Jessica thanks you

You arrive at the library, not sure of what will happen. Jessica is sitting at a table reading a book, you go sit in front of her and she looks up when she hears the chair moving.

You can see the surprise on her face which quickly transforms into a grin.

"Hey John, How are you today ?"

"Hello... Hum what did you want to talk about ?" You say with no confidence.

"Well I just wanted to thank you ! We just set a record, I've always printed too much before, but today... My whole stock got distributed in a few hours !" She looks so happy it is quite surprising to you.

"Ok, but I feel like I might have done something bad. And won't you have an issue with the school ? You published an article harassing a student."

She looks at you, wondering what you're talking about. And then she says :

"What ? Do you really think the school cares ? I'm pretty sure I could put porn in it and they wouldn't know." You might have thought she wrote the article for you in an act of justice before but she just changed your mind, she 100% did it to get more readers out of greed.

"Ok, I'm still starting to feel bad for Benjamin, maybe It was too much." It's true, you aren't sure he was deserving that much public humiliation. He didn't beat you up in public either, and you're pretty sure he's very angry at you right now.

"Nah, John listen." She starts fiddling with her green lock of hair. "When someone like Benjamin hits you, you need to fight back, otherwise he'll never stop. It might even get worse you know."

You're not sure what to tell her. You think she's right. Maybe you shouldn't feel guilty. She interrupts your thoughts.

"Anyway, if you ever find out about someone else's secret. I wouldn't mind getting some info. I'm okay with the newspaper getting some more fame."

You nod weakly, you don't think you'll do that again though, your troubles are solved for good, Right ?. She then waves you goodbye and disappears by the exit.

You end up going home alone, as usual. However, you see someone you know arguing in front of you. You don't hear what he's saying but that's definitely Benjamin. You try to ignore him as you keep walking, he's talking with a man in his fifties.

He turns around and you look at each other for a second.

Then his face distorts in fear and he takes a step back. The man is already gone, seemingly in one of the houses in the street.

Benjamin takes a deep breath and comes near you. He looks way less scary than he did yesterday. To be honest, you might think he's a different person, his body seems smaller and his shoulders look narrower. It seems his physique was exaggerated in your mind compared to the real thing and you now see him as he actually is: an average but muscular-looking teen.

"Y-you're a monster." He says stammering. "You told everyone !"

"You deserved it !" You answer, taking over the conversation. "You could have stopped bullying me anytime !"

He starts trembling a little, somehow he seems weak. If you knew you could get rid of him so easily... And all it took was getting struck down by lightning.

He looks completely betrayed and before you know it he starts walking away. You shrug and go home.