Chapter 16
Days went by. It was now the last day to work on the research paper. I barely talked to Hero. So much for Violet’s help, I thought. But this time, I didn’t want to talk to him, either.
He avoided Ayden too. There was no reason to be near Ayden if I wasn’t. Also, Ayden had been distant lately. I felt as if he was losing feelings for me, but I could just be imagining it.
“Okay…one last thing…and done!” The research paper was complete. We gave each other double high-fives, but then wiped our hands on our pants once realizing we weren’t supposed to like each other.
“Let’s forget we worked together, yeah?” Gwendolyn asked.
I nodded. “Fine by me.”
I went back to my original desk, where Ayden was also sitting.
“Your group got done?” I asked, hugging him from behind.
“Mhm,” he replied, zoned out.
I sat down and turned my knees towards him. “Are you okay?” I asked.
“What’s going on between you and Hero?” he asked, turning to look at me. “Why are you guys not talking?”
“What’s going on between us?” I deflected.
“W-what?” he stammered. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been acting distant with me,” I said. “Do you still like me?”
“Of course I do,” he responded, fidgeting with his rings. “I think I’m just distracted, that’s all.”
“With what?” I arched an eyebrow.
He cleared his throat. “School, obviously.”
I narrowed my eyes, not fully believing him. What was he hiding from me?
“You can tell me anything.” I whispered. “You know that, right?”
Ayden grabbed one of my hands and clasped both of his hands on mine, like a sandwich. “I know. I love you.”
He said those words to me for the second time. Those three words. The words I couldn’t say back. Because he wasn’t the one I truly loved—not in that way, at least. I couldn’t deny it any longer. I couldn’t press down my feelings for Hero anymore.
“You don’t have to say it back,” he added, releasing my hand. I pulled him into a hug, knowing that was the best affection I was able to give him.
* * *
When the bell rang, I glanced back at Hero, whose group had just barely finished. Hero was talking to Violet, who was on the floor picking up her things. Did he knock her stuff down?
“You can go ahead, I’ll catch up,” I told Ayden. He looked over to Hero, then nodded at me and left.
I marched over to Hero and Violet. Violet tilted her head up to look at me, then turned to look at Hero. She was afraid of him. Hero had not looked in my direction; he kept his eyes on Violet. I crouched down and started to help her pick up her things.
“Don’t,” Hero said sternly.
I ignored him, continuing to help. Hero snatched what I had picked up and scattered them on the floor.
“So you’re a bully now?” I asked, rising to my feet. We were mere inches apart. “Is that who you want to be?”
“She ruined everything!” he lashed out. “Everything!”
“Revenge won’t solve anything,” I said calmly. “Forgiveness will. Forgive her. And Ayden.”
Hero shifted his gaze to Violet, then back at me. “I can’t.”
“If you continue to bully Violet, I will never speak to you again,” I uttered.
He swallowed. “You’re bluffing.”
“Don’t count on it,” I said, turning around. As I walked out of the classroom, I glanced back to see him helping her pick up her things. I exhaled deeply. The thought of never speaking to him again scared me as much as it scared him.