"How'd last night go?" Thomas asked.

Rapunzel had made the decision to quit cheerleading to focus solely on her music. Last night she went to the game to support Charlotte and the other girls on the squad, even though she had turned her cheerleading uniform in earlier in the week.

"You know what? It was really okay," Rapunzel replied. "I didn't feel any regret or like I was missing out; like I know I would have if I had watched the band play tonight instead of being up there with them. I know I made the right decision."

"I'm guessing you aren't rejoining the dance committee this year, either?"

Rapunzel shook her head. "I won't have time."

Rapunzel had been head of the dance committee last year, which she had loved, but this year she decided to give up all of her extra- curricular activities for the band. They had a gig at Pleasure Island almost every Saturday night, which meant having practice a couple times a week after school. Over the summer, since they were just starting out as a band, they had practice almost every day. Rapunzel felt like she practically lived in Meg's garage. Now that they've been playing together for a few months and were more in sync, they didn't need to practice as much. Vanessa had originally wanted them to practice three or four times a week, but with everyone's homework load, they were forced to limit the practice to twice a week. But, practice went longer than before to make up for it. Flynn had already decided to quit the basketball team for the band. Though, he didn't seem to be as at peace with his decision as Rapunzel was with quitting cheerleading.

"John told us to meet him at the arcade," Thomas told her.

John was their ride home tonight. He's been spending a lot of time at the arcade since Pocahontas moved away. Whereas Thomas has been actively trying to avoid the arcade since it reminded him of Meg.

Rapunzel didn't feel bad for him. But, it wasn't just that she never thought Meg was a good match for him; she thought Thomas' reason for breaking up with Meg didn't make any sense. But, Thomas made the choice and now he had to deal with it. Still, Rapunzel really wanted Thomas to get over her and find someone new.

That was when Rapunzel remembered her friend, Kayley, at Camelot High had recently become single. Rapunzel hadn't hung out with Kayley much since they met over spring break, but they texted a lot and Kayley was a cool girl. Certainly better than Meg in pretty much every way. She could be a good match for Thomas. Maybe Rapunzel could set them up on a blind date. She and Flynn were supposed to go out to dinner next weekend; they could make it a double date and invite Thomas and Kayley.

Thomas kept his eyes locked straight ahead as they walked past the fountain, careful not to look at the spot where he asked Meg out for the first time. They walked into the arcade and were immediately almost mowed down by a couple of young kids running past with handfuls of tickets.

Thomas pulled out his phone and checked his text from John. "He's at the Hero's Duty game."

The path to Hero's Duty took them past the air hockey tables, where they saw Meg and Hercules. Thomas quickly ducked behind the closest game to them, before Meg could see him.

Rapunzel rolled her eyes and walked over to him. "You know you're being ridiculous, right?"

Thomas groaned. "I know." He plopped down onto the seat of the game they were hiding behind. It was the old Slaughter Race racing game. A couple years ago Slaughter Race was made into a multiplayer online game and most people didn't play the outdated arcade version anymore, leaving it almost always abandoned.

"You go to the same school, her locker is right next to John's- you're going to run into her. You can't hide every time."

Thomas peered around the game at Meg. She and Hercules were both laughing as they hit the puck back and forth. "Is she back with Hercules?"

"I don't know."

"It looks like they're on a date."

"So, what if they are? When you broke up with her, you had to have known she would eventually go on dates with other boys."

Thomas glared up at her. "It's not like I wanted to break up with her. I just didn't want to get hurt again."

"And now you never have to worry about her hurting you again."

XXX

"You guys nailed it again," Jane said, admiring the presents displayed in front of her.

Belle, Jane, Tiana, and Aurora were all gathered at Jane's for a sleepover. They were celebrating Jane's eighteenth birthday. Her birthday wasn't until tomorrow, but she was spending tomorrow with her dad and then going out with Tarzan tomorrow night, so she had her birthday party tonight. Aurora didn't hang out with Jane and Tiana much, but she had been itching for a girls' night. Jane didn't mind her coming last minute, as long as she brought a present.

"Naveen actually picked out the present I gave you," Tiana confessed. "He found it when we went sightseeing in Hollywood in July."

"He has good taste," Jane said, pinning the bow from one of her presents in her hair. The wrapping paper from all of the presents was still all over the bedroom floor.

"I'll pass on the compliment."

"So, is Naveen totally different now that he's a college guy?" Jane asked, grabbing a handful of popcorn from the bowl between them.

Tiana laughed a little. "Not at all. He's exactly the same."

Tiana and Naveen started dating in February, after sharing a dance at the Red and White Ball. Naveen had gone to the ball with Charlotte, but had actually wanted to go with Tiana. Naveen was a senior last year and graduated in May. Even though he was only at Andalasia University, he and Tiana knew that once school started they wouldn't see much of each other since they'd both be busy with school work. So, for the first time since Belle's known her, Tiana spent the entire summer having fun and not thinking about school. Belle had been up at Aurora's mom's house for the summer with Aurora, Adam, and Phillip, so she hadn't been around for, what Jane was calling, "Tiana 2.0". But she received plenty of texts and video calls from Tiana and Jane and saw all of the pictures they posted on Instagram.

"Are you planning on going to AU next year to be with him?" Aurora asked.

Tiana shook her head and started fidgeting with the scrunchie on her wrist. "No. I'm still planning to go to culinary school in New York. Unfortunately, I think our relationship has an expiration date."

"Doesn't mean you can't enjoy it for the next year," Jane said. "Is he going to the Homecoming dance with you?"

Tiana nodded. "Yup. And he wants me to try to sneak him into the lock- in. But, I'm not sure if we'll be able to pull that off."

"Well, as one of the heads of the lock- in committee, I'm pretty sure I can pull a few strings to get Naveen in," Aurora told her.

While her friends talked about the lock- in, Belle was distracted by thoughts of next year. She had been trying not to think about what she and Adam were going to do after graduation ever since Aurora brought it up last weekend, but she knew they were going to have to talk about it eventually. She honestly had no idea what was going to happen.

Their relationship had some rough patches in the beginning, but everything had been so perfect over the summer. It broke her heart to think about them being broken up this time next year.

Belle knew Jane and Tarzan were applying to all the same colleges and planned to go to school together. Belle guessed they'd probably end up getting married.

Belle needed to talk to Adam. It was probably best to figure this out now, before it was too late.

"Yo, Earth to Belle!" Aurora nudged Belle's shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I guess I spaced out a little."

"We asked you what you want to do for your birthday?" Aurora repeated.

Belle's eighteenth birthday was two weeks from today. Hers and Jane's birthdays were only thirteen days apart.

"We're not planning my birthday tonight. It's Jane's birthday and tonight is all about her."

The truth was: Belle didn't know what she wanted to do. Turning eighteen was a big deal, but she didn't really feel like making a big deal over it. She just wanted something small with her dad, her friends, and Adam.

Adam's birthday had been in August, right after they returned to Andalasia from Aurora's mom's house. They spent the whole day working on rebuilding Adam's treehouse (in a different spot, so his dad couldn't find it) and then went out to dinner afterwards. It had been a great day.

To Belle, birthdays felt more special when they were an intimate affair with just the most important people. Aurora always had a huge bash for her birthday, inviting anyone who wanted to come. She tried to do the same for Belle's birthday every year, but Belle never went along with it.

"All right, we'll revisit this topic next week," Aurora said. "But, don't think you're off the hook."