Ariel lifted her arms above her head for a moment, stretching her limbs and frame, back arching. When she relaxed she felt rested and her arms lowered to her side easily. The soft thud of metal agains the wooden door of the apartment had her turning, and she noticed that he was looking at her.
She offered a shy smile and a playful, almost inviting look at him over her shoulder before she turned and moved easily into the kitchen.
After a bit of searching, and some banging around, Ariel had found some food in the fridge. The sink could be heard and then Ariel lifted herself up on to the flat of the counter next to the sink, a bowl of large, plump strawberries cupped both palms. She had seen the fruit at the market but had found it strange and so she had not tried it. Today she was feeling bold, despite the sting from the tended to laceration on her face. Already it was beginning to bruise the skin. The fruit was a welcomed pop of excitement and its color was but a shade lighter than her own hair.