Wish Upon A Demon

15.

CHAPTER - FIFTEEN

I remembered everything clearly.

That morning when I had woken up, alone, the first thing that popped up into my head was what happened the previous night. It had taken a few hours to regain all the pieces to fit the puzzle. I remembered gasping and touching my lips, a fresh coat of red covering my cheeks. The demon and I. I couldn’t imagine how confident those shots had made me that I managed to pin down a demon and...kiss him.

I kissed the demon.

And he had disappeared.

I hadn’t seen him for three weeks. The demon had been absent for three whole weeks. And while I pretended that it didn’t affect my life – partially because I was angry that I was left alone that morning – it did affect my life. I didn’t expect him to sleep beside me or hold my hand but I definitely didn’t expect that he would vanish into thin air. The main event of that night didn’t leave me though. I hadn’t forgotten a single thing. I didn’t forget the burst of energy that went through me as our lips touched. I didn’t forget the hand that tangled in my hair. I didn’t forget how everything was so perfect.

One thing I did forget was when everything had ended and I slept off, with a blanket covering me to my chin.

“You ready, Faye?” I heard my father’s voice from downstairs. I kept down my brush. My hair was neat and up in a ponytail and I was dressed in black, just like everyone who was going to be there at Jimmy’s funeral. I ignored the ‘binge’ of my phone, knowing who had texted me. I opened the door to my room and went downstairs.

My hands rested on my thighs.

Fredrick Martin was conversing with one of the men when Michael Kingston sat next to me. A chill went up my arm, nevertheless, I ignored it, like I had been ignoring everything for the past few weeks. “Hi, Faye,” Michael spoke. I turned towards him, forcing a smile, “Hi.” Michael sadly smiled a bit at my response. “Sad, isn’t it?” He says. Michael Kingston was breathtaking in the eyes of every normal girl in our school and once upon a time, even me. But in the eyes of a girl who gave a demon that had bothered her, her first kiss, Michael Kingston was hiding something big. His reputation didn’t match the person he was and everything everyone knew about him wasn’t real as well.

“It is.” I nodded. “He was a great guy.” Michael continues. I nod once more, “Hmm.” I didn’t know Jimmy personally, so I didn’t have anything to describe him by. Besides, when one dies, even those who criticized him when he was living would spurt good nonsense about him. “Faye?” I looked to my right to see Nolan Shaw. I hoped he wouldn’t sit down, but the hopes were crushed when he did sit down. On my left was Michael and right was Nolan, and I was stuck in between.

“That’s a pretty necklace.” I looked down at the necklace the demon had given me. I had finally put it through a test, and no matter how much I would think of the demon boy, he wouldn’t appear. I tried on the first day when I woke up alone, and the second, and then I stopped bothering. “Thank you,” I say. “Where did you get it?” Nolan questions further. “A friend gave it to me.” I blurt out. “What friend?” Nolan enquires, and I see my fearful reflection in his eye. “A friend you don’t know of,” I respond, averting my eyes to the front. “So, this friend, how did you meet him?” Michael is the one questioning me this time. “How does it matter to you?” I ask back, sheer bitterness glazing my tone. Who did he think he was, throwing question atop question at me?

Both of them leaned back in their seat at the same time.

I got up. “Excuse me,” I muttered and walked off before more questions would be thrown at me. As I walked around, I caught my father, alone, staring ahead. There was sadness in his eyes, and he was muttering something to himself. I stepped next to my father. “I hate funerals.” I heard him mumble. “I know I hate them too.” My father turned to me with a surprised look. “Has it already been more than a decade since Matilda died?” I heard my father say.

“It is surprising how you managed to get through, keeping in mind your clumsy attitude,” I say. My father smiles sadly. “I miss her.” He says, finally. “I do too,” I say after him. “I still remember the day I met her. Everything about that day is so clear in my head. I don’t think anybody can ever take her place.” Fredrick Martin says. I don’t say anything. I didn’t want to cry. I had always felt that every time I cried for my mother, it would pain her soul. I believed that she would be unhappy and unable to find peace if the ones she loved were in pain.

So, I bit my lip, controlling the unleashed tears and sobs.

“Come on dad, time to go.” I catch his arm, bringing him out of his thoughts. His slightly watery eyes crinkle as he gives me a smile, walking along with me. It was then that I noticed the retreat of a shadow from behind a tree. My eyes narrow in suspicion. Without paying much heed to it, I walk out, passing by the mayor and his wife who are in tears, sobbing on the death of their only child. People come in and offer their condolences but nothing could ever make them all right, nothing could ever make them feel better.

For once a person leaves this world, they have to move on.

“I can do this”, I whispered to myself.

I walked up to the locker where Michael was standing, with a couple of the football players in our school. Breath Faye, I thought. I took confident steps, without faltering, towards Michael. Once he caught sight of me, he excused himself, focusing on me. “I don’t like you.” I blurted. Great start, Faye. I still continue though, ignoring his expression of pure shock, “So, please, don’t sit next to me, don’t invite me anywhere, and don’t talk to me.” I continue. “Faye,” Michael starts and I hold up a hand.

Several eyes gazing at us with interest catches my attention.

“You make me uncomfortable, so please, stay away from me.” I walk away, ignoring the whispers and Michael’s calls for me to come back. I pass by Nolan who’s smirking slightly, covering it up as I glare at him while passing by. It had been another week without a demon boy, and with a lot of Michael Kingston. The boy was crazy. I knew he too, like the demon, had an ulterior motive as he approached me, but as always, I couldn’t figure out what it was. Except unlike the demon, Michael used the excuse of liking me to get me to confess or whatever it was he wanted from me or wanted me to do.

But I was going to put an end to all this craziness before I turned crazy myself.

And the only way to do that was to find out what that damned ulterior motive was.