Mrs. Davis rummaged around in her underwear drawer for her hidden cigarettes and lighter. Nobody knew she smoked, and she preferred that it stayed that way. She walked to the front porch. Normally, she smoked in the backyard where nobody could see her, but Alyson and her friend Lacy were sleeping on the trampoline back there.
She lit her cigarette and deeply inhaled. Whenever she smoked, she could forget her marriage problems. Her children didn't know about them, which was good. They shouldn't be concerned.
"Mrs. Davis, I didn't know you smoked." Said Caden. Mrs. Davis jumped and dropped her cigarette on the porch.
"Caden, Becca, how are you two?" Asked Mrs. Davis, grinding up her cigarette with her shoe.
"Alright. Is it okay if we stay over for a bit?" Asked Caden.
"Of course, it's a Friday night. When's your curfew?" Asked Mrs. Davis. She pushed the remains of her cigarette off the porch with her shoe.
"Ten."Lied Caden. Mrs.Davis opened the door and let them in.
"Kevin, Caden's here." She called through the house.
"He must be outside with Alyson and Lacy. You can go back there." Said Mrs. Davis. In the living room, Caden pushed the sliding door open.
"In two months, I can drive." Grinned Lacy. Alyson threw her pillow at Lacy.
"Shut up, that's not fair." Said Alyson.
"Hey, look. Caden's here." Said Kevin. He jumped off the tramp.
"Wanna go watch a movie? We just bought a new one." Said Kevin.
"Sounds good." Said Caden.
"I wanna go jump on the trampoline." Said Becca.
"Come over here then." Said Alyson. Becca pulled herself up on the trampoline.
"I love bouncin'!" Grinned Becca. Soon, the three of them were jumping on the tramp, listening to the radio play Brain Stew by Green Day.
"On my own, here we go!"Sang Alyson before doing a flip. Lacy and Becca clapped. Lacy jumped off to change the radiostation.
"What's that song?" Asked Becca, wrinkling her nose. Lacy tuned it back in and they listened to the lyrics.
"I'm a barbie girl, in a barbie world...."
"Do you have any barbies?" Asked Becca.
"Maybe." Said Alyson, trying to remember what she did with them.
"Well, then let's play with them." Said Becca.
"Okay." Laughed Alyson, "If that's alright with Lacy."
"What are we waiting for?" Said Lacy. Laughing, the three of them ran to Alyson's room. Alyson dug through her closet and pulled out a box.
"Let's play in the living room." Said Lacy.
"Why?" Asked Alyson.
"To annoy the boys!" Laughed Lacy. They carried the box downstairs.
"What's that stuff?" Asked Caden.
"Barbie dolls, want to play?" Said Alyson.
"Only if I get Ken." Joked Caden. Alyson shifted stuff around, pulled out a Ken doll and tossed it to him.
"I was kidding!" Said Caden.
"He said he'd play if he got Ken, huh Becca?" Said Alyson.
"You did." Said Becca, brushing a doll's hair.
"Aren't you guys too old for that?" Asked Kevin.
"Never!" Exclaimed Lacy, clutching a barbie to her chest.
"We're not going to play." Said Kevin. Alyson grabbed the doll Caden put on the floor and put it in his hands.
"I'm not going to." Said Caden.
"Someone feeling insecure?" Asked Lacy.
"It'll conflict with brute strength. He had to work hard to give himself a blackeye." Teased Alyson. Caden's cheeks colored. What was with this girl?
"I got in a fight with Drew." Lied Caden.
"Sure you did." Said Alyson.
"You always play dolls with me." Said Becca.
"Oh! The truth comes out!" Laughed Lacy.
"Can my barbie be named Catelin?" Interupted Becca. Caden was grateful for the change of topic.
"Yeah. But only if my barbie can be Jasmine." Said Alyson.
"Then mine's Olivia." Said Lacy.
"This living room has officially been overtaken by plastic evil. Caden, let's go join the kitchen." Said Kevin.
"I'm with you." Said Caden, jumping up.
"What's so great about the kitchen?" Sneered Lacy.
"Ice cream!" Said Alyson suddenly.
"We can't let them eat it all!" Said Becca.
"You're right! C'mon!" Said Alyson. The three followed the boys to the kitchen.
"Are you following us?" Asked Kevin.
"We can't let you hog all the ice cream." Said Alyson, pulling out a bucket from the freezer.
"We're gonna have to wash dishes." Complained Kevin.
"Not if we eat it straight out of the container." Said Lacy.
"Not a bad idea." Said Alyson, pulling spoons out of a drawer.
"But then we can't put it back." Said Kevin.
"We'll devour it all." Said Alyson, handing everyone a spoon. So, they ate ice cream while watching movies; the barbies layed forgotten.
"Guys, be quiet." Said Mrs. Davis, marching out of her room in a bathrobe over her nightgown.
"Sorry, mom." Said Alyson.
"Has your father come home yet?" Asked Mrs. Davis.
"No. Whoa, it's two in the morning." Said Alyson, glancing at the clock.
"Oh no. Caden, you're late for curfew. Call your mother and see if it's okay for you to spend the night." Said Mrs. Davis.
"Okay." Said Caden. He stood up and dialed on the phone in the living room. He held the button down and pretended to talk to his mother.
"You guys got the ice cream out? I just bought it." Said Mrs. Davis.
"Sorry mom. Want a bite?" Asked Alyson, holding her spoon up. Mrs. Davis shook her head.
"Just clean up any messes you make before you go to bed." Said Mrs. Davis.
"My mom said it was okay." Lied Caden.
"Goodnight, children." Said Mrs. Davis, walking back to her room.
"This is so fun." Giggled Lacy.
"Let's go get some popcorn." Said Alyson.
"Okay. Becca, you coming?" Said Lacy. They turned their heads toward Becca, who was sleeping peacefully on the couch.
"Guess not. Let's go." Said Alyson.
In the kitchen they put a bag of popcorn in the microwave.
"Alyson, do you like Caden?" Whispered Lacy.
"What?"
"Come on, I see the way you look at him."
"How do I look at him?" Asked Alyson, puzzled.
"You know how." Said Lacy, "Girl, please."
"Lacy, you got ice cream on your braids." Said Alyson, changing the conversation. Lacy wiped it off with a napkin.
"Don't change the subject." Said Lacy.
"Lacy, how can I like the guy I'm paying to befriend my brother?" Aksed Alyson.
"I don't know, you just do." Said Lacy. Alyson turned around, blushing. Did she really like Caden? She couldn't, because Kimberly hated him. And Kimberly was her friend. But Lacy seemed okay with it. Alyson's head hurt.
In the living room, Caden was lost in thought. Did he have feelings for Alyson? At school she always hung out with Kimberly and seemed so preppy, but tonight she was fun to hang out with. Maybe he liked her, but did she like him back?
Sorry...another long chapter.