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Nate gagged on smoke and quickly tossed his cigarette over the balcony when she came out. He blinked and looked at Heather coughing "Hey, Heather." he coughed.

"You can smoke in front of me, I smoked when I was your age so I could care less." Heather mused.

He finished coughing and laughed sheepishly then looked at his hands "Did you want something?" he asked curious as to why she came out there.

"I just noticed how sad you were. You have a right to be. I think, the reason you steal so much is to get attention. But, kid, if you want to get attention you gotta' change you're ways. Do you think a couple would want to adopt a juvinile delinquint? or a good kid? I can tell you just want a place to yourself, and the cards you were dealt arn't the best, but you have an option: You can continue this reckless behavior and stay in that awful place for 2 more years. Or you can clean up your act and get adopted to a nice couple. Heck, kid, I'd adopt you, but I can't. I'm in no possistion to take care of someone. But there are people who are, and if they just got to know you, then they'd love you. But you have to work to get their attention." Heather said, her voice smooth and calm and understanding. She was good at saying the right things.

"Heather I appreciate you saying that, but you don't understand my situation.... This place is rigged, the owner, Mrs. Mary..." he said her name with scorn. "Is a b*tch! My friend Sam, she's the only reason I stay in that h*ll hole... but Sam said she saw a couple who was interested in me... she said Mary lied and told em' I'd been adopted already."

“Aw kid, I’m sure Mrs. Mary didn’t do that. If so, then I’ll have a very personal talk with her. Would you like that?” Heather offered/

"It wouldn't matter, We've tried to get the cops on her, but she's twisted... she made those cops believe we where liars... And her son..." he blinked and cut off "...never mind..."

"What about her son, Nate? What does he do?" Heather pressed, starting to worry.

"He..." he blinked and stared down at the parking lot. "...Atticus is the only one who knows, no, he's the only one who believes this story..." the boy said looking up at Heather with sad amber eyes, then he took in a deep breath. "Mrs. Mary's son... um... Victor? Yeah, Vitcor... this guy's a real pervert. He's in charge of disciplining the boys, hehe, especially me!...But he also supervises the girls... Well... one night, there was this really bad storm, but I was sleeping through it.... I..I don't know exactly what happened... but my friend, Sam... she snuck into our room, bawlin', like crying so hard I though she'd pass out... She wouldn't tell me what happened, she just said Victor came into their rooms... I know something happened cause she didn't wanna go back to her room. I just stayed up with her all night, cause she couldn't sleep... she told the cops, Atticus was one of them, but I still dunno what exactly happened. Then they went to investigate.. and Mary turned it all around and the cops called us liars..." Nate sighed, tapping his fingers on the balcony.

Heather listened intently and nodded. She looked down at the people shuffling around the streets. Usually Heather was a whizz with incouragement, but she didn't know what to say to him. The memory of the other day was all too fresh. She wasn't ready to share that with anyone, much less Nate.
"Can't you get a transfer to a different orphange? I can request that right, if you have an adult. You and Sam could leave.." Heather once again offered something.

"Sam couldn't... not with out her case worker, and as far as he's concerned she's fine... Se told him but Like I said, Atticus is the only person who believed us..." he sighed.

"I believe you." Heather reassured. She didn't know how to help him, but she wanted to so desprately. He wasn't like a little kid, he could take care of himself, for the most part.
"I think I wat to adopt you." Heather admitted.

"Thanks.." he sighed not paying much attention, but when she admitted she wanted to adopt him he finally looked at her, a raised eyebrow and confused amber eyes. "Your kidding? Cause, that's not funny..."

"I'm not kidding, you seem pretty grown up all ready. H*ll, could be fun, my apartment wouldn't be so empty all the time." Heather said, was she seriously considdering adoption?

Is she seriously considering adoption?! Nate thought as if reading her mind. "But you've got Attie, I don't think a third wheel is needed..." he said quietly.