DANGER WARNING ;;

two

Ben, fortunately, left soon after he arrived. Their father rubbed his temples the moment he exited the house, pacing back and forth. Izzy stood beside the door with her arms crossed, a challenging smile on her face. "Benjamin Evers? Really, Izzy?" Auden was the first to break the silence, putting her books aside to stand up.

Auden was a junior in high school, and Izzy was a sophomore. The two only have eleven months between them. Auden was meant to be an only child, but then their mother found out that she was pregnant again. She left soon after Izzy was born, though neither of the Clark sisters had even a vague idea of why. Their father didn't talk about it.

"He's hot."

"You don't get into a relationship with somebody just because they're hot, Izzy." It was the first time Auden had really challenged her sister on dating choices. She'd watched as Izzy made her rounds through high school, dipping into and fishing out boys from every grade. Fortunately, she'd mostly kept away from the senior class. It was almost like Izzy relished in the drama of seeing her exes year to year. Dating a senior who wouldn't be around for much longer was pointless for her. Auden crossed her arms, mirroring Izzy.

Ben was notoriously bad. He talked back to teachers, he'd dated half the high school, and there was even a rumor going around that he'd been arrested a year ago for punching a cop. Izzy was bad, but Ben was worse.

"Maybe it's love." Izzy shrugged, dropping onto the couch and draping her feet over the end of it. Auden looked desperately to their father.

"You're not allowed to see him, Izzy."

"Why?" She exploded, sitting up on her elbows. "Because Auden doesn't like him? News flash: she doesn't like anybody but herself, dad!"

"That's not true and you know it!" Auden shouted back. Her temper was flaring, her cheeks flaming. Her cheeks always went red whenever she was angry. "Ben isn't a good guy and you know it."

Izzy's eyes met Auden's. Izzy had light brown eyes, just like their father. Her hair was naturally an ashy blonde, just like Auden's, but it had been dyed a muddy brown with a box dye. "Don't be jealous because nobody's interested in you, Audie." Izzy said with a fake, sweet tone dripping in venom.

Auden tensed, her small fists clenching before she turned to dad. "You need to ship her off to Boystown or something." Auden said before she gathered her stuff in her arms and marched up the stairs. "Or maybe even a zoo! She'd belong there better than she would in society!"

Izzy cursed her, but her curses were drowned out by their father's loud scolding. Auden slammed her bedroom door shut, fuming.