the bet [SHORT STORY]

It's been two months since Tessa has moved into town with her mother, Dr. Styles. She recently met a boy, Michael. He's one of her mother's clients. She walked home with Michael from the clinic every day and grew very fond of him. Tessa's caring and always put's other people's needs before her own. Michael discovered that she had a more sensitive and fragile side.

"Do you feel that?" Tessa questioned after pinching Michael, as they're walking back to his house.

"Ouch!" Michael says. "Just kidding, I still don't feel anything." Michael has congenital insensitivity to pain (CIPA). He can't feel physical pain. Some people may think it's a blessing but it's honestly not. His lack of pain leads to him getting a lot of injuries that he doesn't notice.

"I bet that I can make you feel pain," states Tessa.

"How much?" Michael asked amused. "50?"

"150," Tessa grinned.

"Deal," Michael agrees and they shake hands.

***

Michael and Tessa were in the parking lot, leaving the library. They were studying there after school until 9:30. As they're walking to Michael's car they hear a group of guys catcall Tessa.

"Don't say that to her!" yells Michael.

"What are you going to do about it?"

The largest guy of the group walks up to Michael and punches him square in the face. He steps back from the impact but regains composure as he felt no pain. The guy took another swing at Michael but missed. Tessa was screaming in the background for them to stop and the group of guys were cheering loudly. Michael quickly fought back with adrenaline pumping through his veins, punching the guy repeatedly until he fell to the ground. Tessa grabbed onto Michaels arm.

"Michael stop," she sobbed, he did suddenly realising what he'd just done. He noticed the blood running down his arms. A rush of fear came through when he saw that the guy on the ground was unconscious.

The two of them rushed to the car and both got in. He started speeding towards the clinic, not hearing Tessa's pleads for him to stop. His throat started to tighten, hot tears began to form in his eyes, blurring his vision. Everything happened so fast. The car suddenly slams into a truck that was speeding through the intersection. Glass flew everywhere and they both fell unconscious as the car tumbled off the road, landing on its side.

***

My head was pounding as I woke up in a bright, white room. I could hear the beeping of the heart monitor beside me, making me want to scream. I suddenly realised where I was. I was in the hospital. I took notice of the blue hospital gown and the bandages covering my body. There was a needle attached to my hand pumping the blood through. A drip. I always hated needles.

I then thought about Michael. Michael. What happened to him? She started screaming for the nurses and calling out his name, not caring about the pain in her vocal cords as she yelled.

One of the nurses came running in, frantically asking what had happened. Tessa tried to speak, but she was sobbing too much.

"W- Where's M- Michael?!" she exclaimed, choking on her tears. The nurse stared down at her feet, looking guilty.

"He uh, he's dead," the nurse replied, not making eye contact. "But he wanted to tell you something."

"W- What did h- he want to s- say?" Tessa questioned, obviously distraught.

The nurse finally makes eye contact, "you win."