Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Doll ❯ Chapter 1

“Hey, Reed! Check `em out.”

Allen sighed and followed his friend's finger, pointed at a group of girls not too far away. “I told you, I don't care,” he muttered. “Is that the only reason you're here, Riv?”

River held up his hands in mock defeat. “Alright, you caught me. But c'mon, you know this is the best place to find `em. Don't tell me you hadn't even considered that when you chose this place.”

“Not even once.” He took the box of things that people had decided to leave at the register and went to restock the shelves. “Now, if you don't mind, would you please go bug someone else? I've actually got work to do.”

“Aw, whatever. Hey, you still coming tonight? Keira and I will meet you near the front gates, if you still want to.”

“Haven't decided yet. If I get some free time later, I'll consider it. But I'm already behind on everything else.” He placed an old snow globe of some infamous castle upon its shelf.

“Alright, well, call me if you decide you'll show up. See you, Reed.” River turned and left the store, heading towards the girls he'd pointed out earlier.

Allen rolled his eyes and shook his head at his friend's shameless behavior. “Oh, if Keira knew what he does when she's not around,” he murmured, stacking item after item back in their respective places. The boy worked at an old antiques store in his local mall. The store was owned by an older couple, the Moores. When they were younger, they'd traveled the world, searching for old folktales and stories to record for their book. Sadly, Mr. Moore had gotten sick before they could actually finish and have it published. So instead, per his request, they'd opened the store a few years earlier. Allen's mother had been a friend of the Moores and they'd gladly taken him in, as if he were their own son.

Mrs. Moore appeared from the back room and started shifting through the box of items. “Goodness, people leaving behind such good stuff all the time,” she sighed. Mrs. Moore was a kindly old woman who often told Allen the tales she'd learned when she and her husband used to travel.

Allen Reed smiled at her. “A lot of people just don't see the value in these things, Mrs. Moore,” he told her, looking at an old porcelain figurine of an angel he'd pulled from the box.

The old woman nudged him and smiled back. “Now, Allen, I've told you to just call me Sadie. No need to be so formal, we're all friends here. So, are you going to the festival tonight?”

“I don't know yet,” he answered, tracing the face of the angel with his thumb. It stared back at him, unblinking. It was truly a beautiful piece with its folded wings and soft features. Her hands were folded, as if she were praying. “What about you and Mr. Moore? Will you be there?”

“Of course, dear. We're going to be guest storytellers tonight. Make sure you come and listen to us, okay?”

He nodded. “Of course, if I show up. I love your stories.” He placed the angel back on its shelf.

Mrs. Moore shook her head and removed it, placing it back in his hands. “Keep it, Allen. You like it, right? I'll give it to you.”

“Oh no, I couldn't possibly…” But she stopped his protests, holding up her hand. Instead he nodded. “Thank you then, Mrs. Moore.”

She winked at him before returning to the back room.

Later that night, Allen sat in his room, holding the figurine, just examining it's beautifully carved features, when a knock came at his door. “Come in,” he murmured, setting it down on his bedside table.

Slowly the door opened and his younger sister leaned in the doorway, her hands on her hips and a pouty look on her face. “Mom says you have to come with us tonight,” she said, obviously not happy about the idea. “I don't see why, though.”

Allen sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Can't you tell her I've got stuff to catch up on? You know I'm behind in classes, Alyssa.”

“Yeah, tried that. She said you can catch up over the weekend since you're not working so much. You need to relax and take a break, apparently. Her words” She rolled her eyes. “You've got no choice in the matter, sorry.”

“Alright, alright.” He sat up and sighed. “Guess I have to. Besides, Riv'll be calling nonstop soon unless I show.”

Alyssa perked up then. “River's going to be there?”

He nodded, grabbing his phone and wallet from his desk. “Yeah. He and Keira are supposed to be waiting for me.”

She seemed to deflate. “Oh. Keira too, huh? I see.” But she soon regained her composure. “Well, at least we'll get to push you off on them! Hurry up and get your butt down here!” Huffing, she disappeared from his view.

Allen smiled slightly. He knew his 15-year old sister liked his best friend; it was very obvious, despite her denials. But she hated the fact that he liked “older women”, as she said. She didn't like Keira, especially. Whether it was because she was too pretty or smart or whatever, he didn't know. More than likely, it was just her jealousy. She just couldn't get it through her head that she was too young and River just wasn't interested.

They drove to the festival by the river together, and waiting for him by the front gate was River and his girlfriend, Keira. As he stepped out of the car, Keira ran up and hugged him tightly. “Hey, Allen!” she chirped excitedly. “It feels like it's been forever since I've seen you!”

“Yeah, you too.” He smiled and hugged her back. Keira was a slender, petite girl, with long, curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes. If she wasn't quite so short, he was sure she'd be the model that everyone wanted to be.

River grinned and hooked his arm around Allen's shoulders. “Glad you made it, man. We were getting sick of waiting.”

“Sorry I'm late, then. I'm sure I haven't missed much though, right?”

“Not at all!” Keira giggled. “Dust's band hasn't come out yet, but they will soon! So we have to hurry!” She tugged his arm. “Come on!”

“Alright, alright!” he laughed. “I'm coming.”

River put an arm around his girlfriend's waist, and in turn, she clung to his arm. “Don't mind if I steal her from you, do ya, Al?”

“Not at all, not at all. I'm just here for the music, after all.” He smirked a bit as they joined the crowd in front of the stage. The three of them pushed their way through to the small “VIP Section” up near the stage. “Wow, how'd you guys manage to get these seats?” he asked, slightly amazed.

“Duh! Friends of the band, of course,” Keira explained, as if it was the easiest concept in the world. “Or have you forgotten Dustin's my brother?”

“No, no, of course not. Just amazed you could get these seats.” He looked through the crowd of people stood behind them, chatting anxiously, waiting for the music to start.

“Dusty set this little thing up himself. Just for us.” She sat on River's lap, despite having a seat to herself. “I'm sure he'll love to see you. He's missed you, you know.”

He smiled faintly. “I'm sure he has.”

Keira frowned slightly and looked like she would respond, more than likely asking him if he was okay, but was cut off by the sudden swell of music as the band, Dustcloud, came on stage. A few girls in the audience screamed, while most simply clapped, as Keira's older brother, Dustin started to sing. He hit all the right notes at just the right moments. And Allen couldn't help but notice that throughout the entire show, Dustin kept glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. It sent a familiar chill through him. And, as much as he hated to admit it, he didn't mind it at all.

After the show ended, instead of going backstage, Dustin jumped down and joined them. “Hey guys,” he said, a small smile playing on his lips. He was a tall guy of average build. His blonde-dyed-black hair gleamed in the twilight and the light of the stars made his hazel eyes twinkle. “Glad you made it, Allen. It's been a while, hasn't it?”

Allen nodded. “Yeah. Guess it has. You guys sounded great up there. You've improved greatly.”

“Mm, but you know, practice isn't as fun without you hanging around. The guys and I miss you.”

“Yeah. Maybe I'll come around again soon. For old time's sake.” He smiled a bit.

Keira giggled. “I'm glad you two can still get along like this. For some reason, I thought it would be more awkward. You know, after the break up and all.”

Allen smiled and turned to the whispering girls behind them. “You ladies are waiting for him, right?” As they blushed and nodded, he chuckled a little. “He's all yours then.” He waved to his friends and told them he'd meet them later before he headed off down the riverside.

For a while, a few months back, Allen and Dustin had been dating. Every day, Allen would meet up with Keira's brother in his garage while they practiced. He knew all the songs by heart; he'd even helped write the lyrics for some of them. But soon, Dustcloud had become more and more popular among the local crowd. And soon the two could barely find a chance to be alone together. And eventually they finally split up because of this. They both regretted it, Dustin more than Allen, but it couldn't have been helped.

As he walked through the throngs of people, he stared down at the river. There were very few down by the river. But one of those few caught his eye and he stopped. She stood barefoot at the river's edge, her arms spread out wide and her face to the sky. She's beautiful, he thought. Her strange, silvery hair blew in the slight breeze and her skin that was as pale as snow seemed to glow in the moonlight. Suddenly, she teetered on the edge and fell forward into the rushing river water.

Allen swore and raced down the bank, diving in after her as the crowd exclaimed around him. He felt around frantically in the water, searching for her; surely she couldn't have gone too far away. And he was right. He'd soon found her hand and pulled her up with him to the surface. Cheers erupted from the crowd that had gathered as he dragged the mystery girl onto the sidewalk. She didn't seem to be breathing. And so he did the only thing he knew how to do. He pressed on her chest repeatedly until, finally, after a while, she coughed up the water trapped in her lungs. All the tension had left both him and the crowd as the girl's eyes slowly opened. And like her hair, they were a very unusual color. Her fiery red eyes stared back at him, as if she could see his soul. It sent a chill through him, but he couldn't look away. “Are you okay?” he finally managed to say.

She nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

And with that, the cheers started up again. People slapped him on the back, shook hands with him, called him a hero. All the while, his eyes never left her face. There was something odd about this mystery girl, something he couldn't quite put his fingers on. But it was there, he knew it.

The crowd slowly began to disperse, and after being interviewed by a reporter for the local paper, the two were finally alone again. “I didn't expect it to be such a big deal…” Allen murmured, running his fingers through his still damp hair.

The girl giggled. “Of course it's a big deal,” she said, her voice as soft as silk and as sweet as honey. “You just saved a damsel in distress. I'm in your debt, you know. Thank you, um…”

“Allen. I'm Allen Reed.” He held out his hand.

“Yes, thank you, Allen.” She gladly accepted the gesture and shook his hand. “My name is Lilian.”