"I don't need you to clear things up for me," Karyn spat at Mallory, "I'm the one who should be clearing things up. For example," Karyn pointed at the poster hung on the wall, "That's not supposed to be of The Cure. That's supposed to be of Marylin Manson."
"But that guy's disgusting!" Zoe protested.
"Quiet, you," Karyn shot back. "That window is supposed to have a black sheet covering it. This rug is supposed to be like twice the size, and all black. The closet's wrong, the vanity--"
"Karyn, maybe you should leave," Mallory interrupted Karyn, her smile disappearing.
Karyn started to say something else, but Mallory rose from Zoe's bed and physically lead her out of the room, arm around Karyn's shoulder. Once they were outside the door, Mallory said, "I know you've got your problems, and I understand them, but you're not going to drag Zoe into this, alright?"
"But--"
Mallory spoke over whatever Karyn had been about to say and guided her down the stairs, "Now I know you're upset, which is why you're going to leave now so that you can cool down. Maybe we can revisit this whole thing tomorrow."
Karyn deflated a bit and accepted being shoved out the door. When Mallory closed the door behind her, she fell back against it, slid down to the ground, put her head in her hands, and started to cry.
On the other side of the door, Mallory was shaking. She slowly made her way into the living room, collapsed onto the sofa, and started to cry herself. Mallory didn't like standing up to people like that, but she needed to protect Zoe.
