Loving Lisbeth Salander (XIV Series #1)

The Ghost of Her Past II

“Holy s**t. You need to get out, Four!” Han suddenly pulled me so hard until we reached the field. I tried shaking her which would, under normal circumstances, work on her but today, she was undeniably stronger than normal days. I’ve tried shoving her off but she was persistent today. I don’t even know what the ruckus was about. Everyone seemed invested in it too. Han was never interested in school gossip unless it involved her favorite drugs.

When we got there, I was surprised to see a huge crowd cheering like there was a f*****g celebrity or something. It wasn’t event sports season for everyone to be this engrossed with school s**t. “What the f**k is happening here?” I turned to ask Han but she was looking up with a wide smile, completely ignoring me. I glared at her with a frown, still confused of what was f*****g happening.

“Look!”

I followed her line of vision and my eyes sting from the sudden bright light from the sun that hits my f*****g eyes. I squinted my eyes to see what the hell was happening until I heard the buzz of the speaker. Everyone seemed fazed by the sudden sound that was coming from the speakers all over campus.

“Forest Young!”

My eyes widened. That was my f*****g name. My f*****g name being called all over campus. I wasn’t sure how it was happening even. I just knew my name echoed through every stinking room and corridor the school had. What the f**k is actually happening. Holy s**t, I’m actually scared for my life right now.

“Look here!”

I scanned for who was talking and saw Connor standing on the highest level of the bleachers with a microphone on his hand. He waved his hand up in the air and puts on probably the widest, brightest smile I have ever seen in my entire life. He was jumping in his place too, deliberately trying to catch my attention, which I already acknowledged the first time. He didn’t have to do this much to have my attention.

“Hey, Fire.”

“Who would have thought that someone would actually go crazy like this for you? This is f*****g insane!” I heard Han say which made me frown, questioning myself with the same questions she had. I wasn’t even doing anything. Sure, Connor confessed but I already rejected his ass the first time. I didn’t know why he was doing stupid things like this. IN front of the entire school, at that. Connor have been annoyingly following me around, forcing me to talk to him and be friends with him, and telling me how much he likes me, but I never really did took him seriously. I thought it was all games, and he just purely doing it out of boredom.

“I really like you.”

My brows arched up at how straightforward that was.

“I don’t know why you don’t believe me. I don’t know why you don’t want to believe me when I say it, but I do. I really do like you and I’m standing here today,” He pointed at himself. Presenting himself to everyone. “In front of everyone, confessing my sincere feelings for you. In front of everyone who’s witnessing this right now.” He announced, his voice full of confidence and determination. “I want to ask you to be my girlfriend.”

What the f**k.

Han began nudging me by the arms as the cheers grew louder and bigger. Everyone started clapping and sheering for this big of a gesture he was doing. What a show he was putting for everyone. People were starting to record what was happening. I wouldn’t even be surprised if I saw myself in someone’s Twitter feed for this.

“Forest Young, will you be my girlfriend?!”

Everyone turned to me like it was a f*****g scene from a movie. He suddenly gestured something, and at that instant, a man hands me a megaphone. At first, I wondered why he was giving me this then, I figured I have to use it for my response because it won’t be possible for him to hear whatever my answer would be which is, “In front of everyone, I want to answer you,” I paused, building up the tension that was building up. “HELL NO!”

Han turned to me in shock.

The crowd who was witnessing this f*****g drama that’s apparently happening before their eyes, mocked Connor. “Oh come on! Really?!” He laughed. “You’re rejecting me in front of the entire school?!”

I nodded as if he could see it. I could tell everyone was having fun with the interaction I was having with Connor. It’s not every day you get to see a man confess and ask someone out, and get rejected. “My answer is a big fat no!”

“In front of everyone, you’re rejecting a sincere man like me who’s truly, madly, in love with you?” he asked. “You’re one charming girl, Four.” I can almost see Connor smile. I thought he’d be running away in shame but he didn’t.

I scoffed through the megaphone so he hears it, crossing my arms at him. “What, did you think I would say yes if people would be watching?”

“I did! I thought I was lucky!” he replied, his voice almost trembling. “I guess I failed, huh?”

I snorted out loud. “Does my answer sound like a success to you?”

“No.”

“My answer exactly.”

How can I f*****g not remember that f*****g name, that f*****g guy, that f*****g fucktard and all his bullshit, that f*****g human being? He’s not even human after what he did, no. How can I not f*****g remember that stupid ass when he ruined my already f****d up life? Why is he even f*****g asking? f*****g asshole.

“The two of you were really close, right? Like really close in a level beyond everyone else that came to your life.” he asked but he didn’t have to ask as he already knew the answer. “So I thought you’d be delighted to hear the news. I mean, don’t you just miss the bastard?” That annoying smile. Hunter was bringing him up on purpose to annoy the hell out of me, and he was getting to my nerves alright. If it was his plan to f**k with my head, then he’s doing it right. And I’m gonna f**k with his life if he doesn’t stop right now.

“It’s a little ironic how fiery you are but you’re so cold.”

I glared at the guy who just spoke. Of course it was Connor. No one’s ever as stubborn as he was and it’s almost impossible to not remember his very deep voice. All the nagging led me too attached to him. It was scary how he made me feel this way in a long span of time. I was starting to get too used to his presence around me. “And your point is?”

“My point is I like both fire and ice so,”

So?

“I like you a lot.”

I raised a brow at him. “Nice try but keep trying.” I teasingly grinned at him. “They’re not really working, buddy.” I smirked at him before slamming my locker at his face and proceeded to walking out of the building. He tagged along, unfortunately, just like how he always did for the past few months of tagging with me.

“When will you stop rejecting me, Four?” He asked.

“When will you stop liking me, Connor?” I turned to him and he smiles.

“Never?”

For a moment, I felt my heart race a little and I forgot how to respond. “Then, my answer is never too.” I smirked, fastening my pace to increase the distance I had with him.

“So cold, yet I’m still attracted to it. Your sass is going to be the cause of my heart attack, baby.”

I sneered at both his reply and the pet name he just called me. “I look forward to watching you give up, baby.”

Fucking Connor. “Shut the f**k up.” I said before rolling my eyes and taking another gulp from my bottle. I’m already stressed out than I normally am, I can’t be more stressed for Hunter to enjoy. God f*****g dammit.

“Don’t be such a bitter p***y, Four.” Hunter smirked. Partly because he knew he was getting to my head. And he was doing a good job at it. I’m pissed I’m even admitting that because not only was I pissed, I was ready to slam an entire bottle of vodka to his head. “You should just laugh at whatever that’s happened in the past like a normal ex would do.”

Fuck you.

“Unless, you still f*****g like the ass—”

“I said shut the f**k up, Hunter.” I glared at Hunter but he seemed to be enjoying the annoying act he’s pulling with me. He was enjoying it too much that he kept rubbing it in my face like the same asshole Connor was.

The group fell silent and they turned to me with fear in their eyes. They know too well that once I say I said with f**k, I’m ready to kill someone. That moment is now. I’m surprised everyone was still calm after what happened. Hunter was the only one enjoying at this point and I’m not liking that he was even f*****g back. If I could kick him back to rehab, I would but I couldn’t and all I could do is break his f*****g nose and let him leave after having a bloody bath.

“Why are you suddenly so grumpy, Four?”

I stood with my eyes fuming in anger but he still doesn’t stop talking.

“Why? Oh.”

I tightened my jaws as I remained patient towards the asshole who’s been feeding me to his provocations.

“You don’t like the sound of your ex being men—” At that, I slammed the vodka bottle onto his head to make him shut his filthy mouth. I’m a fool if I’d let him keep talk s**t like that. “f**k!” Glass shattered everywhere. Blood was falling off the side of his head with the remaining liquid from the bottle. I kept my gaze down, not regretting what I just did.

“Oh s**t!”

I heard someone gasp.

“What the f**k is wrong with you?!” He touched the back of his head as I gazed up to see his condition. He still looked fine. He can survive this. He can survive with a gunshot, this is nothing to him. It would be a little scar. He can take it as a welcome back gift from a f****d up girl he’s trying to piss off. “I’m going to f*****g kill you!”

“Maybe next time you’ll finally learn when to shut your f*****g mouth.” I cut him off, stopping him from charging at me.

“You—”

“Okay. Stop it!” Just when he was about to attack at me, Han appeared and pushed the two of us away from each other and I gladly stepped back. I already did to him what I wanted to do to him after all. “You two. Jesus. Are you trying to kill each other?!” she yelled. "You can do that in the f*****g Hunger Games arena but not here!”

I grunted, rolling my eyes at him. “Now you know who you shouldn’t be messing with, dickhead.”

“Are you f*****g kidding me?” Hunter exclaimed. “That b***h just blasted the f*****g bottle at my face!” He added, his voice getting louder. “I’m gonna f*****g kill you, you f*****g b***h!” When Hunter stepped to attempt an attack, Han pushed him away and glared at the two of us.

“Get that head stitched first, you f*****g dimwit, or you’ll bleed to death!”

“Maybe try stitching his f*****g mouth first so he knows when to shut up.” I fired back turning to walk away from this mess he put me into.

“You know you won’t fix anything by breaking more, Forest!” He yelled and I gulped. “You know that too well.” f*****g Hunter.