Barbie and Ken | ✔️

Barbie and Ken [12]

⚔Castor Cruz⚔

I dumped my bag onto the floor of my room and collapsed into the bay window. I glanced across into the window opposite. Leila was pacing her room, reading something called Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales. I felt a strange sense of deja vu. 

I was supposed to be working on my maths homework but I enjoyed watching the way her lips moved when she mimed the lines in the book. I jumped as she threw the book across the room and it hit her bedroom door, "Ugh! Since when does Snow White have a twin sister?!"

I raised an eyebrow, "She has a twin sister?"

She scowled and picked up her book, "Apparently Disney decided to cut it out. It would have made it a lot more entertaining though..."

I sighed loudly, "Don't you have a photo shoot or something like that?"

"I skipped the last few periods of school today to go. Just got back."

"And you aren't with Trent because...?" I remember her telling him that she was busy until Sunday afternoon.

And, okay, I was also a little jealous. 

"Curiosity killed the cat, y'know," she murmured softly as she sat in her own bay window.

"And it's other eight lives brought it back," I pointed out, "So?"

Leila tucked her blonde hair behind her ear and looked down at her criss-crossed legs. DAMN. WHY DID SHE HAVE TO BE SO BEAUTIFUL? WHY COULDN'T I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH A CHEERLEADER OR SOMETHING, WHY A MODEL?

She finally said, "I'm pretty sure he likes me. But I'm trying to convince him we're platonic."

I grinned and then laughed. She looked up at me with wide eyes, "What?"

"He probably thinks you're playing hard-to-get," I said between laughs.

She blushed furiously, "Oh crap..."

I stopped laughing and stared at her. Her blush was perfect, a thousand thoughts ran through my head. I'd never been this head-over-heels for anyone before, ever.

Suddenly she looked up with a scowl, "So when can I get my wardrobe back?"

I grinned, "I'll think about it."

She smiled innocently. My heart skipped a beat. Leila murmured, "Because it's my birthday next week..."

"I know it's your birthday next week."

Leila pursed her lips and then asked, "So maybe as a birthday present I can have my wardrobe back?"

"I've got something else in mind for your present," I blurted out. Then I looked skywards, chiding myself. I've just let her know that I care about her.

*****

Mum stopped outside the large garden square, "And you plan to get through the crowds, how?"

I chuckled, "We can do it. Come on you lot."

Zoe climbed onto my back as soon as we were outside of the car. I swear, this girl is as nimble as a monkey. I was in a plain white fitted t-shirt and dark blue jeans. The outfit was so simple, but Leila convinced me that it was "in fashion". She herself wore a navy blue playsuit with gold buttons up the front. Her multi-coloured eyes were shielded behind thick sunglasses. 

Mum said, "So what're you guys doing again?"

Leila answered for me, "Well, I've got to give a speech in... twenty minutes. In the meantime, I'm going to show Castor how to eat well."

She glared at me, referring to the box of Cheeseballs I ate yesterday afternoon.

I smirked, "Hey, you have to eat well to be hot. I'm hot all food 'round."

She scowled.

I rolled my eyes and handed Zoe over to Mum. Leila said, "We'll meet up with you in... an hour? It leaves us time to go get lunch as well?"

Mum nodded, "Go ahead, you two. Me and Zoe will have a look at the children's section."

Leila grabbed me by the hand and tugged me along. I stared at the small warm hand in mine and my breathing quickened. Leila has guys lining up left and right for her. I have girls lining up left and right for me. But I'm still out of this perfect little angel's league... no pun intended.

I tried to slow my breathing and inhaled the scent of... hot chips? My mouth watered and I looked around. Leila raised an eyebrow at me, "What?"

"Are there any hot chips here?"

She let out a giggle, "It' s a health food convention!"

"But I smell hot chips."

She pointed to a stand with lots of paper cups and yellow things, must be the chips, "They're zucchini chips. Actually, it's my favourite food. Come try it?"

Leila leaned over the stall and inhaled the smell of hot chips that wasn't actually hot chips. She grinned, "Two cups please."

Since we'd paid an entry fee everything in the square was for free. She took two cups and handed one to me, "Try it and you'll like it."

She took one and I heard the crunch between her teeth. Just like hot chips. She smirked at me, "Scared of eating your vegetables?"

I took one to prove my manliness. My mouth filled with crunch, softness, batter and vegetables, squishiness and chewable goodness. I grinned, "Not bad, Leila."

She raised an eyebrow, "Leila? What happened to Nerd and Barbie?"

Whoops. Slip of the tongue. I retorted, "What happened to Jerk and Ken?"

"Ken was one time," she lifted a finger, "And I try not to be rude all the time."

*****

We sat at the dinner table the following Saturday, eating the lentil lasagna that Leila had made. I finished my second piece and asked, "Can I have more please?"

Leila frowned with a glint of humour in her eyes.

Mum said, "Leila made it. Ask her."

Zoe smiled brightly, "Thank you Leila!"

Leila ruffled her hair and turned to me, "It's a paleo dish. Just one piece should have been enough to fill you up."

I patted my stomach jokingly, "I'm a growing boy."

"You will be if you keep eating."

She picked up the container from the middle of the table and put it in the fridge, "Besides, the leftovers can be lunch tomorrow."

I wrinkled my nose. 

The doorbell chimed and Mum stood up, "I'll get it." She seemed suddenly nervous. Was she sweating? She wiped her hands on her jeans and left the room. I stood up in a daze, confused. Why were we expecting anyone at eight p.m.? 

Zoe took my hand and I stood up. I took her into the living room and froze. I picked up Millie in slow-motion and hugged her to my chest, hiding her sight. I took a deep breath as my mum shouted at the man holding his bags at the door. The man's blue eyes locked on to mine. His black hair ruffled in the slight breeze. He gave me a small smile, "Hey Cast."

I felt Leila's presence next to me but I didn't look to her. I choked out, "Hey dad."

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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. #plottwist. 

Sharky.