I HATE YOU

Chapter 2 (Mini Chapter!)

(Karkat's POV)

When I had finally collected all of my things and "said goodbye" to the school, my parents, sure enough, were waiting just outside the front gates. And, it may be an understatement to say that they looked pissed.

I smiled at my mum (who wasn't really my mum) and she gave me a look. The look.

"Karkat Vantas, who the fuck do you think you are?" She scolded, shaking a bony, skinny finger at me. "What makes you think that ANY of this is OKAY? Hmmmm? I've had it with you, you stupid little boy!"

She smacked me.

I was used to it, of course, but it still caught me by surprise, and I think it caught her by surprise as well. 'Cause immediately after that, she sat rubbing the side of my face that she'd smacked, making a pouty face at me. It was fake, but I told her it was fine- like usual.

My dad just stayed silent the entire time- he didn't say a single word. he didn't even look at me, which was odd. I thought he would have been the one yelling at me and slapping my face. But he just ignored me for the rest of the day. It was kind of nice, actually.

And at dinner, Clara (mum), paused the feast for a moment and cleared her throat, which was really never a good sign. Even Mark (dad) seemed scared.

"I have decided to send Karkat to Army Camp," she announced, not bothering to look over at me. Fuck her.

"You'll be leaving tomorrow, Kar," she went on, finally just giving me a glance. "Laura and Connor are picking you up at 6:00 am sharp, so you best be up and ready by then. You will go to the cabin that is directed by John Egbert, hear me?"

"Yeah sorry I didn't hear that you're gonna have to repeat it," I said sarcastically. She never understood my sarcasm, though, that grumpy old woman.

"See? This is EXACTLY why I'm sending you away!"

I shrugged. "I don't mind. It might be cool."

She shot daggers at me, and I suddenly took it back. Oh shit. Oh shit oh shit oh shit.

"You think waking up at four in the morning sounds cool? You think being whipped until you complete your work, counting twigs, doing pushups til your hands bleed, and, Gog forbid, BEING AWAY FROM ELECTRONICS sounds cool?!"

I just shrugged again, hoping she wouldn't see the desperation in my eyes. I was fine with going now, because that meant I could get away from this horrible place. I could get away from Clara and Mark and Laura and Connor and Ingrid and Mrs. Rhynne and all the other stupid people I'd always been around. For a moment, I told myself that it would be really great going to camp.

Boy, was I wrong.