Ken Loves Barbie, But Does Barbie Love Ken?

Spun Sugar and Gasoline

'Loser, loser, loser.' I can't count the amount of times I've been called a loser, weirdo, idiot, beast, miserable, or kindergartner. Like, I have a personality, not a Norman Bates mindset. Is that the right guy? The one from Psycho? Probably. Either way, Jo was right, and my schedule was wrong, so now I was stuck listening to those wastoids in Norman's posse call me names. I put my head down on the table with a groan, hair falling in my face. Maybe I was stupid.

Earlier that morning I had tried to talk to Wendy about my schedule, but she apparently mixed up me and Ken Thompson. She gave stupid Thompson my schedule! Like- Wendy- you literally had me in your detention class for like- forever! How the hell did you mix me up with Thompson?! Shit, guess the dementia is hitting early.

I tried my best to ignore wannabe Paul McCartney and Mariah Bleak. Heheh, get it? Bleak- Blake- Bleak... Am I losing my sense of humor already? This class is really affecting me. Either way, the teacher started shutting the door before a girl practically flew in. I didn't pay much attention until I heard her.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, I got lost!"

She apologized profusely. 'She' being Brenda Miller. Brenda. The Brenda Miller, was in my class. My class. I nearly fell out of my chair, sitting up quicker than a squirrel. Squirrels are funny, they land like superheroes- that's beside the point because Brenda was looking at me, and she was suddenly there, standing at my desk, asking to sit with me. I nearly died and went to heaven.

"Ken? Hellooo, Ken? Can I sit here?"

She asked politely, tugging her bag strap. I jumped into action.

"O-of course! Y-yeah, anytime beautiful!"

I pointed a finger gun at her in an attempt to be smooth, and she chuckled, sitting down and raising her eyebrows.

"Sooo, you don't have Jo or Tim to hang out with, huh?"

She questioned, leaning her chin on her hand.

"I don't, but I've got you Barbie, and I think that that's better than any other option!"

I winked and took her free hand, about to kiss it like a gentleman before nearly falling over when the teacher shouted like an army sergeant at me.

"Okamoto, no public displays of affection here! Keep your lips away from her hand!"

I retracted my hold on her wrist, flushing in an awkward sort of state as Brenda giggled beside me, along with the rest of the class. Her giggle was different though, it was friendly. Sweet. Like her.

When class started, Brenda was taking notes like we were supposed to. I, on the other hand, was too focused on her to focus on my work- not that I ever really focused on that anyways. We were fairly close, maybe a foot or two between us. I resisted the urge to scoot my chair closer to Brenda.

When she wrote, her writing was loopy and she dotted her 'i's and periods with a heart instead of a dot. She was gorgeous, and her clothes were cute, but the thing that stood out to me other than the crystal clear blue eyes was how she smelled. Weird, I know, but I could pick up the scent of her shampoo. Strawberry. I smiled slightly, doodling aimlessly on my paper. I wasn't that surprised she had chosen that particular scent.

Brenda must have noticed me staring at her paper and she glanced at me, then my paper. She leaned over, and I got a fresh wave of strawberries.

"Ken, do you need to copy my notes? You've been drawing princesses over there."

She whispered, a look of amusement plastered on her face. I looked down at my sheet and flushed. So- I had been drawing princesses- princesses with hair swoops and sparkling smiles. I crumpled up the paper immediately, and Brenda raised her eyebrows.

"Aw why'd you get rid of it? I think it was pretty."

She mused, reaching for the paper. I tugged it away and a playful smirk grew on her face as she narrowed her eyebrows and grabbed for the paper again. I kept moving it out of her reach just as she would almost clench it in her own hand. I grinned and Brenda let out an exasperated giggle every now and then.

"Give it!"

She hissed, smirking. I shook my head no.

"No way!"

Brenda had scooted over to me, and she kept leaning closer. I kept snatching it away, but whenever she put her hand on mine to tug me towards her, I dropped the paper. Not because of the sudden motion, but because Brenda Miller was holding my hand. My hand. Willingly. She giggled in victory, snatching the paper. I sat there, shellshocked. Hell, she didn't even wipe her hand off! Just as she playfully put her fingers in the shape of an L on her forehead the teacher smacked our desk.

"Okamoto! Miller! Do I have to separate you two?! This is English class, not Physical Education!"

I guess being in the front of the class wasn't exactly the best row to play a game of capture the crumpled up drawing.

"Okamoto I bet it's you causing the trouble- I've heard about you."

I smiled sheepishly. Whoops.

"One more word out of you and I'm giving you a detention slip. Miller, you be quiet too.

The teacher went back to teaching and I rolled my eyes. Brenda leaned over to me, strawberry impaling my senses.

"Sorry Ken- I didn't mean to get you in trouble."

She whispered, guilty. I shook my head and moved my hand in a 'nah, don't worry about it' sort of gesture. Brenda pulled back, uncrumpling the paper. She looked at the princess drawings, a small smile growing on her face. I watched her nervously. She tilted her head a bit, gears turning in her head.

"Is this my Halloween costume?"

She inquired, voice soft and gentle. When I nodded, she looked at the paper.

"It's missing something."

I looked at her, surprised. I missed something? What had I missed? Brenda took her pencil and started sketching something next to the best princess I drew. I watched, fascinated. She definitely wasn't the best at drawing, but I could see she was trying. After she covered up the paper, she folded it up and sealed it with a kiss before handing it to me. I stared, face reddening. Brenda blinked before flushing a little, embarrassment on her face.

"I wanted to test my new lipstick."

She explained. Oh- yeah that made sense. Why else would she kiss the paper? I looked at it and the lunch bell rung. She stood up.

"I'll find the table with our friends."

She smiled like she didn't know exactly how much pain she was putting me through, because I loved her, and this girl was driving me crazy. I stood before tracing the lipstick mark with my finger. Wait- that's probably weird. I stopped and opened the note. Next to the princess was a poorly drawn boy in a dragon costume. Me. My ears went red.

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