Devil's Deal (Infernal Contracts Book 1)

by Tessa Hastjarjanto

  Michael was back at school again after a week; his classmates demanded his attention, asking why he was expelled. Michael tried his best to leave out the details, but there were enough people to fill in the blanks. He was swarmed with girls any time Nora saw him and turned around when they made eye contact. Other girls had taken the rumour for true and thought Michael was now single and open to dating.

  Nora came close to the group and immediately left for the library when a few students stared at her, it made her uncomfortable.

  Nora hoped it would blow over quickly. How she wished that someone else could create a scandal to take their attention away from her. She shut out the rest of the world until the end of the day.

  Nora cycled towards the cinema, located near the waterfront on the edge of the city centre. The building was designed by one of the many architects that left their mark on the town. Most of the city centre looked like a hodgepodge—buildings in different shapes and colours randomly placed wherever space was available. Some people liked it—most didn’t—but it caused a steady stream of architectural tourists to the town.

  She didn’t see any familiar faces when she got to the cinema, thankfully, but no Ben either. She walked over to the program to see what movies were playing. The afternoon showings were limited and most of them were kids’ shows. There was also a new sci-fi movie out. The only other people there would be nerds who had seen the movie three times already.

  “Interesting choice,” a voice said behind her as she looked at the poster of the sci-fi poster. “I’d never take you for a nerd.”

  Nora turned around to see Ben already holding tickets for the movie.

  “Let’s go. We can still get popcorn and soda before the movie starts,” He said.

  “You said I could pick the movie.” Nora was confused.

  “Yes, you did. Didn’t you pick this one?”

  “But how did you know?”

  Ben just shrugged. “Maybe I know how your mind works.”

  “You did it before, with the kiss. You told me about it before it happened. Can you see the future?” She knew he was lying. He avoided eye contact and rushed towards the food area.

  “I wouldn’t say I can see it, but there are only so many possibilities. I just pick the most likely one. Do you want anything? Soda, popcorn, candy?”

  “I’ll take chocolate and steal some of your popcorn if you don’t mind. And iced tea.”

  Ben grabbed a tray, filled it up with the drinks and food, and paid for it.

  “I can pay you back later.”

  “No need. I got this. Save your money for Italy. You’re still planning to go there this summer?”

  The cinema was built above other shops. Fast-food chains had stores around it so young people often hung out there. Movie first, fast-food later. Or the other way around.

  The downside was the long stairs, almost three floors up to reach the theatres. They walked up the stairs to get to the theatre. Halfway Nora remembered why she didn’t go to the cinema often. She was out of breath before she reached the top of the stairs.

  “Ah, yes. I hope I can work the first half of our summer break to earn some more and then go to my grandmother’s for the last two or three weeks.”

  “You’ll love it, I’m sure.”

  “Another one of those future things?”

  “No, just me guessing you’ll enjoy spending time with your grandmother, eating delicious food, and enjoying the sun and scenery. I haven’t seen a bad-looking place in Italy, so you’ll at least have that.” He smiled at her. His eyes revealed nothing. Blue ice, no tropical waters.

  Nora was right about the crowd of the movie; the cinema room was nearly empty. She walked over to the seats in the back, away from the others. When they only sold a handful of tickets, no one cared about reserved seats. Teenagers often sat wherever they wanted anyway.

  “Did you actually want to see this movie?” Ben asked.

  “I just thought it would be the least likely place to see Felicia, and kids aren’t allowed. The only people here have seen the movie at least twice already. Plus the loud music and sound will cover what we’re saying.”

  “You don’t like kids?” Ben already started munching on his popcorn.

  “I don’t like kids screaming or talking loudly through a movie. Have you ever had sticky caramel popcorn stuck in your hair? I had to get a haircut because I couldn’t get it out.”

  Ben laughed and grabbed a lock of her hair. “I like your hair. It’s full and frames your face nicely.”

  “Weirdo. At least you don’t have to brush it. You’d like it a lot less.” She slapped his hand away. It was too close to her face, and she remembered what happened the last time he touched her.

  Nora changed the subject. “I haven’t seen you since prom. Did you go to school at all?”

  “It’s been that long? And yes, I’ve been to school, but with everyone still talking about Michael, you, and me, I figured it would be better if I stayed away from you. Things would’ve been worse if people saw us together, and I don’t know how Michael would react.”

  “Michael was suspended so he wouldn’t have seen us. He only came back yesterday. How did you manage to get out of the classes we share? I’m sure the teachers weren’t too thrilled with you not showing up.”

  “I talked to the homeroom teacher and he understood it was a delicate situation. He heard the rumour and thought it would be easier for the both of us if we weren’t in the same class. I’ve been taking remedial classes to make up for them. This is the first day I left at normal hours. Tomorrow I must stay until six again.”

  “That just seems like detention to me. You did nothing wrong. Why would you agree to that?” Nora sat upright and her hands wavered around.

  “Well. The teacher wasn’t entirely convinced that nothing happened between us. He suspects I’ve taken advantage of you. I don’t blame him and I agreed, so it’s all good.” Ben didn’t look at her, pretending to be interested in the pre-show commercials.

  “No, stop your arrangement and just come to class.”

  “But people will talk.”

  “They will talk anyway. They might say something to my face and I can give them a piece of my mind.”

  “Yikes. Your Italian side is taking over.” Ben gestured to her hands. “I don’t want to be on your bad side if that’s what’s coming.”

  Nora tucked them behind her back. “My fuse might be long, but the explosion is devastating. Felicia has done a good job of speeding up the process.”

  “I noticed. So the bombs you dropped during the Halloween party and prom were just a prequel? Not the real thing?”

  “You heard about that?” Nora was embarrassed. She wanted to forget her behaviour. Even if Felicia deserved it, shouting like that didn’t feel right.

  “Didn’t sound like it was nothing. If you said such things to me, I’d feel hurt. Big time.”

  “Then don’t piss me off.” She punched his arm softly.

  “I’ll try not to. I’ll let the teacher know that I want go to class again. If people say anything, at least I’ll be by your side. Others will have your back as well. Like Michael.” He assured her.

  “I’m glad I have friends like you. And I like it even more that you’re getting along now.”

  “We’re not friends yet, but there’s mutual respect. And we both want the same thing.”

  “But didn’t you two talk things out? That’s what he told me. And I hope you’re not talking about me.”

  Ben shook his head. “He apologised and explained his reasoning. I accepted his apology, but not everything is resolved. But we both agree that we want to keep you safe and make sure you’re happy. That’s what friends do, right?”

  “Right.” Nora paused and took a deep breath. “It feels weird, though. Like I have two knights fighting for me.”

  “Doesn’t it give you the feeling like you’re a princess? Isn’t that what all girls want. I can name many who would kill for that.”

/>   “I’m not really into the whole ‘love triangle’ thing.”

  “Sometimes it just happens. You can’t control who you fall in love with. If it turns out both Michael and I were in love with you. What would you do?”

  Nora thought for a while. What would she do? It was hard to imagine Michael as anything but her friend.

  “What do you mean?” Nora asked.

  “That’s why we’re here today, isn’t it? You wanted to talk about our not-kiss?”

  “…Yes. I think we should.” It was unavoidable, and it made her feel anxious.

  “I want to tell you my side of the story, if you don’t mind.”

  Nora shook her head.

  “I asked you out, and you avoided looking at me. I wanted you to see my sincerity and lifted your chin up so I could look you in the eyes. I didn’t do it to initiate a kiss. Before I knew it, your lips touched mine, but that last bit you did yourself.”

  “I remember looking into your eyes, they were hypnotising, and everything became dark. I didn’t see anything, so I didn’t know what I was doing, especially not the kiss. I stepped back the moment I realised our lips touched. Are you sure you didn’t hypnotise me into doing it? That way you wouldn’t be able to take the blame for anything.”

  “You think I can hypnotise people?”

  “It wouldn’t surprise me.”

  “Why do you think so?”

  “I’ve never seen eyes like yours, and the stories you tell… It’s weird.”

  Ben ate popcorn while looking at her expectantly.

  “You told me your first kiss was with a girl who had a boyfriend and that he punched you afterward. Besides that Michael isn’t my boyfriend, what happened at the gala was exactly like how you told me. It makes no sense. I can’t help but think you staged it and that’s why you’re so insistent that I kissed you. Because that’s what happened in your fantasy.”

  Nora didn’t know if she was right, but this stayed on her mind, and she wanted to know for sure.

  “Interesting theory, but I have to disappoint you. I didn’t stage it and I didn’t hypnotise you. That kiss was all you,” Ben sighed. “I will, however, share my secret with you. I sometimes have dreams that seem too real for dreams and they’re often glimpses of the future. A déjà vu if you will. I told you that story to break the ice, but I didn’t know you were the girl I would share that kiss with. Otherwise I never would’ve told you. Telling someone just a little bit about their future might influence them in the wrong direction.”

  “Then why did you tell Josy she has a grand destiny to fulfil?”

  “Ah, right,” Ben thought. “She needed some… encouragement. I’m sure you know how she can be.”

  “You couldn’t have just said ‘you have the brains, don’t worry’?”

  “I- That probably would have been better, yes. We’re both terrible with people.” Ben focused on the movie. “How do you remember all that?”

  “The same way you do? Except I don’t see people’s future. Just the past. But yeah, we’re terrible.” Nora agreed.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Nora didn’t know what he was apologising for.

  “Do you remember when you returned my wallet?”

  “I was running like mad to catch up to you, and you thought I was going to attack you.”

  “Well, yes.” Nora felt embarrassed and was glad he couldn’t see her blush. “But I mean, did you do something to my wallet?”

  “No, why? I just picked it up and returned it.”

  “I found a card inside the next morning which wasn’t there before. I said “Only believe the Truth”, with a capital T. Do you know anything about it?”

  “Huh, that’s strange. No, I don’t think I heard that phrase before.”

  “I’ve seen the capitalisation before, in Christian sermons. They think God’s truth is the only truth. So they capitalise it.” She hoped it would trigger a memory from him.

  “Never heard of it. I don’t really follow God’s believe.” Ben’s attention was directed at the screen and not on her.

  She wouldn’t get anything out of him.

  Space ships flew through the screen to another planet. The special effects for the movie were excellent. It had been a while since Nora had seen a movie with such extravagant effects. It wasn’t the sort of movie she would watch at home. Dramas were the usual pick, or romantic movies. Maybe a thriller based on a true story, but nothing more exotic.

  Ben didn’t say anything to explain his apology. She tried to glance at him from the corner of her eyes. He was looking at the screen, leaning on his arm—he looked bored. She wasn’t sure if it was the movie or the conversation. It was up to her to keep the conversation going, a chance to get information she otherwise wouldn’t get. Ben had no way of escaping and there was still two hours left of the movie. Why was this movie so long?

  “Where did you live before you came here?” Nora wanted to keep it light. They didn’t know much about each other and it was as good a time to change that.

  “Around. We never stayed in the same area too long.” His eyes were still glued to the screen. He listened, but his attention was divided.

  “Why was that?”

  “My father had this job that required him to move around. I can’t say much else about it.”

  “Confidentiality?”

  “Yeah, sort of.”

  “And how did you get to know Danny?”

  “Our guardian, Matthew, he’s a friend to both our parents, and he offered us to finish high school here. He thought that having the two of us together would be better for us. I didn’t know him before I arrived last summer.”

  “You’re very different from each other, but you seem like friends.”

  “I treat him like I would treat a brother. That seems to be the best thing, for me anyway. Being friends would mean I have to like him. But we both seem to have trouble in the social department, so we have one thing in common. Maybe because we had an abnormal childhood without any real friends and any interaction with girls was limited. Danny learned his charms from the Italian men. My experience is limited to my mother.”

  “That seems a little harsh. There must’ve been other women.”

  “No, not really. My mother was my teacher, because I was homeschooled. We didn’t visit family either.”

  “That sounds lonely.”

  “It was. I’m glad Matthew offered to house us for our last years. Making friends is crucial when it comes to having success in life. Or at least basic social skills are. I know I would be a social outcast.”

  Nora laughed softly. “You could use a little help. I can help you out and be your friend. I think Michael wants to be your friend as well.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate it. I’m glad I didn’t scare you off that first night.”

  “Me too.”

  “You were fast on your bicycle. I could hardly keep up. Lucky for me, I saw you through the kitchen window, otherwise I’d still have your wallet. I didn’t mean to scare you, or grab your bag. I hope you’ll forgive me for that.”

  “We have some history together, huh? Robbery, sexual assault, violent behaviour.”

  “Not from me though.” He grinned as he looked at her.

  Nora was glad he saw the humour in her comment.

  “I think you’re an okay guy.”

  “I hope I’ll soon graduate from the label ‘okay’.”

  “Everybody has to start somewhere. Just don’t harass anyone.”

  “’Okay’ is half decent. At least people don’t think I’m a male whore.”

  “A gigolo. Or, as we would like to say, a douchebag.”

  “What does that stand for?”

  “A douchebag is a guy who plays multiple girls. He rarely respects them either. He’s a bad guy, especially for women.”

  “Right. That seems to fit Danny.” He laughed.

  “Don’t tell him I said that, please.”

  “Nah, I’m sure there’s someone else who’ll
tell him that.”

  “I want to make it up to you,” Ben said.

  Nora was confused about what he meant. He had a habit of jumping from topic to topic. That was something they could work on. Maybe his mother could follow his train of thought because they spend so much time together, but for her it was only confusing.

  “We lost our first kiss in an unfortunate event and I’m sorry. Let me do something for you.”

  “What had you planned? It’s not like we can get that kiss back. Not even if we decide it never happened.”

  “That’s why I propose a do-over.”

  “You want to kiss again?” Nora moved away from Ben. This was what she wanted to avoid.

  “I at least want to give you the opportunity to make our kiss more memorable, since you were never really present for the first one. I’ll be honest, I liked that kiss and I never want to forget it. Will you allow me to give you something to remember? A good memory instead of a bad one.”

  Nora was still taken aback by the suggestion. He was actually being considerate of her feelings. She was so used to hear about guys taking what they want, that a boy listening to what a girl wants surprised her.

  “I promise you there won’t be any strings attached. When we walk out of this theatre, we’ll be just friends. We won’t be in a relationship. And I won’t tell anyone about it either. If that’s what you want.” He moved his hand towards hers and touched her fingers with his.

  “So you’re just manipulating me to get another kiss. How do I know you’re not doing this to every other girl at school either? I’d rather forget it ever happened.” Nora pulled her hand back. She didn’t want the kiss then, why would she want it know? She didn’t even like him, or know him.

  “But that’s not good. I might lack social experience, but my mother made sure I had a thorough education. Blocking out a traumatic event will have its repercussions. If your memory of a kiss is traumatic, you could hold off on your second even though you want it. The negative feeling you have associated with it will make your future relationship difficult.”