then Deena’s distinctive voice called out.
“I’ve been told not to let you in. So go away, Caelyn.”
“I need to talk to you,” she said, hoping this didn’t prove to be the one time that her little sister was able to restrain herself from arguing.
“What do I have to talk to you about?” Deena snickered but it was muffled.
“You’re a loser. And you’re crazy. Mom doesn’t want me to have anything to do with you.”
“Just open up, Deena. Seriously. Are you really that afraid of me?”
There was a lengthy pause and Caelyn became concerned that she’d really and truly blown it. If Deena called their mother, it was over. She’d never get inside.
But then she heard the lock clicking and the handle turned, as the door was opened from the inside.
Deena glared at her. “What?” she said.
“Can’t I even come in?”
“No.” Deena arched an eyebrow, peering over Caelyn’s shoulder. “Is that the boy I heard Mom and Dad talking about? They say he’s really bad news.”
Caelyn looked back. Elijah was hardly visible sitting in the truck. She turned to Deena again. “Don’t worry about him. He’s waiting in the car.”
“I know you want your purse, Caelyn. But you can’t have it, it’s hidden.”
“That’s my stuff, Dee.”
“Don’t call me Dee.”
“Stop being such a baby, then.”
“Fuck you.” Deena’s cheeks were turning red and her eyes had that look that Caelyn was familiar with—the look where she was about to lose it.
Caelyn opened the screen door and Deena pushed on her shoulders.
“Don’t touch me, Deena—“
“Stay out, you stupid bitch!” Deena shrieked.
But Caelyn was still bigger and stronger than her younger sister. She pushed her way into the house and started up the stairs to her room, having little hope that her purse would still be there. Deena followed after her, insulting her and calling her stupid.
“You’ll never find it. Never. You’re so screwed,” Deena said.
Caelyn ignored her, but once she’d looked around her room in the usual locations, she knew that it might be impossible to find her things. She didn’t have hours and hours to search for it.
She spun on Deena. “What do you want?” she asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I want you to leave—leave me alone.
Leave us alone. We don’t need you.”
“Give me my things and I’ll leave you alone. Easy.” Caelyn smiled at her sweetly.
Deena shook her head. “Mom and Dad specifically said that if you came home, to call them and tell them and not to even let you in the house.”
“So you already screwed up. You’ve never been good at following instructions.”
Deena’s eyes squinted up. “I screwed up? That’s really good coming from you.
I heard them talking about how you accused Jayson Reynolds of raping you. They didn’t even believe you—your own parents think you’re such a slutty whore—“
Caelyn took a step forward, her eyes flashing with anger. “Say one more word about Jayson and watch what I do to you.”
Deena stepped back, her face registering uncertainty for the first time. “Don’t touch me!” she whined.
“I’m warning you,” Caelyn said. “I don’t care what else you say, whatever nasty filth you spew at me—but if you talk about Jayson Reynolds again, I’ll hit you so hard you’ll forget your own name.”
Deena’s lips drew back from her teeth like a frightened dog, and she stepped backwards again. “Don’t touch me.”
“Tell me where my things are so I can leave. It’s my stuff. If you really want me out of your life so badly, that’s the quickest way.”
Her younger sister’s eyes suddenly gleamed, as she looked out the window to the truck parked out front. “Fine,” Deena said, pointing at it. “I just want to meet him.”
“What?”
“I want to meet the bad boy that you’re ruining your whole life for. And if you let me, I promise I’ll tell you where your purse is.”
“Don’t mess with