"Since when did you become a fucking superhero, Four?"
Fucking Han.
"What, are you like Wonderwoman now?" She snorted as we approached our third morning class. Han wasn't the insulting one, it's the names she's calling me –they're insults to my pride. "But damn! James was a total dick last night."
"Isn't he always?"
She laughed like she had weed for breakfast, hysterical. "You're right." She smirked approving of my remark. "But the party was wild last night. It was awesome!" She exclaimed like she had just won another pot. "I wish every party was like that. We didn't get caught this time, that's why." She playfully grinned and I just shook my head rolling my eyes away from her.
I should stop attending stupid parties now if I wanted my migraine to stop. This will be the death of me if I kept partying and working and studying and being a fucking— that hurts my head so much. Fuck.
"Hey but what about that kid that's been tagging your tail these days?" She turned to me squinting her eyes like she was suspicious of me but I got nothing hide. "I heard they saw him last night at the party." She suddenly sent me a rather mischievous smile. "Did you play with him all night?"
I glared at her in disgust and anger. "Fuck you."
She raised both her hands up in the air shaking her head in surrender. "I mean, hey, the kid's pretty cute." She continued teasing but she looked like she was really rooting for this kid and I hate it. "Exactly not your type which is your type."
At that, I bring my hands over her collar and pulled her closer to me with a stronger glare. "Are you gonna stop fucking talking or I'm ripping your pussy until you bleed to death?" I threatened but she just flashed a psychotic smile.
"Okay! Jesus. You're really trying to kill me, are you? Jesus Christ."
I rolled my eyes before I set her free. At this point, I was so pissed at my fucking self for even thinking that I would rather have the kid as company rather than this whore of a slut friend I call and I'm clearly fucking tipsy still from all the liquor I had last night for even considering that kid a better option. Fuck.
"The kid gets my respect, I lost the bet to Silvia last week thinking he'd give up after three days." She said fixing her collar. "Fuck was I so wrong!" she exclaimed but I wasn't trying to talk to her anymore. She looked like she was having a conversation with a ghost as we walked and all her emotion were pouring out like she doesn't know I wasn't interested with whatever she has to say. "Admit it! He's pretty persistent like how…"
I glared at her and her mouth immediately turns into a sly smile. She knew pretty well how I hated it whenever this topic comes into light so seeing her smile like this, acting like she wasn't knowledgeable of that fact was making me hate every bit of her.
"Like how persistent you are, duh," she tried to cover up but I knew her too well now and it wasn't going to work. "Okay, I'mma go. Take care, Lakey!" She ran. She ran to save her life and she made the right fucking choice because if she opened that mouth of hers one more time, I would have tied her down in a basement to torture her ass.
****
"Forest!"
Fucking great. Singing my name like you're trying to play catch-me-if-you-can was one thing but another to sing it that way so loud, the entire school could practically hear it with one last increase in the volume.
"Forest!"
Jesus fucking Christ. Can someone not annoy me? Is that so hard to do?
"Hey!"
I froze the moment I felt his hands over my skin. His fingers tips were so warm it stung my cold skin and he looked like he felt that too so he quickly linked them away. He looked surprised but he doesn't say anything about it which, for once, I was thankful for.
I continued walking and he walked by my side. From the corner of my eyes, I could see him leaning his face close to mine with his usual bright smile so I try to step away from him as I walked which doesn't seem to make him go away.
"Let's walk to the lab together!"
For fuck's sake leave me alone. Chemistry class never felt this exasperating. I didn't even care if he was walking so close to me now because I was too tired to care. I've tried to deal with this stubborn kid several times and I learned the slow way that he wasn't going to give up anytime soon.
"So I realized something last night." He started. "When I saw you save that girl," What the fuck? "I really think that you don't have the cold heart like everyone says about you." I creased my brows. "I mean, if you really were cold hearted, you wouldn't jump right in there and saved her. Only those with a good heart would do such—"
I finally stopped walking and turned to him unable to sustain myself from interfering with his sentence when I ought to my fucking self that I would never after he played me dirty. "Only because I didn't want to ruin the climax of the party."
"Climax of the party?" he repeated. Of course he didn't know what climax of the party meant. What did I think? He was a normal student. "Then why did you look like you didn't want to be there in the first place?"
I froze. This time. I knew it wasn't because of the anger I felt or the annoyance this kid was making me feel. I froze because I couldn't deny how accurate and right that sounded. For the first time, I felt like someone finally threw me the truth punch I always needed. "You don't fucking know that and it's not your obligation to fucking snoop around my life acting all detective Conan or some shit." I said as I stared deep into his eyes and he stared back fearlessly.
His eyes weren't shaking, nor did it show any sign of terror. He was staring back softly like he was seeing butterflies or rainbows. I was lost in his eyes for a few seconds before I snapped out of it. I turned around to walk away until he spoke, "Why do you like showing people that you're bad, Forest?"
My feet stopped moving. My knees felt wobbly all of a sudden. There was something in his voice that was melting my inside. Is it the softness it radiates? Is it the concern? Worry? I found myself, again, speechless from his sudden question.
"You aren't the demon here. It's the people who are making you feel like one."
I felt my fingers flinched. The warmth in his voice was starting to scare me. You know this type very well, Forest. You can't fall for the same mistake you once regretted. "Stop talking to me."
By the time we reached the lab, Oliver was already inside and he gives me the usual why-the-fuck-are-you-still-coming-to-my-class-it's-already-done look. I walked to the back of the room and fixed myself to sleep until he spoke again. "For the benefit of those who are late, please bring out a pen for the quiz."
Fuck. Another quiz? Just when I thought I could sleep in his fucking class.
I scowled reaching out for my things over my bag. Shit. "Where the fuck—" I scanned through my bag harder. Fuck my life. Where the fuck is my one and only fucking pen. Fuck. "Fuck." I mumbled and leaned over the chair in defeat. I'll just fucking miss this quiz and nail the others – and buy myself a fucking new pen apparently. I sighed.
"Start."
I was about to sleep when something suddenly touched my arm skin. I looked down and saw a metallic pen leaning against my arm. I frowned and stared at it for a few seconds before I looked up and saw the kid looking at me.
I scowled in discomfort.
He flashed a small smile before looking back at his paper. I was fucking ready to give this quiz up then this kid rolls me a fucking pen and now I have to answer the damn quiz. Goddammit. This kid is such a nuisance in my life.
I dozed off after answering the stupid quiz for less than five minutes. Oliver doesn't really make hard quizzes – only hard exams. I would have preferred an oral exam but I guess he's giving these students a favor. They won't do well with this one either so point overlooked.
"Before you leave, please research on Electrolysis for our next discussion. I will be giving a short quiz about this before the official lecture. Dismissed."
I stood grabbing the pen and faced the kid who was still fixing his things. "Hey," I called and he thankfully turned to me as he zipped his fat bag. He looked like he was expecting something with his sheepish smile so I threw the pen at his direction and he dodged it like I just threw him a knife, gasping. He is a lot more wimpy than I thought.
I crossed my arms when he frowns at me. "Seriously?" He stood walking towards where the pen just landed. "Is it so hard to give this back peacefully?" His expression softened as soon as he retrieved the pen from the floor. He lifted the pen up to my face before sliding it back into his bag.
"Yeah, actually." I raised a brow. I don't even know what I was still standing here for.
"That was uncalled for." He crouched down to grab his bag. "You're one very dangerous girl." He muttered fixing his bag over his back.
"So why bother?"
Looks like it amused him because he flashed a crooked smile like I just said something good. He shrugs and takes a step closer to me but I don't budge. "Why?" I don't like that he feels confident. "Does it bother you?"
"Have I not answered that question enough already?"
He smiled and looked down at me. He wasn't so-tall like Hunter but the kid was taller than I was – just a few inches though. I'd say he's about five foot seven or eight and I'm an average five foot five woman. "Thank you." He said and I figured it was about the pen again.
"You're fucking welcome." My business is done here. I turned and walked away looking at my watch. 3:45. Fifteen minutes early for the first time.
"Just like how grateful I am for last night. Yeah. No biggie!"
I stopped by the door to look back at Mark with a displeased glare. "Lending me a no good jacket won't make you look fucking cool. It makes you look pathetic and I like seeing you in that state so keep doing it for the sake of my entertainment."
"Is it so pathetic to want to keep you warm that night?"
I smirked. The amusement I feel from pushing this kid away was getting to me. "It's not my action to judge." At that, I walked out of the door and continued walking away only to find him catching up to my pace.
"Why do you like throwing me things that I give you?" he tried to turn to me as often as he could, as we walked side by side. "That's so rude." I heard him whisper to himself but I clearly heard what he fucking said and I'd be lying if I said I don't enjoy throwing him stuffs because it's quite fun.
"Take this. It won't be much of a help but it'll keep you warm at least. Get home safe, Four." The fuck is this guy talking about and what's this good-smelling jacket? Fuck.
"Hey," I called out and he stops walking. I unwrapped the jacket he wrapped around me and clenched it tight. Did he really fucking think that I was going to let him make me owe him something? Hell no. I threw the jacket at him and he catches it.
He turned to me in shock. "Wh—"
"I don't need your stupid jacket. Giving me the jacket doesn't make you less annoying but if it did, I'd gladly embrace it." I replied sarcastically. "I don't need your sympathy." I poked his chest, glaring at him. "I can handle myself. I don't need a fucking jacket to keep me warm. I have my own body heat to keep me warm. Everyone fucking has it so fuck off." I bump his shoulder as I passed by, rolling my eyes in frustration. Fucking boys trying to get into every girls' pants. Fucking assholes. The beer was stinging my head – it's making me a lot angrier than normal.
"But you're drenched in water."
"How else would someone be drenched?" I replied stopping from my tracks, turning back to the kid hastily lifting my arms in the air to let them fall.
"Oil? Sweat?"
"It's a rhetorical question." I rolled my eyes at him and he still grabbed me by the arm despite knowing how pissed and tipsy I am right now. "Get your fucking hands off me! How many times do I have to fucking tell you that?!" I exclaimed but he just fucking stood there and kept his hands over my arms like he didn't hear anything.
"If you take it, I'll really stop nagging you."
I glared at him before pulling my wrist out of his tight grip. I didn't know how bad I was staring at him but it seemed to tick him off a bit. "I'm not falling for the same bullshit you pulled last time, you fucking fraud." I said leaning closer to his face, jaws clenched tight. "Now get out of my face before I smash a glass over your stupid fucking face."
"It really should have been romantic if you—"
"Stop thinking that everything you do is fucking romantic!" I exclaimed, trying to pace faster than he does. "It's not!" I yelled. "You know what's romantic?" I finally stopped walking so I could tell this to his face.
He stopped beside me, waiting for me to speak. Confusion was written all over his face but he still looked calmer than most. "If we ran under the rain?" He sarcastically answered.
I rolled my eyes, more frustrated of his answer. "If you actually stopped annoying me. That's what." I said matter-of-factly, and I continued walking.
He chuckled. "How is that romantic?"
I prayed to whatever God he had that he'd stop following me but he didn't. "Because I love myself." I replied without taking a look at him. "And that means, no you."
"Great! I love myself too! The connection is strong between us, don't you think?"
I frowned and let myself turn my head towards him in disbelief. He's still talking? "Did your parents ever tell you not to talk too much?"
"No but at least they taught me manners."
I grunted. "Of course, they taught you fucking manners."
"Yes. For example, not throw things at people, or not be rude when people started talking to you." He started enumerating. "Or not reject people who are asking to be your friend, or not push people when they're near you." I snorted in disapproval. "You know, the basic things about morals."
"Speak for yourself."
"Did you know that people actually—" He kept talking – babbling about so many things that didn't even matter. It was the first time a guy's ever this loquacious – it's almost as if he's a girl. Even a lot more talkative than Han and that girl annoys the hell out of me when she talks so much.
When I reached the gate, I turned to Mark and pulled him by the collar. He looked surprised because I saw him gulp a big lump down his throat. "You stop here." I ordered. "If I see you in another party, I'm beating your ass." I push him away.
He froze. He doesn't fix his messed up collar and just stayed that way, giving me a creepy smile. I didn't know what it meant – it was just too discomforting. "I smell concern."
I shook my head and walked away from him.
"I appreciate it! Thank you!"
I heard him yell.
"See you tomorrow!"
It's not that I was concerned of him. It's just that I hated doing nothing when something terrible happens to clueless people like him. I hate when it shows and I can't even hide it.
****
"Loosen up, bitch! We're here to party!"
"I can fucking see that!" I yelled at her but she doesn't seem affected by my failed attempt of killing her fucking eardrums. I took another gulp from my beer and sighed. So much for my I-should-stop-attending-parties movement.
This is my second time in Red's house party and I think this is only the third time he's hosting so I'm not missing out too much on the details of how things work around here. I'm surprised there's even more students here tonight than the last time I was here. I'd be having fun if I wasn't so frustrated before coming here.
"There's a hottie." Han smirked and glued her eyes on one direction. I followed her line of vision and saw a polo shirt neat looking guy in the living area – nerd. Totally Han's type to play with. With nerds, she can screw them without it big deal. The poor fucking guy is about to experience his very first one night stand. "I'll be right back."
"Yeah. Go fuck everyone in this house, you hoe!" I grinned.
"Hunter's back at it again. Let's go watch and do a livestream!" I turned and saw Tommy running up the staircase.
Hunter? Hunter in rehab, Hunter? Back at it again – what?
I tipped my bottle upside down and chugged the remaining liquid before I threw it down the floor. I ran up the stairs to follow Tommy and led me to a room, crowded with people cheering and throwing drinks around like it was confetti.
I squeezed myself through the loud massive crowd and there I saw Hunter, face to face with Mark. I looked away in frustration. I specifically told this kid that if I saw him at a party, I'm beating his ass and here he was, as stubborn as he was before. For fuck's sake. Am I hallucinating? Am I seeing things from the past now? Because I was sure I've already witnessed this scenario.
"Stop being a pussy and just drink the Goddamn thing!" He yelled and the crowd cheered for him. He's acting like he was the King again. What a loser.
"I don't want it though. I'm just here to see someone. I don't intend to socialize and be mad like everyone else right now." I let out a snort. The kid suddenly replies fearlessly which leaves an awfully bad mark on Hunter's face. Maybe I should sit this one out and see how this goes – for fun.
"Did you just talk back at me?"
"No. I was just replying so you won't feel ignored."
The crowd jeered at his comment making Hunter more pissed. If there was something Hunter hated the most, it's when other guys stood up to him in public.
"Are you really starting a fight with me kid? Do you fucking know who you're trying to mess with here?!" Hunter shouted hysterically. "Okay. You want to fight then huh? You want to fight? Fine! I'll make sure everyone in school finds out how much of a fucking idiot you are for trying to put yourself in a position like this!"
"I'm not trying to fight you. I was simply conversing with you. Now it's not my problem anymore if you took it that way." The kid shrugged.
How interesting, this is.
Hunter looked so fucking embarrassed, I almost wanted to laugh at loud. He started cracking his knuckles like he was about to have a boxing match. "You do not talk to me like that, prick." He did not look confident at all. If anything, he only sounded pathetic.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you craving so much for attention just so everyone would cheer for you like it's something to be proud of? You people are nothing but pathetic losers who just wants attention."
The crowd jeered even louder.
This is getting fun. Since when did this kid stood up for himself during parties? The last time I saw him, Walter was about to make him shit his pants and now here he was, humiliating fucking Walter in front of all these people. I crossed my arms, raising my brows in delight, as I walked towards the kid.
"You son of a b—"
Just enough time to stop Hunter's fist from crashing into Mark's face. "You don't get the last say, Hunter." I smirked at him. He looked like he didn't expect me here – meddling with this kid's business for that matter.
"What the fuck are you— ARGH!"
I squeezed his fist with full power before twisting it to the other side making sure it gets to him real bad. "I do," I glared at him with a smirk. "And I say, welcome back from fucking rehab." At that, I pushed him off the side waiting for what he does next. Knowing Hunter, he'd never finish a fight without feeling victorious and satisfied.
Hunter stood up and looked at me amused. "Well, well. If it isn't Forest Laken Young." Shit. I forgot Hunter knew my full name, now everyone in this room will know that including Mark. Fuck. "You must be happy you got away with it huh?"
My smile faded into a tight jaw. I blew a strand of hair off my face as I rolled my eyes. He knew how to play my game well. He knew making fun of my past would be my downfall but I didn't want a downfall right now.
"I must say, for someone who hasn't been living stably for years, you're pretty fine looking."
I ran my tongue over my teeth and followed his traces with my eyes. He's making fun of me because that's the only thing "And for someone who just got out of fucking rehab, after eight long months you sure have the balls to keep doing what fucked you up."
"Still as feisty as before, I see." He brushed a strand of my hair to the back of my ear and shove him off.
"Well people don't change." I glared back at him. "So why don't you fuck off and cry back to your momma?"
Hunter sarcastically laughed out loud. "You know I only make girls cry in bed."
"And everyone knows it's the only thing you're best at." I took a step away and turned back around the moment I realized something. "Oh and Hunter, your pants are wet. I guess I can't really blame you for pissing yourself after being stood up by someone in front of a crowd. Welcome back, dickhead."
It wasn't hard to walk out given the crowd was making the path for me. I felt like a queen and it doesn't feel good – embarrassing Hunter does though.
"Four wait!"
I stopped, gulping. I didn't want to turn because I didn't want to fucking see this kid's face and be reminded that I just fucking saved his ass again for the second time. I'm giving him more reasons to annoy the hell out of me.
"The least you can do to someone who's talking to you is to face them."
"What do you fucking want?" I asked but still, I don't turn to him because I don't give a shit about what he's about to say. I just wanted to grab another beer and call this a night.
"Thank you," I waited. "For saving me. Not just today but every time I get, well, caught by a bully during a par—"
"Stop assuming that what I do is for you." I turned my head a little from the side to see him from my peripheral view. "Not everything I do is about you." He doesn't say anything. "Sometimes I do things you wish you never saw." I paused. "That you'd rather watch someone get murdered in front of your eyes."
"What's worse than murder?"
"Me."
I heard him chuckle which made me turn my head back with a small wheeze.
"I'm ready to take that risk then." He suddenly said. "I'll watch brutal murder, thriller movies so I don't have to be surprised when that actually happens. Or torture killing movies and documentaries."
I sneered. Hilarious. "Do as you please."
"That guy back there…"
"Hunter." I corrected. "The dick's name is Hunter."
"Hunter, yes, you two seem, well, close?"
I scoffed, looking away. "He's anything but close to me."
"Oh."
"For someone who's drug free, you're pretty insane for thinking of provoking someone like Hunter." I sighed. "I don't do it for you, okay?" I admittedly said. "I do it for fun."