After the incident that happened at Prism Bar, Mark started acting strange but what's stranger is that I hated how he changed. It is true that you get attached to people even if you aren't interested with getting attached to them. I know that now that Mark's trying to avoid me. I'm pretty sure I made it clear to him too.
I was heading to my next class for the day and trying to finish my cigar before I get caught by any teacher. My head is always down when I walked so when I bumped into someone, I was infuriated to see my bag fallen on the floor with the small things I kept inside scattered around. The fallen things weren't what's maddening, it's the fact that the bump was done by choice and not accidental.
I looked up to see who the bitch that bumped me and immediately smirked when I saw her looking back like she didn't just bump into me.
She wasn't doing anything. She just stood there and stared back like the bag was going to fly back into my fucking hands like Harry Potter.
I scoffed in disbelief before I bent down to pick up my things. "Of course you're not owning up to this." I whispered to myself. "You can't even value people who saves your own ass just to keep your fucking integrity. What pride."
"What?"
I turned back to her with a wider grin. "Oh. So now you can hear me. How hypocrite of you."
"Can't value people who—" She looked away wheezing, obviously frustrated. "Are you telling me that? Excuse me?" She touched her chest, her head leaning forward.
I rolled my eyes, smirking. The hypocrisy this bitch is giving. It's so funny I can hardly breathe. "No?" I sarcastically replied and continued. "I'm pretty sure I was talking to my bag that fell down the floor because a bitch's pride is so high, she can't even pick it up for me when she knows herself she bumped me on purpose." Every word, I made sure I emphasized on her so it hits her hard.
"H-How dare you accuse me?"
I gritted my teeth in anger. "Accuse you? The force that came out of your shoulder was too scripted to be an accident. What for did you sway back before touching my shoulder?" I crossed my arms. "If you want to at least play victim for the one hundredth time, make sure you don't show any traces of you pretending to save your ass over again."
She just looked at me, her eyes beaming.
"Are you too stupid to understand anything I said about force? Because I can gladly translate it for you." I raised a brow. "In dumb language."
"You're always so proud of yourself just because you—."
"We all know photographic memory only works with people who have brains that can process information well enough to go with the ability. It's you people who say I'm only smart with my gift but really, you're just insecure because you can't be me."
"No one wants to be you."
"If people were asked to choose between a person who gives and leaves, would they choose the one who leaves?" I glared at her intently.
"That's not relevant to what I just said."
"They'd probably choose the one that gives and would despise the other." I replied to my own question teasingly. "The one that leaves… is you. No one would want to be you. No one would choose you. A user, coward, hypocrite – a traitor." I see her balling her fist. How fun is it to make fun of people who are shitty. I almost wanted to laugh out loud just by seeing her stupid reaction.
"I'm not—"
"Connie!" A girl called out. "Can I borrow your textbook? I forgot mind back home."
I looked behind and saw one of her friends looking out from the classroom. I diverted my attention back to her with a crooked smile. "Keep using," I spun the other way and said "User" before I walked away.
That…
That is how you deal with a manipulative bitch like her.
I was in a party. I didn't know who hosted it this time but I was here to forget about my sudden inability to make the right choices. Fuck that best friend for telling me all that shit.
"Hunter brought the scags tonight. Do you want—"
"Weed. Weed's what I fucking need. I don't need his scags. He can stick his scags over his ass, for I care." I threw my cigar down the floor and stepped on it before tipping my red cup empty. I need more alcohol. This isn't doing anything to me.
Han slapped her palms over my chest and I immediately catch the packet she just handed me. "That's the last packet I have. I was supposed to sell it to Damien but you look like you need it more than the fat dick."
I smirked and slipped the packet down my pocket. "I'm doing all your essays so this is the least you can do."
She laughed. "I'm not complaining."
"Good."
"Hey Forest." Jacob suddenly walked towards us with a hook-up girl clinging onto his waist. "Did you bring the kid you always hang out with?"
Who? I frowned. I didn't want to get myself involved with scag-high people like Jacob.
"That kid that dropped dead last time." He didn't look sober but he was making sense for some reason. "The one with the, uh, the…" He squinted his eyes unable to clearly speak. "The kid!" He exclaimed. If he was frustrated with himself for not being able to comprehend well right now, what does that make me? "Shit, was it Mack?"
Mark?
"Hunter's fucking with him."
I crumpled the red cup I was holding.
"They're upstairs. You might want—"
"Get the fuck out of my way." I pushed him away and made my way to the second floor. I opened every door I can possibly access only to find strangers hooking up in a stranger's bed.
Fuck.
When I opened another door, I knew I was in the right room when a crowd was cheering loudly. I pushed everyone away from the crowd and saw Mark dancing on top of a table.
I looked around and saw Hunter laughing with the crowd, nodding his head in satisfaction. I was going to head straight for Hunter but Mark suddenly falls off the table and lands his face on the floor.
The crowd jeered.
Mark laughed and stayed on the ground the way he fell. I ran to where he was slapping him by the face. He doesn't react to it – like he was numb to pain. His entire face was burning. I leaned closer to his face and his eyes were blood shot red.
"Glad to see you join, Lakey!"
"What the fuck did you do to him?!" I glared at Hunter, still keeping Mark's head on my lap. He'd only feel nauseous if he gets up. "What did you make him take, Hunter?!" I yelled more. "You fucking dickhead!"
Hunter smirked as he took a sip from his drink. "Jesus, Four. Give the kid some fun. He looked like he was until you came. Am I right?!" He asked the crowd and they gladly agreed.
Mark suddenly moved. His eyes were moving around as he smiled. "Butterflies." He giggled, his hands moving up in the air as if something was there. "How pretty." He smiled wider.
My brows creased deeper. "What the fuck did you give him?!" I was so angry, I almost shove Mark away just so I can deal with fucking Hunter better.
"Relax! It's not the most—"
"Just fucking tell me, Hunter!"
"Why do you even care?!" He yelled back. "You never care about other people, Four! Not once have you cared, remember? You left that girl to die because you don't care about anyone but yourself! Why are you suddenly turning against us over this fucking baby?!"
"Fuck you!"
I pulled Mark up from the floor and took him out of the house. I looked around the yard to find his car so when I did, I searched for the keys in his pocket.
I dropped him at the back and made my way to the front. I started the engine and examined everything I was looking. There was so much to idle here and I don't know what they're supposed to do.
Fuck. I'll just have to drive like it's a fucking toy. Jesus take the wheel. The first pedal I stepped on, the car screeched to reverse which hurt my back. So I stepped on the other and tried to drive the way I see people do it.
Fortunately, I remembered the way to Mark's house. I'm not sure how I'll explain this to his mother but I have nowhere else to bring him but there otherwise he'll be in big trouble if he doesn't go home.
The moment I pulled over to their front yard, the front door opened and I saw his mother looking out in worry. I took a deep breath before I stepped out of the car to bring Mark out. I wrapped his arms around my shoulder and we both walked to their porch.
When his mom realized it was me and Mark, she immediately ran to me and helped me carry him. "Oh dear, what happened?" She asked.
I gulped. "He went to a party with me, Mrs. Lee and he drank a little but he got like this."
His mom turned back to Mark worriedly.
If I told her fucking Hunter made him take weed, I'm not sure how his mom will react to that. I was thankful that Mark wasn't acting as crazy as a while ago. The drug must be wearing out by now. The weed Hunter usually gives for free are short-term. They usually last 30 minutes.
We brought Mark to his bed. He rolled around like his body immediately felt the comfort of the familiar space. Mrs. Lee took a good look at his son before she lets out a sigh. "I don't know if I should be happy that he's going out of his comfort zone or not."
I turned to her a little amused.
"I've always tried to convince him to go to parties for once and have fun and now that I see him like this, it's making me think that I might have influenced him to do something bad."
I looked down. I wasn't responsible for his decisions of coming to parties but he's making me feel responsible of it all. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Lee. I shouldn't have—"
"Oh no!" She cut me off shaking her head. "I'm really happy he met you, Forest dear. He seems a lot more energetic ever since he met you. I think you're really good for my son."
I couldn't respond. How am I good to him when all I do is influence him into things that could put his life in danger? That doesn't sound good at all.
"I don't know what to do, oh god."
"Do you perhaps have ginger tea?"
She turned to me almost surprised that I was about to suggest something. "I'm not sure. I had them last week but I don't know if there would be enough left for a cup."
"Please make him ginger tea when he wakes up and make him take an Advil. His head will hurt a lot when he gets sober. Make him a good breakfast too if you have time tomorrow, he will need that as well."
She smiled. "Thank you, sweetie. You must drink a lot if you know so much about hangovers." She chuckled.
I nodded with a small smile. "My alcohol tolerance is actually pretty high so it's very rare for me to get drunk."
She nodded.
"I should go—'
"You're going home?" She asked in surprise. "It's late already and you drove my son's car. How are you going home?" She sounded genuinely worried. "Why don't you just stay tonight? I'll wash your clothes so you can use them tomorrow so you and Mark can go to school together."
"I—"
"I insist. I wouldn't let you go out and walk back to your home this late at night."
I looked at Mark before meeting Mrs. Lee's eyes again. "Okay then, Mrs. Lee. Thank you."
She nodded and smiled. "You can sleep in there," she pointed at the door that was across Mark's room. "All pillows and sheets there are complete so you don't have to worry. I'll bring a towel in your room later after I go make soup for you to eat before you sleep. You can stay here and watch Mark if you like. I'll call you when the soup's ready."
"I-It's—" I tried to stop Mrs. Lee but she was already out of the door so I sighed instead and decided to just accept her offer out of respect.
I looked around the room. I've never been to Mark's room before. It wasn't surprising that he kept his room tidy and clean. He doesn't look like the type who would mess up his room. No workout equipment, no nothing to make a man more buffed.
He suddenly chuckled. I frantically turned to him in worry. He started humming a melody so I walked closer to him, giving him a light tap by his shoulder but he was unresponsive. Definitely weed.
When I leaned closer to him to make out of the words he was mumbling, he suddenly pulled me by my back and embraced me with both his arms wrapped around me. I tried to crouch as farther away from his face. I couldn't move away. He was stronger than when sober.
"Forest," He called. "I feel weird." He said under his breath. "I see butterflies even when I close my eyes. They're glowing – brightly." He added. "Sometimes I see you but every time I get closer, you always disappear." He laughed more. "I'm floating."
Of course you are. It's what it's supposed to make you feel. I crouched away in an attempt to free myself from his embrace but he pulled me closer instead so our faces were inches away from touching.
He smiled, his eyes barely opened. "Stay with me, Forest."
The drug should wear out any time soon. He should be passing out and this is the only reason why I'm letting him do this at this point. I won't be able to free away from him when he's high. I confirmed that when I tried minutes ago.
"Will you?"
I heaved a sigh. It's a good thing I was already experiencing the after effects of the weed. I only feel depressed and stressed over this kid now.
"Why won't you like me back?"
I creased my brows. Because…
"People always tell me I'm cute, I'm talented, and smart and caring and sweet and other great things. Tell me, Forest. Why can I impress other people and not you? I'm sad."
I'd like to ask myself the same question.