Chapter Six

Ariel woke up the next day all happy and in a great mood. Ariel and Eric made their relationship official, and she couldn't wait to see her boyfriend today. She just had to wait for him to call.

Eric had the perfect idea for a date: Ariel was amazed with human possessions, so he was going to take her to the museum; then go on a ferry ride to the lighthouse. He called her and told her he was going to pick her up at 11:30. He picked out his clothes and started getting ready.

"Ariel Marie Stanley, if your father knew about this, he would kill me and you and eat us for dinner!" She rolled her eyes at her chaperone. "Sebastian, calm down! Haven't you ever been in love? It's just so amazing!" "Ariel, don't change the subject!" "Please Sebastian. I'm, well, in love." "Ariel, you're 16, going to be 17 in two weeks, you don't know love." "I do so!"

"What is love? Tell me, Ariel." "Love is when someone looks into your eyes; you get butterflies in your stomach. Love is when your hands fit perfectly into his, love is when you see only them, and love is Eric and I." "Ariel, I have no idea what I am going to do with you." "You are not going to tell my father about me and Eric. Promise?" "Oh, alright." She hugged Sebastian, and went to get dressed.

Eric honked when he reached Ariel's house. She came outside, and ran into his car. "What, Sebastian didn't want to come?" She giggled and kissed him. "I told him not to come." He laughed "Okay." He drove to the museum. She was amazed with everything she saw. Her eyes shone whenever she saw something new. "I'm guessing you want to be an archaeologist when you grow up?" She nodded her head. "And you want to be?" "Probably in the navy, or you know, a coast guard." "You and my dad would be best friends!" He laughed.

Ariel had a fun time at the museum, and then Eric took her for another surprise. They got on a ferry, and then went to the lighthouse. "Eric, this is amazing!" "Yes, it is!" She held his hand as they walked around their visit to the lighthouse. Once they left it was 7:30. "Eric thanks for this date. It was wonderful." "No problem." They were about to kiss when someone said something."Oohh, Ariel's in love!" "And with a cute boy." She looked up. It was her frenemy, Pearl, and some other girl. "Hi, Pearl." "So, you got Eric, huh? Lucky you!" said the other girl.

"Yeah, so?" "So, we didn't think a girl like you would get a guy like him." "Hey, leave my girlfriend alone." "What are you going to do, lover boy?" She quickly remembered who that girl was. It was her aunt's dead husband's daughter, Vanessa. She was as rude and mean as Ursula. She was nice until Ursula got full custody of her. "Vanessa, leave us alone!" "Or what?" "Leave us alone, okay?" "Oh, look Pearl, she's being annoyed!" "Dude! She said to leave her alone!" "Pearl, why are you being so annoying?" "Because, Ariel is my friend, leave her alone." Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She walked away. Pearl smiled, and walked away.

Eric stared in shock. Vanessa, the girl who stalked him for two years, knew Ariel. "How do you know Vanessa?" "She's Ursula's deceased husband's daughter." "So, she's your cousin?" "NO! She is not my cousin, they got married when I was 4, and she is not related in any way." "Don't worry, I don't like her either." "Why?" "She is a stalker!" His girlfriend laughed. "Don't worry, she's weird like that." He laughed, and they started to talk about something else.

"Eric, which one is your house?" Ariel asked on their way back home. He pointed to a house with a tulip garden. "My uncle's friend, Louis, well, he has a girlfriend, Carlotta. She thought we should have a tulip garden. So if you ever see a tulip garden, that's my house!" She smiled.

"Well, here's my stop! Thanks, Eric." She kissed him on the check and ran inside. Luckily, her father took an extra shift so no one saw her and Eric. She danced to her room, only thinking of Eric.

"Well, Eric, I understand we are in love?" "Big time, Grims. Her name is Ariel, and she's perfect." His uncle laughed. "Well, I'm happy for you." He smiled and went to his room.