Saturday afternoon Ariel and her older sister, Andrina, had the house to themselves. Andrina was a freshman at Andalasia University and decided to continue living at home instead of in the dorms. Andrina drove Ariel to school every morning, but they rarely talked. Things had been uncomfortable between them ever since Ariel told her family about what happened. Ariel knew it was going to be a long eight months if she didn't try to smooth things over with her sister. She ordered them some Chinese food for lunch and after it was delivered, she went up to Andrina's room. The door was closed, so she knocked on it.

"Come in."

Ariel opened the door, but stayed in the doorway. "I got us some lunch."

Andrina was stretched out on her bed, scrolling through her phone. She didn't look up at Ariel. "I'm not hungry."

Ariel took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Look, I know you're disappointed in me like dad and everyone else; but, I'm really trying here. I just want us to go back to the way we were."

Andrina sighed and set her phone on her nightstand. "Come here." She patted her bed.

Ariel walked over and sat down on the foot of the bed.

Andrina took Ariel's hands. "Ariel, listen to me. I'm not disappointed in you."

"You're not?"

Andrina shook her head. "I'm not mad or anything, either."

"Then why have you been weird around me?"

Andrina pressed her lips together. She got up, looked in the hallway, then closed the door and sat back down on the bed. "Can you keep a secret?"

"Of course."

Andrina leaned forward and lowered her voice. "Over the summer, I decided I didn't want to go to college. At least, not right away. I wanted to take a year off. I couldn't work up the nerve to tell dad and I kept putting it off. I told myself I would tell him at the end of the summer, no matter what. But, then you told us about what you did and dad was so angry, I figured there was no way he would be okay with me skipping college. So, I just sucked it up and went to AU."

"I'm sorry."

"No, I am. I've been feeling bitter towards you because I blamed you for making me have to change my plans. But, it was my fault. I should have just told dad right away."

"I still feel guilty. I've upset a lot of people."

Andrina let out an awkward laugh. "That you have. But, I'm not one of them. Not anymore. I'm so sorry I haven't been there for you."

"It's all right. I've had Charlotte and... and Urchin."

"Urchin? Oh my gosh, I haven't heard that name in forever."

"His mom got a job at AU, so he's back in Andalasia."

Andrina laughed. "You used to have such a huge crush on him."

"I did not!"

"Oh, please! You used to doodle his name all over the driveway with sidewalk chalk."

Ariel held up her hands in surrender and laughed. "All right, fine! I had a crush on him when we were kids. But, I don't anymore. Crushes and dating are the last things on my mind right now."

"I don't blame you."

"I just want to get to graduation and never think about this year again."

XXX

"So, um..." Meg's sentence trailed off. She didn't know what to say.

It was Saturday night. Her band finished their gig a little bit ago and now she and Hercules were hanging out for the first time as friends. And, boy, was it awkward. It seemed like neither of them knew what to say to each other.

"You guys really sounded great tonight," Hercules told her. That was the third time he complimented the band.

"Thanks."

Another awkward silence fell over them as they walked down the boardwalk.

"So..." Hercules started.

"If you compliment my band again, I might actually strangle you with my guitar strings."

They both laughed.

"I'm sorry," Hercules said. "I don't know why this feels so hard."

"I guess there's just a lot of weirdness between us after everything."

"I'm really sorry about that."

"Speaking of... I've been doing a lot of thinking this week and I think it would be in the best interest of our friendship if we just forget about everything that's happened since Homecoming last year. We've both said and done things we regret and we should be able to start fresh."

Hercules smiled down at her. "I'd like that."

Meg nodded. "Good."

As they approached the arcade, they had to pass the fountain. The spot where Thomas had first asked Meg out. She quickly looked away from it.

Hercules opened the door for her and they went into the arcade. They were met with a wall of noise created by the game machines and kids. Meg suddenly didn't want to be here. All she could think about was Thomas. She needed to get over him and being here only reminded her of the night he asked her out.

Once upon a time being at the arcade only made her think of her first date with Hercules. Since she was here with Hercules, she forced herself to think about that night instead; to think about Hercules announcing to everyone that she was the most beautiful girl in Andalasia and then asking her out. And then she kissed him in front of everyone. She had been so unbelievably happy that night.

Hercules walked right over to the air hockey table. "What do you think? Want to make a new memory?"

"A new one? What's wrong with the memory we have?"

Hercules nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "To be honest: every time I think about our first date, it just reminds me of how it all ended and it's not really a happy memory for me anymore."

Meg didn't know why, but she suddenly felt the urge to hug Hercules. So, she did. Hercules wrapped one arm tightly around her and placed his other hand on the back of her head. That familiar feeling of safety she had always felt when she hugged Hercules filled her. Nothing in the world could compare to the tenderness of his touch combined with the strength of his arms.

For the first time in a long time, Meg wasn't thinking about Thomas.

"Don't let go, yet," Hercules whispered.

Meg hugged him tighter. "I wasn't going to."