Jim walked the whole way back to the boat with Ariel in his arms. It was only when he stepped onto the gang plank when he remembered that Eric had told him mermaids grew legs when they touched the ground. He took a second to rest his face in one of his hands, exasperated (why did this girl make him forget things?) before setting her on the ground.
Immediately, a bright blue glow surrounded Ariel's tail. Jim drew back slightly; watching as it engulfed her, then left, leaving her on the deck in a blue dress and legs. She stood up, slightly wobbly on her new legs.
"I've never done that before!" she told Jim as he helped her to her room. "Which is odd, because I've always wanted to have legs"
"Why would you want legs?"
She shrugged.
"Humans are interesting"
"Too right" Jim murmured.
"What was that?"
"Nothing"
He watched her cautiously for a second, wondering if she would press that matter, but, thankfully for him, they entered her room, leaving her too engrossed to ask him anything else.
They spent a couple of happy hours together, Ariel bringing objects to Jim, Jim explaining what they were called, and what they did. Looking back, Jim wondered how he could have spent so long doing that without getting either bored or irritated. But, for some reason, her delighted smile at each object, no matter how mundane, made him feel happily light headed.
Finally Ariel yawned, stretching her legs out, and then laughing at the unfamiliar, yet satisfactory feeling. Jim stood up, and rolled his stiff neck.
"So… I guess I'll see you in the morning?"
Ariel nodded.
"Well… g'night"
He turned to leave.
"Jim?"
"Yeah?"
"G… good night"
"So, the Prince will be back in a couple of weeks"
"Wait, you mean the Prince isn't even here?"
"No"
"So why did you have to get me so fast?"
Jim shrugged.
"To be honest, it wasn't my idea. Eric thought it might take longer"
"Oh"
"So, do you want to come inside?"
Ariel blinked. Then she remembered that both she and Jim were standing on the doorstep of his home.
"Oh! Yes, okay"
He pushed the door open, and then stood back, allowing her to go inside first. There was a moment of awkward silence between the two until Jim said finally
"Well… what do you want to do now?"
Ariel considered the questions. What did she want to do? Everything! Everything, everything, everything. I want to go rock-climbing. I want to go dancing. I want to just jump up and down on the Earth just because I can.
Then she remembered something she had heard about.
"Could I try some hot chocolate?"
