The radial muscles in Glory's iris contracted and her eyelids squinted, saving her conjunctiva from any harm as a sharp beam of light reflected into her eyes, most of it diffracting through the small cabin door. As the Honda came more neatly in view, Glory opened the door and stood beside the traffic light, staring at her own convex virtual image in the chromium car bumper.

The Honda door opened and her sight accommodated a familiar face, with just a grown look. His hair was the same, combed back in the very way as then at Buco, when they had first met. His eyes were dark, though.

Was he scared? Scared to aid a prisoner? A run-away?

But no. Not Zac. He couldn't be. He must be thankful. And well, maybe that wasn't fear. Maybe that was embarrassment. Shame.
After all, she had spent all those months in gloom for him. For his freedom.

Gloom.
Not really. Well, not at the start. Glory had made up perfectly well with Avery and Leah Hernandez, and they had bossed around the place. All the other young women were under swear persecution from them. She had actually enjoyed that at the start but then, it reminded her of her old self.

The old Glory Vanderwaal who lived with the Hamiltons, all jolly and good. The old plastic life where she had ruled as a queen. The old dainty memories where she had everything. The old time where everything was pitch perfect.

She just couldn't then. She tried to persuade Avery and Leah. But they had dark secrets then. They just couldn't let one escape. Neither of them. And then, Glory just git the courage out of nowhere and just, well, did it. Told them she cannot do it. Cannot be one of the Queen bees and would rather live a life being oppressed. They said okay. They had to.

But then everyone in the cell started caring and voting for Glory, ignoring Leah and Avery at a side. Envy had raged across the girls and then, what happened, happened.

"Hey." She began.

Zac gave a slight nod and motioned her to get inside the car. His glance went vividly around the road and he quickly mustered inside the car.

Was that fear?
Or, was he being protective?
Glory shook her head. What would he fear for? Of course nothing.

But deep inside her, the question still laid unchecked. She felt the same anxiety she had when she was almost at the end of her Mathematics paper and ten minutes were left, and she should have been relaxed, but alas to the fact that a huge question was still undone and she couldn't make it out. That was it. The question was there since seven months. Every second since then she had been thinking to make out the answer. But useless.

Who told the cops on the first place that she did it. Who gave all the proof.

Zac?
No. Of course not. Why would he?

Because he wanted to save himself. Because he was sure they would find out. And maybe he thought Glory would give him away. So why not give her in instead?

But...well, maybe that was the truth. Maybe he never cared about her. Maybe she was a mere merciless creation.

"So. Welcome back Glo."
Glory felt goosebumps rise all over her body at the sound of his voice.

"Uh huh." She muttered.

"Why Glory? Why?"

Glory stared at those green eyes as her breathe tightened. Her lungs couldn't take it anymore and her veins tightened, causing her to pulse to change.

Because, because I had no idea you would do this to me.

Still, did he, even? She didn't know for sure.
She wished he didn't, he hadn't, but she felt so unsure. So really unsure. So inappropriate.

"Glory, you okay?"
What is it to you? She wanted to scream. But couldn't. Just couldn't.
She wanted to believe him instead. Because maybe he really didn't.
"No." She stuttered.

She couldn't lie to him, too.