Chapter 23 #2
“You were the only one who didn’t stare at me,” I said. “I thought you didn’t know.”
“Why would I stare?” she asked, moving her hair aside as a gust of wind passed through. “I am not like them. Not anymore.”
I nodded frantically, not wanting her to be offended. “Yeah, I know.” I paused. “Hey, can I ask you something?”
She nodded.
“Could you tell me what your last text meant?” I asked. “Why couldn’t we talk anymore? It had to do with Hero, right?”
Sorry, Pepper. I can’t talk with you anymore, it had read. I had engraved it into my mind.
“Yes.” Violet took a deep breath while repositioning herself. “Hero was being a bit overprotective over you.”
“I figured. What did he do?” Afraid of the answer, I clutched my hands to my chest.
“Well, he took your phone and sent me a text message,” she said softly. She then looked away. “A threatening one.”
I already figured that too. I wasn’t sure if she was going to tell me the full story or if she was just going to continue being vague.
“What did the text say?” I asked impatiently.
“You do know that the only reason I’m speaking with you is because he and Ayden are detained right now, right?” she asked, leaning forward. “I don’t want him to find out about…this.” She gestured her index finger back and forth between us. “He can’t find out.”
I did know.
Because Hero was being detained, I found it as an opportunity to speak to her.
If she was potentially in danger, I would not risk it by speaking to her while Hero was around.
I was not afraid of Hero, but I was not oblivious to his abilities.
I knew what he was capable of. It’s scary to know the power he had, but I could never be afraid of him.
I loved him too much to be afraid.
Ever since last night—when he kissed me for the first time—my feelings for him had intensified. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the kiss.
My first kiss.
His first kiss.
The thought of his soft lips against my lips was something I would never be able to shake away. I would never forget that kiss. I had imagined what a kiss would feel like—or taste like—whenever a kissing scene popped up in a movie. But the real thing was ten times better than I had imagined.
Hero was a good kisser—a great one, even. I wondered if he thought the same about me. I never knew what was inside that brain of his. He never lets anybody truly see him; he doesn’t let anyone into his soul. Maybe he would let me in one day.
“I know,” I said, snapping back to reality. “You don’t have to worry, I would never tell.”
“You can’t guarantee that, Pepper.” She shook her head. “Knowing you, you would most likely confront him about his threat.”
“Loyalty is more important to me,” I assured. “I promise I won’t confront him. I just want to know.”
“Do you even effing care?” she asked harshly.
“What?” I asked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”
“You only seem to be interested in what Hero did, but not how it affected me,” she muttered.
“That’s not true.” I shook my head. “I know it must have scared you. I purposely kept my distance to make sure you’d be safe.”
She pressed her sunglasses up onto her head, and I was finally able to see her eyes. She squinted, adjusting to the light, then sighed heavily. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking clearly. I didn’t mean to accuse you of that. To be completely honest, you are the most caring person I know.”
I blushed, pushing the loose strands of my hair behind my ears.
Violet complimenting me was something I never would’ve expected.
She hadn’t complimented me since the day that I invited her to the friend group in middle school.
It’s been years. However, back then, she might not have been genuine when giving that compliment.
She probably only complimented me to manipulate me.
But now, she had no reason to lie. That meant she actually believed I was a caring person.
“Thank you, that means a lot,” I said, smiling. “If you really don’t want to tell me what the text said, it’s fine.”
She shook her head. “No, I was just being paranoid.” She surveyed the area, making sure none of our classmates were nearby, then scooted closer to me.
“I think it’s better if I just show you.
” She grabbed her red purse, which was laying on the ground next to the lounge chair, and placed it on her lap.
She reached into it and started rummaging through her items: lipstick, mascara, hair clips, scrunchies, tissues, sunscreen, perfume, and finally—her phone.
Firmly gripping her phone, she pulled it out of her purse. She pressed the ‘on’ button on the side of her phone, revealing her lock screen wallpaper—it was a collage of red roses, a few quotes I couldn’t read from this angle, and other red items—before unlocking her phone.
She pressed on the Messages app and scrolled—not very far—to my contact. She pressed on my name, revealing the last text she had sent to me…and a large paragraph from Hero right above that.
She handed me the phone, allowing me to read the paragraph and scroll at my own pace. “Take your time.”
I nodded. “Thanks.” I scrolled to the top of the paragraph and began to read it.
Violet, it’s Hero, texting on Pepper’s phone.
Don’t tell her I took it. I am giving it right back, hopefully before she even realizes it’s gone.
I need to tell you something. I know that you know I love Pepper.
I think you’re the only person who knows how deep my love is for her—besides my mom.
I told you that night when you tried to kiss me in middle school, remember?
Hero had turned Violet down for me? But, during all of middle school he would talk about her non-stop. He was swooning over her. I didn’t think he loved me then.
I did like you, Violet. But now all I feel for you is hatred.
I am holding a grudge against you that I don’t think I will ever be able to let go of.
You crushed my heart and Ayden’s heart, but worst of all, you crushed Pepper’s heart.
That hurt me most. You manipulated all of us.
Pepper thinks you have changed, but I am not yet convinced.
I can’t let you hurt her again. Ever. So, I have to resort to this.
I am not sorry, because you are not sorry.
You never once apologized to me, Ayden, nor to Pepper—that I’m aware of. Read my next words carefully.
If you ever speak to Pepper again, I will kill you.
I gasped, and Violet knew exactly which part I was at. “I shouldn’t be talking to you. If he finds out, he’ll—”
“You deserve to know. Keep reading.” She nodded her head towards the phone.
I hesitated but looked back down at the text.
Now, you will not go to the authorities with this threat because it isn’t in your best interest. I have already perfected the potion for clones that can do the job too.
You cannot, and will not, stop me. I would be willing to go to jail, if it guarantees that Pepper is safe from you.
There is no limit to what I would do for her.
But she can’t know. She would hate me. In the slightest chance you have truly changed, then you will understand why I had to do this.
If you hate yourself, even half as much as I do.
Pepper deserves the world. I know I can’t give that to her, but I’ll protect her to the best of my abilities.
I have to admit—I hate myself as well. I would be a hypocrite if I hated you and not myself, or if I said that she didn’t need protection from me too.
I almost killed her. I will never forgive myself for that.
I can’t even trust myself around her, so understand that I cannot trust your promises. Goodbye.
I blinked repeatedly, trying not to let tears form in my eye sockets. I stared at the words. His thoughts. I finally knew his thoughts. I was seeing a part of his soul.
But it was through Violet. He told Violet these things. Not me. He didn’t trust me. Not enough to share his thoughts. He didn’t think I would love him after knowing all of this. He couldn’t be more wrong.
I never knew how much he cared about me. I never knew how much he valued my opinion.
I extended my hand, handing Violet her phone back. If I didn’t give it back now, I knew I wouldn’t be able to ever stop re-reading the text.
She took her phone and put it back into her purse, then placed a hand on my back. “I’m sorry, I know that was a lot to take in.”
“How can you place so much trust in me?” I asked, exasperated. “How can you trust me with your life?”
“Because you placed your trust in me,” she replied softly. “You trusted that I changed, even when Hero didn’t believe it.”
“Violet, I am so sor—”
“No,” she cut me off. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I am so sorry for not apologizing sooner. I couldn’t. I was afraid. No— those are just excuses. I should have apologized, even when I was afraid. I am so sorry for using you, and for playing Hero and Ayden.”
“I forgive you, Violet,” I assured her, staring into her honey brown eyes. I gave her a sympathetic smile before pulling her into a warm embrace.
“Thank you, Pepper,” she said, pulling her sunglasses back down as tears started to form. “That means a lot.”
As I ended my conversation with Violet and started to walk away, I couldn’t help but think about what Benji said.
Maybe he was right then—that I wouldn’t do certain things to prevent Hero from hurting others again—but now, after my conversation with Violet, I changed my perspective. I would do anything.
If he hurts Violet and I knew there was a way I could have prevented that, I could never forgive myself.