Loving Lisbeth Salander (XIV Series #1)

The Scarred Girl III

Where is she?

I looked around, unconsciously bumping into every person I came across with. If there was something I learned from attending parties for about three times now, it’s that people don’t care if you did something wrong. You can smash vases, dirty their carpets, paint their walls, steal things – you can basically do everything you want without getting in trouble. It appears this was a normal thing during parties. You can literally get away with anything you do and no one would care.

I’ve already walked around this unfamiliar house for a few rounds already to search for her, my head turning different directions but I still couldn’t find her. My neck was about to snap off from stretching and finding her, I still couldn’t see any hint of her red hair. I assume that, by now, every loud house I see is a guarantee of me seeing Forest. I wouldn’t miss a chance to see her especially when I see her friends inside.

It’s been my fifth time reaching the living area but I still couldn’t get a glimpse of that red hair but all I saw was her half-shaved head friend whom I spoke to before about her. The one that called her a terrible name. The house seemed like an endless loop that was slowly eating me up.

Should I go walk up to her and ask about her friend? What should I say?

I was hesitant to walk towards her and the guy that had his arms around her shoulder, his other hand caressing her thighs but I was dragged all the way there by my feet out of desperation. I was running out of options, and I wasn’t going to walk another round of this house, or I’ll actually faint from suffocation. “Excuse me.”

The two stopped giggling and flirting with each other when I interrupted their intimate interaction. I feel like I might have stopped them from doing something they were itching to do all night, but it’s a party – it’s where you do things that are out of your mind.

The girl looked at me, eyes squinted at first unable to recognize my face but she came around, snapping, when she realized who I was. “You’re that kid!”

I sighed in relief. “Yes, yes.” I mumbled making sure I didn’t look too happy that I saved myself from the embarrassment of talking to people that didn’t really know me – then again, it’s a party. No one cares if you know each other or not. But I didn’t have to introduce myself again considering this wasn’t the first time we met. “I… uh, actually came to see Forest, but I couldn’t see her anywhere—”

“Forest?” She laughed out loud, and stood up to walk closer to me, shaking her head as she rest both her hand over her waist. “You wouldn’t want to mess with her today.” She suddenly snaked her hand around my neck which sent shivers down my spine. It was stranger because I was stoned. I couldn’t shove it off me even if I was feeling uncomfortable with her touch. When her hands started wandering around my chest, I was so confused of what she was trying to do so I finally stepped back out of caution, which made her smirk. “You see this?” She stepped closer to me again, and leaned the side of her face close to mine to show me her cheek. I noticed a reddish, bluish mark just beneath her jawline. “She f*****g left that there with so much power – that bitch.” She rolled her eyes, grunting furiously as she shakes her hand in the air. “She’s in her worse mood today. I suggest you lay low for now, kiddo.”

I gulped. I wasn’t ready for anything like that. I knew she was scary but I never got the chance to witness her aggressive side like this.

She walked back to the couch, her man waiting for her return. “I’m doing you this favor, kid. If you don’t want to end up with a bruise like mine tonight, stay the f**k off her.”

“W-Where is she though?”

“I don’t know,” the man tried to turn the girl’s face over his direction but she refused and kept her attention towards me instead. “She didn’t come here tonight. I told you. She’s got her Satan mode on because of some s**t from her f****d up life.” I must have put her in a bad mood because she wasn’t frowning this much until I came along and mentioned her name, Forest’s. “She’s probably out there in the city breaking store windows for all I f*****g care! She’s the crazy b***h today.” Breaking store windows? Does she actually do that?

“May I ask where you last—” I stopped. The sight of Forest’s friend making out with the man she was sitting with made my cheeks burn. They were so into kissing each other, they’re almost getting each other naked with just making out in a couch. “Uhm,” I cleared my throat, looking away flustered with what they were doing in front of me. “I-I should—”

“Don’t get your f*****g milks on the couch, Han!”

I turned to the brunette who yelled from the kitchen.

Forest’s friend, who was Han, parted away from the man and glared at the brunette. “f**k you! I’m gonna do what I f*****g want!” she shouted back before continuing whatever she was doing with the man.

Han, was it. “Thank you.” I said to Forest’s friend even if she wasn’t really giving me any attention anymore. I don’t think she even hears me anymore, but I can clearly hear the moans they were making as they kissed. “H-Have a good night.”

I slowly stepped back, then I left the house.

So she was not here all along. I sighed. I guess every loud house isn’t a guarantee of me meeting her, after all.

Much to my dismay, I walked to the nearest bus station, disappointed. I should have expected her to not be at every single party but that completely rejected Harvey’s idea of her being at every party every night which was a good thing. I have something to contradict him with now. I was still disappointed but I couldn’t do anything about it. I watched my footsteps as I walked and I tried to organize my thoughts.

I almost fell down the ground shrieking when I heard the loud shattering of glass echoing through the silent alleyway. My heart pounded hard as I frantically turned my head, searching for some kind of oblivious figure that could end my life but all I could see was the only bar that was open this time, just across the street I was taking.

Only the faint music coming from the bar was all I could hear and very minimal voices of people that probably came from the pub as well. The front window was broken and glass were shattered all over their sidewalk. All I could do was watch from a far until—

“You don’t sell f*****g gold!”

“Get a life!”

I heard someone from inside the bar yell back.

That red hair.

“Your bar’s the worse! You f*****g dickhead! f**k you!” Forest stormed out of the bar, crossed the quiet street after raising a middle finger in the air. The angry man who stood by the bar’s entrance slammed the door, glaring back at her as she walked away from the place. “f*****g piece of shit.” I heard her mumble.

I froze as I watched her walk my way without noticing that I was already there, on that side of the street when I was just standing from the other side. I can’t believe I just saw that happen. I knew how different Forest’s moral was but I didn’t think she’d be like this towards a lot of people who didn’t seem to have any connection or relationship with her.

She’s here. In front of me. What am I frozen for? I should be thankful that I’m seeing her after expecting to see her at the party a while ago.

“She’s in her worse mood today. I suggest you lay low for now, kiddo.”

I gulped as I recalled her friend’s words. But I ran after her and stopped her by the shoulder.

She deliberately turned back to me, slapping my hand off yelling, “The f**k do you want from me?!” Her nose were scrunched up, and her brows were furrowed way more than she usually does.

I blinked. I was so scared right now. Her eyes never felt this terrifying before, and I never really looked at them like this – her presence never felt this intimidating. It felt more like the way how people described her. Terrifying, scary, and all the other bad stuff they called her. “It’s late. Shouldn’t you be going home?” I asked, trying to sound as calm as I could.

When she realized it was me in front of her, her expression softened. Her frown turned to a playful smirk and it didn’t look right. She stepped closer to me so I stayed and waited for her. She smelled off. I didn’t know if it was because she was in a bar with different people or it was just beer lingering all over her clothes for drinking too much tonight.

“If it isn’t Macky,” She tilted her head, leaning even closer, and my heart was beating so much from how close she was getting to me. “Here to make my night more miserable than it already is.”