The bell sounded. A new customer for Dimitri. He came out from his storeroom. He found Eric standing at a display, eying the guitars hanging on the wall. Dimitri smirked.

"Thinking about taking up the guitar, my friend."

Eric turned.

"Haha. Like I have the time."

Dimitri smiled and laughed at his friend's joke, but inwardly he cringed, thinking of Meg.

"So, what's up, man?"

"Not a whole lot. Just thought I'd stop in on my lunch hour. I know I've sorta been MIA lately."

Dimitri nodded.

"Yeah, I noticed. Work keeping you busy?"

Eric nodded.

"And I think it's taking it's toll on Meg."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Which is where you come in."

Dimitri grew stiff. Sweat perspired on the nape of his neck. His body temperature skyrocketed. What was he supposed to say to that? What did Eric want from him? Had Meg told him? Dimitri wondered if standing Meg up last night had just broken her sanity completely.

"How exactly?"

"Well, Meg's birthday is coming up next week and I want to do something really special for her considering I've been such a flake lately."

Dimitri felt relief sweep through him. Eric was still in the dark about Meg and him.

"Sounds good. What's your plan?"

"Well, I want to have a little dinner party, maybe next Friday? I want to invite Jane and some of her other friends from work and Charming and you, obviously. Oh and you can even bring Jasmine if you want."

"Cool. Will do. What do you need my help with?"

Eric shyly smiled.

"Well, pretty much everything. I mean I'll foot the bill, no problem. But inviting people, getting the food and decorations - "

"I'll take care of it, bro."

"Thanks, man. I knew you were my best friend for a reason."

A pang of guilt struck Dimitri in the heart. Eric didn't know the half of it.

"No problem. I'll let Jasmine know. She loves this kind of stuff."

"Great! Well, I better get back to the office before the world ends. Thanks, again."

"Yeah. Sure. Later man."

Dimitri watched Eric walk out with a confident and accomplished smile on his face. As much as he valued Eric's friendship, he also was annoyed with him for the way he continued to treat Meg. And Meg was more than willing to let him. Eric had a good heart, he'd give him that. But he constantly put Meg as a second priority to everything. If Dimitri really thought about it, that night in the coat closet was partly Eric's fault. Dimitri shook his head. When did he start blaming Eric for Meg's unhappiness? Dimitri wondered why all the sudden he felt so protective of her. He reminded himself that he was not her boyfriend and that's how she had wanted it.

Meg ran out of the coffee shop in a hurry. Her lunch meeting had run later than expected and she was supposed to be back at the office fifteen minutes ago. She had stopped for an extra dose of caffeine to get her through the afternoon. Meg hated the weeks approaching Fashion Week. Cruella became impossible to work with and demanded beyond perfection from everyone. It had been almost a week since the luncheon and the Fashion Week issue was set to go on stands tomorrow. During a shoot two days ago, Cruella drew one of the models, Cinderella to tears and forced another, Esmeralda off the shoot. When Meg signed up as layout designer she had no idea what she was getting herself into.

"Well if it isn't my little Nutmeg."

She was so wrapped up in thoughts about work that she didn't see who she had just walked past. And she didn't care to, either.

"Keep moving junior," she said to Flynn.

"What you don't have anything to say to me?"

"Not particularly, no."

She tried to continue her walk but he blocked her.

"Do you mind?"

"Actually, I do. I just want to talk. Is that such a big deal?"

"Yes, it is. I'm running late."

"Have to get back to the office, huh?"

"Yes, as a matter a fact I do."

"You can't spare a couple of minutes to talk to a dear old friend?"

"I can't spare a couple seconds, Flynn! So if you don't mind - "

"That was the trouble with you, Nutmeg."

"Excuse me?"

"You never made time for me when I really need you. And you wonder why I fooled around with my secretary. Thank God, I have Aurora now."

"You son of a bitch!"

"And Aurora never calls me names either. It's so nice to finally have a perfect girlfriend. How does Eric even put up with you, Nutmeg?"

Meg's anger helped to her fight the tears beginning to well up on her eyes. She wanted so badly to punch him in the face. She wanted to tell him how selfish and egotistical he was. But no words were forthcoming.

"He bothering you, Meg?"

Meg turned to see Dimitri standing next to her, arms folded, glaring at Flynn.

"We were just having a friendly conversation, weren't we, Nutmeg?" Flynn responded, mocking her.

"Didn't look like that from where I was standing."

"Well, maybe you should stand somewhere else. Get lost."

"No. I don't think so. See, Meg is a friend of mine and what kind of friend would I be if I let some jerkoff upset her?"

Flynn rolled is eyes.

"Whatever. I'm bored with this already. Nice to see you again, Nutmeg."

And with that Flynn, sauntered off, pretty pleased with himself.

Dimitri turned to Meg.

"Are you alright?"

Meg looked up at Dimitri. His brown eyes were wide with concern. He put his hands on her arms, assessing her state.

"I'm fine."

"No you're not. I can tell by the color of your eyes."

Dimitri could always tell her mood by her ever changing violet eyes.

"Well, good for you."

"Hey, wait. Are you mad at me?"

She continued walking. He followed her.

"Mad at you? Why would I be mad at you? It's not like you stood me up last week or anything."

Dimitri went silent.

"That's what I thought."

Meg stomped off.

"Meg, wait don't be like that."

"See ya later, jerk. It's been a real slice."

Dimitri watched her as she entered her office building. He wanted to run after her and talk to her. But what was he going to say that he hadn't already said? That he cared for her. That he hated it when she was sad. That he wanted nothing more than to ring that guy's neck for talking to her. But he couldn't. Once again, Dimitri reminded himself that he was not Meg's hero or her boyfriend. He was her boyfriend's friend and that's all he was ever going to be.

Dimitri sighed and walked back down the street. He still had a lot of stuff to take care of before the party later. While he walked, he wondered if he and Meg would ever admit to themselves and each other how they really felt.