The prompt was "Meet me on your best behavior, meet me at your worst." There were tons of awesome entries, so go check them out and get your J/B on!
Bella smoothed her skirt, her small hands erasing the ridges.
"Bella, remember what Daddy said?" Charlie asked, shutting off the engine.
"To be on my best behavior."
"And why's that?"
"Because they're our friends."
"That's right. And we don't bite our friends." Charlie hid a smile.
"OkayDaddyIknow, but Jake and the other boys wouldn't throw the ball to me. They called it 'Monkey in the Middle' and I was always the monkey." Her bottom lip trembled.
"Bella, honey, it's alright. Don't cry," he said quickly, patting her lightly on the shoulder. "I had a talk with Jacob's dad and I'm sure he'll be nicer to you from now on."
"He better be."
She stood stiffly with her arms at her side, holding her Barbie. She avoided making eye contact with Jake.
The loud laughter of adults spilled out of the kitchen.
"Why're your nails pink?" He asked, tilting his head inquisitively.
"Because I'm a girl."
"That's no fair! I want green."
Bella clapped her hands over her mouth and giggled into them. Jacob smiled and sat down next to her. She hesitated a moment before joining him.
"Is she getting married?" he asked, pointing to her Barbie.
"No." She smoothed the doll's hair.
"Then why is she wearing that?"
"It's the dress she came with," Bella said matter-of-factly.
"She wears that every day?" Jacob wrinkled his nose. "It looks scratchy."
"It is."
Jacob's face lit up. "Hey! I just got a G. I. Joe for my birthday and I bet some of his stuff would fit her!"
Bella looked thoughtfully at the mass of lace, fake pearls, and polyester. "I guess she could try it on. I don't think she'll like it, though."
Jacob pulled the G. I. Joe out of a nearby bin. He removed the black t-shirt the toy was wearing, leaving its camo pants on. Jacob handed the shirt to her and Bella cast a sidelong glance at the G.I Joe's chest. It looked nothing like Ken's.
She made Jacob close his eyes while she changed her Barbie. The t-shirt was too big, but it was soft.
One of the Barbie's shoes fell off. Jacob grabbed it before Bella found it, popped it into his mouth, and chewed.
"JAKKKEEEE NO!"
Fear flashed across his face and he spat it out into his hand, closing his fist by the time his father got there.
"Whatever you did, fix it."
A mumbled apology, a small smile and the shoe was forgotten.
Charlie peeked into the room, a cup of coffee in his hand. Barbie and G. I. Joe were kissing dramatically.
He returned to the kitchen table, and informed Billy.
"Shiiiiiit."
A moment later, they were both laughing.
Years later, Jacob pours two glasses of orange juice, hands one to Bella. The Barbie and G. I. Joe are in a box somewhere. She's still wearing G. I. Joe's shirt.
Bella doesn't know where Ken is.