Ted's Dolls 18: Whitney (Patreon)

If you haven't read any of the Ted's Dolls stories before, you should start at the beginning, Ted's Dolls 1: Jane.

Morning light filled the kitchen. Whitney entered and hung her book bag on one of the chairs. She headed to the coffee machine with a clean mug and poured herself a drink. She was leaning against the counter savoring her first sip when a voice said, “Something has to be done about Paris.”

She turned to see Trish standing there, hands on her hips in defiance.

“What has she done that needs stopping?”

“It's not what she's done. It's what she hasn't done,” Trish said, also fetching a cup of coffee. “If you check her room right now, you'll see she didn't sleep there last night.”

“Are we monitoring where our sisters sleep now?”

“No, of course not. But she didn't sleep there the night before, or the night before that. She hasn't spent any time in the house in the evening or over night for the last three weeks.” Trish sat at the table.

“It's not like you're any easier to find, Whit,” Gianna said entering the kitchen.

“Me?”

“Ever since the pledge night dolls event, you and Paris have be less available than you use to be,” Gianna said.

“That's putting it kindly,” Trish said. “At least Whitney sleeps here most nights. But at least two or three nights a week you don't return to the house until after midnight.”

“Paris is the real issue,” Gianna said. “While nothing has slipped past her that absolutely has to get done, she hasn't done even slightly more than the absolute minimum needed as President these couple weeks.”

“Whit, we know you have been spending time with Burke.”

“Burke?” Whitney said.

“Don't play dumb. People have come up to me and said, 'Hey, I've seen this guy carrying one of those dolls that looks exactly like Whitney in the halls of the dorm--”

“Naked.”

“--Naked in the halls of Burke's dorm.' I had this happen several days a week by a few people now,” Trish said. “My friend Beverly even said Burke talks about you with his poker buddies.”

“Okay,” Whitney said. “It's true. But I don't see the harm.”

“Of course not. You're getting your mind blown three times a week. It's probably great for you. But you didn't help with the homecoming banner last week. You didn't help with the fundraiser at the town festival the week before that. You haven't done any tutoring at the local high school.”

“Are we keeping score?”

“Yes. Yes, we are, Whitney,” Gianna said. “Part of being in the sorority is doing these things. You told me that when I was a pledge and you were my mentor.”

“And Paris is doing less than you. She's over at Ted's dorm room basically every night.”

“It's not all sex. At least for me.”

“It isn't?”

“No, sometimes Burke cuddles with me and watches a movie with me.”

“That's sweet. But, do you realize, according to Bev, Burke has no idea what you and he are. Are you dating? I've seen you avoid him between classes.”

“It's complicated.”

“No, it isn't. Or at least it shouldn't be.”

“Maybe if you got a handle on that, the rest of your life wouldn't be so complicated.”

* * *

Burke opened his door. For a second he though Ted had dropped off the Whitney doll and just left it in the hallway. However, this Whitney was wearing clothes and opening its mouth. She said, “Can I come in?”

“C- C- Certainly.”

Burke quickly cleared a pair of pants and sweatshirt from the only chair in the room. He sat down on the bed.

Whitney sat on the chair. “I don't know where to start.”

“Okay.” He waited.

“I don't know if I like you.” She paused and then was horrified by the look on his face. “No, no, no, I didn't mean it like that. I mean. I-- I don't know why I feel like I do about you.”

“I'm still confused.”

“Maybe I've been a doll for you too many times. But I... I feel like I belong to you.”

“Belong?”

“Like, for real. Like I'm your property.”

“I don't own you.”

“And yet, you do. I know that sounds weird. It's why I've been avoiding seeing you like this. It's why I said I don't know if I like you. I didn't finish that sentence. I don't know if I like you or I'm just compelled to like you because I belong to you.” She paused. “It's stupid. I know you don't actually own me. But I'm not sure what you could ask me to do that I wouldn't enjoy doing for you. And that makes me afraid. Am I myself when I'm with you or am I...?”

“You aren't making sense. When have you done anything I've told you to do when you didn't want to?”

“The first night Ted gave me to you. You said you hoped I would come back again. That doesn't really sound like a command now that I'm saying it out loud. But I've come back. I don't know why. There's no reason I needed to come back. And I don't know why I want to but I keep coming back.”

“But you do want to, right?”

“I don't know. On those nights where you cuddle with the doll, we watch stuff I've never really been interested in. But now I kind of like those spy thrillers. I never use to.”

“Do you think that's because I usually say I hope you enjoy this movie?”

“Kind of. You spoke the other night about seeing Beverly as a doll at your poker night. I really want to do the same thing for you. Stand there all night in front of your friends, showing them who owns me.”

“I don't think that's why Beverly did it.”

“It probably isn't but it's why I want to do it.”

“I don't want to own you.”

“I don't want to be owned.”

“So don't be. Here. I set you free.”

She went pale. “No, no. I- I- I guess I don't want th-that either.”

“Why not?”

“I don't know. Because then I won't be your doll any more. Some random person could become my owner and I don't know who they might be. I know you.”

“So, you do like me.”

“As my owner. I don't know if I know you without you being my owner.”

“Well, maybe if you spent some time with me as a person, you wouldn't feel like a possession.”

“I suppose.”

“Let's go on a date.”

“A date?”

“A date. An actual date. Two people go somewhere, spend time talking about stuff, and then go home separately.”

“How mundane.”

“Right. I'll pick you up at the sorority house at seven.”

“Tonight?”

“Were you going to come here as a doll tonight?”

“Probably.”

“Then you aren't busy for a date tonight.”

* * *

“So how did the date go?” Trish said and took a sip of coffee.

“I- It didn't.”

“He stood you up?” Gianna said.

“Sort of.”

“How does someone sort of leave you hanging?”

“I messed up.”

“You went to Ted's last night.”

Whitney did not answer.

“Just tell us what happened.”

“Fine. I went to Ted's and told him to deliver me to Burke. Instead, he dolls me and then calls Burke to come pick me up. I didn't hear what Burke said. But Ted hangs up and says, 'He told me to keep you or send you to someone else. I don't know what's going on between you two. I'm going to keep you.' And then he sat me on his sofa and I sat there until he restored me around midnight.”

“Why?”

“Ted's an enigma.”

“Not Ted. You, you dummy. Why did you go to Ted's at all? You could have gone on the date.”

Whitney was silent for a moment. “I got scarred.”

“He doesn't bite.”

“Or does he?”

“I got scarred he wouldn't like the real me. I know he likes doll me.”

“I'm sure he would prefer the real you. The you who has a sweet laugh.”

“The you who tells great stories about their grandmother.”

“What would your Nana say to you?” Trish said.

“That was low,” Whitney said quietly.

“How about the you who can fucking move?” Gianna said. “Fuck dolls are fun. But they just lay there. Sex is a participatory sport. So is life.”

“So what do I do?”

“You go find him and beg him for a second chance as soon as possible,” Trish said.

“And you tell us when the date is so we can make sure you go on the date,” Gianna said.

After a moment, Whitney said. “You were right about something else, Trish. Paris needs help.”

“Was she at Ted's?”

* * *

The Whitney doll sat on the sofa. The door opened and Paris came in. “Sorry I'm late,” she said.

Ted grunted as he sat at his desk.

Paris unbelted her coat and took it off revealing she was naked under the coat. She walked over to the desk and Ted sat back so she could crawl under it. She undid his pants and pulled his cock out. She took it in her mouth and started to pleasure him.

Ted seemed to be only barely paying attention for the first fifteen minutes. Then he reached under the desk and pulled Paris' face flat against his stomach and held her there for a moment before saying, “3... 2... 1...”

He leaned forward again and continued whatever he was doing on the computer.

The Whitney doll could not really see the Paris doll from where it was placed. But Ted seemed to take the Paris doll for granted.

About an hour later, he picked the Paris doll up and put it on his bed with it bare ass facing the door. Over time, people arrived returning the rented dolls of the evening. Some of the renters seemed surprised by the sight of the doll on the bed. Others did not give it a second glance. Someone said, “She still here?”

Ted said, “She's my new roommate. Very quiet. Five stars.”

They laughed.

* * *

“He fooled around with her a couple times before I left. She was still perched on the bed when I did leave,” Whitney said.

“Anyone say anything about you?”

“Someone said, 'Did Burke get tired of you?' when he saw me. I don't think Ted heard him as Ted was talking to the guy's friend in the bathroom.”

“So, what do we do about Paris?”

“She probably needs some kind of intervention.”

“Should we talk to Ted?”

“He'll just say Paris is an adult and can make bad decisions if she wants to,” Whitney said.

“I don't know. He left you a doll for like five hours after Burke rejected you. I think he was trying to get you to think about what you did.”

“Or he just followed the order Burke gave him.”

“I said he was an enigma.”

“I'll talk to him tonight when she's probably already there,” Trish said. “And after your date starts that you better talk Burke into.”

“I'm going with you to talk to him,” Gianna said.

“That won't be necessary.”

“I think it is.” Gianna put her cup in the sink and rinsed it out. “C'mon, Burke is in our ten o'clock class. You'll talk to him after that class.”

“Fine, mother.”

* * *

The sorority house doorbell rang. Gianna answered the door. “Burke, that is a sharp looking shirt. Come in. Whitney should be ready in a moment.” She closed the door and called up the stairs, “Whitney, Burke is here.”

Trish handed Whitney a clutch and said, “Don't be nervous. You've spent countless nights with Burke. The only difference now is you can talk to him and he can get answers from you.”

“Yeah, totally the same as not saying anything at all,” Whitney said. She was wearing a blue asymmetrical dress with spaghetti straps and a white shawl on her shoulders. Her shoes we also blue with a medium heel. “I'm probably overdressed.”

“You're fine. Head downstairs.”

“Okay.”

Burke was saying to Gianna, “I hope I'm not under dressed. The restaurant isn't jacket required.”

“You're fine. Here she is.”

Whitney descended the stairs. As she reached the bottom, she did a little twirl.

“You look lovely,” Burke said. “Shall we leave?”

“Okay.”

He took her arm and took her out to his car.

“They'll be fine,” Gianna said.

“They will,” Trish said. “I'm heading over to Ted's in a few minutes.”

During the ride over to the restaurant, they were quiet until Burke said, “I'm glad the other girls intervened. I've wanted to take you on a proper date for a while now. But you never responded to my texts.”

“I told you why.”

“And I told you why you didn't need to worry. This is a date and we shouldn't mention dolls at all the rest of the night. Deal?”

“Deal. So where are we going?”

“There's a quiet Italian place on the border with New Harbor that I think is perfect for talking.”

“I love Italian.”

“I know. I asked Trish earlier.”

“Sneaky. What else did she tell you?”

“That I should make you laugh.”

“That's good. I like to laugh, too,” Whitney said. “How goes your communications class?”

“Good, I think. Having an audience to practice my presentations to really helped. We're here.”

He parked the car and they entered the restaurant. They were seated immediately. The dining area was half full of couples and families dining. The hostess gave them a table near the window where they could see the cars and the occasional person walking their dog outside.

“This place looks nice,” Whitney said. “But the menu seems a bit pricey.”

“Ignore that. I asked you out. So I'm buying.”

When the waiter arrived, she ordered a glass of red wine and the pollo alla parmigiano. He ordered water and the lasagna.

“So, you heard me talk a lot. Tell me something about yourself. I don't even know your major,” Burke said.

“I'm a business major. So my classes are extremely boring. If I start telling you about them, you'll know I'm not having a good time.”

“Why business?”

“Because my father would kill me if I got an art history degree,” she laughs sweetly.

The waiter delivered house salads to the couple.

“Trish was right about your laugh. So, you're father is a practical man?”

“When it comes to money, yes. I'd be working to put myself through college if I weren't taking a major he approved of.”

“But, if you were to defy him, what would you study?”

“Oh, I don't know. Whenever I think about stuff like that I want to take like a bunch of different degrees: Art history, Renaissance history, photography. I use to play the cello. I was accepted at a performing school but without a scholarship, I couldn't attend.”

“You were good enough to be accepted and your father wouldn't let you go?”

“He would let me go. But he wouldn't pay for it.”

“That's a shame. Do you still play?”

“I haven't taken the cello out of its case in the three years I've been here.”

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you sad.”

“It's okay. I hadn't thought about the cello for some time.”

“You should keep playing. It's not like you don't have the time. There's always room for cello.”

“You didn't.” She laughed.

“I did.”

“Like I've never heard that before.”

“You still laughed. You'll have to play it for me sometime.”

“Do you play an instrument?”

“No. Well, I played bass in a garage band back in high school, The Uncaring Flux. I was terrible. They eventually replaced me with a guy who knew how to play more than the root notes of the chord.”

* * *

Whitney waved as Burke drove away. She entered the sorority house. Several of the girls could be heard in the parlor. Someone yelled, “Is that Whitney?”

“It is,” she called back.

“Get in here and tell us about your date.”

Whitney entered. Gianna, Trish, Karen, and a couple others were seated on the two sofas. A nude doll, Paris, was seated on the coffee table.

“What's this?”

“We can talk about that later. First, the date.”

Whitney sat down. “Well, we went to an Italian place at the edge of town, Ristorante Giovanni.”

“I've heard that place is fantastic,” Gianna said.

“It was. The food was amazing and it was nice and quiet so we could talk.”

“Wait, you talked. You didn't just sit there like a doll.”

“Karen!” Trish admonished.

“You were all thinking it,” Karen said.

“I was,” Gianna said.

“In any case, it was a lovely time. I told him about my high school days. He told me about his.”

“Did you make out?”

“No. We did kiss in the car before I came in here. He didn't disappoint,” Whitney said. “Now explain her.” She pointed at Paris.

“While you were gone,” Trish said, “I went over to Ted's and as you said, he didn't think it was his place to stop Paris from being a doll whenever she wanted. So I rented her.”

“He let you rent her.”

“When I asked he laughed so hard and said, 'Sure. Give me a dollar.'”

“A dollar?”

“Yeah, we should put her in her room before dawn and she'll return to normal on her own.”

“And the intervention?”

“Well, as a captive audience, we've been airing our grievances about her not being around very often lately,” said Gianna.

“And grievances about her not pulling her weight at sorority events,” said Trish.

“And grievances about her making the sorority look like a bunch of sluts when folks find her naked in Ted's room,” said Karen.

“Do you really think people think we're all sluts because of that?” Gianna said.

“I've had two different guys ask me why they've never seen, quote, 'your naked ass,' unquote, in Ted's dorm.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. I've never even been one of those things,” Karen said waving a hand at Paris. “It didn't help that all the pledges were seen at that party being used as cum dumpsters.”

“That's a bit harsh,” Whitney said.

“Reputations take years to earn and seconds to lose.”

“She's right.”

“She is.

There was an awkward silence.

“It's late. Whitney, you get the honor of putting the President in her room.”

“Thanks.”

“Good night.”

“Night.”

“Night.”

* * *

The doll was staring at the ceiling in its sorority house bedroom. It had been thinking about everything the girls had said. “Goodnight, Paris,” Whitney said as she turned out the lights.

The doll did not want to stop going to Ted's. But there did not seem to be any way she could keep doing that and remain in the girls' good graces. They would evict her from the presidency probably at the next all-house meeting on the first, it thought.

“The worst thing,” the doll thought to itself, trying to make the thought really stand out, “was that as a doll it is hard to, no, not the doll. I'm having a hard time. Me. I'm having. I. I find it hard to feel the impact of everything they said because I'm a doll. And dolls don't have problems. But I, I, Paris, have a problem....”

The thoughts churned through the doll's head and the doll was upset about it. About twenty minutes later, the doll heard music. A single cello playing a sweet melody, Bach's Air on the G String.