Jim rolled slowly down the street, beating himself up with each rotation of the wheels. He had decided not to chase after her. He had decided to be cool and compliant. Ariel could choose what was best for her...
But what about what's best for me? Jim shot back viciously. If his voice of reason had been a real person, it would have recoiled. When does that come into the equation? Do I just look on without trying? What if I'm better for her?
The spacer shook his head. But he wasn't. He didn't belong on Earth, much less in this country. She would be happier here, with a life a prince had to offer. Then why did his heart hurt so much? Tears slid unbidden down his face and he wiped them away indignantly. This was childish. Crying over an almost complete stranger.
So what was he going to do now? Ariel was going to want an explanation for his running out. That was easy enough... if he could face her again. Jim had always been one to see the hope in every situation, but unless Ariel showed some hint of returning his affections, he didn't know if he could-- Suddenly, pink arms encircled his neck and closed in a vice-like grip, stopping Jim in his tracks. He felt something press into his shoulder and hair brush his ear.
"A-Ariel?" He stuttered, raising a hand to pat her head. "A-Are you OK?" She shook her head into his shoulder and grabbed the hand on her hair, seizing the wrist with her left hand and scribbling into it with her right;
'Is the dress ugly? Am I ugly?'
Jim frowned. Wasn't she only asking him this because she was concerned what Eric would think? Then he felt her tears soak through her shirt, and his heart panged. He knew that wasn't the case.
'You're angry with me, aren't you?' Her hands shook as she wrote. Jim shook his head in answer, cursing himself silently.
He had been too harsh to leave her like that. Besides, they only had a short time left together; at least, in this happy way. He shouldn't taint it with jealousy.
"How could anyone--hate that dress--" he began, his mouth dry, "When you are in it?" He felt her smile into the fabric of his shirt, and he couldn't suppress a small one of his own.
'I like you, too.' She replied, though he couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic.
"Aryal!" Sebastian cried abruptly. Jim wanted to growl at him for ruining the mood. "Yoo ah still in de gown fo de Prince! Yoo shud go back an' change!" Ariel nodded reluctantly and released Jim. She looked uncertainly at the men's clothes she'd dropped on the ground.
"Oh, I got it covered!" Jim remembered, unhooking a large bag from the back of his chair. "That dress is well and good," he handed the sack to his companion, "but this one suits you better."
Ariel looked in the bag, gasped, and shot Jim a smile that made his heart thump so loud he thought she must have heard it.
It was the light blue dress that she'd been fawning over in the shop.
The girl ran back toward toward the shop to switch, and her friend trailed contentedly behind.
"Dis cont last, yoo know." Sebastian suddenly said from Jim's left armrest.
The spacer didn't attempt ignorance. "I know. And I know she deserves better than me." He finally looked down at his crustacean companion, smiling wanly. "Can't I spoil her and enjoy it while I can?" Sebastian squinted suspiciously at him.
"You're not trying to convince her to stay here?"
Jim looked away. "Won't she be staying here anyway?"
The crab softened in that instant. Jim genuinely loved Ariel, whether he knew it himself or not. Now DAT is true love, he thought remorsefully. Sacrifice fo de sake of anudder. Maybe, if he had been a merman-- but Sebastian knew that even then, Ariel would have chosen the most impossible and romantic candidate. The composer concluded this thought with a roll of his large eyes. Seriously, that girl never considered how her actions-- he looked at Jim and sighed-- affected the people around her.
They sat in silence for a few moments and Jim stayed as stoic as ever, his eyes only barely giving away his disappointment. Finally, Sebastian couldn't take it anymore.
"It's not becuz she doesn't like yoo, boy." He said abruptly. "It's a--um-- contract, if yoo will, betwin de too royal families of our countries. Aryal feels obligated to fulfill de--uhh-- contract, and.. well, yoo know how she is."
Jim nodded, though he was thoroughly confused. Sebastian saw the skepticism on the human's face. "Yoo can ask Aryal if yoo don't believe me!" He reassured, "She has bin told of de prince fo so long she can see no one else as a husband, but yoo--" He tapped Jim's arm with a claw.
"She cares about you, and notices your feelings. She's not done dat for anyone be'fo."
Jim's face changed from stoic to blank.
"She-- notices--" He looked at the door of the shop through which she had disappeared. Sebastian chuckled throatily, but said nothing. He really shouldn't have encouraged him in the first place.
Jim continued to stare at the door, silent and brooding, until she emerged. And then she did emerge. If Jim hadn't been sitting down, he would have gone weak in the knees.
The dress shone in the evening light, throwing orange rainbows off the blue fabric. The blue contrasted delicately against her skin and the dress swished contentedly at her shins. What was most radiant about her, though, was the huge grin on her face.
Do girls only look that way when they're receiving presents? He wanted to smirk, but his mouth wouldn't work that way.
She was the picture of innocence and beauty at the same time, effecting Jim ten times stronger than the pink gown dangling from the hanger at her side. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do, but he knew it wasn't possible while confined to the wheelchair. But that was OK. He was content to gaze at her.
'I'm hungry,' Ariel said finally, and Jim jumped. She was now only a yard away from him. When had she gotten so close?
She noticed the bewildered look on her face and smiled again. 'To the tavern again?' She asked, slinging the gown over her shoulder, reminding Jim of a gunslinger returning to his territory. He laughed, finally, and Ariel breathed a sigh of relief.
"No," he said breathlessly, "we're not going to the tavern. Especially with you in that gown."
Ariel shot him a questioning glance, and he smiled wider.
"I know a place. I think you'll like it."
'Why'd you have to pick a place so far away?' Ariel mock whined, though she leaned heavily on Max's head in exhaustion. The dog only licked her dress happily.
"We're almost there," Jim said, pointing to something resembling a cave ahead, only there was a warm light coming from the inside. It was dusk when they arrived at the restaurant, and by that time both were almost doubled over with hunger.
The sight of the place, however, temporarily pushed away Ariel's discomfort.
'Oh wow!'
Though she was mute, Jim could hear her sharp intake of breath and smiled, satisfied.
The restaurant was inside a cave, past a veil of vines, but the inside had been fitted with a fully functional kitchen and filled with little booths. A band played whimsical tunes airily from the corner, and the food smelled wonderful. What was most extraordinary about the little cafe was the lighting. There was only one lamp in the restaurant. in the center on a mirrored podium, but light filled the room, reflected by quartz crystals that grew from the walls and ceiling. The whole ensemble surrounded a small inlet of water, the reflections off of it making the entire place seem to be underwater.
'What... is this place?' Ariel gasped.
"It's called 'The Blue Lagoon'," Jim smiled, noticing how the light made her dress shine. "Do you like it?"
'Like it?' She asked, smiling and tearing up at the same time. The cave reminded her of her grotto under the sea, a place she found herself missing. 'It's wonderful!'
Jim was glad that she was pleased, though he didn't understand the tears. Maybe she was just tired. The chef noticed them first and hurried over, shaking Jim's hand ecstatically.
"Jim Hawkins!" The tall blond man enthused, pulling the sailor into a hug, whether the cripple wanted it or not. Ariel just stared, a little perturbed and a lot confused, her homesickness forgotten.
"I haven't seen you in ages!" The hyperactive cook exclaimed, eventually releasing him. "With all the training you've been having and such, and then that horrid wreck-- I didn't think you'd be around these parts until your leg healed up. It's been so long since you got lost and stumbled across my humble abode your first day in town." The man actually giggled, causing Ariel to jump slightly. She didn't think men could make that sound! The chef bounded into the conversation once again without letting either of the guests get in a word edgewise. "I was SO worried when I heard about the shipwreck, it was all over town. Speaking of which-- how've you been? How's training? How's your leg?" He finally noticed Ariel and his eyebrows shot up. "Who's this?"
"OK, on hold, healing, Ariel." Jim said offhandedly, though he was sporting a small smile. "How are you, Gordon?"
"Oh, you know, same old same old." The blond smiled, flashing perfect teeth. "The usual table, on the water?" He asked, finally all business.
"Yes," Jim sighed, relieved.
"This way." Jim followed dutifully behind his friend, though he waited for Ariel to send Max outside and return to him before making a move.
Only after they had been seated and Gordon had taken taken their drink orders (he wouldn't allow a regular waiter to do it) did Ariel relax.
'I don't know what it is about him, but he makes me-- uneasy.' She confided, embarrassed. 'He's just so--'
"Strange?"
'I was going to say "intense",' Ariel laughed silently, 'but strange works too.'
Jim laughed as well. "Most people feel that way around him, it's OK." He reassured her. "I just don't because... I guess I just like to surround myself with strange people." He gave Ariel a pointed look and grinned.
She promptly threw her spoon at him and missed, almost hitting the canary perched on his shoulder. He laughed and Ariel couldn't help but smile.
Fifteen minutes later they had their meals and the two didn't converse for several minutes, substituting talk for stuffing their faces, stealing each other's food, and laughing at each other as they did. It wasn't until they'd finished their dinners and ordered dessert that they took a break.
'That was delicious!' The redhead sighed, leaning contentedly back in her chair and looking out over the water. 'Thank you for taking me here, Jim.'
Jim blushed and looked down at his lap. When he looked up Ariel was still looking into the lagoon but her eyes were brimming with tears again.
"What's wrong?" He asked worriedly. The ex-mermaid realized she was crying and briskly wiped the tears away.
'Just homesick I guess,' She answered, forcing her gaze from the water and looked at the ceiling instead. 'My family is partial to the ocean. Being here made me think of them.'
"We live on the beach. You're near the ocean all the time--"
She shook her head, cutting him off. 'It's different here.' She said, meeting his eyes, then glancing at her lap. 'I can't say why, but it is.' Jim nodded. Even though he was desperate to comfort her, he knew more than anyone that people were entitled to their secrets. He couldn't put her at ease by holding her while she spilled out her heart, but maybe--
"I'm homesick, too." He told her quietly. She looked at him abruptly, her eyes still tearing up against her wishes. "My mom is the only family I have, and I left her to-- to go to school. And then there's my friends Ben, Doppler, and... John. They've always been there for me." He smiled easily at his companion as she gazed sympathetically at him. "When I first came here, I hated it. Now, though," Jim watched the light dance along the ceiling, wishing he could see the stars. "I don't regret it as much."
'You never would have met me.' Ariel pointed out.
Jim grinned. "And you would have never met me."
Confusion flashed over the girl's face, but before Jim could question it Gordon arrived with their desserts. Ariel's was rhubarb pie with homemade custard that Jim had suggested, and Jim had dared to try the house special of the week. He couldn't suppress a devilish grin when he saw that it was, in fact, a layered pastry in the shape of a fish.
Ariel gasped and flung her first bite at him.
"Oh, that's it!" Jim challenged. "You've got to try some of mine now!"
'No way!' Ariel waved her arms in front of herself in defense. 'There's no way I am eating any of that, that... thing!'
"You asked for it!" He insisted. Neither of them noticed Gordon shake his head slowly and walk away chuckling.
"Ahhhhh!" Jim stretched in satisfaction when they were finally outside again. "That was great, huh Ariel?" He grinned widely when he saw she was still wiping the chocolate from his dessert off her face. She scowled at him, but he was not perturbed. He saw her licking off her fingers.
"Yeah..." Jim stopped and gazed over the ocean. It was sunset, the yellow orb making the water look like fire.
'It's beautiful.' Ariel breathed.
"It's a sunset." Jim shrugged, looking at his companion.
She smirked a bit sarcastically. 'We don't have sunsets like this back home.'
He watched her for a few more moments. When he spoke he was so quiet Ariel almost didn't hear him over the surf.
"You want to go home, don't you?"
'No, I--'
"It's OK if you do. You'd be crazy if you didn't."
'Things were so much... simpler back home.' Ariel allowed, choosing her mouthed words carefully. 'That's part of the reason why I left.'
Jim frowned slightly. He knew the other part. Even if Sebastian hinted that Ariel only wanted to see the prince out of obligation, her feelings were written all over her face. After their dinner tonight, however, Jim almost couldn't bear the thought of giving her up.
But for the sake of his cover, he had to.
For the sake of his cover.
"Hey Ariel, you want to go sailing?"
She jerked from her revelry. 'We don't have a boat.' She pointed out.
"No," Jim grinned, winking at the canary still on his shoulder. "No, we don't."
Ariel fidgeted restlessly on the beach as she waited for Jim to return. She was slightly worried because she doubted Jim could do much without her help. But he insisted, so she complied. Flounder was the first to appear.
"How was shopping today Ariel?" He asked enthusiastically. "Oh, is that the dress you got?" Ariel grinned, twirling and dancing to her friend's approval. She explained with great fervor the whole day, including how Jim had bought her the blue gown as a surprise, the Blue Lagoon, even the fish-shaped dessert. By the end of her tale, Scuttle and Sebastian had also arrived. The seagull cawed, amused.
"Sounds like that Jim kid 'as the hots fer you!" He crowed, elbowing her good-naturedly.
Ariel started and her chest clenched. 'The hots--'
"Ya know, he's in lo-ove!" Scuttle laughed like this was hilariously ridiculous.
"What do you mean, in love?" Flounder asked, voicing Ariel's confusion. "Ariel has to get the kiss of true love from the prince. Jim is helping her. How c-could he fall in l-love with her?" Ariel nodded desperately. He knew that she would be leaving their home eventually. He wouldn't--- wait.
Home?
Their?
What was going on?
Ariel pulled her bangs back through her fingers.
"Love don't have no season," Scuttle was saying. "If the boy likes her, he likes her, an' there's nothin he can do--"
'But what can I do?' Ariel asked desperately, falling down to the gull's level. 'I don't want to hurt him, but if I want to stay human I have to kiss Eric, not Jim! But Jim has taken care of me-- he's shown me what it is to be human in spirit, not just in form. He always knows what I'm thinking and has done so much for me. I'd do anything to make him happy if my life were not at stake.'
Ariel bit her lip, watching as the sun disappeared over the horizon. The second day, gone.
Scuttle looked down at Sebastian, eyes wide.
The crab nodded, cleared his throat.
"But, Aryal," he said, "Do yoo really tink yoo can get de kees of true love from de prince now?"
Ariel stared at him for a few moments.
"I--"
A low growl cut through their conversation and Ariel's hair was blasted back by a sudden wind. Ariel looked up, her hand over her eyes to protect them from the swirling sand.
It was Jim, strapped to a flying contraption of some kind.
It was beautiful.
"She's-- I call it a solar surfer!" He yelled elatedly over the roar. He released the handhold looping around the large, patchwork sail and held out his hand to her. "She fits two!" He yelled, pulling her up to his right. She immediately lost her balance and fell against him, clutching his sleeve. Over the din of the motor, she couldn't hear his breathing hitch.
"B-bend your knees!" Jim instructed, poising his left boot over the throttle. "It's easier to adapt to the dips that way!" Ariel regained her balance and did as she was told, holding the handle with vice-like desperation. Jim grinned at her nervousness.
"If you get scared, hold onto me! I won't fall off!" The girl frowned and gripped the bar tighter.
Jim laughed, slammed on the gas, and they were off.
For the first time Ariel was glad she couldn't make a sound, because if she had been able, Jim would have gone deaf. Her mouth remained poised in a silent scream as they rocketed into the air, gaining feet of altitude by the second. She squeezed her eyes shut, considering holding onto Jim because she was convinced she was going to fall. She opened her eyes a little to see how the pilot was doing, then stared.
He defined ecstatic. His eyes sparkled when they weren't closed, breathing in the slipstream and his clothes flapped as if he like he would take off any second. He forgot everything and everyone, lost in the sky and filled with the wind. His mouth permanently fixed itself into a wide grin. Ariel had never seen him so happy. The air really was his element.
The ex-mermaid pried her eyes from the sailor to the view. They soared just over the crests of the waves, closer to the ocean than Ariel had been in days. The sea was as midnight blue, the spray tickled her feet and the smell burned her nose pleasantly. Ariel looked up and the sky was the same blue as the waves, as if they were in the middle of space all by themselves; free. She smiled inadvertently, then deliberately. She loved the feeling. Jim looked over and, seeing his passenger more at ease, decided to take it up a notch. He threw the throttle wide and careened toward the nearest rock face. Ariel went back to screaming. They were going to die.
At the last second, Jim jerked the handle up and back and the solar surfer charged vertically into the air. Ariel, feeling gravity pull down on her, released the bar to cling to her friend while Jim shifted his feet higher on the board, leaning bodily back on the sail. He howled exuberantly at the thrill, the extra hundred-some pounds hanging from his back not dampening his spirits one bit. The cobbled together spacecraft could only go so high, however. When they finally cleared the cliff, Jim straightened the craft, landing Ariel back on her feet. She panted, regaining her breath from the heart-stopping climb.
"You OK?" He asked, the grin still plastered across his face. She barely had time to nod before Jim plunged them into a drastic descent, again shifting his weight as Ariel fell against him.
He liked playing this game. This round, however, Ariel recuperated quicker and whooped along with him as the surfer nose-dived toward the waves. Jim found this even more enjoyable, and he became more brave and creative in his maneuvers. Soon Ariel adapted to the jerkiness of the surfer and giggled hysterically as the two traipsed over the night sky, though she never relinquished her hold on Jim's arm.