Barbie World (Baby Doll Series) Read online

  I practically have a sun stroke by the time I get Katie her cone. I hand it to her and lick the drips off my hand while she frowns at my action. “Thanks, baby.” She takes it politely.

  I should be in horny boy heaven right now. Katie is sitting on the table, her legs swinging back and forth with the straps from her sun dress hanging off her cream colored shoulders. Her red hair is pulled up into a neat ponytail, revealing her milky white neck. I stare at her, trying to erase the girl I want her to be.

  “This is fat free, Dylan, baby, isn’t it?” How the hell am I supposed to know?

  “Of course, anything for my girl,” I say and Katie smiles at me before she licks the melting cone.

  One of her friends lets out a sigh. “You are so lucky, Katie. To have a boy fan over you the way Dylan does.” She gives Brett a scornful look.

  “Thanks, man. I done told you, go acting all pansy-like to them and they are going to expect it all the time.” Bret shoves me playfully in my shoulder.

  “Well, Brett, now that’s why you ain’t got no girlfriend,” her friend says, bobbing her head back and forth.

  “Shit. I don’t want no girlfriend. They ain’t nothin’ but trouble.” The Friend makes a noise from the back of her throat at Brett and he smiles at me, knowing he is getting her riled up.

  “Besides, my boyfriend is not a pansy. Doing sweet things like he does has its rewards.” Katie stands up, dropping her cone in the dirt. Dammit, I am not about to stand in line again to get her another one. Katie walks over to me, her hips swaying with each step she takes before she stops and stands between my legs. She pushes back my hair and kisses me while her arms wrap around my neck as she pulls me so close that our teeth clatter together. She pushes so hard, trying to prove to Brett I am no pansy, but the truth is, I am because I can’t say what I really want to say. That I don’t want her. I don’t want to be with her or touch her. That she is not the girl who haunts my dreams.

  I let Katie kiss me. She is always the one to initiate the kissing. However, if she notices, she makes no mention of it. I am watching the cone melt in the dirt as Katie’s tongue snakes into my mouth and down my throat, when I see her.

  At first, I think it is one of my delusions. Her long hair is down her back, catching the summer sun. She is laughing and looking right at me while her long, tan legs stick out of a shamefully short skirt. I continue my scan of her, stopping at her purple wedge covered feet. She arches her back and I suck in a breath. Katie deepens the kiss, thinking my reaction is to what she is doing. Barbie’s hand reaches out towards me and then she places it on the chest of a guy I did not see before.

  What the hell? Who is he and where the hell did he come from? He puts his hand on the small of her back and I dart up. Why the hell is he touching my girl? Katie pushes her body closer to mine. I step out of the kiss, pushing her back.

  “Dylan?” she says breathless, her eyes are glassed over and her lips are swollen. I don’t give her any explanation. I start to jog off in the direction I saw Barbie go. “Dylan!” Katie calls after me, but I keep going. I have to find her.

  I don’t even bother looking both ways when I cross Main Street and a car honks at me, almost taking me out. My mother would be horrified. I keep jogging, ignoring the shouts coming from the car. I see a glimpse of blond hair walking into one of the storefronts. Who is this guy she is with? I have never seen him before. I follow them into Arts, a retro music store. I step behind some sheet music and peek out between the sheets. The guy she is with is a head taller than me, he has a black, leather motorcycle jacket swung over his shoulder and dark jeans on, despite the heat, and he has several chains hanging from his pocket. He has that cool, relaxed, laid back look to him. A look I could never play off. He also has hair with that messy, rocker look to it that makes him look like he doesn’t care. Not like mine that is messy because I really don’t care.

  He picks up a record and shows it to Barbie. She nods, tilting her head back, laughing. He must have said something funny. What could he say that could possibly be that funny? He looks like a tool to me with an IQ score of below average. What a douchebag. She takes the record out of his hand, flipping it over to read the back. He places his hands on both sides of her and leans over her shoulder, pretending to read it, too. She shifts her body so she is closer to him. I know that move, she has used it on me before. What the hell? Like she could get any closer. Why don’t they just take off their clothes and do it right here in Arts?

  He brushes her hair back off her shoulder, exposing her neck. Oh, hell no! I step out from my hiding spot. I am going to kick his ass. She tilts her head towards him. Come on, sweetheart, push him away. Be that fiery girl I know. I clench my fists by my side, standing in the open, daring to be seen. She doesn’t look at me.

  Instead, they walk out with his hands on her. I follow them out, letting the bells on the door jingle loudly and still she does not look back. They cross the street to a red, badass car with grey primer spots on the door. He opens the passenger door for her. One leg is in when I call to her.

  “Barbie!” Her head snaps in my direction.

  I feel the burns on my skin, standing exposed to her. Her name is a plea; I am begging her to come back to me, to run away with me. We can make this work. Please. God, please. I am willing to do anything to have her back. Away from this guy.

  She looks up at the guy who now has his arms propped on the ceiling of the car. He is looking at her, seeing what she is going to do. Amusement plays on his features. I could be anyone to her; a cousin, a friend. I am her boyfriend, asshole… or, I was. She says something to the guy and takes her foot out of the car. I hold my breath. A loud noise travels between my ears like a freight train as my brain tries to comprehend what is happening. She crosses the street and I can breathe again. The noise dies to a pleasant hum. I smile, triumphant, at the douche who is still watching her. Yeah, that is right, buddy. She is mine. All mine. Mine.

  She meets me on the sidewalk, but nothing in her face says she is mine. I need to fix things now. “What?” her voice is low and even.

  Uh oh, not a good sign. She is pissed off.

  “Who is he?” I point over her shoulder at douche bag who is leaning casually against the car. He smiles at me and anger surges through me like I have never felt before.

  “I don’t see how that’s any of your business, but he is a friend.” She crosses her arms protectively over her chest as if to guard herself from me.

  “A friend?” I let the question linger between us. “Do you often let your friends touch you like that?” I take my anger out on her, the wrong person. Really, I should be pissed at myself for allowing things to get this bad. I should have been fighting for her from the first day she walked into my life.

  “Well, seeing as I let you touch me like that… “She smiles wickedly at me.

  “That’s not what I mean,” I say, feeling like she punched me in the gut.

  “Really, Dylan? Because to me, it sounds exactly like what you are saying.” She narrows her eyes at me. Even when she is angry, she is beautiful.

  “I mean, you deserve to be with someone better than that D-bag.” I look back at the guy who is watching us with great amusement.

  “You don’t even know him and what right do you have to tell me who is good enough for me?” Her eyes flash angrily at me. She has every right to be mad at me. I am mad at myself for how I treated her.

  “I don’t.” I kick at the gravel under my feet.

  “You are right; you have no right whatsoever, “she repeats.

  “I was wrong; I know that. I was wrong about everything, but I want to fix it. I want to make it all right again.” Tears well up in her eyes at my words.

  “I don’t think you can,” she whispers.

  “At least let me try,” I beg. “Don’t get in the car with him. Please.” I hold out my hand for her to take. She looks at my hand. I can see the wall start to come down. “Just take my hand, Barbie.” She hesitates. She is so close. I
almost have her.

  “Dylan!” Katie stands on the other side of the street.

  I keep my hand out. “Take it.” Barbie glances at Katie, who I am sure is seething, but I keep my eyes on her. “Barbie if you let me, I will make it up to you. I will try my hardest to take away any hurt that I caused. That anyone has ever caused you. I will try with every breath in my body to do nothing except make you smile.” She looks up and I can tell she wants to take my hand. She takes a step back. A step away from me.

  “I am sorry. I don’t think we can be friends anymore,” she whispers. She turns and runs back to the car. She is like trying to capture an angel, wild and unpredictable, but heartbreakingly beautiful inside and out. I drop to my knees; the pain too heavy to bear. I fear I have lost her for good this time.

  ###

  The house is dark; everyone is in bed. I cannot sleep so I pace the house until I come to a stop in front of Barbie’s door and rest my forehead against the cool wood. I don’t know what to say to her, but I need to say something. I cannot let things continue the way they are. Maybe it was seeing her with that guy today that triggered it, or maybe it is that I miss her so badly, however I cannot take it anymore. I need to tell her how I feel about her, that I still have feelings for her. That walking around here, acting like I don’t, is not working for me anymore. I need to get her back, but I am scared that today I might have lost her for good.

  I take a deep breath to center myself. I don’t know how she is going to react to me telling her this. She was pretty upset with how I acted today. I tap lightly on her door. There is no movement. She might be asleep. The right thing for me to do would be to come back when she is a wake, but I cannot wait. I turn the door knob, cracking it slightly. Her room is black with a sliver stream of moonlight pouring in from the picture frame window. Once again, she is gone.

  Chapter 10.

  Barbie

  The club is dark, purple and green lights splash across the packed bodies as they gyrate to the music. I sway back and forth to the music that pulsates from large speakers in the corner of the room. The air is heavy with the smell of perspiration and cigarettes. A mixture of the cigarette smoke and fog from a smoke machine curl around the bodies that are dancing.

  Kai is relaxed on stage with the guitar strapped to his shoulder as he goes into the next song with the band that brings the audiences life from the first note. Being on stage comes naturally to him. If he is nervous, he is a master at showing no fear. It is like he is playing with the band in the garage and not in front of a hundred or so people in a packed club. His eyes linger on me as he strums the first note of a song, signaling the beginning of a new set to be played. Kai tosses his dark hair out of his eyes and brings the microphone to his lips. A deep, raspy sound escapes from him as he sings a song about a new found love. I close my eyes and let the beat take me to another place. A place where Dylan and I can be together. A place less complicated…

  You came to me when I was not looking for love.

  But you found me any way

  And I knew

  That you

  Would be

  My one and only true love.

  My last love,

  I want you more than anyone.

  I want you.

  I want you…

  The song ends and the audience erupts into applause. I open my eyes to see Kai looking down at me. He mouths something I am unsure of, so I give him a flirty smile and wink. He smiles and leads the band into the next song.

  Chapter 11.

  Dylan

  We drive up and down Main Street looking for a parking spot, eventually finding one down by the river.

  “Shit it is packed here. Are you sure you want to come down here?” I complain.

  “Yes, Kiki’s favorite band is playing down here and I promised we would come.” Katie slips her hand in mine and we start our long journey up the hill to downtown Phenix City. It is the historical part of town filled with old buildings, which means that, like all things old and historical in the south, it’s littered with civil war monuments.

  “What is this place called?”

  She shuts one eye, thinking. “I think it is called The Black Hole.” Great!

  I sigh through my nose, not wanting to spend another evening with Katie’s annoying friends in a place that sounds like we will all contract a disease. “And which one is Kiki?” I kick can out of my way.

  “Dylan!” She pushes me playfully. She honestly thinks I am kidding, so I leave it alone.

  I have been in a bad mood since trying to talk to Barbie. I have a feeling I know she snuck out to see that tool. If she can go out, well then, so can I.

  I am not going to just sit around at home and pout over her. No, I will go out and pout about her in public. You know what they say, misery loves company.

  After forking over forty bucks to get in a place that looks like it should be condemned. We walk into a pitch black room with loud rock music coming from shirtless sweaty guys on stage. The only lights in the place come from the ones that are spinning off the ceiling. The tempo of the music changes from screaming to one that doesn’t make me want to beat my head against a door. One of the guys from the band sings into the microphone; he’s not that bad, not the kind of music I usually listen to but at least it isn’t that pop crap Katie likes to listens to or head banger music. Actually they sound like something Barbie would listen to. After a few minutes I offer to go get Katie a drink. I bop my head to the beat as I go to get Katie and her friend Diet Cokes from the bar. The song has lyrics I wish I could say to Barbie.

  “You came to me when I was not looking for love…”

  I hand Katie and her friend Kiki their drinks.

  “Do you like them?” Kiki shouts over the music. I do know Kiki, he used to sit at the loser table with us when we were in middle school, then he went by a different name, Chris. He stayed at our table for a few months until he realized he didn’t care what others thought of him, came out to the whole school, and quickly became noticeable to the popular kids.

  “Yeah, they’re not that bad,” I holler back. “Let’s try to get closer.” I motion towards the stage. We are blocked by a wall of bodies, most of them are girls so I don’t mind squeezing between them, but Katie has other plans.

  “Look, we can get a better view up there.” She points to a set of stairs that only has a few people standing on them.

  “Okay.” I follow her and Kiki to the back of the club and scan the horde of people.

  “And I knew…” the singer screams into the mic.

  This is the first time I have ever been to a club. I thought I would be uncomfortable, but after last year, the shock value has worn off on me. There is small moshpit that has formed in the middle of the dance floor by the few guys that stand in the audience and for some reason I think that Third would enjoy himself in that mess.

  “That you. Would be…”

  I bob my head to the music.

  I wish now I had invited him, despite Katie not being fond of him. She thinks he is immature and I think he grosses her out a little. As I watch the crowd, I see group of girls that cannot be older than fourteen who are performing a very uncomfortable strip tease. I find myself less shocked by the odd things that go against the norm. I think Barbie would like this place. “My one and only true love…”A girl jumps on stage, grabbing a hold of the lead singer who seems unfazed as his eyes are locked on… Barbie.

  She sways to the music. “My last love.” He sings to her, to my girl. “I want you more than anyone.” I now realize that the lead singer is the guy she was with the other day. “I want you. I want you…” God, he sucks. I can’t believe that I actually thought he sounded good. I can now hear the pitchy-ness to his voice. Anger rises inside of me ready to explode at any moment. The D-bag finishes his crapy song, and reaches a hand to her. She backs away from the stage, and I keep my eyes protectively on her. she begins to swim through the sea of tightly packed bodies. A guy from the mosh-pit slams int
o her. I take a step forward, ready to fly through the crowd and pummel the shit out of the guy, but she shoves the guy back and continues her journey. That is my girl. I follow the glow that radiates off her, the glow that separates her from the other girls in this place. She ducks her head under a guy who reaches out for her and vanishes down a hallway. I race down the stairs, ignoring Katie’s protests. I need to find her. I race down the dirty hall, she is gone. I push past people desperately to find her. My heart feels like it is going to pound out of my chest, and the walls close in on me, and then I see a glimpse of her bleach blonde hair, with the pink strip that hangs down her face. Everything seems right again, it is only her and me could be anywhere, it doesn’t matter as long as I am with her.

  She steps out of the bathroom and I grab her from behind. “What the-” She bawls up her fist and is about to hit me. When she sees it is me, her hands drop to her side. She doesn’t say anything and neither do I as I back her up against the dirty, graffiti covered wall. She is stunning in a white tank top and a pair of shorts with white lace pockets that stick out of the bottom of them. She wears her notorious black combat boots that I find incredibly sexy.

  I trail my hand down her arm and she shivers leaning in against me. “Katie is probably looking for you,” she says.

  “Probably,” I say, stepping in closer to her. I want to be as close to her as physically possible.

  “You should go and find her.” She doesn’t mean it because her voice has huskiness to it that was not there before. I brush my hand down her arm, and her eyes flutter shut. I continue to trail a slow path up and down her arms, making small, invisible designs that I tattoo on her with my fingers. I lean in to her neck smelling the sweet perfume that is only her.

  “I should.” I say into her hair. I have no plan on moving what so ever. “We shouldn’t,” she whispers. She most probably has a million reasons why we shouldn’t be together like this that are running through her head right now. I know I do, but not a single one lands and takes root. Those thoughts suck anyway.