Ari Syrene

Arabella sighed, “It’s still a no, Ariel. Is that all you came here for?”

Ariel expected this answer, however that didn’t mean she was just going to give up there. She was very persistent herself. “Actually, yes and I know why you don’t want to: you don’t want to go out in public. That’s okay. I bought a movie - sure it’s not the one I was thinking of us watching - but I was thinking... Maybe we can have a movie night just here?” Ariel didn’t know if this was enough for sure, but she desperately wanted to spend more time with Arabella.

“Pretty please, Anna! Pretty please with a cherry on top?” Ariel insisted as she followed her sister at the gym. “I really need a job, surely you can help me.”

“So, is that a still ‘no’ to movie night?” Ariel asked once more as soon as her older sister had opened the apartment door, rather than greeting her, hoping to catch her by surprise. 

“You are never going to believe this! Remember how I told you I met that handsome CNA at the hospital? You know Erik? With black onyx hair and beautiful blue eyes? Remember? You remember!” Ari continued to nudge her sister’s shoulder, so excited to tell her the news, that she couldn’t even literally say the words, just repeat the question. “Well, guess what: we kissed!”

Erik chuckled at Ariel’s small defense towards her multiple relationships however it then softened into a smile as he couldn’t help but just realize how much he truly did have in common with the red head’s philosophy. After all, he too was a hopeless romantic. “Yeah, because whenever you do end up with that certain someone… it’s not just right, it’s perfect.”  He looked up at her, and even though he had finished patching her up, he didn’t move away. He couldn’t help but literally get… well, lost in her bright blue eyes. With each tender blink, they took him to a whole another world of happiness and comforting excitement. A world where he could just be… well, with her. “Yeah… You are indescribable, Ariel.”

“Exactly.” Ariel breathed, hearing his words. It was such an incredible feeling that Erik left inside her after each of their conversations. Someone who always understood what she meant and never thought she was just being “childish” or “naive”. Someone who did believe in things such as “happily ever after” and “true love”. Hearing his next words, she could feel her cheeks reddening, blushing like an idiot however she didn’t care. It was probably the most sweetest yet most considerate and sincere compliment Ari had ever received in her whole life. It didn’t take long for suddenly Ariel found herself slowly leaning in for a second, kissing Erik on the lips. It only took the next second for Ariel to realize what she was doing and pull away and stood up straight, worry and fear overtook her as she didn’t mean to go that far. “Shit, I mean... I’m sorry. Sorry for kissing you and sorry for swearing.”

“I’ve certainly never seen anything like it,” she agreed, dropping it back into the other redhead’s hands. “Did you just say on the other side of the street? You just picked it up from… the ground?”Darcy blinked at her in disbelief.

“I know right! I think it could just be the next big thing in fashion!” Ariel insisted, happy to hear the other’s small compliment about the old bag. She paused, hearing Darcy’s question. “Don’t worry, of course, it wasn’t in the worse neighborhood where I found it. It was in a nice suburb, lying just a bit next to the brown cart that is next to the poly cart. So technically, it’s not trash. It’s recycling!” She empathized the last word with jazz hands.

“You arm wrestle your sisters all at the same time?” Pietro asked, raising a brow quizzically, “Doesn’t matter, you’re not gonna win this.”

“More like actual full body wrestling.” Ariel chuckled with a playful smile as she prepped her arm, ready to take him on. After all, being the youngest did have it’s advantages as well as it’s disadvantages. “So, I’m pretty sure I got this one in the bag.”

Adeline could certainly be selfish and self-centred sometimes but she wasn’t blind or uncaring as to her siblings feelings. It was why she knew immediately that Ariel was still very upset with the situation. “Want to talk about everything?” She asked after a moment, resting a hand on the red heads knee.

Ariel let out a sigh, as she placed her hand over her sister’s. She always knew deep down she could count on any of her sisters’ support and with Adeline especially, she knew she could count on her honesty. “Some of my peers don’t like the idea of how ‘easy’ I seem to have it. Not needing a job to pay for college and still living at home rent free...” She thought for a minute, biting her lip. If only those people knew that if Mr. Syrene knew of Ari’s true major... “And I know I’m not the easiest to get along with... Believe me. I just... I guess what I'm wondering is... Am I that bad?” 

It felt so long ago, his devastating sudden breakup with his once soon to be fiance even though it had only been a couple months. He had been so lost, confused, heartbroken… Yet now, he didn’t feel that way anymore. It was crazy to think this but Erik knew that ever since he had met Ariel… He had nearly forgotten all about the breakup. Instead, she filled that pain with happiness and joy and laughter… And they had only been able to talk whenever she was sick or injured! “You have?” He asked, his eyes widening a bit as he listened to her. That itself was nearly preposterous to think about. Who couldn’t love Ariel? “Oblivious?” He softly chuckled to her comment. “It probably won’t be for long, Ari… After all, it’s impossible not to notice you.”

“Oh yes, but not because i’m you know, a crazy lady or anything who can’t hold down a relationship, I swear.” Ariel insisted, as she really didn’t want him to mistake her bad luck for anything else. “I guess I just... I don’t know, I expect too much, you know? After all, whenever you do get with someone, you always hope you’ll be together forever. Like it’s meant to be.” God, could she be more of a hopeless romantic when it came down to it? She felt her cheeks redden to the color of her hair though as she heard his last words. She looked him in the eyes as he finished stitching the wound that she had nearly forgotten about during this whole talk. “You really think so?” She asked, biting the bottom of her lip.

“Expert party dude… I don’t think I have ever heard someone make it sound so dorky before.” Frederick commented with a snort of amusement.

“You got a better name for it?” Ari scoffed with a chuckle. “Dorky but in a cute way right? Or am I failing that too?”

Flynn looked up when he heard someone call out to him, noting that the girl was wanting his used toothpick which cause a look of amusement and curiosity on his face. “You want- the toothpick?” He asked, just wanting to make sure before handing it over, observing her small fort of waffles. “So are you planning on eating that or living in it?”

“Thank you! And yes, it’ll be perfect, watch!” Ariel gleamed as she used the toothpick sort of like a hinge for the small waffle house’s door, so she could open and close it. She let out a chuckle upon hearing the guy’s comment. “You know, I was going to but now that it looks so nice... I’m a bit sad to have to destroy it.”

“Good thing I’m not looking for your approval,” Arabella replied, “Sorry, I have plans tonight,” She didn’t actually have any solid plans except going to the bar for a few drinks but she wasn’t going to tell her sister that. No matter what they said, she always thought that they were only spending time with her because they felt sorry for her. after what had happened years before. Or maybe she just didn’t want to feel the pressure to be perfect from anyone. Either way she wasn’t going to voice her thoughts.

She owned her stuff, Ariel would always give her that. “Plans doing what?” She asked, not meaning to sound so nosy but Ari knew better of what was going on. Being the baby of the family, she knew that sometimes she wasn’t always the “perfect” buddy for sisters to hang out with. Not that they didn’t love her, it was just the basic sibling rule. “Please, Ara!” She insisted with a sigh. “I really want to see this movie. And besides, I felt like we haven’t hang out for a long... long... long, long time!” Yes, she was exaggerating, hoping to get a spring out of her older sister.

Adeline paused what she was doing, giving the girl a side glance because she wasn’t sure she liked where this was going, however when her sister spoke again, Adeline’s mouth hung open before she burst out laughing. “An obnoxious mooch?” She repeated in between laughs. “Oh, I do like that one.” She admitted, having never heard anyone use that expression before. “But… as annoying as you are… I wouldn’t go that far.”

Hearing her sister’s laugh, normally would have eased Ariel however not so much this time. She couldn’t help but let the words bother her as she sighed. She knew she could act out on occasion, and that she was still living with their dad rent free... But Ari never thought she was that bad.  “Yeah, you’re right... It’s stupid... I wouldn’t think twice of it...” She softly chuckled back at her sister, not wanting to show how upset she was about it.

Hearing Ariel’s words, caught Erik off guard as he paused just upon finishing cleaning up the wound. He was surprised by her words but not in bad way. Never in a bad way when it came to Ariel. “No, no, you’re good, Ariel.” He assured, stopping her from continuing to apologize for her words. Erik always had a philosophy that if someone was big enough to ask the question, well they were big enough to receive the answer. He also didn’t want to lie to her. “No, I was engaged but it… it didn’t work out so well.” He cleared his throat, trying to clear any unwanted tension he may have just added in. “What about you? Anyone catch your eye..?” He asked, actually worried what her answer would be and prayed he was just being negative.

Erik had once been engaged? That was something Ariel had not seen coming, in fact she had worried at first that meant there was no chance... But then she remembered he said was engaged, as in not anymore. Still, although this did lead some hope in her, Ariel remained calm as she still cared about Erik, including his past that remained a mystery to her. “I’m so sorry to hear that, Erik. I’ve had my share of unlucky relationships too. I’m kind of like an expert in it.” She softly joked, trying to lighten the mood a bit. She shook her head, answering his question, with a playful smile. “Maybe... But, I don’t know, he can be a bit... oblivious. I may never be noticed by him.”

Anna raised her hands in defence as she listened to her sister go off on a rant once again. She let out a small sigh as she was shown the vial. “I understand your point Ariel.” she paused unsure of how to continue. “But i also see his viewpoint.” she bit down on her bottom lip as she waited for her sister to go off at her. “I’m just saying you both have justified cases.”

“His viewpoint?! Anna, he’s completely out of hand! More so with all of you out of the house, he is constantly just trying to find ways to make me well... not me!” Ariel exclaimed upon hearing Anna’s words. Ari knew she was being quite the drama queen, however she had a good right to be. Their dad was always looking to make Ariel stay within his boundaries. She sighed though upon hearing her sister’s next remark. She shook her head, trying to convince her. “No, Anna. We are sisters, we are a united front or else we don’t stand a chance against his controlling ways.”