Epilogue
Piper knew she had to play the game, something Henry and Charlotte had been doing for years. It wouldn't be easy, but the alternative….
Well, no one really wanted to think about that.
Take, for example, the whole thing with Jasper lying to Patina. Piper fully knew that her brother didn't owe Jasper any favors, not as Henry nor as Kid Danger. Or, less recently, the "makeup excuse" incident. Even if she didn't have every detail right then, she fully knew that something to do with Kid Danger was up.
Speaking of details, Piper definitely got- and still gets- a whole lot of them. Even if she doesn't get to go down to the Man Cave, or help Charlotte track down villians, or spar with Henry (something she really, really, wanted to do), her big brother always told her about his missions, times when things went wrong, and different successes that were amazingly hard to achieve.
And it really was about the little details. Because, really, Piper knew more than everyone else (except for, you know, the obvious people, like Henry and Ray) about what Captain Man and Kid Danger did. Even so, there were small things that no one got to hear about, like how Henry actually got fired and quit his job before, along with the the stories of how these different events happened.
Piper may have been the President of the Man Fans, but she still had a lot to learn.
As a matter of fact, she almost wasn't. It occurred to her one day that being Man Fans president might not be safe now that she knew. Henry agreed there were risks involved, but, as Charlotte pointed out when they asked her about it, Piper quitting would raise suspicions.
So she stayed.
Henry and Piper's parents are (still) clueless. Let's face it, something would have to go horribly wrong for them to find out. Henry fully trusts Piper to not tell them… even when he thinks about how she told on him for sneaking in late that one time.
Siblings, am I right?
Anyway, since Piper, the number of people who know hasn't increased… yet.
The day after his birthday, Henry was laying down, trying to get to sleep, when something occurred to him. He sat up and started counting on his fingers.
One: Charlotte, the smartest person he knew, had figured out he was Kid Danger by sniffing his head. Actually, the head sniffing was more of a confirmation. She noticed his strange behavior, absences, everything that was suspicious as he struggled to balance his life as Henry with his life as Kid Danger. Of course, his intelligent beyond belief best friend would figure it out.
Two: Jasper, his oldest (even if not best) friend, hadn't figured out Henry was Kid Danger. He found out. The note in the locker was scary, and if Jasper hadn't left it, Henry wouldn't have believed he knew. Actually, if Henry had just told Jasper the truth about going to the movie theatre with his (Henry's, not Jasper's) mom, that whole scenario could have been avoided. There were countless times Henry could say "If only" an lost something that could have kept Jasper from finding out. All the same, however, Henry was glad he didn't have to lie to Jasper anymore. About being Kid Danger, anyway. Now he has to hide the third person on his list.
Three: Piper, his baby sister, had put the pieces of the puzzle together. Henry had zero idea before the adventure of Piper finding out that he sleep talked. He has no idea how long he's been doing it, or how often. Henry had, the day before his birthday, actually Googled how to keep from sleep talking, except he accidentally typed sleepwalking the first time. A lot of what came up- don't eat before bed, get exercise during the day, stuff like that- wasn't exactly helpful to him because he did that already. One thing that came up was reduce stress. Henry rolled his eyes. Like that's going to happen. Henry was far less stressed about his life/lives then he used to be, but it was still there. Maybe I could ask Schwoz. As long as he doesn't find out about Piper.
Henry looked back at his fingers. Am I missing anyone? I don't think so. There were three people who figured/found out about Henry's biggest secret, and he had done something to help. Not on purpose, but still.
Henry thought about Gwen. Gwen found out because Ray- well, Captain Man, technically- had done something stupid. Not Henry, who couldn't help smiling a little. At least that one wasn't me. Then he realized that he had eaten one of Gwen's muffins later that day. Well… I don't tell her the secret, anyway. Henry added a finger.
Gooch (wherever he was), Schwoz, Winnie, that girl Ray used to take hula lessons from… who else knows? Invisible Brad, Boris (even if he hasn't been around in years), the Game Shakers… it was becoming seriously scary how many people knew.
Henry thought for a minute on the Game Shakers. They only found out because- What's his name again? Hudson, that was it- had found his gumball tube. Henry has never been intent on letting four random (well, random-ish) people camp out in his room, but after that adventure he was extra careful. In fact, he had been meaning to ask Schwoz for some kind of lock.
Henry knew he was missing others, but he didn't want to keep counting. He had already gotten to fourteen people. This was nothing compared to the billions of people who lived on Earth (including the astronauts who were up in space), but communication was so technological and easy now, the news would spread like wildfire.
Henry rolled over on his side. Why do so many people know already?
He thought about texting Charlotte, but hadn't had more than a few seconds to consider it before his phone dinged.
Charlotte: Are you okay?
Henry: How'd you know?
Charlotte: Because I'm your best friend.
Henry: True.
Charlotte: So what's up?
Henry: Just thinking.
Charlotte: About?
Henry: Everything.
Charlotte: Can you be more specific?
Henry: Everything related to me being you-know-who.
Charlotte: Let me guess, you're worried about how many people have found out?
See? This is why they're best friends; they get each other.
Henry: Yeah.
Charlotte: I thought so. Look, I've been thinking, too...
Henry: You're not going to tell Ray, are you?
Charlotte: Read the whole text.
Henry went back.
Charlotte: I thought so. Look, I've been thinking, too. I'm not going to tell Ray, or anything, but something like fifteen people know about you-know-what and it's really bugging me.
Henry scrolled back down.
Henry: My bad. I agree, only I got to fourteen before I stopped counting.
Charlotte: Yeah. But think about it: almost everyone who knows right now will keep our secret. Out of fear, probably, but still.
Henry: What about Gwen? We've practically given up on trying to track her down.
Charlotte: We have every machine in the Man Cave ready to alert us if they find even a trace of her.
Henry: I know. It's not really how many people know so much as how many more will find out, I guess. It's really starting to scare me, Charlotte.
Charlotte: Me too, Henry. I don't know what else to tell you.
Just then, a message came in from Jasper to both Henry and Charlotte.
Jasper: Guess Who Ate Too Much And Can't Get To Sleep?
Charlotte: I'm guessing you.
Jasper: Yep. Who Wants To Play Online Uno!
Henry: Sure, set it up.
Jasper: Yay!
Henry switched back over to his messages with Charlotte.
Henry: How long should we play before pretending to fall asleep?
Charlotte: How nice of you.
Henry: I don't want to tell him that I don't want to play!
Charlotte: I'm sighing at you right now.
Henry: I'm not surprised.
Henry, Charlotte and Jasper played a few rounds of online Uno before Jasper himself fell asleep. Henry wanted to keep texting Charlotte, but was too tired to hold his phone up.
Maybe it was the texting, or the playing, but Henry woke up the next morning feeling a little more optimistic.
Maybe they'll stage something some day, whether it's planned on not. Maybe more people will get to find out Piper knows.
But whatever happens, every member or the gang was going to keep the secret safe.
Well, that's it, y'all. Thanks so much, especially the people took the time to write reviews (much appreciated!) and the ones who were around reading this story since last year.
Yeah. I make those jokes. ;)
Also, Easter Eggs from Chapter 23: the teachers were references to Much Ado About Nothing (Claudio) and Zink: the Myth, the Legend, the Zebra (Mr. Zaslow). (Yes, I am a theatre geek. Why do you ask?)
Also also (not much more, I promise!), I have decided to release my next story on Feburary 10, 2019. I know that's a bit longer than last time, but I need the time to start writing, so I don't fall behind, and it just occured to me about five minutes ago that I also need to do the cover. Given that, and that contest season is soon arriving (not to mention a show weekend), I'm waiting just a little longer this time.
Uhh... there was something else but I can't remember what it was... Oh well.
Ciao, and See Y'all Next Time!