Second Date

Chapter 8: It's Called Cheating

Chapter 8: It's Called Cheating

Eric was a go-getter, full-steam-ahead kind of prince. Life presented challenges and Eric met them with logic in his left hand and reason in his right. He indulged in fantasy from time to time, especially when he was at lost for answers, but fundamentally Eric was a realist.

This persona made Eric the type of prince he was. The type of prince that took the helm of his own ship. The type of prince that refused marriage until he found the perfect girl. The type of prince that questioned gut instinct when it told him the voiceless beauty was the same girl that sang to him on a shipwrecked beach. The type of prince that skewered Ursula the seawitch in a moment of utter heroism. The type of prince that set a goal for happily ever after.

And the type of prince that did not want to go on a date.

"There's no reason for it, Ariel." Prince Eric said. "We're already living happily ever after. Why ruin it with a date?"

Ariel frowned. "Ruin it?"

Eric nodded. He had taken Ariel to her favorite Disney World attraction - a water ride called Splash Mountain. Eric had hoped the gesture would sugar-coat his bad news. Clearly it was not working. Ariel was insistent: she wanted to go on a date.

"Eric how could our happily ever after be spoiled by a date?" Ariel asked. "You can't make happily ever after, unhappily ever after!"

"Exactly." Eric said. "If it's not broke, don't fix it. Or try to break it."

"We don't really know what a date is!" Ariel argued. She splashed Eric with the ride's waterfall, hoping it would lift his mood. "Eric, it could be fun!"

Eric blocked the water. "It might not be fun. Remember the villains cursed the dates. We won't remember anything. I agree with Mickey Mouse. Too many things could go wrong."

"Well if we won't remember anything." Ariel said. "Then what's the harm? Come on Eric! Let's do it!"

Eric was firm. "Too ambiguous Ariel. It's not safe. No place for a princess."

"Don't be so closed minded!" Ariel took his hand. "Eric. Please. For me. I want to try! It's a whole new world and a whole new experience! I want to go on a date."

"Ariel, I'm sorry." Eric shook his head. "But I say no."

"You say...no?"

No other word held such power over Ariel. Immediately she felt repulsed. Every ounce of motivation repelled Ariel in the opposite direction, urging her to rebel. Enraged, Ariel fled across theMagic Kingdom, blowing steam like a super powered turbine. She only stopped after reaching the opposite end of the park. It was the farthest attraction from Splash Mountain, an indoor roller coaster called Space Mountain.

Ariel scaled the white dome of Space Mountain.

"You say no? You say no? No to what? No to something that could be beautiful and exciting?"

Ariel climbed over the building. Reaching the peak, she complained to the stars.

"Why won't Eric go on a date with me? Why won't he do this for me?" Desperately Ariel hugged her shoulders. Her seashell top was damp and it was cold. "What's wrong with me?"

Someone cleared his throat.

Ariel jumped. In her anger she hadn't noticed the other occupant atop Space Mountain's roof. It was a boy, and Ariel recognized him instantly. Jim Hawkins, the hero of Treasure Planet. He sat behind a telescope, notebook on his knee, and pencil in his hand. His telescope was aimed at the moon, but Jim was gazing at Ariel.