Ariel grew up in a strict, formal family. Her parents had very high expectations of her and her sisters. They were well known across the city, and Ariel felt like everyone was always watching her.

Despite her family’s popularity, she only had two friends named Fletcher and Seth.

Everyday at school, she sat at lunch with them. One day, she kept staring off into space, at someone, and Seth noticed. He snapped Ariel out of her daze, but he could tell what was up.

When she came home, her parents informed her they were hosting a dinner party the next evening, and a boy from her grade would be there. Her father wanted them to date. She objected, but it was no use. She walked up to her room and picked out a dress, an ugly one. She didn’t want him to like her. But her mom helped her get ready the next evening, and made sure that she looked her best.

During dessert, her dad brought up the idea of dating, but she grew more and more uncomfortable. She finally bursted out saying that she didn’t wanna date, but her father disagreed, saying she was always practicing kissing on the back of her hand. They all argued until Ariel finally said that she was in love with someone else. She explained who he was, a senior named Eric. He only had seen her in the halls, but he recognized her by her bright red hair, which had been dyed without permission. Her father didn’t approve, they had a strict only date people your age rule, but she liked him a lot. She stormed to her room, slamming the door.

She began to date him in secret, and once her father found out, he was furious. He took her phone and all social media, warning the boy to never speak to her again.

She cried herself to sleep, and when she got to school, all he gave her was a small smile.

Usha, the girl everyone stayed away from, approached her in the hallway. She explained that she could help. She would talk to Eric, who wasn’t speaking to Ariel, as long as Ariel gave her all her homework answers and failed classes so Usha could become the only A student in the class. Ariel agreed.

She flunked her quizzes and tests, and her dad noticed. He also noticed her change in mood, and realized that she wouldn’t be this happy if her grades were so low. He asked, and she told him about her deal with Usha.

He got so mad that he confronted the girl’s parents, who were not aware of how rude and sneaky their daughter was.

The next day at school, Usha began to harass Ariel, pushing her into lockers and giving her bruises.

Eric didn’t hesitate to cut in, and Usha became suspended.

Ariel became mad, and ealized how stupid she had been. She decided Eric wasn’t worth all the trouble, for he still wanted to date in secret and had ignore her. Instead, she wanted to wait until she was a adult to look for a significant other,

She enjoyed the rest of her high school year with her best friends, and she lived happily ever after.