Chapter Nine

"Come in!" A man with a deep and powerful voice yelled from the other side of the door. Polly walked inside with a cutesy smile, making her father, the principal, slightly agitated. "What did you do, Polly? I told you to stay out of trouble for a week, or I'd be forced to give you in school detention."

"Oh daddy, I didn't do anything. I've been very good for the rest of this week." Polly said with a smile.

"Mmm, then what is it?" He asked.

"Can I please use your phone to call someone? Pleaseeeeeeeeeeee?" Polly pleaded, making her father sigh.

"Fine, but please hurry up."

"It's a private call, daddy. You have to step outside."

"Now wait a minute Polly, I can't leave students in here unsupervised."

"Good thing I'm also your daughter." He gave her a glare. "Daddy, come on. It'll take one minute. Please?" Polly asked again. Her father eventually gave in to the small cute pout she made.

"Alright. One minute and that is it." Polly squealed and hugged her father.

"Thank you, daddy! I mean, Principal Randall." He smiled and stepped outside. Polly sat in his seat, picked up the phone, and dialed Michael's number. Polly impatiently tapped her foot waiting for him to answer and rolled her eyes when he finally answered.

"H-Hey Polly, you're hot, I mean, how are you?" Polly shook her head at his banter.

"Hey Michael. Do you and Ernest go to homecoming?" Polly asked.

"Yeah we do.. Are you going?" He asked. Michael was nervous at the thought of asking her to homecoming. Would she even say yes?

"Just asking. I have a plan, but I can't tell you now. I'll talk to you later, thanks." Polly hung up and had a smile on her face. Ariel may be able to say no to her, but she has a hard time saying no to Ernest. "This is going to be great. I can't wait to put this plan into play." Polly said as she left the office, said thank you to her father, and walked back to the cafeteria to eat with Ariel.

"Hey Polly, where'd you go?" Ariel asked.

"Restroom. Bad, bad tacos." Ariel's face scrunched up in disgust.

"That's so nasty, Polly.." Ariel said.

"You asked, I answered my friend." Polly said before putting a limp fry in her mouth. "So, about homecoming-" Ariel let out a frustrated groan.

"Polly, I told you. I'll think about it." Ariel restated. Polly rose her chubby hands up in defeat and continued eating, laughing to herself as she thought Ariel was finally going to homecoming. "Polly, what are you laughing about?"

"You heard that?!" Polly exclaimed, making Ariel roll her eyes and continue eating. After lunch, Ariel and Polly went to their last class of the day, with more problems than wanted.

"Give it back." Ariel looked up to see Lindsey chewing her pink bubblegum, blowing obnoxious bubbles and smacking vigorously.

"Give what back, Lindsey?" Ariel asked. Lindsey released an annoyed groan.

"My phone. I know you took it." Lindsey said as her blonde ponytail swung around.

"Sorry, Lindsey. I haven't seen a phone. Besides, class just started and I was sitting here the whole time. How could I have physically taken your phone?" The class snickered as Lindsey's pale face was colored pink.

"Stop lying!"

"Hey, back up, scrawny!" Polly spoke up. The argument went back and forth for what felt like forever, but at one point, Ariel tuned out. It’s what she does when she gets irritated.

Don't say the wrong things.

Do NOT threaten.

And absolutely do not raise your hand up at anyone.

Were the three rules Ariel told herself. She wasn't a violent person, honest, but there are times when it feels like her buttons were being pushed a little too much.

"She stole my phone!"

"No she did not!"

"Hey Lindsey, isn't this your phone right here?" Ariel, Polly and Lindsey looked at Chad, the school's quarterback. He's a junior, very sweet and smart, but the sciences aren't his best subject. He had black hair, hazel eyes and was 5 '11. Many people would call him the most attractive and kindest guy in school.

Ariel's first encounter with him was back in freshman year; people were picking on Ariel because they've never seen a black girl at a white prestigious school. His exact words were

"Leave her alone. She's just really smart. What's the big damn deal?"

Ariel wasn't completely sure if he's the reason people don't mess with her as much, or what, but she really appreciated the times he helped her out.

There are some good white people in the world.

Ariel reminded herself.

"Oh.." Lindsey blushed, not out of embarrassment, but shyness as Chad spoke to her. "Where was it?" She asked.

"In your backpack." He said. "I saw you throw it in there when you realized you were going to be late for class." Chad explained.

"Oh, I see." Lindsey walked over to grab her phone, but Chad pulled it out of her reach. "Hey, what are you doing?" Lindsey asked.

"You owe Ariel an apology." He said, making her frown.

"I made a mistake, so what?" She snapped.

"It wasn't just a mistake. You accused her of something that can get her expelled. Apologize, or I'm breaking.. whatever the hell this thing is.. I've never even seen this model before." He said, making the class laugh, including Ariel. Chad couldn't help, but show a smile that seemed to only show when Ariel did.

"I'm sorry, Ariel.." Lindsey mumbled.

"Ariel, is that good enough for you?" Chad asked.

"It is. Thank you once again, Chad." He smiled.

"Here you go Lindsey. One cellphone coming right up." Chad handed her the cellphone and Lindsey rudely snatched it and sat in her seat. Everything went back to it's usual path and it was all going to end okay.

When school was over, Ariel and Polly left class and walked down the hallways painted white and thought once they left, they'd meet up with the boys, but things went a little differently than Ariel expected.

"Hey Ariel, wait up!" Ariel and Polly were absolutely astounded as Chad ran over to them. "Polly, you look nice today." Chad said, making Polly smile.

"Thank you, Chad and may I say you're looking absolutely tubular." Polly responded, making Chad chuckle.

"As usual Polly, you're very bold." Chad said before looking at Ariel. "You look pretty too, Ariel."

Wait.

Ariel thought. She never had a guy like Chad call her pretty, so she was a bit taken aback.

"Well.. Golly, thank you so much, Chad. That's very sweet of you." Chad shrugged.

"Only the truth. You have such clear skin and I love your hair. It's different from most. Everyone else's hair is straight, but it's like yours defies gravity. That's pretty cool." He said. "Is it okay if i touch it?"

"She's not a petting zoo, Chad." Polly snapped, making Chad blush in embarrassment.

"I know that.. I'm sorry. Was that rude?" Chad asked, but Ariel smiled.

"It's okay. I'm glad you asked. Most people would have just touched it without asking at all. You can touch my hair, Chad." Ariel said. Chad smiled and touched her hair.

"Wow, it's a lot softer than I imagined."

That shocked Ariel. Usually, people assumed her hair was rough, but for Chad to say the opposite really flattered her. He was so different. An angel even.

He's treating you like a human being.

And as sad as it may sound, that made him an angel around here.

Ariel thought.

"Well, thank you, Chad. I really appreciate that." Ariel said with a smile, causing a slight tint of pink appeared in Chad's cheeks and if Ariel was light in any way, it'd be obvious she was blushing too.

And Polly didn't like this atmosphere at all.

"Alright, thank you. Ariel, we need to go." Polly pleaded.

"Oh right.. We can't keep the boys waiting." Ariel said. "Goodbye Chad, see you tomorrow." Ariel said before Polly dragged her out of the school. As Ariel and Polly made it outside, they saw Ernest and Michael waiting for them. Ernest had the biggest smile on his face when he saw Ariel, but oddly enough, his smile faded as Chad once again stopped Ariel and did a very unthinkable thing.

"Wait, can I have your number? You're the smartest girl in my class and I need to pass. Besides, I know for a fact you won't waste time trying to flirt with me." Polly shook her, mouthing the word no at Ariel, but Ariel paid her no mind. This isn't the first time she tutored a rich white boy.

"Why, sure. I'd be more than happy to help you." Ariel gave Chad her number and she didn't notice, but Chad watched her put her number in his phone with an unreadable expression. "There you go." He flashed a quick smile.

"Thank you so much. I'll call you later to set up a date and time?" Ariel smiled.

"Absolutely."

"Dude, we have practice!" A teammate yelled. Chad sighed, muttered another thank you and ran back to the field. Ariel waved him goodbye and turned around to see neither Ernest or Michael around.

"Polly, where'd the boys go?" Ariel asked.

"Ariel, you just gave another guy your number.."

"So? Am I not allowed to do that?"

"I mean, jeez, of course you are, but.."

"But what?" Ariel was actually a little annoyed at all of this.

"He was looking kind of green."

"Green? You mean, sick?" Ariel asked, sounding a little concerned.

"No, Ariel. Jealous."

"Jealous?!" Ariel exclaimed.

Jealous.