The pastor walked in to start the service, but Nora’s mind was occupied with other things.
Chapter 20
Nora walked out of the school, but kept her distance from her old friends. She deliberately waited until they were gone so she wouldn’t cross paths with them. She was in no mood to deal with Felicia’s and Emily’s snark.
Once outside, she saw a familiar face near the fence, one she didn’t expect to see at school. Matthew looked lost and looked through the throng of students coming out of the building.
“Hi Matthew. Looking for Ben or Danny?” She walked up to him.
He was still looking at a group of students. “Nora, is she a friend of yours?” asked Matthew. He pointed at Felicia. Of course, she was at the centre of the group.
“Yeah, that’s Felicia,” Nora said. Her face turned sour. “My ex-best friend and Danny’s personal stalker.”
“Then I know what’s going on. Can you tell Danny and Ben to go straight home? You probably want to hear this too. I have to get something first,” He answered.
Nora nodded. She went back into the school to find them. They were still inside although she didn’t know why. Classes had ended; only extracurriculars were still here.
She waited on a bench with a good view of the exit while reading a book. She was glad she always had a book with her. They kept her company in these days with no one to talk to. For the first time in years, she finished a dozen books that weren’t on her reading list. At least she gained something from the fights with her friends.
“Hey, beautiful. What are you doing here?” Ben dropped down next to her. “Waiting for your prince in shining armour? I’m sorry I took so long.”
Nora closed her book, put it in her bag and walked over to Danny who was still at his locker. “Hey Danny. Matthew was at the gate earlier and wanted to see all three of us back at your place. He said he knew what was going on and needed to get something.”
“Okay. I’ll see you there? I still have to get a few things. I won’t take long,” Danny said.
Ben had followed her and heard what she said. “You couldn’t say that to my face?”
Nora turned around and headed towards the exit. “I knew you would follow me and I needed you both to hear it. You’re going home now, right?”
“I am. Why?”
“Then you can let me in. I’ll see you there.” Nora took her bicycle and cycled to the house. Ben looked confused as she cycled away.
“You’re being awfully cold today. Did I do something wrong?” Ben asked Nora when he walked up the path and took out his keys.
“I’m trying to be nice to you and not rip your face off.”
“Or you could do that and get it over with.” His laughter died as Nora glared at him. “You don’t have a knife in your bag, right? Will I survive today?”
“Just open the door.” She wasn’t in the mood for this. Why did Matthew want her there?
“You’re that desperate to get me some place alone?”
Nora sighed and ignored him. She pushed past him inside and sat down on the couch with her book.
Ben took her book and hid it behind his back. “No, you’re not gonna sit there throwing invisible daggers at me. I want to know why you’re acting like that. What did I do?”
“You kissed me. Twice. And I didn’t ask for it. Twice. Then I hear that you and Danny have some bet about who gets to be my boyfriend. You used me.”
Ben’s eyes widened. “Who said that?”
“Does it matter? Is it true?”
“Yes, it matters. And no, there’s no bet.”
“You’re not lying to me, are you? I really can’t have that right now.” Nora teared up. Everything had gone wrong. Her mind didn’t know what was true anymore. She had the feeling that people were playing with her head, and the world she knew was completely screwed up.
He moved closer and wrapped his arms around her. Nora pushed him away, but instead he pulled her in closer.
She couldn’t hold it anymore and started crying.
“I’m sorry, Nora. I’m sorry for kissing you. I’m sorry for messing up your life. I never intended for this to happen.”
“What do you mean by that?” Nora said through her sobs.
“I wanted to be your friend. Your friend. Between all these shallow girls, you stood out. And others seemed too different from me. Hearing about you from Danny made me even more interested.”
“Why would Danny talk about me?”
“Matthew likes to ask about school and Danny is more than willing to talk about his experiences; high school is a very different experience than his Italian education.”
“Yeah, I heard.” She calmed down a little. Listening to Ben talk was more relaxing than she thought.
“You two talked about his past?”
“Yeah, I think it’s safe to say we’re friends and we talk about all kinds of things.”
“I… didn’t know that.”
“He didn’t share that with you?” Nora looked at him surprised.
“Nope. When do you see each other?”
“We see each other at church every week.”
“Oh, right. That explains.” Ben moved away from her.
“So you wanted to be friends with me. And then those kisses happened.” Nora dried her eyes with her sleeves.
“Yes. And I’ll be honest, they felt nice. But I’m okay with being friends. If that’s what you want.” His smile was weak, like he didn’t believe his own words. Not anymore.
“I don’t know what I want. I know it’s been weeks, but I can’t wrap my head around things. The one person I used to consult about boys isn’t talking to me right now. And she might not be the nicest girl, but she knew boys, and she’s always been good at judging people. She just doesn’t express it well. I really wish I could talk to her.” She looked at the ceiling, hoping gravity would do its work and stopped the tears from flowing. For once she was glad she rarely wore mascara.
“This is still about Felicia? Is it that hard to move on?”
“Why are you so surprised? People say losing a friend can hurt you just as bad as a breakup. People don’t get over breakups that easily. Especially when the relationship lasted for years and deep trust was betrayed. So yes, it’s hard to move on. Excuse me for being human.”
Ben just looked at her with wide eyes.
“You’re right. I’m a jerk.” A sigh escaped him. “I always mess things up when I try to make things right.”
“Maybe you should try to position yourself in the other person. You say psychology is your thing, so it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out.”
He leaned back and looked at her without saying anything.
Nora continued the staring contest. She wouldn’t give in. Slowly, the wall around her heart became higher again.
After a while, Ben got up and walked towards the kitchen. “Do you want anything to drink? I think we have iced tea.”
“Sure.” Nora grabbed her book from where Ben had hidden it and started reading.
Ben forced her to respond to him by giving her the glass instead of putting it on the side table next to her.
“Thanks,” she murmured.
“Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to read in company?”
“I don’t care for present company, plus it was just getting good.” Her eyes never left the pages.
“Rude.”
“I’m not here because I want to. Matthew told me to be here when he got home. I’m waiting for him. I didn’t come home with you to fool around.”
“Now that would’ve been fun.” He laughed and Nora threw a pillow at him. “Fine, I’ll stop. Don’t throw books at me. They hurt.”
“I wouldn’t want to hurt my books that way, don’t worry.”
Danny came in through the back door, and saw them throwing pillows at each other. “You know Diana will be pissed when she finds out her hard work is being abused.”
“I don’t care. After her mood, I can take Diana.” Ben pointed a
t Nora from behind a pillow.
“Then you shouldn’t have been such a jerk. You even admitted to being one. Jerk.” Nora threw her last pillow.
“He didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Should I hit him this time?” Danny made a fist.
“If you want. He didn’t violate me, though.”
“See? I’m not as bad as you think.”
“Doesn’t mean you don’t deserve that punch though,” Danny said.
“I don’t know. She’s very edgy today. Do you know what Matthew wanted?”
“No, but Diana will be here in five minutes, so you better spruce up those pillows if you want to survive.” Danny left them alone, to hang up his coat and put away his bag.
“Damn those pillows.” Ben placed them all neatly on the couch around Nora, since she refused to move. He gave her one. “Here, for behind your back. That’s where it’s supposed to go.”
Nora placed it next to her.
Ben looked at her without blinking. “You didn’t hear me?”
“I did, but I don’t need it. I doubt Diana will punish me for being comfortable.”
“Then you don’t know Diana. Well, whatever. I won’t be near you when she enters the room.” Ben headed back to the kitchen to pour himself a soda.
Nora heard someone open the front door and Danny came down immediately. He greeted Diana and opened the door to the living room. Nora waved at Diana and went back to her book.
Ben waited in the kitchen until Diana’s anger unleashed. Instead, Diana sat on the other couch.
“What are you reading?” Diana asked Nora.
“Oh, just some romance novel. I like these to escape life with these two around.” She gestured to Danny and Ben.
“It seems you’re quite comfortable there.”
“I am. Ben demanded I used this pillow, but the couch is soft enough not to use one. I like cosy, so sinking into the couch is actually a good thing.”
“Right. Well, maybe you’re right.” Diana grabbed her phone and started typing.
Ben looked at Danny who shrugged.
The two women sat there, one buried in her book, the other one occupied with her phone.
“This is weird,” Ben whispered in Danny’s ear. Danny nodded.
Matthew came through the front door and saw Ben and Danny standing in the middle of the room. “Hey guys.” They stared at Matthew. “What’s going on?”
“You know how Diana is with the interior, right?” Ben said.
“Yes.”
“Well. Nora moved a pillow, and she just accepted it.” Danny still couldn’t believe it.
“What if Nora has the power to reverse someone’s personality?” Ben whispered.
“Don’t be silly. Nora is just an ordinary girl,” Matthew said.
Danny punched Ben on the shoulder.
“Ouch, jeez.” Ben rubbed his shoulder. “I guess I deserved that one.”
Matthew sat next to Diana and kissed her on the cheek. “Always a pleasure to see you.”
Diana tucked away her phone and looked at him with a stern face. “Why did you call me here?”
“I know what happened to Felicia, but first we have to talk about something else.” He directed his attention to Nora who had put her book away.
“Nora, I know you’ve been going to church, and I won’t ask you if you believe in God, but do you believe some things that happen aren’t within the powers of humans? That something beyond humanity is doing these things?”
“You mean, like miracles? I guess so.” Nora felt uncomfortable with four people staring at her. Ben and Danny stood behind Matthew and Diana. The whole scene made it look like she was on trial.
“Would you believe me if I told you I can see a person’s aura?” Matthew said cautiously.
It was a question Nora hadn’t expected. Auras were something supernatural. She knew that some Christians would consider it a pagan, or heathen, thing. But there were so many religious paintings where humans showed auras, that it confused her what their nature was—good or bad. But she couldn’t deny that people had seen them.
“I believe you think what you see is a person’s aura. I’ve never really thought about it, actually. I know my father would’ve said you’re a heathen right away. My mom thinks the person is more important than what they believe in. As long as their actions are morally good.” Nora tried to phrase it so she wouldn’t hurt or offend him.
“Do you believe auras exist?” Matthew continued on the subject.
“As an energy that surrounds a person, yes. I guess that’s what people use to feel another person’s mood.” Nora remembered how relaxed she felt with Ben at the movies, and how she always knew when Felicia stared at her.
“I can see that energy, but only with certain people. I can’t see yours, so don’t be afraid I’ll invade your privacy.”
It wasn’t what worried Nora. Just knowing that she was in the same room as someone with what would qualify as superpowers, made her feel awkward.
“I saw an aura around Felicia,” Matthew followed up.
“What?” Ben raised his voice and Danny hit him on his other shoulder.
“No need to shout. At least try to be a decent human being,” Danny said.
“Hey, I’m sorry I suck at it. It’s not like you’re a good example,” Ben sneered back.
Diana turned around and leered at them. Both kept their mouths shut.
“What does that mean?” Nora asked Matthew, ignoring what just happened.
“When an aura is visible, they tell us more than just a person’s mood. Matthew has a gift to recognise potential in people and it’s not always the right kind of potential. It seems Felicia has the wrong kind of potential,” Diana explained.
Danny looked at Ben. They knew what this meant. “That at least explains some of it. It wasn’t me that caused her to change. It could’ve been you as well,” Danny said to Ben. “Or something else.”
Nora didn’t understand why either of them meeting Felicia would’ve turned her into a jealous harpy.
“I think it’s something else. I’ve seen this kind of aura before. I think it might be a Fury.”
“What’s a Fury doing with a teenage girl?” Diana looked at Matthew with surprise. It was the first time Nora saw her facial expression change.
“You have no idea how angry teenage girls can be these days,” Matthew said with a sigh. He turned to Nora again. “From what I understand, Felicia thinks you’re after Danny, but she believes she deserves him.”
Nora nodded.
“So you’re taking love away from her. Are there any other areas where she lacks love?”
“Her parents are never home and buy her affection.”
“So, only child with absent parents whose love only exists in material form. Has she ever had a real boyfriend?”
“No,” Nora said.
Danny raised an eyebrow, because he knew better.
“She’s had relationships before, but she didn’t love them. It’s not a real relationship if she didn’t love them. They were things to her.”
“Objects that represented the love she craved,” finished Matthew.
“Exactly. I doubt she can name them if I asked. Guys she dated for short periods and then dumped because they were boring. Her holiday flings lasted the longest, but were also sure to burn out by the end of the summer,” Nora said.
“It would explain why the Fury was attracted to her, but it doesn’t explain why Felicia’s anger is directed at you.” Diana tried to piece it all together.
“Out of all the people in her life, I’m probably the one with the best relationship with their parents.”
Matthew nodded.
“So Felicia prayed to these Furies that she wants revenge on the people who do have love?” Out of the four friends, Nora had the most loving family. She didn’t want to believe Felicia was that jealous.
“It looks that way. Her jealousy of you could be the reason the Fury thinks you’re the one to punish,” said
Matthew.
Ben and Danny listened attentively. This was all new for them too.
“I don’t get one thing. What’s a Fury? And why is it with Felicia?”
“Have you studied Greek Mythology?”
“Some of it.”
“The Furies are part of the pantheon of Greek gods. The three sisters are born from Uranus and are prayed to by people who seek revenge. The Furies will execute the punishments. While some of these are reasonable, I have my doubts that all of their quests are true justice.” Matthew explained.
“A Fury will take on a host to execute whatever it is that they want,” Diana chimed in. “You could say it’s a ghost or spirit; they don’t have a real body on Earth. Exorcisms usually work to get rid of the Fury, but we can’t do one on an unsuspecting teenage girl. It will traumatise her for life. We need something else.”
“How are Furies real? Isn’t mythology supposed to be made up stories, like fairy tales?”
“All those stories come from somewhere. The brothers Grimm collected folktales from all around Europe and when they released their book of the result, others saw them as fairy tales since some things seemed magical. The Bible is also a collection of stories, as are the Greek myths. But they’re too old to know what was real and what wasn’t. They retold the stories countless of times and every writer or story teller changed the original story to better suit their audience. We don’t know which parts of the stories are true, but I believe all of those stories hold some truth.” Matthew was well read on the subject and Diana also knew her fair share. Ben and Danny mostly listened, but didn’t ask questions.
“How do you know it’s a Fury and not another demon or ghost?”
“I’ve seen auras for years. When I was a college student, I wanted to know if it meant anything. The woman who helped me taught me how to recognise different kinds of auras. Furies aren’t the only mythical beings on Earth. Mythical is not the best choice of words, since they exist, but it’s probably easier to understand when I refer to beings that shouldn’t exist in the human world.”
“You know this all sounds crazy, right? Like straight out of a book. Vampires, werewolves, witches. Are they real?” She thought about the books Josy recommended to her.
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