Chapter 4
Obsession
Its been a couple of days since Ariel had introduced me to her secret Grotto. On the days we hang out, i soon found that she was getting more and more obsessed with the human world. This worried me.
I didn't mind the fact that she had a thing for human objects but something was telling me that she began to develop a love for actual humans themselves. Ariel just wanted more and more. Almost everyday now she would be finding shunken ships and exploring them for human things. She did ask me if i wanted to join her but it got to the point that i had to make an excuse like homework or babysitting to avoid suspicion. Sebastian was giving me creepy looks.
A concert at the palace was due to take place next week and Sebastian the crab had come to me one morning to ask about Ariel's disappearances. I was at the palace that morning planning to prank some of Ariel's sisters but before i could enter their room unnoticed, Sebastian caught me. "Urchin! Good Morning Mon! How are we on this fine morning?", "Oh Good Morning Sebastian! How are you?" i asked the crab while trying to hide a few pranking items such as a sea sponge and tiny clams to name a few.
"Very well mon, what are you up to? Are you looking for Ariel?" he asks me, "Oh ahhh yeeeeahhh" i tell him (totally a lie). Sebastian swims up closer to me and now was floating in my face. "Ohhh good because i can not get that girl to stay put, she has been missing rehearsals and the concert is next week! I do not wish to displease the king! He is really looking forward to this!" the crab explains. "Wait what?" i yell while letting go of my prank items from behind my back "Ariel has been missing rehearsals?" i yell to Sebastian.
I was disappointed as i watched my prank items swim away. I think i even heard one of them say "Sucker!" from the top of its voice. "Urchin, were you about to prank, the princesses?" Sebastian asked as his eyes met mine. He had caught me "Maybe i guess hang on you were saying the Ariel has been missing rehearsals?" i asked while trying to change the subject.
Had she been skipping rehearsals because of me? Why wouldn't she tell me?. I had no clue, Ariel had mentioned nothing. Then it hit me, i should've realised something when swimming past the music room that afternoon hearing her sisters doing singing warms ups!.
I had gone into deep thought and Sebastian noticing went to pinch me on my nose with one of his claws. "OUCH! What was that for?" i cry, "Come back to the water mon, were not listening to me or answering any of my questions! Do you know where Ariel is?" the crab screamed in anger.
I held my nose before gentley rubbing it to make the pain go away "I'm sorry Sebastian, i haven't seen her today but if i do see her i'll make sure to tell her that you are looking for her!" i mumbled. This was true i hadn't see her today but i had a feeling where she might be "Very well Urchin, thank you for your time , i just thought you might know as you two are close friends, haaaaa the king is going to have me for supper if i do not find her!" Sebastian moops to me.
I liked the idea of Sebastian saying that himself and Ariel were close friends although maybe one day they might be something more if he works on his courage. Before Sebastian swims off, he turns round to face me again "Oh by the way, make sure that the king doesn't catch you pranking the princesses again is that clear?" he says in a serious but fair voice before swimming away "Ships honour Sebastian!" i yell to him doing a salute with my right hand.
Ok, that was something i can never promise. Pranking was my thing and he was not going to take that away from me. I now have to be a bit more careful around the palace if i was to prank Ariel's sisters without Sebastian or the King seeing. This was to be a work in progress.
I watched as the crab disappeared out of site and immediately went to look for Ariel. The one place i knew of were she could be was her secret grotto. So i swam out of the palace towards her grotto.
In minutes, i came to the rock entrance of the grotto. I checked to see if anyone was following me and thankfully no one was. Pulling with all my might i managed to move the rock to enter the grotto before it moved back into place.
"Hello? Ariel, Flounder?" i call out as i made my way towards the end of the small tunnel. Ariel turned and began to laugh "Urchin! What on earth happened to your nose? Its as red as Sebastian's shell!" she giggles. I swim towards her frowning not towards her but the fact that she had noticed my small nose injury that had been caused by Sebastian. Which he didn't even apologize for!.
"I swam into Sebastian who pinched me with his claws" i tell her, "Sebastian did this? How come?" she asks. I was going to tell her that he was looking for her but didn't want to admit that i was in a day dream thinking about her "He caught almost about to prank your sisters..." i informed her. Ariel laughs "Oh dear!" she says. Flounder then swims towards me "You look funny with a red nose Urchin!" he giggles.
I was getting pretty peeved now, being teased about my red nose "I hope that it will go away before the concert next week" i cry without thinking. "Oh yes the concert!" Flounder cries, "Oh my gosh the concert is next week?" Ariel shouts. I look towards her "Yes, and that's why i came to find you, Sebastian cornered me in the palace asking me about your whereabouts because you are missing reshearals! How many have you missed?" i gentlely say to her.
Ariel was looking shocked and slightly embarrassed "Researsals! EEK! I totally forgot! I guess i've been getting a bit carried away with my obsession with the human world!" she admits to me looking down towards the ground. I swim over and gentley place my arm around her shoulder "You are loving the human world an't you?" i quietly ask her.
She nods admitting to her newly found obsession "Thank you for being my friend Urchin, indeed i have an obession, i'm sorry if i got you into trouble, i'll make sure to attend all of Sebastian's rehearsals from now until the concert!" she whispers to me. i smiled but began to now worry about what the future had in store.
