Chapter6
When they entered the building the colored pictures on the walls were the first thing that caught there eyes. �Mr. McLean you and your friend can take a seat for the moment. I�ll be right back, okay?� Officer Gracen told them.
�Yeah.� AJ relied. They both took a seat in the chairs that sat on the side of the room. AJ sat shuffling and tapping his feet as he looked towards the ground. It reminded Howie of the moment right before AJ auditioned for the Backstreet Boys when they were younger.
He remembered he had been really nervous too, but watching AJ sitting there tapping his feet and bitting his bottom lip made him feel more nervous. It was just irritating to watch.
�Little nervous?� Howie asked looking down at his feet. AJ turned his head to look up at Howie.
�A little, I guess.� He turned his head back around to face the floor. �Mr. McLean, you can come back now. Your friend must wait here though.� Officer Gracen said entering back into the room.
�Okay, be back in a few D.� He said as he stood.
�Take your time.� Howie told him.
He followed the officer into the double doors and again found himself walking down a long hallway. They stopped when they came along a window.
�That�s her.� Gracen said as he pointed at the girl that sat in a chair at a table. Her face wasn�t visible. Her long dark wavy hair cascaded down her back and around her shoulders. Some of it seemed to fall in her face because her head was turned down.
�This is a two way mirror, we can see her but she can�t see us. Her name is Gloria, but she goes by Glory. She says no one has ever called her by her real name before. They only told her she has a guest, so she doesn�t know who you are. The door is right there, you can go in whenever you want.� The officer explained.
AJ continued to stare at the girl behind the glass. Somehow he felt safe watching behind the glass, like nothing bad could happen.
�Mr. McLean...Mr. McLean?� The officer called his name. He quickly returned from his thoughts.
�Yeah?�
�I asked if you would like to go in now?�
�Oh...yeah, I�m going.� He said walking towards the door.
As he entered the room he slowly closed the door behind him. He walked over to the table she was seated at and took a seat in the chair across from her. She didn�t look up though, her eyes stayed plastered on the table. He stared for a while looking at her facial features, trying to read the expression on her face.
The first thing he noticed were her eyes. They were big and brown just like his own. The difference was that her�s seemed dull in color, like something had taken the spark out of them.
�Hello.� AJ spoke.
�Hi.� She said, her eyes now moving and searching the table.
�Glory...that�s a pretty name. I don�t know anyone else named Glory.� He told her, trying to search his mind for things to say.
�My...my mom...she gave it to me.� She said looking up at AJ for the first time. �Are you here to ask me more questions? Because I don�t want to answer anymore. The other guy said I didn�t have to answer anymore right now. He said I didn�t have to answer anymore until I felt ready.� She said looking up and then back down at the table.
�What questions?�
�About my mother, about...about that night.� She said dryly.
�No, I�m not here to ask any questions. I just came because I wanted to meet you, that�s all. So how are you?� He asked her.
�I...I want to go home.� She replied.
�Glory, you can�t go back there...you know that, right?�
�I...I just don�t want to be here anymore. I hate it here. I don�t want to be here.� The dark haired girl said as her voiced crack, sounding as if she were about to cry.
�Glory. Do you know who I am?� He asked calm.
She shook her head.�Who?�
�I�m...I�m your father.�
She sat straight up and looked into AJ�s eyes. He looked back at her as her eyes searched his.
�You�re my dad?� She said with a questioning look on her face. AJ nodded quietly. She then looked back down at the table as a look of question came upon her face.
AJ could tell she was thinking. He knew she was probably processing what he had told her. She looked up at him again and this time a slight smile flashed across her face. She quickly looked back down as a blush started to run up the sides of her cheeks.
�What is it?� AJ asked smiling.
�You...you look like that guy. That guy from the Backstreet Boys with all the tattoos.� She said as her smile widened a little. AJ smiled and let out a slight chuckle as he heard her speak.
�So you�re a fan of the Backstreet Boys?� He asked her. She nodded a yes at the question.
�Glory, I am the guy from the Backstreet Boys with all the tattoos.� He smiled as he held up his arm showing his tattoos. Her face lit up.
�So...a Backstreet Boy is my dad? Cool!�
AJ looked down and laughed a little. Glory�s mood soon changed and her face once again became serious as she looked back down at the table.
�So...are you...are you going to take me away from here?� She asked, only looking up after the last word was spoken.
�If you would like to come home with me.� AJ said, with a please come home with me expression on his face.
Her face lit up instantly at the words he spoke. �Yes! Anywhere but here.� She told him with a huge smile on her face.