Hey everybody! Is everyone having an AWESOME Spring Break? I hope so! Okay, so finally I can get back to updating more regularly because SCHOOL IS OUT! As you can see, I am clearly very excited for this. And I'm working hard on the Crystal Thief, and delighted with the reviews, PMs, favorites, and follows! :)
So right now, based on some PMs and requests, I am seriously pondering what to write after the Crystal Thief is done. Sadness. When I type in the ending of the Crystal Thief, I will cry, because I have really grown to love this story, and all who gave me their kind reviews. Okay, I am seriously being overly-mushy right now so I'll just shut up. So if anybody has any requests on what I should write next, you can PM me! Or if you are not a member, you can review it. But you don't have to. It's up to you guys!
Okay! So here are all the POVs I have so far.
-Jim, Wendy, Ariel, Peter, Kida, Adrian, Dani (I will be adding her POV soon), Flynn, Meg, Hades, and I will hopefully be adding Alice as well. If anyone wants Esmeralda and FROLLO drama, PM or review it! Because it sounds cool.
I think that's all the POVs...did I miss any? *mentally scans through the Crystal Thief and prays I didn't miss any to make myself feel like an idiot*
REPLY TO COMMENTS:
ScoobyDoo: Lol, Adrian. I will work on getting Hades back up in the game. And Dani and Flynn, definitely.
LittleBlackSwan: Thanks!
AvrilLambert: Ikr. Oooh, looks like you figured out Peter's new love.
Kieran: Thanks, cuzin! Esmeralda/Phoebus/Frollo drama….I will hopefully make that happen, if I get enough requests and a chance to do so.
COMEANDGETIT: Awwww thanks! Adrian is pretty awesome, I agree. This chapter is FULL of Adrianosity, so enjoy!
DemiBrackensick: Thanks, sweetie!
Flying By Wire: Thanks for your awesome and enthusiastic and MOTIVATIONAL reviews!
I'm sorry, guys, for the REALLY LONG Author's Note. Well, enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters but Adrian Trent.
What an evening.
-Ariel
That evening, the Triton Girls ate a hasty dinner. It was Thursday, school was canceled tomorrow due to the execution of the Crystal Thief. The girls were nervous for the execution, especially Adella, who hated blood and violence.
Attina claimed she had a study date at the library. Andrina had a hair-and-nails appointment at Briar Rose spa. The other girls were planning to stay in and watch a movie, but Ariel was tensing over her kinda-maybe-sorta date with Adrian. She twisted the dry rose between her thumb and forefinger and poked at her corn.
"Ariel, you okay, hon?" Andrina was collecting the plates to dump in the sink. Ariel nodded. "I gotta go somewhere, though. Date. With a guy."
"Adrian," teased Adella.
"Wait—the gardener Adrian?" cried Andrina. "Have you lost your freaking mind?"
"Nawt him," Adella defended Ariel, shaking her head. "Another Adrian. A hot, rich dude. Where does he live?"
Ariel pushed back, dumped her own plate, still full of her dinner, in the sink for Meredith to clean in the morning. "Gotta go," she muttered and ran upstairs to the room she shared with Arista. Arista was all packed and ready to spend the night with Robbie. She grabbed her red suitcase and was sitting there in a large Taft Academy red sweatshirt. She smiled at Ariel, weakly. "Enjoy dinner?"
"It was fine, as much as dinners with our sisters go," Ariel said with a sigh. "You ready to leave to Robbie's?"
Arista nodded. "Yeah, I am. I'll...see you later? Tomorrow."
"At the execution."
Arista looked pained. "Yeah, totally. Enjoy your date with this...Adrian of yours."
Ariel smiled softly and headed out the door. Suddenly, Arista reached out and grabbed Ariel's arm. "And I know who Adrian is."
Ariel decided to play it cool. "Huh? What do you mean? Have you seen him around?"
Arista chuckled, running her fingertips over her stomach. "Yeah, in the garden."
Ariel froze. Arista smiled. "Adrian, our gardener. Right?"
Now totally surprised, Ariel sat down and began to massage her temples. "You can't tell anybody, Arista."
Her sister looked seriously at Ariel. "I'm a Triton girl, and Robbie's a nerd. He's not too rich either. But I'm not embarrassed of him."
Ariel looked away. "Spare me the lecture."
Arista frowned. "You shouldn't be afraid to tell the girls about Adrian, and who he really is."
Ariel smacked the bedsheets. "Says the girl who's running away to live with her boyfriend."
"That is because of my pregnancy!" Arista cried. "Not because I'm afraid of telling the girls about Robbie."
Ariel sighed. "Okay, fine. I'm sorry. Live your life. But you can't tell anybody about Adrian. Not yet. In fact, I'm not even sure our relationship is for real anyway."
"And if it is?" Arista raised her pale eyebrows.
Ariel shrugged. "We'll see."
"I'll need to blindfold you."
Ariel looked in surprise at Adrian. "What? Why?"
He smiled. "I want the pond to be a surprise. You're gonna love it, trust me."
Ariel smiled too. "Okay."
Adrian wrapped the blindfold over Ariel's eyes, knotting it in the back. "Is that too tight?" he asked gently.
Ariel laughed. "No, it's fine, Adrian."
"Okay," Adrian said. "Grab my hand, alright? I'm gonna lead you forward. Watch your step though."
Ariel saw only darkness through the blindfold, but gripped Adrian's hand tightly as he led her forward. "Wait, stop!" he said quickly. "Duck down...watch your head right here."
Ariel ducked, narrowly missing a log above her head. Adrian led her forward, her fingers still clasping his. "Wait, let me move something. Stay here."
Ariel nodded, leaning back against something solid. A tree? She didn't know...she felt blind, but excited. She felt rushes of ecstasy move along with her blood through her veins. She heard Adrian's footsteps in front of her, and she reached for his arm. He grabbed her hands and helped her up again. Ariel followed. "Right through here," Adrian said. "Careful, watch your step. Step down."
Ariel complied, and her foot hit soft moss, like a cozy wild mattress. "Oooh, where are we?" Ariel breathed. She smelled woodland.
Adrian continued to lead her forward, and finally, he stopped. "Hold up, Ariel," he said. He grabbed her around the waist with his hands and picked her up slowly, stepping into something that creaked. It wobbled, and Ariel let out a little squeak, grabbing for Adrian's arms.
"It's okay," Adrian said softly, setting her down on a seat.
"Can I take off the blindfold now?" Ariel asked with an inquisitive smile.
Adrian shook his head. "Not yet." Ariel heard water flowing around her, and the sound of paddling. They were in a boat. She had no idea where they were going. She gripped the sides, and inhaled deeply. She loved water, loved to swim. It was her real and true passion.
"Almost there." Adrian continued to paddle forward.
Ariel felt tickling on her neck and back. "Adrian, what is that?" She giggled.
She heard Adrian chuckling. "Ferns."
A little more time passed, then Adrian spoke. "You can take off your blindfold now."
Ariel reached for the knot and loosened it, sliding it off, her eyes taking some time to adjust. She looked around, and let out a sharp intake of breath in a gasp of awe.
Fireflies hung in the air like floating jewels. Water glistened around them in the heavenly moonlight. The water looked shallow, with silver pebbles glittering on the bottom, trees framed the pond. But most beautiful was the water lilies crowding the water.
Ariel stood up in the boat, rocking it. She gasped. "Ohmygod!"
Adrian smiled, his smile twisting up in a cute way to one side. "Do you...do you like it?"
Ariel laughed. "I...love it! This is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. Can I wade in the water?"
Adrian shrugged. "Sure. But there are some deep spots, so be careful."
Excited, Ariel jumped into the water and began to wade, waist deep, picking up water lilies and watching water stream from the roots. She stroked the silky white petals. "They're beautiful!"
Ariel continued to wade forward. Suddenly, her feet slipped out from under her as she hit a deep spot, and she fell underwater, losing her breath and inhaling water for a few moments in shock.
"Ariel!" Adrian jumped into the water, waded forward, and ducked under, trying to locate her bright red hair, her petite body dancing underwater.
She burst above the surface, pushing her red hair out of her face and coughing up pond water that tasted of plants.
She swam to the bank and crawled on, freezing. "Adrian!" she yelled, losing sight of him under the water.
He burst above the surface as well, swimming to her and sitting next to her, sopping wet. "You okay?" he breathed.
"Yeah," Ariel said with a laugh. "Sorry I didn't listen to your warning."
"It's fine if you know how to swim."
Ariel laughed again. "You have no idea. I plan on going into Olypmic swimming."
Adrian raised his eyebrows. "Well then. There was no need for me to save you." Then he smiled.
Ariel smiled too. She ran back into the water, splashing Adrian, who was still sitting on shore. He followed her in, splashing her back. There was only the screams, as Ariel dogpaddled around and splashed him.
The frogs, ducks, and fish seemed to be serenading the two as they played in Sebastian's Pond. Ariel dunked Adrian under the surface, and he pulled her down too. Ariel broke away, giggling, and tried to swim for the boat again. Adrian grabbed her around the waist and lifted her up into the air. That's when he got a good look at Ariel's face.
He looked at her eyes. Those Triton Girl eyes, that made you feel small, and seduced you. Those long lashes that hit her high defined cheekbones. Her tan skin, her muscly arms, her curvy figure. Waterdrops glistening on her bare skin. Her lips full and kissable. She was easily the prettiest out of all the Triton Girls. Adrian reached up and smoothed the side of Ariel's face.
And she sank into him.
Ariel sank deeper and deeper into Adrian. Their lips danced silently, wet with water and desire. Adrian's tongue begged for passage into Ariel's mouth, and she delightedly parted her lips to let Adrian's tongue enter. Their tongues smashed together between mouths, and they made little moans as Adrian kissed her hard. Adrian started to walk forward, but stepped into a deep spot and they sank underwater. They continued to kiss passionately, Adrian's hands rubbing up and down Ariel's torso with desire to get into her clothing, to touch her skin, to feel the smoothness and the sweetness and the beauty. To taste what Ariel Triton was made of.
Ariel kissed back harder, weaving their mouths together, the two of them becoming one person as they kissed.
Adrian carried her back to the boat, and they laid down, between the hard wooden seats to kiss. Adrian pulled Ariel's shirt up over her head, revealing just her pink lacy bra. He loved it, every piece of her and pressed his lips over her mouth, but gently, so he wouldn't hurt her.
Ariel cradled his face in her hands and squeezed his face hard between her soft fingers. She grabbed his pants and yanked them off. Without removing his lips from her mouth, he unbuttoned his own shirt.
Ariel broke the kiss and gulped sweet woodland air, staring at his sexy six-pack, his muscly torso.
Adrian reached down and touched the top of Ariel's underwear, his other hand skimming her bra strap as his lips reached for hers again.
"Adrian," Ariel said quietly, gesturing down to her panties. "Not now. Not here."
Adrian nodded respectfully. "Absolutely. I understand."
Ariel grinned. "But we can still kiss." With a sigh, once again, she reached deep into Adrian to feel who he was. Their lips joined again, and Sebastian Pond was silent once again—as if nothing had happened.
Ariel laid on Adrian's chest, and they counted stars above their heads. Ariel curled into Adrian, and she was feeling warm and tingly all over. Adrian held her. "I've always loved you," he whispered. "I just chose to never say so."
"I wish you had," Ariel replied. "I wasted my life with Eric. And he's with some slut named Vanessa now."
"Sorry." Adrian tightened his grip around Ariel's waist. "But...you know, at first, I didn't even like any of you Triton Girls. Everyone said what sluts you were, and I didn't want to believe likewise about you. But can I just ask you a question?"
Ariel wasn't exactly sure about Adrian's question. But she nodded her consent, settling in on Adrian's stomach.
"Am I just one of your...playthings?"
Ariel was so taken aback by the question, she couldn't move. She looked up in shock. "Eh-excuse me?"
"Sorry if I offended you," Adrian said, his mouth a grim line. "I've talked to the guys around town. They say you play them, then drop them."
"You talked to Eric?"
"He said all you cared about was sex."
"I never—"
"He said it was all about touching and kissing with you. That the love wasn't real."
"I NEVER LOVED ERIC!" Ariel screamed, sitting up and grabbing Adrian's face. "I love you, Adrian."
He frowned. "Like you haven't said that to Eric."
"Why were you talking to Eric?"
Adrian shrugged. "We're friends. His dad was a sailor, and Eric and I used to carry rope, wood, e.t.c. for him when we worked by the docks. Before I worked for your father."
Ariel stepped out of the boat. "You're a jerk."
"For talking to Eric?"
Ariel started to march off. Her argument sounded weak and stupid, but she didn't give a crap. She was done.
"Ariel, I don't believe him." Adrian started to climb out of the boat. "Ariel, I just want to hold on to a relationship for once. Do I have that chance with you? Can I hold onto you?"
Ariel had begun sobbing, thinking of asshole Eric again. "He's..he's lying, Adrian," she cried, tears running down her face. "Sex isn't what my mind is on. I'm not even like the other Triton Girls!"
She remembered what Arista had said in the bathroom: I know some people call us "The Triton Girls" behind our backs. I don't want to be known that way. I want to be known as Arista Triton. My own person. I don't want to be grouped with THEM like we're sticks of gum in a pack.
"I'm different from them," Ariel said, not turning around. "And you know us. You know how different I am from them. They're...they're frickin' man-hungry cannibals, that's what they are."
"Take it easy, Ariel," Adrian soothed, still standing far away from her. "Look, I just want to hold onto a relationship, like I said. I was hoping that girl could be you. Okay? I have nothing against you. I just wanted an honest answer."
"You're not my plaything." Ariel put her hands on her hips. "I like you. A lot. I might even love you, okay? And I don't want you to break up with me badly, leave me in the dust, cheat on me with a prostitute."
"No," Adrian agreed. "I would never."
Ariel buried her face in her hands. Adrian heard her crying. He always thought of the Triton Girls to be crafted from stone, bone, and diamonds. The strongest substances on earth. They didn't cry, they only broke and shattered other people.
Ariel's sobs were quiet and sad. He walked towards her slowly. He wanted to believe her, soothe her, tell her everything was going to be okay.
He wrapped his arms around her and let her cry into his shirt. He ran his hands through her hair. "It's okay," he said softly to her. "Ariel, I'm sorry."
"No, I am." Ariel's nose sounded stuffy through his shirt. "I'm a bi—"
"You're not." Adrian held her close. He tilted her face up gently, but she wouldn't look at him. Her face was embarrassed. "I'm sorry you had to see me cry."
Adrian laughed. "Look at me, Ariel."
She did, and he leaned down and kissed her gently. "I'll never hurt you," he whispered.
That moment, right there, was the one Ariel would forever treasure. It was a moment she would never let go of, as long as she lived.
Epic. Peter. Fail.
-Peter
"Want to watch a movie?" Peter looked at Alice, who smiled. "Sure. Which ones do you have?"
"You can look through the stack on the shelf," Peter told her. "Want to have popcorn too?"
Alice nodded excitedly. "You know how to make it? I've never even had it."
Peter had no clue. "Yeah, I'm practically the Great Popcorn Chef," he said. What the hell?
Alice shrugged. "Okay. I'll pick out a movie, you make the popcorn, okay?"
Peter nodded his consent and headed into the kitchen. Cindy usually made the popcorn for the Stepsisters' Friday Night movie. He glanced around the kitchen. There wasn't a recipe for popcorn anywhere.
Dammit, Peter, get a hold of yourself. It's easy! You just need popcorn kernels, some oil, some butter, and some salt. It's got to be the easiest thing to make ever.
Peter pulled out a saucepan, taking a deep breath and turned on the stove to medium high. He tried to remember how Cindy made it.
He dumped a few spoonfuls of oil into the saucepan and began to let that heat. Now, he thought. How many kernels should I dump into the pan?
He decided all of it. Even if Alice didn't eat, he could eat some and feed the rest to Lucifer. Hopefully, the cat would choke on it and die.
He dumped the entire bag of kernels into the pan. The popping noise was deafening. As the popcorn popped out of control and landed all over the floor, Peter had a feeling he did something wrong. He tried to find a lid, rumaging through cabinets, but he couldn't find any lids.
Wait. AHA! There was a lid, hidden behind all the others.
"Gotcha!" Peter yelled triumphantly and grabbed the lid. As he yanked it out of the cupboard, containers fell all around him. One plate shattered. The popcorn continued to pop, and suddenly, fire burst forth from under the pan of popcorn, spreading to the curtains. The popcorn seemed to be okay, though the curtains were smoldering. Smoke drifted towards the ceiling, and the fire alarm activated.
"Oh, hell no!" Peter yelled, grabbing the popcorn and pulling it off the stove. It was all but set on fire. He tried to desperately jiggle the pan to get the popcorn to calm down.
"Peter?" Alice popped her head in the kitchen, and began to cough. Smoke drifted through, and the fire alarm was blaring. Peter laid the pan of popped kernels on the kitchen countertop, smashed the lid onto the top, kicked the fallen pots and pans aside, and grabbed Alice's hand. "Get out of the kitchen!"
"Is there a fire?" Alice looked horrified. "The popcorn, Peter, the popcorn!"
"No one cares about the popcorn!" Peter shouted back, trying to get ahold of his thoughts.
"Water!" Alice cried, the lightbulb turning on in his brain first. "And stop that horrid alarm, please!"
"You open the windows!" Peter commanded. "All of them. And grab towels and start waving them around to get rid of the smoke. That will stop the alarm. I'll get the fire extinguisher!"
He ran back to the kitchen, into a hidden cabinet, trying to wave away the gray smoke, and grabbed the bright red fire extinguisher. He grabbed the nozzle, pointed it at the source of the fire. The curtains. With a yell fit to beat Tarzan, he put out the fire, leaving the curtains burnt, wet, and stringy.
Mother is going to FREAK. Screw her, Peter thought angrily, and pointed the nozzle at the stove to put out what else there might be. When the fire was all put out, he shoved the fire extinguisher back into the cabinet and ran upstairs to Alice. She had quieted the fire alarm and waved almost all the smoke out through the open windows which let in fresh air.
"Oh, my!" Alice stared at Peter with wide eyes.
Peter let out a breath, soot and ash covering his face, his clothes wet from the fire extinguisher.
Alice burst into laughter, bending over. Ripples of uncontrollable giggles escaped her mouth. Soon she was wheezing, and had to sit down, clutching her middle. Her laughter was contagious, and Peter started laughing too. Epic Peter Fail right there. And trying to make popcorn!
"Still up for that movie?" he asked Alice when their laughter had subsided.
Alice nodded. "I picked out a good one—the Sound of Music. Do you like Julie Andrews?"
"Big fan," Peter said flatly. In truth, he didn't know who Julie Andrews was, but he joined Alice for the movie anyway.
Something flashed in his mind as the movie started.
He rushed back to the kitchen and grabbed a red clay bowl.
When he came back, he was dressed in clean clothes and carrying a big bowl.
"Huh?" Alice asked. "What's this, Peter?"
Peter grinned. "Popcorn."
Okay, I seriously actually loved this chapter. I loved Peter's epic fail, and thought it would be like him to totally panic and everything. Hope you guys really liked it! And the AdrianXAriel thing, hope you guys loved that too!
Please review! The sight of one in my email inbox makes me SOOO happy. Enjoy! I'll probably post another chapter tomorrow, if I can. And remember...Esmeralda and Frollo? Comment asking for it, and I'll do it! If there are no comments, we'll just stick to our regular storyline. :P
Byeeeeeeee!