Page 467 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

Kierra walks over to me, stroking my horse’s head as she smiles at me. “I’d love a ride,” she says. “I’ll come with.”

“No!”

Her eyes widen, and I quickly slip my foot out of the stirrup so I can face her. “I mean, I just... Brian gave me an assignment to do. I’ve been working on it all week, but I need to clear my head, you know?”

Sympathy floods Kierra’s eyes. “Oh, yeah.” She crosses her arms over her chest, shaking her head. “God, I hate those.” She rolls her eyes and glances around the stable. “I’ve lost count of how many ‘assignments’ I’ve had to do.” She puts the word in air quotes, her sneer dripping disdain. “Best of luck to you.” She pats my horse and wanders out of the stable again.

I let out the breath I’ve been holding and quickly mount my mare. I took several horse riding lessons after I moved into Dearth Manor, but none after school started. It all comes back tome though as I cluck and gently dig my heels into the horse’s side to get her moving.

The ride out to the borders of Camp Joy’s property is beautiful. The distant mountains frame rolling green hills dotted with groves of oak trees. There’s a small stream winding through the property, and the crystalline sound of it washing over its rocky bed is the perfect accompaniment to the bird song that follows me on my ride.

Half an hour into my ride, a jagged, broken wall peeks up through the dense foliage ahead, and I angle my horse toward it. My chest is tight, my palms sweating where I grip the reins.

Fuck, why am I so nervous? I shouldn’t be building this up to something insane in my head. That’s the easiest way to be disappointed.

I guess it’s because I can’t rely on booze to give me courage, or numb my emotions anymore. I’ve had a rough time. I wish I was joking about the assignment but I have one due Monday. And it’s not the first I’ve had.

At first I refused to tell a complete stranger about my life. What business was it of his, anyway? But the onsite therapist, Brian, just kept picking at my scabs until I couldn’t stand it anymore.Always better just to rip off the band-aid, right? I finally broke down and told him about the shit that happened before I got sent to Camp Joy, spending over two hours with him. I felt like I’d been put through the wringer when I was done—head aching, throat raw, body numb...but the next day I felt like a new person.

I’m still not looking forward to my latest assignment, though.

The topic is love. How am I supposed to write about something I’ve never experienced? I suppose I could do an essay on what it feels likenotto be loved. But I get the feeling Brian wouldn’t like that.

Jude steps out of the shadows of a nearby oak tree and grabs hold of my horse’s halter. “You took your time.”

“I had chores.”

“So did I.”

“Well, mine were worse than yours.”

He lifts one side of his mouth into a smile. “Aren’t they always?”

I let go of the reins, letting him lead my horse to a nearby tree. His horse is already tied up and snacking on some long, sweet grass. They’re even close enough to the stream that they can drink water if they want.

As I slide down from my saddle, Jude comes up behind me and grabs hold of my waist, keeping my back turned to him. My horse whinnies and side steps to get away from us, and I can’t blame the poor creature because I’m pretty sure it can feel the dark energy pouring off Jude, just like I can.

“Let me just go wash my hands,” I manage in a voice that’s much steadier than how I feel right now.

“Hurry, Harper,” he rumbles in my ear.

I bend down beside the stream and rinse my hands in the freezing water. I expect Jude to be behind me again when I stand, but I’m alone.

I duck down beneath a low-hanging bough and emerge into a small clearing inside the grove of oak trees. I didn’t even know this place existed until Jude left directions to it under the rock. On my next free Saturday, I rode out this way with Kierra, making sure not to get too close. But I got a good enough glimpse at the time to know that Jude had picked this place for a reason.

Yes, it’s far from the main buildings. Secluded. Such gorgeous scenery. But that’s not why.

The dappled shadows retreat, bathing me in sunlight. But when I look around, all I see are trees and the burned-out shell of an abandoned building. Caved in roof, crumbling walls. Mossand ivy have reclaimed the majority of the structure. Now it blends into the environment almost seamlessly, an aberration no more.

I peek around the wall and smile when I see Jude lounging on a pile of blankets in the center of the small building. There’s a fire pit to one side, long since filled up with dead leaves and cobwebs. But for a yard around the blankets, someone swept away all the dust and debris, baring a rough stone floor.

Someone? It was Jude. He’s been building this nest for weeks. He obviously has more liberties than I do. After all, I’m a whoring alcoholic who drugged my stepbrother. All Jude ever did was take some creative license with my amateur porn video.

That’s how Camp Joy sees it.

I no longer care how our parents see it. They’re living their best lives in their mansion in Blackstone Heights, no longer plagued by their unruly children. They even shipped Rosie to a special needs boarding school out of state. Jude was livid when he found out about it, but we’ve already decided to go see her as soon as we’re out of here. In a way, I think it’s best. She was so lonely at home while we were there. At least now she has other kids to play with, and I’m sure they’ve got swimming lessons she can attend every afternoon. At least, that’s what I like to think.

Jude glances up at me, his dark eyes heavily shadowed in the bright day. “Do you like it?”

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