Page 515 of Hate Mates

“Connect Four it is,” she says with a grin. I give her a small smile in return and reach for the box, pulling off the lid and putting the pieces together. “You okay, Karter? You’re letting what he said bother you still, aren’t you?”

My lips purse as I shake my head and concentrate on sliding the standing piece into one side, then the other.

“I’ll be yellow,” I announce as I begin to pick the chips out of the box.

“Like always,” she states with a laugh. I make a face at the chips as I continue to collect them, then start making small columns out of them in front of me.

Yellow is my favorite color, so she knew as soon as she picked our game that the choice was out of her hands.

No sooner than I finish my two-row stack do we hear a cheer erupt from the hallway.

“Guess they decided to take her after all,” Enya says curtly. I know it hurts her feelings every time one of the kids here is adopted. She’s been to two foster homes, but so far, they’ve sent her back. I never asked her why ‘cause I figured if she wanted me to know, she’d tell me. And even though she kept a brave face on when Harlan pointed that out to her, I’m almost positive I felt her stiffen when he said it.

“You shouldn’t let what he says bother you either, Enya,” I say quietly as I grab the dice and hand her one. “Harlan just likes to pick on me and anyone that’s brave enough to try and stop him when he does.”

She smirks as she takes one of the dice out of my hand, dramatically whips long, brown hair over her shoulder, then blows into the palm of her hand before she shakes it and rolls. I look at her for a little while before I roll mine. I like looking at Enya; her eyes are big and so full of life. They’re the color of the clearest ocean that take on a hint of silver depending on how the sun hits them. Her naturally tanned skin sets them off perfectly. She’s the second tallest person here, which I think makes it easier for her to push back at Harlan. Sometimes, I think that Enya looks exactly what a fairytale princess would look like if they were real.

“Roll, Karter,” she urges with a friendly laugh.

I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and begin to shake my fist, hoping that I get a better number than Enya before I let the dice roll and let it land where it may.

Kind of how life tends to be.

Chapter Two

HARLAN

Thirteen Years Old

Ipuff my cheeks up with a deep breath before I let the air out slowly.

Being outside in the blistering cold and taking a walk around the property is one of my favorite things to do. It reminds me that I’m still alive because I can feel the need to be warm again. I just choose to ignore it.

Like a lot of things,I think as I rub my hands together to heat them up a little, then glance up at the sky. I kind of feel like I’m having a good day for once. The sun is almost completely hidden behind the white, fluffy snow clouds. Small flakes sprinkle down lazily, trying to finish covering the ground completely, and Karter Lovato talked to me.

I smile slightly as I think of how red her face got. I like teasing her since it’s the only time anyone seems to notice me.But I don’t like that she’s friends with Enya,I think as the upward curve of my smile drops down into a scowl.I hate Enya.

The back of my neck becomes hot with rage. It always does when I think of her. She knows more about me than she should,and if she tells any of the bad stuff to Karter, she probably won’t talk to me ever again.

I have to find a way to get them to stop being friends,I think as I kick up a small cloud of snow with the tip of my boot.

I close my eyes as the freckles of snow gently fall back down onto my face and inhale a deep breath. The chilling feeling deep inside, breathing the bitter cold into my lungs then letting out, seems to calm me down enough that I can continue my walk.

Opening my eyes, I lower my face from being angled toward the sky and follow the path. I’ve walked it so many times that I don’t have to see it under the white slush to know where it is. Down the length of the building and walking toward the back, I reach into one of my pockets and pull out a pack of bubblegum. I stole it from Gemma’s room last night. I figured since she was getting out of here today, she wouldn’t be going anywhere she would need it.

Most of the kids here see being adopted as the best thing that’ll ever happen to them. I see it as breaking out of one jail and into another one.

That’s why I’m always on my absolute worst behavior when people show up to walk around and look at us. I hate being watched, and I don’t want any of them to touch me, either. They’re all a bunch of huggers that I’ve seen so far, and that would make me so angry that I might end up hurting one of them and probably getting sent to a real jail.

I begin to chew the inside of my mouth thoughtfully.I wonder if Enya told Karter why I don’t like to be hugged?It’s almost enough to make me angry again, but I tell myself that it’s okay to not be okay about things and continue walking.

Thunk.

I arch an eyebrow as a small volcano of snow bursts up from the ground and decide to investigate. When I’m close enough to see, but far away enough to still be safe just in case, I leanforward to take a peek. Almost instantly, I reach down and scoop up the small baby bird that’s screeching at the top of its lungs.I guess not all you made the trip south,I muse as I gently rub the top of its head with the tip of my finger.

I stroke its head as I turn around and head back toward the path.Cute,I think with a small smile as it continues screaming in the palm of my hand. I decide to stay focused on the little bird as I pick up where I left off and keep walking toward the back of the building.

As I turn the corner, I let out a relieved breath.

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