Chapter Ten

What was that?

Who was that?

And why do I feel like this?

Ernest asked himself a series of questions as he continued walking further away from Ariel's school.

"Dude, wait up!" Michael yelled as he ran next to Ernest. "What is wrong with you? Why did you just rush off like that?" Ernest stopped and looked at Michael.

"I don't know! I just, just." Ernest started pacing. "I see Ariel talking to this guy and this guy is just smiling and Ariel is smiling and they look like they're having a great time and I can feel myself getting irritated, but not at her and-"

"Dude, breathe!" Michael exclaimed, making Ernest stop and take in a deep breath. "Thank you." Michael said. "You're jealous by the way." Ernest stared at Michael a little longer before laughing.

"Jealous? Don't be ridiculous. Ariel is my friend."

"Firstly, you can be jealous of your friends making other friends. Secondly, why'd you assume I meant anything other than friends?" Michael asked. Ernest had no idea how to respond. Ernest has always just seen Ariel as this pretty nice girl with a lot of dresses. Ariel was someone he could talk to with ease.

But liking Ariel? Would that even be okay to do?

Ernest thought to himself.

Ernest has seens interracial couples before and even mixed kids, but never for long. Within a few months, the couple would act like complete strangers, or they left town. He never saw what happened to them to make them split, but it must have been bad. So being with Ariel would be bad.

It's wrong..

I can't like Ariel..

Ernest thought.

"I like Ariel.." Ernest whispered, making Michael's eyes nearly pop out of his head.

"You like Ariel?!" Ernest covered Michaels mouth with both his hands as quickly as he could.

"Shhhhh!" Ernest said. "Not too loud, someone could hear you."

Michael nodded as Ernest removed his hands.

"So.. you like Ariel?" Michael asked. "When was this?"

"I guess I always did. I just never wanted to admit it." Ernest confessed.

"Dude.. Do you know what they do to interracial couples in this town?" Michael asked. Ernest nodded.

"I know, which is why I won't do anything stupid.. Ariel and I are good friends. Me, Ariel, you and Polly are great friends. I don't want to ruin it." Ernest said. "Dude, promise you won't tell anyone. Especially not Polly."

"I won't tell anyone, but control your jealousy. You’re gonna give yourself away." Michael explained. Ernest had a tint of pink in his cheeks and nodded. "Now, let's go back because I'm sure they're confused."

Ernest sighed and nodded. They began walking to get back to Ariel's school. Ernest didn't know what to do. He couldn't possibly tell Ariel he was jealous. As much as Ernest hated to go against his own name, his best option was to lie.

"We're here, butttttt they're not." Michael said. Ernest and Michael scanned the school, but there was no sign of Polly, or Ariel. In fact, there was rarely anybody around at all.

People sure do head off fast.

Ernest thought.

"Great.. Thanks to you, I can't see Polly." Michael said.

"You would have stuttered anyway." Ernest retorted.

"Screw you, water boy!" Michael said. Ernest shook his head and let out a sigh.

"Oh well, may as well head home.." Ernest said. Michael and Ernest left Ariel's school and began walking home. "I hope Ariel isn't upset at me.."

"I'm sure it's fine. It's Ariel, man. She'll understand once you explain." Michael said.

"I'm not telling Ariel I was jealous." Ernest responded, making Michael stop in his tracks.

"Then what are you going to tell her?" Michael asked.

"I'll just say I had to help my mom really quickly because I forgot."

 Michael stared at me.

"I don't know if that's a good idea, Ernest. Lying about some things is okay, but I think it's best to be honest about this one." 

"It'll be fine, now come on. We have to get home, so we can finish up our school work tomorrow." 

"Oh now the school work is important when there's no Ariel." Michael said, making Ernest frustrated.

"Dude, will you shut-" Ernest took a few steps back after accidentally bumping into a man. He looked exhausted, had some stubble on his face. He was a bit taller than both Ernest and Michael. He had shaggy brown hair and a rough appearance in clothing. But what really caught Ernest off was this man's eyes. Something about them read differently. "Uh, sorry about that, sir." Ernest said.

"No worries. Just be a little more careful." And he walked off . 

"That guy was a little off, wasn't he?" Ernest asked . 

"I don't think so. Why?" Michael asked. Ernest looked at the man one last time, before shaking his head. 

"Never mind, I'm reading too deep into it. Let's go." They continued walking and eventually made it to Ernest's house to finish up the project, but at the back of Ernest's mind that man still lurked there, as if he was a shadow. 

After working on the project for a few hours, Michael went home and Ernest went downstairs to eat dinner with his mother.

"Where's dad?" Ernest asked. 

"He's out again with friends."

"Dad never used to go out this much.. What is he even doing?" Ernest asked.

"Well, they're a part of the neighborhood watch. For the killings that's been happening." His mother said. "Bless those poor girls' souls. I really hope the family finds justice and peace." She added before taking a bite of her broccoli. After dinner was done, Ernest helped his mother clean the dishes and started preparing to shower once he finished, but was interrupted when a loud knock was on the door.

"Ernest!"

Michael?

Ernest ran to the door to see Polly sobbing and Michael pale as a ghost.

"What's going on? Are you kids okay?" His mother asked.

"Yeah, what happened?" Ernest asked.

"It's Ariel.." Michael said. Ernest felt his heart plummet.

"What about Ariel?" Ernest asked. "Michael, what about Ariel?!"

"She's missing.." Polly choked out. "I don't understand. I walked her home, I saw her walk into her house and now she's missing. No one can find her.." Polly sobbed.