The day is here. Where all the women dress like royalty and all the men dress like business men; homecoming.And Ernest is freaking out."Ernest sweetie, we can get another suit.." His mother said, but that didn't slow Ernest pacing at all."Homecoming is TODAY! I can't get a new suit right now! It's impossible!" He exclaimed."Well, maybe you still wear this.." His mother lifted up his suit to reveal it covered in bleach stains.Apparently, his father tried to wash clothes while he was drunk and Ernest’s suit paid the price."Oh no.." Ernest sighed and slumped on the couch. "I can't go to the dance in that, mom. My first date and I fucked that up too.." Ernest mumbled."First date? But I thought you've been on plenty of dates?" His mother asked.Ernest found himself blushing at his mothers catch on; yes, he has been out with other girls before, but those girls asked him out. Ernest never wanted to take someone out and show them a good time before meeting Ariel."Yeah, I meant the fir
"Hello Ernest." Ariel said as she walked down the stairs. "Wow.. Ariel, you look beautiful." Ernest said, making Ariel blush. "Thank you, Ernest." Ariel said while doing a courtesy. "You look rather handsome yourself." She's like a princess. Ernest thought. "Ohhhh, we HAVE to take pictures!" Polly said. "Daddy, where's the camera?!" "I'm getting it now, sweetie!" Timothy yelled from a different room. Timothy came back with the polaroid camera and took multiple pictures of the group. They had cute photos, silly goofy photos, the annoyed trying to get everyone to do the same pose photos, and even the date photos. And it was in that moment that all four of them thought, Wow, these are really my friends. After they finished taking the photos, they all got into Michael's car and drove to homecoming. When they got there, there was a line to get inside the building. "Jeez, I hope I can find parking." Michael said, but to his luck, he was able to find parking about two blocks away
“Mm mm mm. Your daughter has grown up to be a fine young woman. She's already sixteen, Ivory." Crenda said to Ariel's mother, Ivory. "I know. Lord, she grew up way too fast. It feels like yesterday when she was saying her first words, and now she's gonna be graduating from high school soon." Ivory slightly sobbed."Girl, don't start crying on me. Come here." Crenda hugged Ivory and patted her back as Ivory sniffled."I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be crying, but I'm just so proud of her." Ivory said as the hug was broken and fanning herself.
Ernest made it back home and started searching for his key. After searching for about a good minute, he realized it probably dropped in the water. He let out a frustrated groan and banged on the door as loud as he could. The door swung up to reveal a frustrated middle aged woman on the other side."Excuse me, but- Oh my God, Ernest! What happened to you?!" Ernest's mother, Amy, said."I slipped over Deadmans bridge.." He mumbled, making Amy gasp."My God, how did you get out? You can't swim." Ernest started to feel annoyed at his mom for pointing out the obvious, but also annoyed that he still couldn't quite picture the face of the girl who saved his life."I was lucky enough to fall close to land and pull myself up." He lied. "Mom, I'm okay, really. I just really need a
"Ariel, what are you doing back here?" Ivory asked, but Ariel made sure she stepped forward enough so she wouldn't see the two white boys in the backyard."Nothing momma." Ariel motioned her hands behind her back to let them know it was their chance to leave. Michael snorted and Ernest bit his lip to avoid laughing. They hopped over the fence and left."There, you said thank you and found the girl. Now can I copy your homework?""Mhm." Ernest said as he stared at the number on his arm."Are you really going to call that girl?" Michael asked."Yeah. I wouldn't have asked for her number if I wasn't." Michael shook his head at Ernest."Whatever, I have nothing to do with this. Just g
Ernest let out a groan as his alarm went off; he groggily sat up and felt his phone underneath his hand. He picked it up and saw that it was on a phone call; he put the phone up to his ear and smiled as he heard her soft breathing.So cute, he thought."Wait.. Doesn't she have class?" Ernest asked himself. "Ariel, wake up." Ernest said loudly, making Ariel snort and sit up abruptly."I'm up momma.." She said sleepily, making Ernest muffle his laughter."I'm not your mom, Ariel." Ernest said, making her gasp."Oh my God, I'm so embarrassed.." Ariel said. "I'm so sorry, Ernest.""It's okay. We all have our moments. I just wanted to wake you up. Don’t want to miss classes." Ern
When class ended, Ernest snuck out of class as quickly as possible to make it out of the school."Mr. Rivers, where do you think you're going? You have detention." Mrs. Baxby said."Mrs. Baxby- dear God.." Ernest said with a dropped jaw as his best friend was running down the hall screaming in his underwear.He asked for a distraction to get out of detention, but he wasn't expecting this.While Mrs. Baxby was distracted, Ernest made haste and rushed to Deadmans bridge.Ernest felt his world spin each step he took. The air seemed thicker than honey and his legs were wobbly before he started running. He was admittedly nervous and had no idea how to get rid of the feeling.But what w
Another dreadful morning for Ariel as she woke up once again to go to school out of all places. Ariel sat up and stretched before getting up to take a shower. During her shower, she couldn't help, but think about Ernest. He seemed to constantly hurt himself and that worried Ariel. She hoped he made it home safe last night.When Ariel got home last night, she checked the lamp to see if it worked and it did. She fixed it up and made it nice and sat it in her backpack for the clumsy boy she met at Deadmans Bridge.But overall, he's nothing how her mother described him to be. She always told her to stay away from white men because of how dangerous they are, especially to people like Ariel. Ernest wasn't like that all, in fact, he's more of a danger to himself than anyone else, really.After Ariel finished her shower, sh
"Hello Ernest." Ariel said as she walked down the stairs. "Wow.. Ariel, you look beautiful." Ernest said, making Ariel blush. "Thank you, Ernest." Ariel said while doing a courtesy. "You look rather handsome yourself." She's like a princess. Ernest thought. "Ohhhh, we HAVE to take pictures!" Polly said. "Daddy, where's the camera?!" "I'm getting it now, sweetie!" Timothy yelled from a different room. Timothy came back with the polaroid camera and took multiple pictures of the group. They had cute photos, silly goofy photos, the annoyed trying to get everyone to do the same pose photos, and even the date photos. And it was in that moment that all four of them thought, Wow, these are really my friends. After they finished taking the photos, they all got into Michael's car and drove to homecoming. When they got there, there was a line to get inside the building. "Jeez, I hope I can find parking." Michael said, but to his luck, he was able to find parking about two blocks away
The day is here. Where all the women dress like royalty and all the men dress like business men; homecoming.And Ernest is freaking out."Ernest sweetie, we can get another suit.." His mother said, but that didn't slow Ernest pacing at all."Homecoming is TODAY! I can't get a new suit right now! It's impossible!" He exclaimed."Well, maybe you still wear this.." His mother lifted up his suit to reveal it covered in bleach stains.Apparently, his father tried to wash clothes while he was drunk and Ernest’s suit paid the price."Oh no.." Ernest sighed and slumped on the couch. "I can't go to the dance in that, mom. My first date and I fucked that up too.." Ernest mumbled."First date? But I thought you've been on plenty of dates?" His mother asked.Ernest found himself blushing at his mothers catch on; yes, he has been out with other girls before, but those girls asked him out. Ernest never wanted to take someone out and show them a good time before meeting Ariel."Yeah, I meant the fir
Ariel was drenched in sweat, pushing herself way beyond her limits as she punched and kicked the punching bag."Aye kid!" A man yelled, making Ariel grab the punching bag to stop it and look at him."Oh, yes coach?" Ariel asked."Go home. Don't want to see your face again for the rest of the week.""Wait, what? Why?" Ariel asked."Firstly because you're taking up other clients' time. Secondly, you're pushing yourself way too hard and finally, whatever you're mad. or stressed about, punching and kicking isn't helping. You need to nip whatever it is in the bud. Now go home, I'm serious. You need to go.""Fine.." Ariel said. Ariel dried off her face with the towel she brought, grabbed all of her things and left.The truth was, Ariel wasn't mad at all. She was nervous and stressed out.°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•Ariel stared at her ticket in disbelief. She was so shocked to see that she actually had a ticket to go to homecoming. It was laminated. Had the most
"Oh, Ariel, I got a letter from your school talking about homecoming. Are you going this year?" Ivory asked. "Oh.. I don't know, momma. Probably not." Ariel said. "It's for the best anyway. I don't really feel like dealing with all the stares." She explained. "Hey, I'm going to go take a shower, okay?" "Yes. Of course." Ivory said. Ariel grabbed her things and brought them upstairs to her room to take a shower. While Ariel is taking a shower, not too far from her was her friend’s scheming. "This is crazy!" Frankie whispered. "Polly, when you asked for my help, I didn't know it was to break into your school!" "Look, I usually don't ask for your help, but you're the best at picking locks and plus, the cameras back here don't work. Just pick the lock and you can go straight home. No harm done." Polly said. "Easy for you to say. You're not black." Frankie retorted. "Dude, just open it." Michael said in annoyance. "No, fuck you guys. I need to get home." Frankie said before trying
"Ariel Nicolette Smith!" Ivory yelled. Ariel groaned at the boom of Ivory's voice. "What does she want?" Ariel said groggily. Ariel had already gotten in trouble for eating all the chocolate in the house. What could she possibly be in trouble for now? "Don't make me come up there! Get down here, now!" Ivory yelled again. Ariel groaned while rolling out of bed and walking downstairs with her bonnet and robe on. "Ariel!" "I'm coming momma. I'm coming." Ariel came downstairs still feeling sleepy. "What is it?" Ariel asked. "This." Ivory pointed to the door and just as if Ariel luck had just ran out, Chad was at her door. "You care to explain why some white boy is knocking on our door at 10 am." "Oh my God, Chad, I am so sorry. I totally-" "Forgot? Yeah, I did too and I felt bad for coming so late, but looks like you're a little late too." Chad chuckled. Ariel felt a bit embarrassed. "Momma, this is Chad. I'm going to be tutoring him in science for a bit." "Another one? Jeez." I
"Yes?.." Ariel replied hesitantly."You have the capability of being hot?!" Polly exclaimed, making Ariel very embarrassed."Polly, cut that out!""How come you never wear that to school? You look so pretty!" Polly said. "And how come I've never seen you in this?" Polly huffed."Because Polly, we're normally both busy on weekends. And also, I don't have time for boys trying to catch my attention. I need to focus on school and make it to a university. Life may be short, but it's long enough for me to do goals first and boys second.""That's my daughter!" Ivory yelled from the kitchen in a proud tone."Okay, then what about Ernest?"
"It's Saturday, but I'm awake at six in the morning. What is wrong with me?" Ariel muffled under her pillow as memories of last night flashed through her head.It seemed like Ernest wanted to kiss her, but why would he want to do that? He would have to be interested in her romantically if that's what he wanted, so why would he do that? Ernest couldn't possibly like Ariel, could he?Ariel sighed and got out of her bed to go into the kitchen. She went into the fridge and took out a pan of brownies her mother made for dinner. She sat at the table and began eating the brownies."Chocolate helps with dopamine.." She said while munching on brownies. "Ernest couldn't possibly like me. I mean, what does he even see in me? And more importantly, what do I see in him? He's white. He's so clumsy, barely makes decent grades and
"You are NOT leaving here with just TWO outfits. Three or more, that's the rule." Polly explained. "Plus it's 3 pm. We've been here too long for you to just leave here with two outfits, Ariel.""Ugh, alright.""Great, Ernest, go find something. I'm tired." Ernest stared at Polly in disbelief. What would Ernest know about clothes? He was a boy and Polly knew so much more than he did. "I didn't stutter. Get to it."Ernest got up and started to look around the store for literally anything. While looking, he found a yellow and black shirt, and a black overall skirt to go with it."Hey, what about this?" Ernest asked. Ariel looked at the clothing, gently touching it with her hands."Well, I suppose there's no harm in trying it." A
When Ernest woke up the next morning, he felt so many emotions run through him and almost none of them had to do with Ariel.Of course it bothers him that he has a crush on Ariel, but that was the least of his worries. He knows him and his friends saw a dead body last night. She couldn't have possibly just disappeared and there's no large animals in the woods. That must mean the killer came back, but why? Why would he come back? Was there something there he didn't want found?"Ernest, breakfast is ready!" His mother yelled. Ernest sat up and walked downstairs to eat breakfast. "Good morning, sweetheart. How did you sleep?" She asked as she cooked up some bacon. Ernest's right cheek laid into the palm of his hand. His eyes were baggy and hair was ruffled. He looked like he didn't get much sleep at all."What's sleep?