"Okay, Green. Let's talk."

"Talk," Green repeated, hesitantly.

"Talk."

"About what?" Green feigned cluelessness. He knew damn well what needed to be talked about. Problem was, it was a subject that Green really didn't feel like discussing.

"You need to stop being such a pushover, Green! I can't stand up for you forever!"

"You mean you're just gonna stop?" He wasn't that cruel, was he? He had his fiery moments, sure, but never…

"If that's what I have to do."

Green winced.

"Green? Um, Green?"

"Huh?" The shock of being thrown back into reality was too fast for Green, and he shook his head, trying to get rid of the sting pounding against his skull.

"You kinda spaced out," Red said immediately, the age-old question of, "What happened?" becoming unnecessary.

Green bites his lip, staring at the apple he holds in his hands. The stem is gone—he twisted it off, trying to get to the letter Z. He hasn't succeeded yet, but he will someday. "Sorry guys. I'm just a little distracted today."

Green looks up just in time to see Zelda's brow furrow. "This isn't about Vaati, is it?" she murmurs.

Green's thumbnails pierce the skin of his apple. Is he really that transparent? "Maybe…," he mumbles.

Zelda frowns. "Is he bothering you?" she asks warily.

"Well, yes…," Green says, but adds, "B-but not in a mean way!" when he takes in Zelda's expression—distressed, worried, and full of doubt.

"I wouldn't put it above him," Blue says, glaring up at the sky. He must have finished his lunch at least five minutes ago.

Green sighs, "Yeah, I know." He also knows that Vaati still has good in him, but he doesn't bring it up. After all, Blue knows that better than anyone.

"How has he been acting, exactly?" Shadow wonders, leaning forward in anticipation of the answer.

Green shrugs. He really doesn't want his friends to worry so much, because it's not a big deal. "I dunno. He talked to me during PE… He got his hair cut…"

"We noticed," Shadow throws in.

"He seemed kinda jealous about Zelda and all, but it's fine, really."

Green's friends don't seem convinced. Their expressions range from concerned to exasperated. Green frowns.

At last, Vio speaks up. "Green… are you," a deafening pause, "over Vaati?" The others stare at Green expectantly, as if they hadn't found the nerve to ask the question themselves.

"G-guys!" Green cries. He feels his cheeks turn pink, and silently he hopes the others don't notice. "We were never together."

Vio gives him a look. "You know what I meant, Green."

"Well you already know the answer to that question!"

Zelda's hand finds its way to Green's shoulder. "Green, calm down." That doesn't take much effort, because as soon as Green's eyes meet Zelda's, he feels the flustered energy rush out of him. "What Vio means is," she hesitates, "are you still giving into Vaati? Like you used to?"

Green finds himself taken aback by the question. "O-of course not! Remember the way I stood up to him in the cafeteria?"

"When you were mad with rage?" Blue cuts in.

"Look who's talking!" Green all but shouts out. Blue looks enraged, but a tug on his sleeve from Red calms him down enough to keep him in his seat. Green continues eagerly. "What I'm saying is, things are different now. I know what I'm doing, and I'm not going to let him take advantage of me ever again!"

The five of them exchange worried looks, before turning to Green and giving him assorted nods and affirmations.

Green is pleasantly surprised.