The truth and hero underneath the mask

Perhaps people don't see me. All they notice is my battered face. They glance and then, boom, they're gone—leaving me alone. Wearing a mask was my only choice—my only way to hide the truth. The truth was, I could never be a hero when I looked like a villain.

"Hey, guys! Look, it's the weirdo!"

I shuddered. I had no desire to deal with them today, especially on my birthday.

"Sorry, Steve! I'm not doing this today!"

I watched his brow knit and a wicked smile appear on his perfect face. I knew what that meant.

RUN.

"Get back here, Ben! You can't escape your fate!"

I heard him shout over the pounding of my black Converse. I zigzagged down hallway after hallway, trying to shake him. He might be the classic football jock with strong arms, but I was the nerdy emo kid on the cross-country team. I could outrun Steve any day—especially on my birthday.

I slid into another hallway, leading into the library. If I could just slip inside unnoticed, I'd be free. Steve wouldn't be caught dead with books.

I slowed and calmed my breathing. Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, I slipped into the library. All the kids at this school practically worshiped Steve because his dad was the mayor. That meant nobody could be trusted, and everyone was my enemy. That also meant I had no friends.

Immediately upon entering, I ducked behind the Non-Fiction shelves. It was the safest spot—least visited aside from the biographies. I never understood why. I loved the history and truths those books held.

I slumped down, tired from the day. Who knew what today still had in store? I pulled out my phone to check my Snap. A Snap from Rachel? When had I ever received one? It had to be a trap. No way would Rachel, Steve's sister, Snap me. I opened it, despite my reservations.

It was a picture of her with Finn, Steve's best friend. Holding up a sign that read, 'Happy Birthday Ben!'

I stared, disbelief washing over me. This couldn’t be real. It had to be a prank to lure me out. I was smarter than that.

Then my finger slipped, and I accidentally took a Snap of myself, mask and all, in the Non-Fiction section. Good thing I didn't send it—oh no.

I just sent it—completely by accident!

I was doomed! I was finished! This was a disaster! Time to find a new hiding spot. I slowly got up and crept to the end of the aisle. I peeked out with my masked face, checking for threats. The coast was clear.

I hurried toward the Romance section, hunched over, head down. Nobody would expect to find me there. I didn’t need love in my life—when had I ever?

Plus, this section usually had enough missing books to give me an escape route if I was caught. I could crawl through the shelves to the other side—I was skinny enough to do it.

Voices.

I tensed up. Forced myself to breathe. Nobody was going to find me.

"I thought that picture showed him in the Non-Fiction aisle," Finn’s voice said.

"Me too, but maybe he's somewhere else now? The picture looked like an accident. Would he run away?"

Since when did Rachel care about me? Little nobody.

"Just split up. He's got to know Steve doesn't like books."

It was strange how they could read my thoughts.

"I'll check horror, because I think that's what he reads," Finn joked.

I didn’t even like horror! Seriously, had they ever heard, 'Don't judge a book by its cover'? Evidently not.

"Stop that! I thought you were the one interested in being a friend to all?"

Rachel was so different from her brother at times. She actually defended me.

"Yeah. Man, Steve's got me so bent on his ways, I forget who I really am," Finn admitted.

That was a side of Finn I hadn’t noticed before. Maybe I should come out and talk to them. No—better to stay hidden.

"Okay, tell me if you find him!" Rachel said, heading towards me. Oh no!

Wait—she thought I was a romance guy?

No.

Oh no, the escape route is now!

I started crawling through the neat gap in the bookshelf. I suspect Rachel saw me because she shouted my name.

"Ben!"

I was almost through, if only my leather jacket hadn't snagged on a book holder. I struggled. Finally, it came loose.

Looking up, I saw a pair of pink high-top Converse. Great. I’d been caught.

"Ben, what are you doing?" she giggled. I caught my breath, realizing it wasn't mocking—her laugh was genuine.

"I was, um...reading romance?" I lied. I stood up and brushed off my pants.

"I knew you had a soft spot for love. It did seem like you were trying to get away from me," she smiled. Her words, like an angel's, melted my soul. I stared at her. Her brown hair was neatly pinned up like a character from Star Wars. Her eyes sparkled.

"Why do you wear that silly thing?" She made a motion to take off my mask. All my gates came up in an instant. Time to be the bad guy.

"None of your business," I snapped. I felt bad after I saw her put her arm down. She stepped back ever so slightly. Worry filled her eyes.

"I get it. Really I do. You don't trust anyone because nobody's ever shown you love," there's that word again. It was how she said it that made my insides flip. "It's time somebody did."

"You found him!" Finn came around the corner. He waved and stuck out his hand. I stared once more, not knowing what to do.

"Shake it, man! Come on. I'm ready to be your friend. The past is the past. I'm sorry for acting the way I did," I blinked. Did Finn really just apologize?

I took his hand in mine and shook it firmly. Then he pulled me into one of those guy hugs. It dawned upon me that I've never had one of those before.

I smiled.

Rachel noticed.

She smiled.

Finn laughed.

"The funny thing is, I found ya'll in the romance aisle..."

"Finn!" Rachel's face went pink. Was I missing something here?

"I know it will take time for you to trust us. When you do, show us by taking off the mask," Rachel winked. I melted. I did trust them. There was a simple act of kindness that I've never known before, which made the villain inside me vanish.

I took off the mask.

There was no gasp, no scream.

Rachel pulled me into a hug. She didn't even look away from the giant, ugly scar that crossed my face. Instead, she saw inside me. The hero underneth the villain's exterior. She pulled away, and my childish crush that I had on her returned.

"Thank you, Rachel," I let a single tear fall from my face. This was the most valuable I had ever been.

"And you, Finn," Finn smiled broadly, but pulled me close.

"She likes you, man," he whispered. I blushed. Really?

"And I think you like her too."

I did like her too. She was the first girl who had shown kindness to me when we were younger. She was only hiding in her corrupt brother's shadow all these years. She was still the Rachel who had captured my heart.

"Ben?"

"Yes?"

"I'm so glad you trusted us," Rachel smiled. This time, I wrapped her in a bear hug. She kissed my cheek. My heart soared.

Best birthday ever.