The Orphans (Book 4): White Lie by Mike Evans Read Free Book Online Page A

haven’t contributed yet, you don’t do anything but take up space and food that we don't need to waste. Maybe you guys think that life would be easier on the other side of those gates. What do you say; Clary and Aslin are over eating breakfast just a few tables away, you want me to have a talk with them?”
    Greg looked up just for a moment and could see both of them now standing but not charging their way for the four of them, at least not yet. He knew that he needed to get his apology for Joey to set things right, he didn’t need any confidence killers. Chris looked to Joey who was looking at Greg mesmerized. He hadn’t had anyone but his family and a few teachers in his life, all who were now gone, that had ever stuck up for him.
    Chris said, “I’m sorry, we didn’t mean anything.”
    Greg kicked him in the ass and Chris said, “Ok we did mean something, we won’t do it again, Greg’s right, you don’t deserve this.”
    Chris looked at Charlie and slapped him on the shoulder. Charlie shook his head no and Greg squeezed the back of his neck just until he winced out loud and said, “Yeah what he said, I'm sorry too. We won’t do it again.”
    “Anything else that you want to hear Joey?” Greg asked.
    Joey, having probably the biggest heart on base, said, “No, thanks Greg, but can you do me a favor please?”
    Greg nodded his head and Joey said, “Just don’t throw them out of the base ok, it’s scary out there, and I don’t think that they would make it outside. They need to stay and keep having Mr. Clary and Mr. Aslin teaching them how to handle themselves.”
    Greg just stared and after only a second the shock wore off because regardless of the fact that the two had reduced him to tears, Joey still was willing to think of others first.
    Greg said to the two bullies, “You see him? He still cares about you guys even after you broke him down. You need to think about that, you understand me? I promise the next time I see you talking to him, he better have a big ass smile on his face or if we aren’t inside somewhere with everyone around watching, I'll beat you both down and it’s going to be God damn difficult for you to get up.”
    Greg then saw Aslin and Clary heading his way now so he stood up, raising his hands in the air and said, “We’re done, everything is cool. I think that they’ve got a good idea for what needs to be done around here now.”
    Aslin looked at the kids and saw that there was a very good chance that they were ok. He realized that they, like their dads, might be hard to teach but that they looked like they were capable of learning over time. Aslin patted Joey on the back. “Hey, you ok Joey? You sure everything is alright?”
    Joey nodded and shrugged. “Yep, I'll be ok Mr. Aslin. Greg is cool man, he is my brother.”
    Greg knew what was coming and beat him to it, quickly putting his arm around Joey. It turned into a full on bear hug and Greg’s legs were now dangling off of the ground. Greg looked at Aslin and Clary and thought about what they had said and knew that if he didn’t, he would have a hard time dealing with this place. He needed to blow off some steam and the idea of people who were trapped on the outside was seriously starting to chew away at his insides. The way he thought of it was that they had too much space to just ignore it. They had stopped going out when they found out there was no chance for a cure and that was the last time they had been on the outside. That had marked day one on base of weapons training and intense cardio workout routines.
    Greg said, “I’m going to skip breakfast, you finished Joey?”
    Joey looked at his empty plate then at Greg’s full plate. He grabbed it and said, “Hey we can eat and walk right?”
    Greg nodded, deciding he’d better take one of the pancakes after all as an afterthought and asked, “Neverfull are you buddy?”
    Joey said, “Yeah as long as it isn’t Mr. Aslin’s food.”
    “What are you talking