The bake sale is the primary event in Chapter Twelve. Due to Derek’s part in the food fight, he and the others were kicked out of the running for prom court. Liz does well in the bake sale, selling out of the two pound cakes she made by following her grandmother’s recipe. Liz is aware that the dessert she made is delicious; after growing up with the other white folks in her community, she’s playfully aware that “White people really don’t know what to do with flavor” (62). At the end of the chapter, a freshman named Melly gushes over Liz, delighted that outsiders like them are finally running for prom court. Liz wins the bake sale and is filled with a confidence that she has not felt in a long time. 

Liz has only risen five spots in the rankings for prom court and she, Britt, and Gabi are gathered at the Marino residence to strategize further. Gabi is distressed by the lack of significant improvement in Liz’s rankings, and begins to dictate that Liz needs a complete overhaul of her appearance. Britt chimes in to suggest that Rachel’s success might not be about her makeup or her