[ariel] deep beneath the sea

[Eric Princeton Barnes]

Eric walked on the beach to clear his mind. A lot of things had clouded it lately. With moving here and the navy. But being here minded him of home and made him more homesick than usual. He looked around and saw it was a few people around but it was not very busy. That was a good thing he could walk and think in peace. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked. His khaki shorts which were knee length and his white tee shirt fluttered in the wind. The light breeze hitting his face brought a smile to his face.

Max would love it here thought Eric as he looked at the water. He made his way towards the water. The water was something he had missed. Something that made him incomplete. He felt calmer and happier when he was near the water. He really needed to go sailing, but he knew for the time being he would have to settle for a swim.

He walked further into the water, but not that deeply and continued to walk down the beach. He paused, and turned to look up in the sky and let the waves hit his calves. He quickly got used to the temputure of the water as he stood there missing home and missing his dog and other things. He had grown so much from the person he used to be. Be fore his little, well it was far from a little accident. It had given him a new view on life and the reason he had practically walked away from his parents' money. He had branched out on his own, an it was a freeing feeling. He looked back down and around the beach and saw someone and he smiled at her.

[Ariel Cordelia Brookes]

The beach had always been home to Ariel. Literally in the sense that she had been raised on a house with the beach as her backyard and figuratively in the sense that she felt the most a t peace when she walked among the shores. It was where she felt she could connect to her mother and when she was in the water the world seemed like such a more peaceful place. Even when the water was rough and crashed over her head she felt like it wouldn't hurt her. Ariel was aware of the danger, she just felt at peace.

The water was to cold for a morning swim and she had to settle for one in the pool. It may rarely get to freezing weather, but the water was still to cold to actually go for a swim in the morning. But she had been restless with her day off and had decided that the beach would calm her down. Her shoes had been left at the house and she walked to where the waves could swell over her feet. The rest of her body was covered by a white sun dress and a jean jacket. Ariel's hair was blowing in the breeze and as she tried to move a piece from in front of her eyes, she noticed someone smile at her.

She had never seen the man before, but she smiled and waved back. At least she hoped he was waving at her. There weren't that many people around. Ariel continued along her path until she met with the man. He was even more handsome up close and she waved again as she got closer. "Hi, I'm umm, Ariel. I don't think I've seen you around here before." She was sure that she would have noticed him. The redhead was at the beach almost all the time.

[Eric Princeton Barnes]

He had yet to take his eyes off the girl. He saw her wave and he waved back. He kept his gaze and smile focused on her as she came closer. The red head looked nice and the way she was waving made her seem friendly enough to approach. Well except that she had approached him, but he was up for a little chat. Maybe a new friend in town would be a good thing.

He heard her introduce herself and he chuckled. This was the first time he had came to the beach. He was still getting settled into his new home and a new town. But he was happy to meet new people, especially all the pretty women he seemed to be meeting. He barely heard her because of the wind, but he caught and it took him a few seconds to decipher what was said.

His smile transformed into a smirk as he held out his hand before replying, "Well hello Ariel, I umm Eric." Eric's voice was a bit louder than hers was but he hoped she would not get offended. He looked at the girl and waited or her to take his hand in return. "Well I am new to town and this is my first time coming to the beach." stated Eric.

"A little too overdo for my usual self, but here I am now though." stated Eric smiling again. He looked down at the sand and kicked a little to the side careful not to send any Ariel's way. He looked back at her with a bright smile. Eric leaned in towards her a bit trying to listen to her speak. He hoped she did not mind his closeness, he was not trying to be too forward or anything.

[Ariel Cordelia Brookes]

When he waved back at her, a small bounce appeared in her step and her eyes got a little brighter. At least she hadn't made a fool of herself. She hummed to herself until she reached him. When she heard him chuckle, she looked confused for a second before she just shrugged it off. Ariel didn't think that she had said anything funny, but people could be strange.

She shook his hand when he offered it to her. "It's nice to meet you Erik. I hope you enjoy it here. It's a nice little town." She sighed softly. As much as she loved her home, all she wanted to do was be able to explore the rest of the world. See all the places she had never been and learn all the things she didn't know. The volume of his voice didn't bother her. One she was used to screaming sisters and two it made it easier to hear over the wind.

"I know what you mean. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have the ocean around me." She hadn't noticed how close he leaned in until after she spoke. A small blush crossed her face but she didn't move. "Where are you from? Did you live near the beach before?" Ariel eyes were full of curiosity and she unconsciously took a step toward him. She always did that when she as full of questions.

"If you ever need someone to show you around or want someone to swim with I'd be happy to do both." Ariel loved meeting new people. They were always full of new information and interesting stories.

[Eric Princeton Barnes]

He smiled when she shook his hand. She had soft, small hands that seem to fit well in hands. "That it is, a very nice town. I like living here very much so far. Seeing things making me like it even more everyday." stated Eric as he released her hand slowly. He noticed the blush on his face and it made him smile brightly. She was very pretty without the blush but the blush just made her look even better. The thought made Eric blush lightly, which he hoped she would not notice. Not that he blushed very often. But something tole him and he knew his blush was not as appealing as hers.

"Yes the beach, well that water can be very peaceful and refreshing. It helps me clear my head and relax when things get a little hectic. I think having something like that in your life is important." replied Eric. It was refreshing to meet someone that seemed to feel the same way about the beach as him. It was a special place to him. He hoped one day to find someone that felt the same way about it as he did. maybe my searching is over thought Eric. But at the same time he really did not want to get his hopes up. But it was a little hope that still lingered.

"Oh well I was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. But spent all my summers at the Hamptons. What about you? Where are you from?" asked Eric looking at the girl in front of him. He saw her take a step closer to him leaving them rather close to each other. Not that Eric minded, I wouldn't mind getting even closer. wow where did that come from thought Eric trying to shake the naughty thoughts flooding his mind.

Her next next statement brought a smile to his face. "Well that would be very kind of you. Would love to see what you have to show me." stated Eric. He cringed slightly hoping she would not take a negative connotation to what he said. He did not need her to think he was sleazy guy or anything. "A swimming partner would be excellent." finished Eric quickly to take the focus off the last statement. But he was pleased to hear that she would be happy to spend time with him.

[Ariel Cordelia Brookes]

It had been a long time, since a guy had made her blush. maybe it was because she had more of them that were friends than guys she was actually interested in. Everyone teased her that she never knew when a guy actually liked her because she was so oblivious. It was true, she never did sarcasm and usually anything that was subtle went over her head. "It is. It doesn't have all the things that the big cities have but it's a good town to live in." As much as she would love to explore the world. Walten City would always be home.

Ariel nodded in agreement. She wasn't sure what she would do if she had to go somewhere were there wasn't a place like this to just sort through her thoughts. A lake worked, but it was the beach that held a special part in her heart. "I know. It's like no matter what happens it will always be here." Not many people understood just the way she felt and despite them saying the right words there just wasn't the connection to the ocean that she felt. There was something about Eric that told her she had a found kindred spirit.

When he started talking about where he was from she smiled. New York, Ariel had loved New York. Though she had only been to the city to visit cousins, it was a place she would always remember. "I was born and raised here. ever really been anywhere else." Except for the city and that one time she had ran away with her boyfriend when she was a teenager. "If I ever get the chance to go up north again I'm going to have to see the Hamptons."

"I'm from around here, so I have a lot to show you. Maybe we can even discover some private little place." She didn't catch onto his words or how her last sentence played into them. All she meant was a quiet place, because as much as she loved people she liked to have her privacy too and thought that maybe it would too. "Great. I haven't had anybody to swim with in a long time. I tend to go really earlier though, unless you prefer something later." Ariel like to start her day with a swim, but she wanted to spend time with him. She was starting to develop a little crush.

Looking up into his eyes she realized how close she had become to him in the process of talking and looked down the blush staining her cheeks even darker. The wind blew some hair into her eyes and she tried to blow it out of her face. Sighing when it refused to move she just left it there and took a step back. "Sorry, I sometimes just get a little excited when I meet new people and invade their personal space."

[Eric Princeton Barnes]

Eric agreed with her about that.Walden City had taken some getting used to. The limited shopping in the town, and short supply of variety and lack of things easily found back home. But everything about moving here had not been bad. "Well there is a lot less noise and traffic, so I am not complaining" joked Eric with a light laugh. Which was true being here was a lot more peaceful than the big cities.

"Yes, exactly like more reliable than some people. More importantly it does not judge just accepts you no matter what." he said closer to her ear. He was happy to find someone that at least relate to hm with his feelings for the sea, maybe she would share his feelings for sailing. He was about to ask but she spoke again.

"Well I would love to show you around NY or the Hamptons anytime." replied Eric with a smile. He raised an eyebrow and his smile turned into a light smirk. He did not know if she meant what he thought but maybe one day she would. Someday soon, Eric did not like having these thoughts. He had been taught to respect women. But he had to admit she was very pretty and he knew that had at least their feelings for water in common. Which was something huge in Eric's book.

"No early mornings are fine, well except when I have to go to the harbor for training." But that is like once a month." replied Eric. Swimming would be great. Especially f he ha Ariel as company. He smiled at the thought. He was liking this girl more and more by the minute. He was falling hard and they had only been talking for a few minutes. When she looked down and blushed Eric smiled. It soon faded when she stepped back. "Oh, well I don't mind" replied Eric taking a step forward. He tentatively brought his hand to push her hair out her face and behind her ear. He wanted to ask her to go sailing with him next week but did not know how to bring up the topic.

"Would you like to go sailing with me, I just got a new boat and would love for you to show me from seaside view." stated Eric slowly removing his hand from her. He hoped he had not scared her, or made her uncomfortable. That was the last thing Erc wanted. He wanted to spend time and get to know her.

[Ariel Cordelia Brookes]

Ariel giggled lightly at his joke. Yeah the lack of traffic was definitely one good thing that had come from living in this town. She didn't know what she would do if she was stuck in a car for hours on end not moving. The times when she had driven herself anywhere always drove her crazy, she was sure that would too. There were other good things about the town. Like the fact that she recognized someone knew right off the bat. Ariel loved the close relationship that were inspired by a small town.

Reliable and she never had to worry about it dying or judging her or changing. Even when she screwed up, it would be here to listen to her story. "You can tell it anything and it doesn't judge you. Sometimes I pretend it's my mother I'm talking to." She hadn't exactly meant to get that personal, but she had never been known for keeping secrets. It seemed like someone was always spilling them anyways.

"Oh great. Than it will definitely have to go on my places to visit list. If only so you can show me around." She smiled shyly at him. There was something about him that made her feel better about being around him. Plus he had a great smile and when it turned it into a smirk it made her stomach turn with butterflies. She was not suppose to be thinking some of the things she was about him. Ariel had been raised to be a good girl. Not tat she always was and did it really matter any what she was thinking about. She was still not the type of girl to make the first move.

Her brow furrowed in curiosity. "Training? What type of training?" It never crossed her mind that maybe she was asking to many questions. She thought of something and she asked it. It was how it had always been with her. When he took a step forward, her breath caught her throat and she grinned, laughing slightly. Maybe he liked her too, she had never been good at guessing other people's feelings and most of the time she read them wrong anyways. But he wanted to be closer to her, so she took that as a good sign. "I'm glad. it's nice having you this close." When he brought his hand to remove the piece of hair she turned her head to where he had to stroke her cheek. It was a little bold for her, but sometimes she could be a little bold.

Sailing, when was the last time she had been on a boat. It had been so few times since her mother's death, but she loved the feeling of them. "I would like that. It's been a long time since I've been on a boat." Now all she had to do was make sure her father never found out. "When did you want to go?"