Loving Lisbeth Salander (XIV Series #1)

The Troubled Boy II

“You don’t f*****g know that and it’s not your obligation to f*****g 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.

“It’s just a façade, right? Seeming like that bad guy when you’re really just someone with a good personality in a scary aura.”

My knees felt wobbly all of a sudden. There was something in his voice that was melting my insides. Is it the softness it radiates? Is it the concern? Worry? I found myself, again, speechless from his sudden question. I was starting to worry. It wasn’t normal for me to feel like this.

“You like showing you’re mean or you care less, but every time I see you, it’s the other way around.” He continued talking, and I continued listening. “You aren’t the demon here. It’s the people who are making you feel like one.”

I felt my fingers flinch. 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. I looked away gritting my teeth in frustration.

“Hm…”

I heard him mumble.

“You’re usually quiet and there’s no response or whatever.” Like that’s not already f*****g obvious? “Today, you’re still quiet, but your eyes tell a different story.”

I gulped at his replies. He was making too much f*****g sense, and I didn’t like it. “Stop talking to me.”

By the time we reached the lab, Oliver was already inside and he gave me the usual why-the-f**k-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 f*****g class.

I scowled reaching out for my things over my bag. s**t. “Where the f**k—” I scanned through my bag harder. f**k my life. Where the f**k is my one and only f*****g pen. f**k. “Fuck.” I mumbled and leaned over the chair in defeat. I’ll just f*****g miss this quiz and nail the others – and buy myself a f*****g new pen, apparently. I sighed. This is f*****g ridiculous. Life was already hard for me and they just keep making my life miserable like hell.

“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 seagull looking at me.

I scowled in discomfort. I already had my mind set to skip the f*****g quiz and here he was, forcing me to take it when I’m already too lazy to even flick my fingers alive.

He flashed a small smile before looking back at his paper, leaving the pen for me to use today. I was f*****g ready to give this quiz up then this kid rolls me a f*****g pen and now I have to answer the damn quiz. Goddammit. This kid is such a nuisance in my life. He makes my life easier in every bad f*****g possible way.

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 was giving these students a favor. They won’t do well with this one either so point overlooked. They’re just too spoiled for brats at such young age. All they do is party and forget they actually needed brains to survive university.

When the quiz finished, Oliver, like a f*****g torture machine, didn’t leave us with much room for resting. “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 Mark who was still fixing his things. “Hey,” I called and he thankfully turned to me as he zipped his fat bag, closed. 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 was a lot more wimp than I thought.

I crossed my arms when he frowned at me saying, “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. “Is it so hard to stretch your hand out and hand me over the pen like a normal person?”

“Do I look like I’m a f*****g normal person?” I raised a brow. I don’t even know what I was still standing here for. And why I was asking back questions for him.

He chuckled. “No. Not really.”

I frowned and looked away.

“This is the first time you’re asking me questions,”

That explains his wide smile. It’s not like I even wanted to ask the question. It just kind of came out to me like that. And it’s not like I’m getting more comfortable with his presence. Maybe I’m getting used to it but always discomforting no matter the angle I saw it.

“Are we friends now?”

“No,” I quickly replied and he responded with a chuckle.

“That was uncalled for, you know. Throwing someone things when they even let you borrow their pens?” He crouched down to grab his bag. “You’re one very dangerous girl.” He muttered fixing his bag over his shoulders.

“So why bother?”

Looked like it amused him more because he flashed a crooked smile like I just said something good. He shrugged and took 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 four woman. “Thank you.” He said, and I figured it was about the pen again.

“You’re f*****g 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. He was flapping his hands in the air, shaking them to emphasize his reply. “Lending me a no good jacket won’t make you look f*****g 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 f*****g said and I’d be lying if I said I don’t enjoy throwing him stuffs because it’s quite fun.