Chapter 30
“Yeah, yeah, I promised, didn’t I?” Hero said, rolling his eyes. It was the next morning, and I had just told him about the scrape on my knees. I was honestly shocked when he didn’t freak out. I guess he really did take his promise seriously.
It made me proud. Still, I didn’t trust him enough to tell him the cheating secret. And the other two secrets—Violet’s and Ayden’s—weren’t mine to tell, so my lips were sealed.
Hero did ask to inspect the scrapes though, to make sure it wasn’t anything major.
He really did care about me. Benji had no right to say that he didn’t love me.
And what was it that ensured a way that Hero would never hurt anyone ever again?
Maybe Hero would be on board; he doesn’t want to hurt anyone again, after all.
I had to convince Benji to tell me.
* * *
After eating breakfast with Hero, he went back to the room, so I took that opportunity to search for Benji. Where would he be? He wasn’t at the buffet for breakfast—did he eat early or was he not yet awake? Most likely the former.
I decided to check the library, where we had first met. I thought he might be there—he seemed to love books. I searched every aisle and, surely enough, I spotted the tan boy holding a book in the fantasy section.
“Benji!” I whispered loudly, rushing over to him.
He jumped and turned to look at me, placing the book back on the shelf and wiping his hands on his pants. “Oh, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Can we talk?”
He nodded and gestured for me to lead the way out of the library. He then walked ahead of me as we got out of the library and led the way to his room. I scanned the hallway before quickly entering his room, not wanting anyone to see me enter his room.
“So,” he said, plopping himself onto the bed—the only bed—and patted the space next to him, gesturing for me to sit. Was he staying in this room by himself? “What did you want to speak to me about?”
The formality in his words and tone made me a little bit confused. Did he forget we kissed?
“Uhm, I was wondering if you would tell me about… the thing that ensures Hero won’t harm anyone ever again?” I asked, sitting down next to him.
He had an amused look on his face. “You still don’t trust him.”
I scrunched my face. “That’s not true, and I don’t appreciate your accusations.”
“This time, I think you’d do it.” He grinned.
“Do what? Just tell me!” My patience was wearing thin.
“Steal his book.”
I sat there, speechless. Steal his family’s legacy from him?
“You won’t do it?” he asked. “Did I overestimate what you’d do?”
“He inherited that book.” I shook my head, standing up. “I can’t just steal it from him.”
“I’m not saying you have to keep it away from him forever,” he said. “Just enough time for him to mature.”
“I don’t know,” I stammered, pulling at my hair.
“That is the only way to stop him from hurting someone.” He stood up, stepping closer to me.
I narrowed his eyes, sucking my teeth. “I live with him; I can’t hide the book. He would find out that I stole it and never trust me again.”
“If you trust me enough, I can store it at my house,” he suggested.
I exhaled, giving in. “I’ll try.”
“Glad to have helped.” He widely smiled. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can help with.”
He walked me to the door, opening it for me. I was about to step out, but my curiosity got the better of me. I had to know.
“Why are you acting like we didn’t kiss?”
“I want to protect you, just like you protected my germ secret.” He stared into my eyes. “You don’t want him finding out, do you?”
“Being in your room right now is risky enough.”
“Then you wouldn’t want to stay much longer.”
“Right.” I headed out, and he gently closed the door.
Benji was a bit strange, but I trusted him enough to give him the book.
I couldn’t give it to Ayden—that would probably just make things worse.
After all, he might use it to hurt Hero for revenge or from peer pressure.
And I couldn’t give to Violet either because if Hero found out, he might hurt her.
* * *
As I entered my room, I noticed Hero laying down on the bed like a starfish, staring at the ceiling. He sluggishly turned his head to look at me. “I hate myself.”
I closed the door behind me and rushed over to Hero’s side. “No, don’t hate yourself. I don’t hate you— and I could never hate you, so please don’t hate yourself.”
“You should.” He sat up. “I have just been laying here, thinking about everything I’ve done. I feel like vomiting.”
I rubbed his back. “Is there anything you can think of that would stop you from harming others in the future?” I asked, trying to push him in the direction of getting rid of the book.
“I promise I would try to contain myself,” he said, “but I just don’t think it’s possible to fully contain myself.”
“What if… what if there was a way?” I suggested. “Would you agree to it?”
He stared at me, realizing that I had a plan—or rather, Benji had a plan. His eyes lit up for moment before stopping himself from having too much hope. “I’d do it.”
“The book.” I paused, watching for his reaction before continuing. He narrowed his eyes, not completely sure what I was suggesting. “Give me the book.”
Could it really be this easy? Hero handing me this book—it would make things a whole lot easier. It could work. He just needs to be on board with the idea.
“Oh.” He rubbed the back of his head, then gently scoffed. “I don’t know about that one, Pepper.”
I took both of his hands. “Hero,” I exhaled. “Please. It’s only temporary, and I’ll keep it safe.”
He clenched his jaw and glanced away. “Fine,” he groaned.
I widely grinned, not expecting him to agree to it so easily.
“This was your idea, right?” he asked, arching an eyebrow. “Nobody else’s?”
His tone insinuated that he wouldn’t go through with the plan if he knew it was Benji’s idea. I had to lie. Safety was the priority here. The safety of my classmates. Me. Even himself.
I nodded. “Yep, my idea.”
He eased the tension in his shoulders and smiled. “It’s a brilliant idea.” He got off the bed and walked over to his suitcase. He glanced over at me before lifting the book out and plopping it down on the bed.
Before handing me the book, he said, “Don’t let anyone else get their hands on it. It’s still mine.”
“I won’t,” I lied. Again.
“Hide it well.”
I carefully took the book from his extended hands. It was my first time touching it. Hero had always been strict on not letting anyone else touch his book. But he let me.
“Thank you,” I muttered. “Thank you for trusting me.”