Friday Night...
"We'll be landing in approximately fifteen minutes. Thank you for flying with us."
Aurora stretched her legs and sighed. She was glad to be getting off the plane soon, but she was sad Spring Break was over.
"Did you have fun?" Philip asked.
Aurora smiled at him. "Of course! I can't wait 'till we go up to No Cal to visit my mom this summer. It's gonna be so much fun!"
"Are we staying the whole summer?" Philip asked.
"We leave early July and get back a week before school starts up, so about two months," Aurora said. "Is that okay?"
Philip nodded. "Absolutely."
Meg shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She had originally been seated next to Thomas, but John made her switch seats with him. She had sat next to Pocahontas and Pocahontas slept the whole time. John and Thomas were across the aisle from Meg and Hercules was sitting in front of them. Meg could not wait to get off the plane. She was going to lock herself in her room and not talk to anyone the rest of the weekend; she was so over people.
Pocahontas stirred in her seat as she woke up. She looked over at Meg. Meg had her head down and she was rubbing her temples.
"I tried talking to Thomas for you," Pocahontas said.
Meg looked up at her. "You did?"
Pocahontas nodded. "It didn't go very well, though."
Meg straightened up. "What did he say?"
"He's convinced you still have feelings for Hercules," Pocahontas replied.
"That's not true!" Meg cried.
Pocahontas put her hand on Meg's arm. "I know it isn't. And I think a part of Thomas knows that, too. But, he's really hung up on hearing you tell Hercules that you wanted to be with him."
Meg groaned. "I wish I could remember what happened that night."
"I don't think that would matter at this point," Pocahontas said. "John is gonna hold onto this and just keep fueling it until Thomas is completely over you."
"Why?"
"He's very protective of Thomas," Pocahontas replied.
"I never wanted to hurt Thomas," Meg said. "He's the most amazing person I know. He's so sweet and caring."
Pocahontas nodded. "That he is. It'd be really easy for someone to take advantage of him."
"No, Pocahontas, that was never my intention," Meg said.
"I know it wasn't. I'm on your side."
"Really?"
"Yes. I'm going to talk to John this weekend and see if I can get him to calm down," Pocahontas said. "I think you'd have a much better chance of getting Thomas back if John wasn't involved."
"Oh, thank you, Pocahontas!" Meg said. "I'd do anything to get Thomas back."
"Do you love him?"
The question took Meg by surprised. "I don't know. I mean, the feelings I have for Thomas are stronger than anything I've ever felt before." Meg bit her bottom lip. "I think I do love him."
"Did you hear that, John?" Pocahontas asked, leaning over Meg.
"Yeah, I heard," John said. "Girls will say anything to get out of being in trouble."
Meg gave John a dirty look, but before she could tell John exactly what was on her mind, Pocahontas replied.
"You're unbelievable, John," Pocahontas said.
John twisted in his seat so he was facing the girls. "You know it's true, Pocahontas."
"I'm not just saying that!" Meg said.
John leaned over his armrest. "I don't care what you say, Meg. You will never be with my brother again."
"That's not up to you!" Meg snapped. "This is between me and Thomas."
When the plane landed, everyone gathered their stuff and made their way off the plane. Pocahontas and John got out ahead of Meg and Thomas. As Thomas was about to step into the aisle, Meg cut him off. Thomas gave her a look, but she couldn't tell if he was angry or sad.
"We need to talk," Meg said.
"No we don't," Thomas said.
"Thomas, please don't listen to your brother," Meg pleaded.
"Why not? He's the only one who cares about me."
Thomas pushed passed Meg and got off the plane. Meg stared after him, but didn't move. Vanessa grabbed her arm and pulled her away.
Adam took Belle's hand as they walked towards the exit of the airport. They were supposed to meet Aurora and Philip outside and walk with them to Philip's car. But, when they stepped outside, Belle saw her dad instead. A lump formed in her throat and she tightened her grip on Adam's hand.
"Get your hands off my daughter!" Maurice demanded.
Adam let go of Belle's hand. He started to say something, but Belle interrupted.
"Papa, what are you doing here?" Belle asked.
"Aurora called me," Maurice replied. "Come on, Belle, we're leaving."
"Papa, wait-"
"Now, Belle!"
Belle quickly kissed Adam's cheek, then got into the car.
"I told you were not allowed to see that boy," Maurice said. "So, what do you do? You go off to another state with him! And then I get a call from Aurora and she tells me that he hit you!"
"He didn't hit me," Belle said.
Maurice ignored her. "I told he was bad news, Belle. Now I find out he's also dangerous. You are never to see him again. I have both Aurora and Philip looking out for you. If they see you with him, they will tell me."
"You're having them spy on me?" Belle cried.
"We're trying to protect you," Maurice said.
"You don't know anything about Adam," Belle said.
"I know enough."
"You know rumors."
"You're only seventeen, so you will do as I say and that's final," Maurice said.
Meg slumped down in the backseat of Vanessa's car. "John is poisoning him."
Meg saw Vanessa roll her eyes in the rear view mirror. "No he's not. Thomas still isn't over the initial hurt and anger from what happened."
"Well, John definitely isn't helping," Meg mumbled.
"This isn't John's fault," Vanessa said. "You're the one who screwed up."
"I didn't do anything!" Meg snapped.
"Look, Meg, you did tell Hercules you wanted to be with him. And you took off your clothes and made out with him," Gaston said. "You may not have been in your right mind at the time, but you still did it."
Meg narrowed her eyes at Gaston, but didn't say anything. She knew he was right.
"Maybe you should just cut your ties with Thomas and get back together with Hercules," Gaston said.
"Don't bother," Vanessa muttered. "I already tried that."
"I can't believe you two!" Meg cried. "I don't want to be with Hercules, I want to be with Thomas."
"Sorry, Megara, but Hercules is my best friend and I have to take his side," Gaston said.
"Well, tell Hercules that I will never be with him again," Meg said. "I will do whatever it takes to get Thomas back. He's the only one I want."
