Rapunzel was just finishing lunch Sunday afternoon when someone started rapidly ringing her doorbell. She was home alone, so she went to answer the door. The second she opened it, Charlotte barrelled inside. Dread caused Rapunzel's heart to sink as she suddenly realized her massive mistake. Band practice had run late Friday night and Rapunzel had missed the football game. In fact, she had completely forgotten about the game until right this second.

"How could you do that to me?" Charlotte demanded.

"Charlotte, I am so sorry."

"You're sorry?" Charlotte repeated. "Your 'sorry' isn't going to make up for bailing on me on the first game of the season."

"I know."

"You didn't even bother to tell me you weren't coming. You just didn't show up."

"I didn't mean to, I swear. Band practice ran late and I..." Rapunzel trailed off, not wanting to admit it out loud.

"And you what?" Charlotte prodded.

Rapunzel sighed and lowered her eyes. "I forgot."

"You forgot?" Charlotte's voice went up a couple of octaves. "How could you forget? I thought being back on the squad was important to you."

"It is!"

"Is it? Because it doesn't seem like it," Charlotte said. "I did you a favor bringing you back on the squad because you're my friend, and how do you thank me? By leaving practice early every day last week for band practice and missing the first game."

"I really am sorry."

Charlotte crossed her arms over her chest. "Maybe you just can't do both, Rapunzel."

"What do you mean?"

"Cheerleading and the band," Charlotte clarified.

Rapunzel blinked at her. "Are you kicking me off the squad?"

Charlotte exhaled. "I should, but no. I think you need to make the choice for yourself: cheerleading or the band."

Rapunzel gaped at her friend. "What? That's not fair."

Charlotte glared at her. "What's not fair is you leaving the squad high and dry at the game."

"You can't do this," Rapunzel protested.

"You did this. I'm the head cheerleader and we need to be able to depend on everyone on the squad and you've shown that as long as you're spread too thin between us and your band, we can't fully depend on you." Charlotte sighed. "Look you're my friend and I love you, but-"

"Am I?" Rapunzel challenged. "Because you're acting like a crappy friend right now."

"And you were such a great friend Friday night?" Charlotte retorted.

Rapunzel narrowed her eyes at her. "I think you should leave."

"Fine." Charlotte pushed past her, but stopped after she opened the door, and then turned back towards Rapunzel. "But, I meant what I said: you need to choose, Rapunzel."

XXX

Meg took a deep breath and slowly let it out, trying to calm her nerves. It didn't work. But, she was already standing outside of Hercules' house, so she had to see this through. She had planned to wait to talk to Hercules at school on Tuesday, but decided to just rip the Band- Aid off and get it over with.

It never once occurred to her that Hercules would try to use what he knew about her and Gaston against her, but ever since Gaston mentioned it last night, she hasn't been able to shake the thought. Meg didn't think Hercules was capable of doing something like that. Then again, she also thought he wasn't capable of cheating on her.

Although, she knew now that he had been put in a difficult position and he truly believed he had been doing the right thing.

She took another deep breath and knocked on the door.

Hercules answered a few moments later. He smiled when he saw her. "Meg!"

"Hi," she greeted, awkwardly.

"What are you doing here?" Hercules asked, coming outside and closing the door behind him. "Not that it isn't a pleasant surprise."

"I wanted to talk about what you told me at school."

"About Helga?"

"Yes."

Hercules nodded. He sat down on the porch steps and Meg sat next to him. "What about it?" he asked.

"Well, I talked to Gaston about it last night and he thinks you're going to use what you know about us to blackmail me into getting back with you. Or hold it over Gaston or something."

"I would never do that," Hercules told her. "I'm not going to tell anyone and I'm not going to use it against you."

"I didn't think you would, but Gaston wanted to be sure."

Hercules sighed and looked down. "Meg, I would never try to force you to be with me. Of course I want you back, but not like that."

Meg nodded. "I know. I can't fully trust you yet, but I know you're really a decent guy."

He looked at her. "I'm sorry about everything, Meg."

Meg hated seeing Hercules look so sad. "I forgive you. I'm not mad at you anymore."

Hercules gave her a small smile. "Do you think we could at least be friends?"

"Oh, Hercules, I don't know..."

"How about on a trial basis?" Hercules suggested. "Just see how it goes?"

"I don't know," Meg repeated.

"I miss you, Meg," Hercules said. "I hate that we've spent this last year like this."

Meg sighed. "Me, too," she admitted. And she really did. Before Homecoming last year, everything had been so good between them and Hercules had been the most genuine and sweet person she had ever met. He probably still was, she just hasn't given him a chance to prove it.

Hercules beamed at her. "Really?"

Meg couldn't help smiling back at him. "Really."

"Do you want to hang out sometime, then?"

"Sure. I have a gig at Pleasure Island again next Saturday night; I guess we could go to the arcade afterwards."

"Sounds good."

Meg stood up and brushed off the back of her shorts. "I guess I'll see ya around."

"See ya, Meg."