Loving Lisbeth Salander (XIV Series #1)

The Girl Who Threw a Fist III

“Why… are we stopping at a stranger’s house?”

By the time I was pulling over to park across this Jack person’s house, Harvey must have known this wasn’t going to be the group study he’d hoped for. I flashed a nervous smile as I slowly turned to him after turning the engine off. His eyes were fixated on the house that was flashing colored lights, with people scattered all over the lawn, tissue papers thrown off in different directions by the porch.

“Why is it so loud and flashy? And why are there so many people? Why are they holding red cups? Why am I seeing a couple making out by the bush?”

I pressed my lips together as I stared at those he just mentioned. The lights from my car were turned off as I stopped the engine seconds ago. I didn’t want to get attention from just waiting by the outside. Harvey’s face was stiff. He looked like was about to burst, but I’d only hope for the best out of this. It didn’t really look like Harvey was too fond of what I just did. I feared that one small move I make, he would yell at my face for lying to his face, and bringing him to possibly the lease place he would be seen at. It was far too late to take everything back. We’ve come this far, after all.

His head slowly turned to me, the first time he has actually turning my way ever since we were driving to a different street. “This looks nothing like your house.”

I turned to him with a sly, and nervous grin. “We’re seniors. We should at least experience—”

“Are you serious?!”

I flinched from my seat.

Harvey finally shouted at me. I could feel the anger he had towards me just from that question alone. “Last time I checked, I agreed on a study group not a freaking,” He pointed at the house in front of us in frustration. “Whatever this is!” he looked mortified and I was terrified. I could already smell the stench of death of our friendship from this scenario alone.

“I’m sorry! Let’s just enjoy this one night.” I flashed him a finger before rubbing my palms to beg for his forgiveness. “I promise! It’s never gonna happen ever again! Just this one time.” I grabbed his shoulder shaking them lightly like it was something that would make him get out of my car and attend the party with me. I was sure that if I got out, stepped out of my car, he would drive away without me and leave me alone in this party I wasn’t sure Forest was even gonna be part of. “Please?”

He frowned, his jaws even tighter than how I remembered. “You lied! You little fraud!” He finally screamed. I’d guess he has been bottling that up for minutes and for him to yell at me like this must feel relieving for him. “Why would you— How— I’m out of words. Wow.” He rested his head over the window pane full of dismay. He smashed his head on the glass a couple of times but not hard enough that it would make his head bleed. “You’re an i***t, Mark. An absolute idiot.”

“I’m sorry!” was all I could say to him right now. “I didn’t know how else to invite you here.” I admitted, looking away because if I looked at Harvey longer, I’d be too guilty. “Lying was my only option.” I shrugged but he doesn’t budge from his position. He was pissed alright. “Would you have come with me if I told you about it in the first place?”

“OF COURSE NOT!”

“See!” I defended. Every time he yelled, I could see veins piercing through his skin by the forehead. “Can’t you just do this one thing for me? Just this time, Harv.” I begged, holding his hands with both of mine. “I promise I won’t drag you into this ever again.” I pleaded and he just looked at me in disgrace. I can tell, just by looking at his face, that he was beyond angry by what I just did but what’s done was done and I really wanted to do this so might as well just go for it.

“I can’t believe you’re doing this for that stupid Seraphina.”

Seraphina? I can’t keep up with the amount of names Harvey made for Forest.

“What were you even thinking?!”

I didn’t even know why I think it would be a great opportunity for me to learn Forest’s night life by coming to this party that gave me no guarantee of seeing her here – let alone bringing Harvey with me.

He looked away, sighing in dismay. “If you don’t do my essays and research papers for the rest of your life, you can forget we were ever friends.”

My eyes glistened in hope. I guess Harvey knew better than go home considering we were already here. It’s not like we could even do anything about it.

At that, we both got out of the car to head inside the house. I was excited to be in this party for the first time. My first memory of a party wasn’t really pleasing but I’m glad it happened nonetheless. The party was everything like I remembered from before. Loud music, loud people, awful smell – it was still terrible. It was everything I personally wasn’t fond of. Harvey too, I was sure.

Every now and then, I would hear Harvey constantly complaining about the strong smell of liquor lingering all over the place, and I don’t blame him because the smell really is strong. If anything, it was worse than the last party I’ve attended. The smell was much stranger. Liquor, tacos… it was a mix of things I was and was not aware of its existence. We walked around the house that appeared more like a club now than a home. Broken pieces of vases were scattered all over the beautifully designed carpet, liquor stained the exquisite wooden tables – the place was awful.

As we walked, people would bump into us and give us weird glares but that didn’t stop me from dragging Harvey to keep scanning the place. I almost felt guilty for having him here with me because I knew how sensitive he was with cleanliness and hygiene. I was sure he was getting conscious of his surroundings too. I was getting there, myself.

When I couldn’t spot Forest’s striking red hair, I was getting more worried.

“Have you seen her?!” I yelled over at Harvey’s ear making sure he’d hear what I was saying from all the loud noise.

“NO!” he yelled back impatiently, and with every step we took; the louder the music goes, the more it reached my heart as it beats with the rhythm of the music blasting through the huge speakers. “I’m not looking for her so I wouldn’t know!” He added, rolling his eyes. “Why do you have to come here and look for her?! It’s not like she’s even interested in you!”

For a moment, I felt a little sad that I was hearing this truth but for the most part, I was sad because I think my friend was right about that. Forest never showed me any sign of interest and it hurts my pride to accept this. “I have to adapt to her environment!” What if she didn’t attend this party? Did I just waste my time? Did I risk losing my friendship with the only friend I have for nothing?

“You’re crazy!”

I certainly am.

Forest!