Page 8 of Dollface

Sandy stopped us. “It wasn’t like that! Willie is just—no. I mean, he’s old! I just did what I had to do to get us some cigarettes. That’s all! It’s not like I’m fucking him.”

Kaila and I exchanged a look. “Sure.”

Sandy shook her head. “Look, I was just having fun. It’s summer and we're stuck in these woods. Might as well enjoy ourselves a little. Besides, it’s not like there’s much to pick from out here. I sure as hell ain’t going to spend my time listening to damn Doug.” Sandy walked ahead while she smoked.

Kaila grabbed my hand and walked beside me as we followed Sandy. She leaned close and whispered in my ear, “She says he’s old, but she’s totally banging him.”

“Has she really?”

Kaila nodded. “Of course, Willie is a major fucking flirt and will tap anything that looks in his direction. Poor Sandy didn’t stand a chance.” She blew a mouthful of cigarette smoke. “I just hope that she’s careful. You never know what you’re getting mixed up with when it comes to older men. Especially married ones.”

“Married?” I looked at Kaila. “Willie’s married.”

She shrugged. “He doesn’t wear a ring, but he has this weird tan line on his finger.” She held up her left ring finger. “Plus, he gets these weird phone calls all the time and always needs to go into town for some bullshit errand only to come back miserable and cranky. Sounds like marriage to me.” From my experience, she wasn’t wrong. “But hey, maybe I’m wrong. All I know is Sandy and I have been friends since preschool. She’s never really fallen for someone like him before, and I don’t think she knows what she’s doing. I just hope he doesn’t break her heart.” I looked ahead at Sandy. Her and Kaila’s history stretched so far back, and yet they still accepted me as their friend. I had createdthis strong attachment to them, this pull I hadn’t felt in a really long time. They were my friends. And all I wanted to do was protect them.

“You could always kill him,” I said coldly.

Kaila shot me a look. “What?” She blinked.

“If he hurts Sandy.” I stated with no emotion. Kaila eyed me as I inhaled a mouthful of smoke before exhaling. “You know? You could always just kill him. Willie.”

Kaila watched me closely before busting out in laughter. She laughed so hard, she coughed and nearly choked on her cigarette. “Fuck, Aster!” She smacked my arm playfully. “I almost thought you were serious there for a moment!” She laughed and dragged me by hand as we ran to catch up with Sandy. “Come on. Let’s go!”

Yeah… Me too.

As we stepped past the final layer of trees, a loud, obnoxious voice boomed straight at us. “Well, look who finally decided to join us!” Doug shouted. Solomon, Doug, and Rodney were sitting around and had already started the bonfire. Doug stumbled around the fire with a beer already in hand. His long dirty blonde hair framed his face well, and he would’ve been attractive, if it wasn’t for his shitty personality. “In spite of your rudeness, I greet you!” He sloshed his dramatic words. God, he was already wasted. “Welcome ladies, to our last night of freedom!” Solomon rolled his eyes and shook his head as Doug nearly fell over trying to drink his beer. Solomon was a couple years older than the rest of us and boy, did he look it. He had a perfect tan and ocean blue eyes that contrasted his strawberry blonde hair. Unlike the others, he had a bit of facial hair, which only made him look older than he was.

“Jesus.” Rodney shook his head as he watched Doug make a fool of himself. He was the same age as the rest of us but was pretty chill and quiet. He seemed to really latch ontoDoug, despite their opposite personalities. “Come on, Doug,” he groaned. Rodney’s dark skin nearly glowed as he sat next to the bonfire.

Doug ignored him and waddled over to Kaila. He got a little too close for comfort and tried to talk to her. “What do you say, Wicked? Want to sit next to me? I can keep you warm with my body.” He tried to wink but ended up just blinking both eyes. Hell, he couldn’t stand still enough to even focus.

Kaila scoffed. “No chance in hell, Dirty Doug.” She barely pushed his chest with her index finger, and Doug nearly fell over. “And I told you to stop calling me that.”

Sandy took Kaila’s hand and led her away to sit on the log bench on the opposite side of the bonfire. Solomon laughed as Doug tried to drag himself back to his feet and tripped over nothing. “Come on, Dirty Doug.” He grabbed the back of Doug’s shirt and pulled him to his feet like he weighed nothing. “Quit fucking with the girls and sit down before you fall into the fire.” Doug drunkenly swatted Solomon’s hand away.

I walked over to Kaila and Sandy and sat with them. They passed the cigarette pack around and everyone took one. Doug held his cigarette in his mouth and tried to light it as he leaned in close to the bonfire. Solomon simply groaned and yanked him back, handing him his own cigarette. It was funny to watch him baby Doug. Solomon rolled his eyes and lit the second cigarette before plopping down on the bench next to us. We all huddled around the fire and watched the flames of the bonfire burn. They grew and reached high into the night as if grasping at the stars. It was soothing and almost peaceful. That is, until Doug opened his loud mouth.

“Hey! Why is everyone being so quiet? It’s our last night before those little brats show up and ruin all of this.” He waved his arms around and spilled his beer. “We need to liven up thisparty!” He took a swig of his beer and tossed the now empty can aside before opening a new one. God, how many had he drunk?

Solomon rolled his eyes. “And what do you suggest then, Dirty Doug?” He raised his cigarette to his lips. “Go on. I’m sure we’re all ears.” I could tell he was taunting him.

Doug pointed at Solomon. “First, you quit calling me that. All of you!” He pointed around at all of us in a panic. “I made one mistake… One! And what? Now, I’m branded? Fuck you! I was simply doing what everyone else here does! So knock it off.” Everyone but me laughed.

I leaned in close to Kaila and whispered. “What did I miss?”

Kaila cleared her throat and whispered to me, “A few days before you arrived, Solomon caught Doug masturbating in the kitchen freezer. I guess Doug was close, because as soon as that freezer door opened, he jizzed all over the place! Sol said he made this huge mess!” I tried not to laugh. “Apparently, he panicked. And when he tried to get up, Doug slipped on it and cum got everywhere! You should’ve seen Beatrice’s face when she walked up! Sol, show her what you showed us! Show her what face Beatrice made!” Sol made the supposed face. I tried not to snort.

“Beatrice too?” I asked in a whispered voice.

Kaila nodded and snorted. “Yes! Now, every time she sees Doug, she gives him this horrified look. Of course, Sol told everyone, and we’ve been calling him Dirty Doug ever since.” Now, that was fucking hilarious. And revolting. “Of course Doug cleaned everything up. Just—avoid the mayonnaise.” Kaila winked and tried to hold back her laughs.

Doug noticed and snapped his fingers in our direction. “Hey!” She raised her hands in defense and rolled her eyes with a smile. “Careful, Wicked. You know the trees can hear you.”

Kaila made a face. “The trees aren’t watching us, Doug. Stop spreading that creepy ass bullshit.”

“Creepy ass bullshit, huh? You think it’s all made up, don’t you?”

“Well, yeah.” Kaila made a face.

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