"...Thank you! Now back to the news, the inspectors have reported that the Hamilton's foster daughter, Glory Vanderwaal had been missing days before the incident. If any one has any information of where this 17 year old girl is, please report."

The screen blared and an old image of Glory appeared. Glory recognised it as the photo from her school's Smart Card. She wore the school uniform, her ash blonde hair gleaming. Her eyes had a glint of pleasure and satisfaction, as everything was perfect and this perfection was never going to shatter.

Who knew?

So, she was one of the suspects too. It was crystal clear they would blame her for the murder she didn't commit.
Glory's heart stopped for a minute as she realised she had actually done it. The real killer was on the police suspect list. If the cops found out where she was, like, the surveillance at Buco, then the petrol station, then the cosmetologist and then the ATM plus the party they had been to, it was really easy to track her down, would she be able to act and claim she was innocent? Would she be able to cover up for Zac?

"Glory, it's a'ight. They'll just ask you for an interview, I'm sure you will clear it." Ashley, who had probably sensed Glory's heebie jeebie's, said.
"Yeah." Glory managed.

Things should have been simpler now, but instead, the media kept annoying the clique. That day when Zac had forced her out of the barn, he himself exited the barn an hour later with Scarlet. He hadn't said anything, and had simply dragged the girl upstairs and locked her in Glory's bedroom. Then he had stormed back downstairs and told Glory to take care of her. After that he left the house. And he didn't return yet. Ashley and Callum had tried contacting him, and he didn't answer any of their calls.

But just an hour from now Ian had told he received a text from Zac saying he'll be home in an hour. Well, now that was a relief.
The last two nights had been horrible. She had to share the room with Scarlet, who was terribly stressed. When Glory had asked her what was wrong, all she could manage was "I'm sorry for what I did". And yesterday night, Scarlet had been snoring nothing but the word "Zac."

Zac hadn't reached yet. Glory hoped he would be okay. Ashley picked up the remote and turned off the T.V. "Glo, heard anything from Zac's side?"

Glory shook her head. Zac hadn't even attended a single call from her side, neither responded to the zillion texts and voice mails she had left on his number.
As if on cue, the door opened.

"Hey."

Standing there was no one but the Zac Hastings. He wore a blue oxford shirt and his hair looked neat and worked on. His eyes were gleaming and his lips were curved cleanly in a smile.

Glory couldn't help but gawk.
"What?" He asked through his grin.
Glory slowly shook her head. This guy, he was definitely strange. One moment he was a complete mess, and now here he stood, the same way he was on their first encounter at Buco.

"Alright. I went to meet Zain. He told me I could stay at his place for some time. Well, I deserved some relaxation, huh?"
Glory wanted to stab a knife in his back. What the hell? Leaving the rest in this mess and thinking about relaxing? Hell.

"Okay, okay I'm sorry, I should have told you guys but I...you know."

Well, what could she say?

Zac paddled towards the sofa and sat besides her. He took a bunch of Pringles from the table and stuffed them. Glory giggled. Zac grinned back. Ashley raised and eye brow at Zac. "Well, Mr. Hastings, what do you say about an interview with the cops?"

Zac gulped. When the Pringles were somehow down his throat, he said, "Leave it. Act normal."

Right. So that's what they were supposed to do. Act like nothing was wrong. Fool their own soul. Fool themselves.

"What a beautiful idea, huh?" She snorted.