Barbie World (Baby Doll Series) by Heidi Acosta Page B

arms. “You look pretty.”
    I kiss her on her lips and she relaxes a little, letting the ice melt. She feels all wrong in my arms, too stiff, too hard.
    “I am still mad at you,” she says, kissing me back, but I know she is lying.
    Why do girls do say they are mad when really they aren’t? I bury my face in her neck; she smells wrong, thick like a flowered perfume. I am sure it was expensive and would drive some guy’s wild, but it makes my head spin and my stomach roll with nausea.
    “We were supposed to meet everyone at the mall ten minutes ago.” She lingers in my arms.
    “Why don’t we skip the mall and hang out here?” I am not in the mood to hang out with Katie’s friends. They are nice and all, but they blend together in a mass of gossip and loud, hyper talking creatures that frankly scares the crap out of me. I don’t even know their names, I think their names are Kristy or Maria, maybe Sally; something like that, but I am not sure and I really don’t care. Katie pulls out of my arms and runs a hand down the front of her pink polo shirt.
    “Dylan, I told them we would be there.” Her voice hitches.
    “Fine.” I try to avoid another fight. I don’t want it to lead back to Katie’s insecurities about Barbie. If she starts another fight, I might just tell her how I really feel this time.
    “We can take my car; you did bring it back in good condition, right?” She bats her eyes at me.
    “Of course.”
    She looks me up and down, scrutinizing. “You didn’t let her ride in it?” I don’t answer. “Dylan!” she yells.
    “She needed a ride, what was I supposed to do?” I say, defending my actions.
    “God, what is it with you and her? Are you sleeping with her?” she chokes.
    “No,” I answer quickly, but I can feel the familiar burn on my cheeks. It is the truth. We didn’t sleep together. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to, though. What does that make me? A male whore? A cheat? A shitty person? Yes. It makes me a shitty person who doesn’t even have the guts to do the right thing. Once again, I am reminded how messed up this situation is.
    When I don’t say anything else Katie exhales. “Whatever. Let’s just go.”
    ###
    Things remain icy between Katie and me. I can’t blame her, but I just can’t seem to make myself care that much, either. Shitty person. I tell myself to shut up. Sometimes you have to do things that you would not normally do for someone you love, and God I love Barbie.
    I follow Katie around the mall like a mindless robot, holding bags of crap. I drop the bags on the ground and flop down in an oversized, hot pink couch in another store. How many things of lip gloss and lotion does one girl need?
    “I know what you are thinking,” Katie’s friend sits down next to me and gives me a smile. She is the cute, quiet one that wears square glasses and has frizzy brown hair. “Alex,” she says. I cock my eyebrows in confusion. “My name, it is Alex.” I give her a smile.
    “I know,” I say.
    “No, you didn’t. It’s cool, though, I won’t tell.” I like this chick more and more by the second.
    “You’re right. I’m sorry.” I am. I never cared enough to get to know any of Katie’s friends. If Alex knows this, I wonder how many of her other friends are onto my act.
    “Don’t be.” She flicks her hand, dismissing my apology. “Sometimes I even forget who we all are. We tend to blend together in a blur of Gap and gossip.” I now give her a truly genuine smile.
    “There is just so much khaki and talking,” I confess.
    “I know.” We both laugh. “I also know that you are torn between Katie and Barbie.” I give her a blank look so as not to give anything away. “I can’t even imagine being in love with two people at one time. What that must be doing to you.” She looks at me squarely and I can see the sincerity in her face so I confess what I have been holding in for so long.
    “I just wish she would talk to me and tell me what is going on