He catches his father's eyes in the review mirror of the car. 

"So why didn't you go to class today?" His father's tone is harsh against his ears.

Zach shrugs, leaning his head against the window. What is there to say?

His father's expression softens. "I know you still miss Mom. It's alright. But don't run away from school like that. I can call the school for a day off. That won't be hard. But paying off the school so that you won't get expelled is difficult."

Zach stays silent.

Trees speed by in a blur. Zach's mind wanders. He can't tell him anything. 

He hears his father's raspy sigh from years of smoking. 

It is silence all the way home. 

--

They return to the mansion. Rows of maids welcome them home--of course, since Mr. Pearson is back. That means layer in the day, it will be a family reunion within the pearson family. They will open the windows and dust off the dining room, and the dinner would be cold and emotionless, more formality than anything.

Zach is in front of the bathroom mirror adjusting his tie. Why did his family think it was a good idea to dress up so formally, he's not quite sure.

Sam pokes her head into the restroom. " Would you like some help, Mr. Zach?"

"I told you to not call me that."

She smiles. "It's part of my job."

Zach adjusts his tie but soon finds his hands tied. It's not supposed to be this hard, he thinks.

Sam laughs and comes over to help Zach untie his hands. "I told you you need my help."

Zach blushes. "Thanks, Sam."

She releases the tie, now folded perfectly. "You're welcome."

Down the stairs, out the door of the dining room, Zach hesitates to enter. He looks to his right to the window--it is raining, thin droplets that cut through the atmosphere.

The cold hits his face as he opens the room, and weight settles upon his shoulders.

His dad sits on one end of the table, his stepmother to the left, and his older brother, Michael on the right.

All eyes are on him.

He sits down beside his brother without a word.

"So how was your trip, dear?" His stepmother, now Mrs. Pearson, asks.

The line pushes a chill down Zach's spine but he keeps his face straight.

His father nods. "It was good, but I'm more glad to be back home."

Zach chuckles nervously and steals a glance at his brother who is stone-faced, as always.

Mrs. Pearson looks towards her son--not Zach but Michael. "How's your time at Yale? It's nice you can get a break from school and intern in the family business."

Michael looks up, and his expression changes to something resembling a smile. Resembling because Zach couldn't feel any of the joy associated with a smile. And he is reminded by Sage. The smile that fooled Zach and everyone around him.

And then the conversation moves to something else. Zach remains quiet and starts to eat when the entrees and served.

Zach wants to leave. It was the same with or without him either way. He looks around to try to catch Sam around. She is not.

He wants to be loved--and his first thought is Sage.