Learn To Lie (BOOK TWO)

CHAPTER ELEVEN- Even Satan Needs Time Alone (MIC'S PERSPECTIVE)

I gasped. Taco immediately froze. We ran back into the apartment. After some calming down, I did a headcount.
Taco wasn't with us.
"Where's Taco?" I yelled in a panic. I ran to the kitchen, got a knife, and burst into the hall. Yelling was heard. I made my way to it.
When I got there, Taco had someone pinned down. Salt?
Pepper was gripping her leg with tears in her eyes. I connected the dots and gasped.
Salt shot her.
Taco was essentially beating Salt to a pulp, so I pulled Taco off of her and pinned Salt to the wall. I looked her in the eyes coldly. "What happened."
It wasn't a question, more of a demand. Salt broke down and started to cry, dropping her gun. I gasped as it shot and the bullet stuck into the wall.
"S-She... OJ... I...!" Salt faltered, sobbing. Of course, it was about OJ.
I turned to Taco. "Go get Pepper help. I'll stay with them."
Taco nodded and ran out of the room.
Pepper was gripping her head. "Why... Salt, why would you do this?!" she yelled, looking up at Salt.
Salt looked down. "I-I don't know, I'm sorry... it was just... I wanted OJ to love me.."
Pepper's angered look faltered for a moment. Salt went on.
"When you said P-Paper and OJ were together, I... Pepper, I blamed you, I don't know why. I'm so sorry."
Pepper looked at her. "You need to move on."
Salt started again to sob. "I'm so... so, sorry, Peps."
Pepper stared at the floor. "I can't stay here right now."
Salt looked stunned. "Y-You.."
"I'm moving out for now."
I watched the banter, not wanting to step in but knowing I'd have to. I sighed and walked over to Pepper, who flinched at me. I kneeled to check the damage— the bullet grazed her, thank god. She looked at me with fear in her eyes. My mind flashed back to that godforsaken cabin during the summer.
I shook my head and walked to where a med kit was kept in every apartment— the kitchen.
When I got back, Salt had her phone and was calling someone. The phone was just loud enough so I could hear the conversation.
"H-Hey.."
"Salt? Are you okay? Why are you crying?"
She stayed silent for a moment. "Pepper wants to switch rooms."
A gasp was heard on the line. "Why? What happened? I'll send Paper-"
"Don't send Paper. I hate him," Salt declared harshly.
"...Wow. Okay. I'll send uh... Bomb, I guess. He's strong enough."
"Thanks, OJ."
She hung up and glanced over at me. She looked away quickly. I did too.
Pepper broke the awkward silence. "...Hey Salt?"
Salt looked at her. "Hm?"
Pepper stayed silent for a minute. Then she spoke. "Love you."
I glanced at her in shock. Salt started to cry again.
"I love you too!" she sobbed, running over to Pepper and hugging her. I just watched the bond that I thought was broken forever be fixed so easily.
I stared at them in confusion. "Wh..?"
Bomb walked in at that point. "W-W-W-Why d-d-do you need me ag-again?" he asked, looking at the bundle on the floor curiously. "A-A-And wh-wh-what happened with th-those two?"
I sighed. "It's a long story. Uh.."
I don't think Pepper thought this through. Where is she even going to stay?
I voiced my concerns. "Pepper, where are you going to stay?"
Pepper started to say something but stopped. "I- uh... I don't..."
Bomb, still looking extremely confused, glanced down once more at Salt and Pepper. "Wh-What? S-S-She's moving out?"
Pepper nodded silently. Salt's eyes deepened with grief. She pulled away, walked to her room, and slammed the door.
Bang.
Bomb flinched at the sound and glanced at me. "Wh-What about y-y-you? S-S-She could st-stay with y-you."
I looked away. "We don't have the room, uh..."
I swear I saw Pepper look let down for a moment before she shook her head and looked away. I guiltily looked at the floor.
Pepper sighed. "I'll find a place."
I looked on as Pepper limped out and went into the elevator. I watched the doors close, shame heavy in my stomach like a weighty rock in a body of water.
Taco dashed back into the apartment with Soap hot on her heels. Soap looked around and her gaze fell on me. "Where is she?" she questioned, continuing to look around in confusion.
I sighed. "She ran off. Don't know where she went."
Soap nodded and walked out of the apartment, muttering about us wasting her time. My eyes drifted to Taco and she returned my gaze, both looks holding secrets about the same thing—
That day.
She walked up to me and hugged me, tears forming in her eyes as she did so. I picked her up and we walked back into our apartment, my mind replaying the shot of the gun over and over.