The Urban Princesses: Ariel

Chapter 4

"Ariel! Breakfast is ready!"

I groaned and rolled out of bed. I walked downstairs and immediately smelled bacon and burnt pancakes. Abigail was walking towards me with an apron with "I Sing Better Than I Cook" (true) printed on it with a pitcher of orange juice in her hand.

"Ariel, so glad you could join us." She said with a fake smile on her face.

"One of the judges from the competition is here." She said through gritted teeth.

I looked down at myself. I was wearing a blue tank top and dolphin pajamas pants. On my feet were bunny slippers.

I quickly took the bunny slippers off and threw them in the closet and pulled out an orange jacket and quickly put it on.

I walked casually over to the table and sat down next to Aly. The judge was across from me.

"What is he doing here?" I whispered to her.

"Just chill, ok?" She whispered back. "Nice hair." She chuckled.

I looked down at my plate. A reflection of my face flashed back at me. My hair was all over the place. A strand was stuck to my face from drool.

I quickly pushed it out of my face. I noticed the fork next to my plate and grabbed it and started brushing my hair.

Seemal and the judge were talking about the current season of American Idol. They laughed about something and I quickly put down the fork.

"Princeton, this is my youngest daughter, Ariel." My dad introduced me.

Princeton stood up from his chair and stuck his hand out.

I didn't realize what was going on until everybody looked at me. I stood up quickly and leaned across the table and stuck out my hand. The jacket dipped into a pitcher of milk as we shook hands.

I sat back down and squeezed the milk out of the jacket.

I finally got a good look at the judge. He was an older man, probably in his fifties. He was short, and stocky with a brown mustache. He had nicely cut brown hair. I saw him at the competition right before Will kissed me.

"Princeton saw you singing and thought you were amazing." My dad said.

I was shoveling eggs in my mouth when he said this.

"Wha?" I said with eggs in my mouth.

Everybody looked at me. I wiped my mouth and said "Excuse me."

"He was wondering if a talent agent approached you." Seemal commented.

"Oh yeah. One did." I answered.

"Why didn't you tell us?" My dad asked.

"I just....forgot." I mumbled. I stared down at my nails and chipped away at the remaining blue nail polish.

"Your team will do great in finals." Princeton said to Seemal.

"Why thank you! With Ariel I'm sure they will do great!" Seemal looked at me.

I was never really into the whole chorus thing. I like to sing for pleasure every once and a while but I got pulled into the whole chorus thing when I was twelve. Seemal heard me singing while folding napkins at "Tritan's Castle" and insisted I joined his team with the rest of my sisters.

This year, the finals are going to be held in Las Vegas, a big change from our usual crowds.

"We will have to start practicing immediately. Finals are in two weeks." Seemal said as I choked on my bacon.

"Two weeks?!" I said, surprised.

"Yes I know, very close." Princeton clarified.

"But in two weeks Fallon and I are seeing Eric Jacobsen." I added.

"I think you will have to skip it hon." Dad said.

"But we have been anticipating going to see him in concert for years." I added.

"You will have to skip it." Dad said again through clenched teeth.

I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms. This wasn't fair. I never planned on being the best singer on the team and I didn't want to be.

"I have to get going. Thank you for the breakfast, Abigail." Princeton said, getting up from his chair.

Abigail nodded.

I was still slumped in my chair, sulking.

"It was very nice to meet you." Princeton said to me when he got out of his chair.

He walked out of the kitchen, Avery running after him to get the door.

Seemal and dad looked at me with angry eyes. Seemal's usually perfect combed back hair was sticking up on parts of his head. His cocoa skin glistening with sweat.

I pushed out my chair and stomped upstairs.

I ran into my room, slammed the door, laid on my bed and cried. I cried until there was nothing left to cry. I was so mad and stressed. About the finals, about the talent agent, about the Eric Jacobsen concert, about Will.

I reached over my bed and grabbed my phone and dialed Fallon's number. She picked up after the second ring.

"Hey what's up?" She asked.

"I need a beach day."

"I'll be right over."
***
The waves were perfect today. The water temperature was perfect today. Everything was perfect today.

Fallon and I were laying on the sand laughing and telling stories.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a guy with no shirt on. His chest was tanned. There was a shark tooth hanging around his neck. His blond hair was gelled up into spikes.

I turned quickly and saw Ren standing there, staring at the waves.

"Fallon, get up."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just come surf with me."

"Ok?"

We ran out to the water with our boards. I was sure to flip my hair a couple times.

I got up on a seven foot wave and rode it smoothly to shore. I was sure to put a couple of tricks into it, like crossing my feet a few times.

He was on the beach, putting sunscreen on his tanned body.

He saw me surf that wave. I could see the awe on his face.

I smiled at him. He smiled back.

Then, Julia skipped up to him, handed him a smoothie, and kissed him.

My smile disappeared.

****

Sorry! That was a short chapter. I ran out of ideas. Please comment if you like it. I have spent a lot of time on it and I want your feedback. I know it is kinda slow right now but I PROMISE it will get better. Comment if you come up with better ones! Thank y'all for reading!

XOXO
-RavenclawMaven1198