Page 464 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

He pulls back again, stares deep into my eyes. “We’ll know when we get there.”

Chapter 62

Harper

The wind whips my hair across my face but before I can tuck it behind my ear, Jude does it for me. I flinch at his touch, immediately step away, and he gives me a small, neutral smile in return.

We’re standing in Camp Joy’s courtyard, a rehabilitation center for troubled youths. The property is prettier than I thought it would be. It has views of Scarstone Lake, and we’re even close to enough to go for a swim...although how anyone could dare jump into those black waters, I don’t know.

I wish I could act as detached as Jude. My head’s been all over the place since I woke up. I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow last night. Maybe he did too—he looks well-rested this morning.

“We should have run away,” I murmur.

Our parents are talking to the camp counselors inside the administration building. We were told to wait outside and enjoy nature.

Well, I’ve been enjoying it for twenty minutes already. I’m done. I glance around and then head for the nearest entrance. Ismell food coming from there—I’m pretty sure it’s the cafeteria. I still haven’t seen a single kid and it’s making me nervous as fuck.

“Where are you going?”Jude asks.

“Just to make sure they’re not going to keep us in cages or anything.”

Jude’s shoes crunch over the gravel drive as he follows.

He follows me into the building, which turns out to be a cafeteria. Since it’s ten in the morning I’m not surprised it’s empty. I’m guessing everyone’s finished with breakfast.The dining hall is empty but for the three long rows of wooden tables, their benches tucked underneath. On the other side of the hall, a buffet-style serving station gleams with empty chafing dishes, but the smell of food still hangs in the air.

“Cramped,” I moan.

“Cozy, you mean.” Jude steps up behind me, our bodies brushing against each other. Goosebumps break out over my skin at the heat coming off him. He lifts his hand and runs it an inch above my arm. I shudder and turn to look at him, but he’s already out the door.

I swallow hard and give myself a shake. He’s been doing stuff like this the whole morning already. Sly glances, almost touches, whispered innuendos.

Was our conversation last night the straw that broke my enemy’s mind? I wouldn’t be surprised. I’m filled with a manic kind of happiness I know will end in tears tonight.

But I refuse to cry in front of our parents...or Jude.

He’s in the courtyard again, tipping his face up to the sun. I come up behind him, wanting to sneak up on him for a change, but then our parents walk out of the admin building and I quickly step away so they don’t see us so close together.

“Harper!” Mom beckons me with a flick of her hand.

A girl around my age steps out of the admin building and gives me a wide smile as we walk over to her. She seems genuine enough.

“This is Kierra. She’ll show you and Jude to your room.” The way she says it, it sounds like we’ll be bunking together. My mother scrutinizes me suspiciously for a second. “This isn’t a co-ed situation,” she snaps. “Don’t think for a second you can get away with your shenanigans here.”

My cheeks are on fire. I drop my head, willing a fireball to plummet from the sky and end my misery.

Maybe Kierra picks up on that because a cool hand slips around my wrist and draws me away. “Come on,” she says cheerfully. “The dorms are awesome. You guys are gonna love them.”

I glance back at Jude who follows me like a shadow. His face is solemn until our eyes lock, and then he gives me that faint, lopsided smile of his.

Suddenly, I don’t care where I’ll be sleeping for the next few months. It could be under a fucking bush.

As long as I still get to see him every morning, nothing else matters.

Chapter 63

Jude

This is fucking killing me. I don’t know what happened last night, but I’m really hoping things go back to normal. I could handle hating Harper but this...? I don’t even know whatthisis. It’s like we burned out on hating each other, so now we’re reluctant friends until our rage-o-meters fill up again.

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