PRESENT TIME

Zelena wasn't doing good.

Nate got suspended until his investigation wrapped up, and Zelena tried reaching out to him, but he wouldn't respond to her, and now she was getting worried. Maddy was doing even worse. I didn't know all the shit that Zelena was going through, but I hadn't hung out with her in a while. I felt bad for blowing her off when I met Jules, especially since we had actually reconnected in rehab, but we'd barely checked on each other.

So I invited her to come skating with me, Lexi, and Jules. I wanted her to finally meet Jules, and hopefully, she would like her. It was important to me, and I didn't know it, but I was giving her the lifeline that she needed.

"Thanks for inviting me out, Rue... I really needed this." Zelena whispered to her, and Rue gave her a smile back. Before Rue called her, Zelena had a line of pills she was getting ready to snort. She's been feeling down since the police station and Nate hurting her, but seeing Rue's name come up on her phone, she immediately cleaned off her dresser.

"Yeah... I heard about Nate, are you okay?" Rue asked and Zelena shrugged her shoulders. She wasn't sure how to answer the question. She put on her skates and joined the three other girls out on the skating floor. Zelena noticed that Rue looked a lot happier, and she seemed to be doing better, she wondered if it was because of Jules, and she wished that she could tell Rue that she was doing good too.

But she knew she wasn't.

After a few laps, some dances, and having a great time, Jules and Lexi checked out, but Rue and Zelena stayed in the rink. "One more time! One more time!" Rue exclaimed as they went around again, and Jules and Lexi laughed before Zelena looked at Rue.

"Rue... you seem like you're doing really good," Zelena said.

"Yeah... I am. Missed you at NA the other day." Rue responded and Zelena gave a sheepish smile.

"Yeah, sorry... I wasn't feeling too good." Zelena said. Rue noticed that she had on a long-sleeved shirt, which is something she usually doesn't wear.

For as long as I've known Zelena, she's always worn spaghetti straps or something to show off her figure. She knew she was gorgeous and she loved showing it off to people. She didn't care who knew how hot she was. But her covering up in long sleeves, something was going on, and I didn't know what it was, but something told me that Nate had something to do with it.

"Everything okay?" Rue asked, and Zelena nodded her head as they finished their lap around the rink and came out to put their regular shoes on.

"Yeah... yeah, everything is fine." She said, and then she noticed Jules come out of the bathroom. Jules had made it her mission to try and stay out of Zelena's way. She recognized her from being at the Jacobs chili booth the night of the carnival and after finding out that, 'Tyler' was actually Nate, she wanted to stay away from everyone associated with Nate Jacobs.

Rue slung her arm around Zelena's shoulder and squeezed her in a hug, which Zelena returned, with a smile on her face. "I'm always here if you need me, Zee," Rue said, and Zelena smiled.

"Thanks, Rue. And same to you. I promise I'll be at NA next time." She laughed a little and Rue nodded her head before they unwrapped their arms from each other as Zelena's phone vibrated, and she took it out of her pocket, her face lighting up at the name that came across the screen.

Natey 💖:
where are you?
can you meet me?

Zee 💍:
im leaving the skating rink
i have my bike, not the car

Natey 💖:
can you meet me at the hotel off exit 27?

Zee 💍:
yeah, give me 20 minutes, okay?

Natey 💖:
i love you
truly

Zee 💍:
i love you too jacobs
see you soon

Zelena really did love Nate, but she kept asking herself, how did she love him? Was she in love with him? Did she just love him as her best friend? The questions ran through her mind all the time and all day, but she wasn't any closer to finding out the answer. Her brother let her borrow the car, and she immediately out to where Nate asked her to meet him.

Maybe it was just because I didn't like Nate, and because I know Zelena deserves a lot better, but if I had known when she left the skating rink she was going to go and meet Nate, I would've offered to spend the night at her place instead of going back with Jules.

Zelena Lincoln pulled into the hotel about 10 minutes after Nate Jacobs had checked in. She texted him when she got there, and he told her the room number to go to. She knocked on the door immediately. Nate opened the door to see her on the other side, tears in her eyes because she didn't know what to make of Nate. Did she want to protect him, or did she want him in jail?

Nate wrapped his arms around Zelena and pulled her close to his chest as he hugged her. She wrapped her arms around his torso and hugged him back while closing her eyes and laying her head on his chest. Despite everything that had just happened, Zelena knew that Nate was someone she would always come back to.

Whether it was healthy or not.

―

oh damn, well... she knows the truth, she told the police part of the truth, and she's still standing by nate's side... for now. but when tyler gets arrested... that could all change.

don't forget to vote/comment.

xoxo.