Barbie and Ken | ✔️

Barbie and Ken [7]

☼Leila Perez☼

I knew I should be happy for her. She was modelling again with Myer after all these years. But I couldn't. I'd be without my mum for three months... she wouldn't even be able to come see me as the star angel in VS this season. 

Me and Mum made our way over to the Cruz's a little while after I'd fixed my makeup and pushed in some earrings. Mum knocked on the doorbell sharply twice. Little Zoe opened it with a wide smile, "Welcome neighbours!"

She ran and hugged me. I laughed beneath my breath and hugged her back, "Hey Zoe."

"Come in," she gestured grandly. 

I swapped a small smile with Mum before entering. Castor was sitting on the couch with an X-Box controller in his hands. He was frowning, trying to kill some zombies. 

I watched the screen intently and let out a small giggle, "You're only on Level Seven of ORPGH?"

Castor paused the game immediately, "You know ORPGH?"

"I've completed it," I corrected and grabbed his controller. I pressed resume and killed the same zombies he'd been trying to kill in a matter of seconds. I tossed it back to him, "You're welcome."

He stared at me with an expression I couldn't define. I found myself lost in his gorgeous blue eyes. That top complimented him too well. He looked better than half the guys I've modelled with and that's saying something. I forced myself to look away and found myself staring at Zoe. I grinned, "I can't believe that's your natural hair colour."

I fingered her deep orange locks in my fingers. She was so, so pretty. 

"You should come to my next photoshoot with me, Zoe," I smiled gently, "See what it's like. I bet you'd be good."

Her eyes went wide as saucers, "That would be so cool!"

I laughed and tousled her beautiful locks. 

Castor glanced between me, his sister and then back to me. I smiled goofily, "You too. Has anyone ever told you that you look like Sean O'Donnell?"

"All the time," he rolled his eyes, "Though, personally, I think I'm hotter."

I laughed, "I'll let you believe that."

The Cruz siblings took me through to the dining room where the two quick best friends were chatting. Ms Cruz smiled, "Hi Leila..."

I smiled quickly. Why had she drawn my name out like that?

"Um, Leila," my mum began, "As you know, I already trust and like Rachel. So, while I'm in Newcastle I've asked her to look after you. You can stay in your own house and everything, but Rachel will just be coming in every so often to check on you..."

I gulped. At least I didn't have to move my stuff... but sharing a meal with Jerk for three months?! I would die with exhaustion of trying to come back with witty remarks. 

"Thanks, Ms Cruz," I said anyway.

"No worries," she said easily as the phone rang. She picked it up, "Pablo?"

After a long time she sighed loudly, "That's alright. I understand. Thanks for calling." She hung up.

She frowned and turned to Mum, "That's our chef. He just cancelled. Something about his wife," she shrugged, "Well, looks like we got dressed up nicely for takeaway."

"Nonsense," I said immediately, "I can cook dinner. What do you have in the fridge?"

Rachel motioned for me to help myself with a dazed expression. I bounced towards it and opened the fridge. On the top shelf was a mouth-watering vanilla mud-cake. Beneath that was an assortment of vegetables and then some eggs, milk, meat and butter. I frowned, eyeing the chicken. I turned and opened the pantry cupboard. It was like a convenient store - everything you could think of. I smiled and grabbed the breadcrumbs and plain flour. The jasmine rice joined it. I went back to the fridge and pulled out the chicken breast and eggs. I closed the fridge, "Help me, Jerk?"

"Sure Nerd," he said, surprising me.

Our mums laughed at our banter and walked off with Zoe. I demanded jokingly, "I need a chopping board, knife, plate, pan, oil, flipper and three bowls."

He raised an eyebrow but slowly went and got everything. He only forgot the flipper but went back and grabbed it. I pushed the jasmine rice aside for the moment and said, "Can you organise the rice, please?"

He nodded and I got to work on cutting the chicken into bite-size pieces. I then poured the flour, eggs and breadcrumbs into the bowls and got to work on coating the chicken in batter. The rice had just started cooking when I was ready to begin cooking the chicken. Castor watched me as I worked. I hummed beneath my breath, "Dangerous woman. Something bout, something bout, something bout you makes me wanna do things that I shouldn't." Soon I was singing. 

Castor smirked, "You sound like a dead cat."

I glared at him and threw a pinch of spare flour at him, "Not nice."

He glanced down at his shirt with the flour on it. I realised my mistake too late as he went to the fridge rummaging for something. I reluctantly turned my back on him and moved the chicken bites to a plate as the timer for the rice went off. 

I bent down to the microwave and grabbed out the big container of rice. Suddenly I felt something very wrong and very wet happen at once. He'd just given me a wet willy! I squealed in protest and rubbed my ear, "Yuck!"

He chuckled at my antics. I frowned at him as I grabbed out five bowls. I spooned a fair helping of rice into each one, ignoring Castor. I then shared out the chicken bites equally. I shaved some coriander on top and found some chopsticks. I grinned, "Donburi is served."

Then I threw a ball of sticky rice at him. He growled as it hit his hair. I quickly picked up two bowls of donburi and said, "Can you take those three, Jerk?"

"Fine, Nerd," he growled darkly. I skipped happily into the living room where the women and Zoe were watching a Friday night movie. I handed a bowl to Zoe and sat next to her. She took in a deep breath, "Whatever this is, it smells delicious!"

"It's like Japanese donburi," I explained, "But there isn't any egg cooked through it."

"Yummy," my mother and Rachel chorused.

I smiled and took a bite. Perfectly cooked. 

Jerk sat uncomfortably close to me. I knew he would never willingly be this close to me. I was almost ready to drop my guard and relax into the weird warm feeling enveloping me. 

"Eep!" I screeched and leapt up. Ice cold water trickled down my bare back. Everyone was silently shocked. Then burst into laughter. I turned and glared at Castor, "Jerk!"

He was doubled over, laughing. I crossed my arms. He winked, "Get ready for three months of that."

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So I hope you enjoyed :) If you did, leave me a comment, if you didn't, tell me what I can improve on. How are you? Leave me a comment and a vote if you're healthy or sick. If you're sick, I hope you feel better. Shoutout to those that are reading this at 1am.

Sharky.