Ariel stared at the books in her locker trying to remember what she had for homework. There were still three more days until Spring Break, but her brain was already on vacation. She was sure she had Math homework; Mr. Crane always gave out homework. Ariel started to reach for her Math book when a pair of hands covered her eyes.

"Hi, Eric."

Eric wrapped his arms around and kissed her cheek. Ariel turned her head slightly to kiss his lips, then took her Math book out of her locker.

Eric leaned on his arm against the locker next to Ariel's. "What are your plans for Spring Break?" he asked her.

"I don't have any," Ariel said, zipping her backpack.

"Perfect! A bunch of us are going to Florida, you should come with us," Eric said.

Ariel closed her locker and looked at him. "I don't know, Eric. I don't think my dad would go for that. And, even if he did, I can't afford it."

"Would you want to go?" Eric asked.

"Of course!"

Eric smiled at her. "All right, then. You talk to your dad and I'll take care of your plane ticket."

Before Ariel could object, Eric hurried off. Ariel sighed and made her way outside, where her dad was waiting for her.

"Hi, Daddy!" Ariel greeted as she got in his car.

"Hi, pumpkin. How was school?" Triton asked.

"Good," Ariel responded. "Daddy, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Eric invited me to go to Florida with him and a bunch of other kids from school. Can I go?" Ariel asked.

"Oh, Ariel, I would love to let you go," Triton said. "But, this is just too last minute; we can't afford it."

"Well, Eric said he would pay for my ticket."

"No, Ariel. If he pays your way then he'll think you owe him something in return..."

Triton's voice trailed off, but Ariel knew what he was getting at.

"Daddy, Eric isn't like that. Besides, he's paying for other people's tickets, too." Ariel had no idea if that was true, but knowing Eric it probably was.

"I don't know, Ariel."

"Please, Daddy? Charlotte's going, too."

"She is?" Triton seemed a little more relaxed. "All right, Ariel, you can go. But, I want you home for Easter so you can't leave until Monday."

"Thank you so much, Daddy!"

When they got home, Ariel went up to her room to call Eric.

Eric answered pretty quickly. "Hi, Ariel. What's up?"

"My dad said I can go to Florida, but he wants me home for Easter. I can't fly out until Monday," Ariel told him.

"That's fine, babe. I'm leaving on Friday, but there are a few people coming in on Monday. I'll book you a flight with one of them," Eric said.

"Thank you, Eric," Ariel said.

"It's no problem at all," Eric said. "I'm gonna go ahead and get this coordinated and buy your ticket tonight. I'll text the flight info to you later."

"Okay, sweetie. I'll talk to you then. Thanks again."

"You're welcome. Anything for my special girl."

XXX

Aurora held a pink sundress up in front of her and admired it in the full-length mirror. She then held up a blue sundress. She turned around and held up both dresses for Belle.

"Which one do you like better?" Aurora asked.

"I like the blue one, but you look better in pink," Belle said.

Aurora looked at both dresses then shrugged. "I'll buy both."

"Okay."

Aurora looked around. "I gotta look at swimsuits."

"But, you already have three," Belle said.

Aurora laughed. "I'm going on vacation; I need at least two new ones."

"Where are you getting all this money?" Belle asked.

Aurora spotted the swimsuits and pulled Belle towards them. "I save all year for my trip to Florida with Philip."

Aurora flipped through the racks of the swimsuits. She decided on two pink bikinis. She looked over at Belle, who was gazing longingly at a blue bikini with a rhinestone rose on it. Aurora felt bad for her. Philip had invited Belle and Adam to come to Florida with everyone this year. Belle had worked extra hours to save up money for her and Adam to go; but then her dad grounded her and now she couldn't go.

"My break is just about over," Belle said. "I have to get back to work."

"All right. I'll see you at school tomorrow." Aurora gave her best friend a hug and watched her leave.

Aurora grabbed the bikini Belle had been looking at. She then wandered around and picked out a couple of tank tops, shorts, skirts and sundresses for Belle, as well. Even if Belle couldn't go on the trip, she should still get some new clothes.

"How did I know I'd find you here?"

Aurora turned around and smiled at Philip. "Where else would I be three days before Spring Break?"

Philip eyed her armful of clothes. "You don't wear yellow," he said pointing at the yellow sundress draped over her arm.

"That one's for Belle."

"She's coming?"

Aurora shook her head. "No. But, I wanted to cheer her up."

"That's a bummer," Philip said. "Your best friend finally wants to do Spring Break with us, and she can't go."

Aurora sighed. "Yeah, it's really unfortunate."

Aurora and Philip made their way to the counter to checkout. Aurora wished Belle was going on the trip with her, but she wasn't going to let her absence ruin it for her. Belle had never gone with them before and Aurora was still going to enjoy her vacation like she did every year.

XXX

Pocahontas set up her Math homework on the table on John's back patio, while John let Meeko out of the shed. Thomas' mom brought out some lemonade for them.

"Will you be joining us for Easter?" she asked Pocahontas.

"I'll be here for dinner," Pocahontas replied. "I have to go to church with my aunt and uncle in the morning."

"Very well," she said as she headed back inside.

John joined Pocahontas at the table. He sat down and scooted his chair closer to her. He started to explain the Math homework to her, but Pocahontas couldn't concentrate. She watched Meeko wander around John's yard.

"I wanna do something for Spring Break," Pocahontas said.

John looked up at her and frowned. "Pocahontas, you need to focus on your homework now. We can discuss Spring Break afterwards."

Pocahontas suffered through her Math lesson, but as soon as they were done with the homework, she brought up Spring Break again.

"What do you usually do for Spring Break?" Pocahontas asked.

John sighed. "Nothing."

Pocahontas slumped down in her chair and drummed her fingers on the arm rests. "We should think of something to do. I don't really wanna just sit around all week."

"Well, we can..." John hesitated. Pocahontas could tell he was probably going to regret whatever it was he was about to offer. "Philip was saying that a bunch of people from school are going to Florida."

Pocahontas nearly jumped out of her chair. "Let's go!"

John groaned. "I can't really affo-"

"Don't even say you can't afford it, John Smith, because I know that's a lie," Pocahontas said, cutting him off.

"Will your aunt and uncle let you go?" John asked.

"We'd have to leave after Easter, but they can't really tell me I can't go. It's up to my dad and I know he won't care," Pocahontas said.

"Can you afford it?" John asked.

"Of course; I work all the time," Pocahontas said. "You know that better than anyone, John."

John sighed in defeat. "I guess we're going to Florida for Spring Break."