Ken Loves Barbie, But Does Barbie Love Ken?

Best Friend

Lunch. The school lunch could go either way. Absolutely disgusting or tolerable. There was no in between. I sat there, poking at the lone slab of mystery meat. No sides, no drinks, just a brick of... I don't really know. Either way, I chose to live and decided not to eat the probably poisonous lunch option. I instead chose to watch Brenda chatter joyfully with Jolie and Pamela, smiling happily.

Timothy was showing Ron some American metal, Jackson was staring at his food, and Exer and David were talking to each other. By that I mean David was talking and Exer was leaning his head on his hand and watching the blonde talk with a dreamy look on his face and hearts in his eyes. I think they're dating. Just a hunch.

I looked at my food and gave up. There was no way I was going to take so much as a nibble of this. I glanced around the lunch room, saw friend groups talk and just as I tried to eavesdrop I got tapped on the shoulder.

"Ken, may I see the picture? I want to show the girls the picture you drew."

Brenda spoke sweetly, batting her eyes. I blinked.

"Do you like aliens? Or monster art?"

I asked hopefully. Brenda thought about it, looking at the table.

"Mm, no, but I know you're interested in monsters so I don't mind them."

I couldn't believe it. She didn't mind monsters. Oh this girl is the most beautiful person in the world. As I was swooning over her, she giggled.

"Picture?"

Oh- yeah- right! I fumbled in my jacket pockets for the note before finding it and handing it to her. She opened it and pointed at the drawings, earning a 'ooo!' from Pamela and an eyebrow raise from Jo, who glanced at me, then Brenda, then me again, then the picture, and now she's thinking. I can tell when Jolie's thinking because she furrows her eyebrows and scrunches her nose.

"Here you go Ken! Thank you!"

She handed me the picture back, beaming. I pocketed it, giving her a gap-toothed grin. Brenda blinked before touching my lips. She was touching my mouth- is this how kisses work?! Was she going to kiss me?!! Instead she just peered at my mouth before moving her hand away.

"You've got a gap in your teeth!"

She proclaimed, surprised. I flushed in embarrassment. I can't believe I thought she was going to kiss me. Why would she?

"I do. You haven't noticed?"

I questioned and she shook her head no.

"Your gap tooth is cute Ken."

She added, I think it was just in case I was self conscious about my teeth. I wasn't but all I could think about were the words 'cute' and 'Ken'. All you had to remove is 'gap tooth is' and you'd get 'You're cute Ken'.

David stopped talking to Exer to glance at us in suspicion. He squinted at me before looking at Brenda and then talking to Exer again. After a while the bell rang for next period, so I happily walked Brenda to class. At the end of the day I waved bye and she waved back before leaving with Pamela.

That night I went home and hung the picture on the wall, beaming at it. I set up for DnD with Jo and Tim before they arrived. My campaign was a completely original one I made, and I love it so much. There's monsters and obstacles that I love hurtling at Timothy and Jolie. It'd be nice if we had more people, but I'm okay with just them.

After a while they arrived and sat on cushions on the floor to play the game.

"There's a guard in the way, a sort of dog beast."

I hissed dramatically, causing my best friends to look at each other.

"He walks towards and sniffs you, deciding if you're an enemy or not."

I leaned towards Jolie, sniffing the air. She leaned back.

"Um... Can I pet the dog?"

Jolie queryed, and I thought about it.

"Roll for- let's say- charisma."

Jolie shook the die twenty in her hands.

"Come on Jolie, you can do it!"

Timothy chimed in. Jolie released the die and with a few ominous clatters, it landed on one.

"Oooh nat one! That's a critical fail! You slap the dog!"

I proclaimed joyfully.

"Roll for initiative."

I instructed before Mai opened my door.

"Hey Kenny, Mama wants you to take the trash out."

I shook my head.

"We're in the middle of a campaign!"

She walked over and swiped my dice. I sighed.

"Fine, fine."

As I was leaving I heard Jolie whisper to Timothy about the fact that my siblings were total babes. Ew. I took the trash and chucked it into the dumpster, grumbling to himself. Suddenly I saw a moving truck pull in. New people?

A boy walked out and picked up a box before tripping. I was close enough to stop him toppling over however, so I grabbed the other end of the box.

"Woah, careful!"

I chimed, peeking around the box to see him. He had lazy eyes, but he looked like one of those movie stars. I blinked. Rad! A new student!

"New in the building?"

My voice rang out in a happy chatter. The boy straightend up, holding the box.

"Yeah, moved all the way from Riverville. Nice to meet you dude, I'm Elijah."

"What's up fellow stranger? I'm Ken!"

Great! A new possible friend! Elijah glanced at the building then at me.

"Do you live here?"

He questioned, and I grinned.

"Yeah, I've been trapped in these walls for seventeen years now."

Elijah gave a light chuckle before blinking.

"Wait- how old are you?"

I chuckled before pointing a finger gun at him.

"Seventeen."

He laughed.

"It's nice to know you're my age, are you a senior?"

He inquired and I nodded.

"Yup! I'm a senior at Jeanes High!"

"No way! Looks like we're going to the same school!"

"Really?! Wicked! Just watch your step, too much bizzare stuff happens at that place."

Elijah glanced at the box of paperwork and then me again.

"All schools are bizzare, I don't think there's a single normal one.

I chuckled nervously before murmuring half under my breath.

"Not like this one. Mehehehehe."

He raised his eyebrows.

"Well I've got to get inside, bye neighbor!"

I cheered, posing before booking it to the apartments. I could have sworn he chuckled and called me weird as I ran away.

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