Jaden Baker by Courtney Kirchoff Page A

trash. When he returned to sit with Finn and Ryan, he saw them arguing in low whispers. He sat anyway and they stopped. So, they were talking about him. Big surprise.
    “Did you come from an orphanage?” Finn asked.
    Ryan smacked his hand to his forehead and shook his head dramatically.
    “No,” Jaden said. “I’m not an orphan.”
    “Well, why are you here if your real parents are alive?” Finn asked.
    Ryan gave him a scathing look and said out the side of his mouth, teeth clenched: “We’re not supposed to talk about that.”
    Jaden scoffed. “It’s too complicated for your infantile brain to understand,” he said to Finn. He pulled grass from the ground to give his hands something to do, but wished he had a good excuse to leave. He didn’t like Finn.
    “Oh,” Finn said. “So they didn’t want you?”
    “Shut up!” Ryan said to Finn.
    Jaden’s tried ignoring Finn’s jabs. Be adaptable. Don’t rise. He would have to change the subject.
    “What’s t-ball anyway?” he asked.
    “It’s like baseball, only they put the ball on a tee so you will always hit it. It’s kinda lame, but Dad says it’s good practice. I’m going to play peewee next year.”
    “I’m glad my parents want to keep me,” Finn continued. “Ryan’s want to keep him. What did you do to make your mom and dad give you away?”
    “Shut your face, Finn!” Ryan said.
    Jaden swallowed hard. He felt a great pressure behind his eyes and found he couldn’t summon the energy to care about t-ball or schools anymore. He kept his head down in case he couldn’t hold it in, hoping the barbecue would be over soon and Finn would go home. Ryan liked him better, and Finn was jealous. He was just being cruel.
    That doesn’t mean it’s not true. Jaden tried thinking of a good reason to leave so he could go to his room, but that would be obvious. All was merry laughter at the adult table. Jaden tried catching Jenny’s eye, but for once she wasn’t looking at him.
    “What are they doing now that you’re here?” Finn continued.
    Jaden scowled at Finn’s glowing face.
    “Why do you care?” Jaden asked.
    “Why don’t you? I’d want to know if it was me. Didn’t your mom tell you why she hates you?”
    “She doesn’t hate me,” he muttered weakly, and he felt a tear brimming under his eye. He didn’t blink, fearing it would slide down his burning face. The food he’d enjoyed over dinner weighed heavily in his stomach.
    Ryan had given up trying to stop Finn and watched nervously.
    “Because you might do it again, and the Kauffmans will chuck you out.”
    His insides churned, and his face was blazing hot. Finn was an idiot. He didn’t understand anything. He was a pampered baby going to a pampered school. He didn’t know what it was like on the other side.
    “I mean maybe it’s—”
    “Say one more word and I’ll strangle you,” Jaden said calmly, staring him down.
    Finn’s mouth twisted into a smile. “It’s not something you did. She just doesn’t like you.”
    Jaden lunged, knocking Finn backward. Jaden sat on top of him, pinned him to the ground, and punched him in the face twice, then put both his hands around Finn’s throat and squeezed. Finn gurgled and spluttered, his hands smacking Jaden’s face.
    “Stop it!” Ryan yelled, and the adults scrambled from their table and ran toward them. Ed, Finn’s father, was the first to arrive. He picked Jaden up by the arm pits and shoved him away. Jaden landed hard on the grass. He scrambled up, and watched everyone’s faces.
    Finn’s mother was cooing over her stupid son, and Ed was furious.
    “How dare you!” he yelled, pointing his fat finger at Jaden. He advanced, but Derek grabbed him. Jenny’s face was hard to read, but disappointment was his best guess.
    Before any of them could move, Jaden spun on his heel and ran through the fence gate and sprinted down the sidewalk.
    “Jaden!” Derek yelled, running after him.
    Jaden ignored him. He made a right at the