Ariel and Rachel were on Rachel's couch Rachel lying with ice covering half her face and her feet in Ariel's lap.
"The necklaces are so pretty," Ariel said of the necklaces puck had given the club.
"I know. I love stars. Because I am one," Rachel said.
Ariel smiled: "you are. You were so touched that he remembered."
"Yeah. I was. I haven't had the easiest time of things lately."
"Yeah with the fight and…..i take it there's more?"
"How do you know?"
"Honey when you're around water as much as I am. You pick up on things."
Rachel smiled at the endearment: "how does that work?"
"Ok, well, everyone has a certain element they're drawn to."
"Yours is obviously water."
"Yes mine is obviously water. Because people feel calmer around me."
"I know I do."
Ariel laughed; "you should meet my sisters."
Rachels face lit up: "oooh can i?"
"Some time. Not tonight."
"Ok."
"And like santanna, for instance. Hers is fire because well. She's hot."
"Yeah no kidding. And her skins always warm."
"Yeah she's definitely a firestarter. An….argumenter."
"One who starts arguments? You mean." Rachel corrected.
"Yes. That."
"What about me?"
"You're, a bit hard to figure out."
"Yeah but I still don't get what that has to do with water."
"What what does?"
"Your original statement," Rachel clarified.
"Oh. Well because I'm a water person and that makes me calmer it means I pay attention which means," Ariel shifted, "I pick up on these things."
"Oh. Wow you're amazing," Rachel looked at her in awe.
"Well thanks."
"Does anything rattle you?"
"Oh I can think of a few things."
"Such as?"
"When a certain brunette's been hurt."
Rachel smiled.
"So what is it?" Ariel asked softly.
"I'd, rather not go into it right now."
"Oh. Ok."
Ariel leaned forward and lifted the ice from Rachel's face then traced the fading bruise. Rachel winced.
"Ouch," she said.
"It looks a lot better than it as earlier. And sorry," Ariel told her.
"It's….it's not you. And thanks."
"I think it's time to change this."
Rachel noticed that Ariel smelled like the ocean.
"You smell like the ocean," she said smiling.
Ariel smiled too; "my sisters do too. And," she swallowed, "so does my mom. The, fading, ocean."
"Fading ocean?"
"I'll explain later."
"Ok."
"I'll be right back."
"Ok."
