through the trees. "Not that you need much practice."

Anna chuckled nervously. "I dunno about that. I'm gonna need some help making sure I'm doing stuff right before I audition. Could you guys help me taste test?"

"Of course!" her friends chorused.

Despite the chilly January breeze, warmth filled Anna from her head to her toes. If her friends were so eager to try what she made, hopefully she'd impress the judges, too.