Point proven. Maddie gestured a silent ’see what I mean?’ with her hand. “Just like I said. That family’s more of a mess than mine is.” She snorted a laugh. “Could be. Wouldn’t catch me marrying someone just so I could bang ‘im. Just gets really annoying when people talk about that family like they’re perfect and amazing royalty.” The Stones were no more special than anybody else living here. She crinkled her nose in annoyance, but didn’t say anything more about it. They were here to have fun, not bitch about the Stones.
Curiosity sated somewhat, Maddie also decided it was best to drop the subject of Caitie’s family. It definitely explained why the girl had decided that hiding and stealing was the best method for survival in this place. “How’d you get to Sing Sing, anyway? Stow away on one of the trucks that was heading this way from the city?”
“It’d be the War of the Stereotypes, which was what you were trying to avoid. Tough luck there.” She smirked. “I don’t fit into the stereotype I’m probably supposed to fit in, which probably involves stupid rednecks or country music. Both of those things suck.”
“And now you know my hatred of Sing Sing’s top celebrities.” Maddie gave Caitie a mocking salute. “The leader and his favorites get all the best crap and the rest of us get to scrounge around for scraps.” A pause, then her mischievous smile returned. “Or get revenge by stealing from them and messing up their rooms.”
Maddie’s eyes glanced thoughtfully to the left when Caitie pointed out that France’s flag was also red, white and blue. “Is it? Huh. Crap. So much for that offense.” She scratched her nose with the back of her hand, watching with subdued amusement as the other girl put a glittery handprint on the wall. It gave her time to recover from being informed by someone younger than her that she’d been wrong about something. That stung a little, considering Geography had been one of her better subjects in school.
When Caitie called her attention to a jewelry box, Maddie stepped carefully over the puddles of paint on the floor and peered over the girl’s shoulder at what was inside the box. “Even that crap looks boring. Who hangs on to skeleton keys anymore? It’s not like they open anything.” She glanced around the room, but saw nothing that could potentially be unlocked with one of those keys. “Help yourself.”