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Government.”
    I groaned. “Liar.”
    I knocked on his door, and he yelled, “Come in.” He was lying on the couch with his legs propped up wearing the same clothes I’d last seen him in. He was still undeniably attractive, yet there was something pathetic about him today.
    â€œWhat happened?” I asked.
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œYou look rough.”
    â€œBeing hit by a car will do that to you.”
    â€œYou look worse, and I don’t think you got hit by a second car.”
    â€œWell, you’re no beauty yourself.”
    I smiled. “Of course, I am. You told me so.”
    â€œBelieve me, I wish I could take that back, but what happened with Kailee?”
    â€œKailee?” I had no idea what he was talking about. I hadn’t even spoken to her in a week. Then I realized Caleb hadn’t been at school. She must have only recently found the time to tell on me, and I laughed. I didn’t regret it, and I had no intention of apologizing for it. Still, I wasn’t about to let Caleb’s little fake blonde redneck girlfriend run us out of town. It took my mother forever to find the nursing job here, and I suspected that was because of government reservations for refugees.
    â€œMirriam, you’re not at home anymore. You can’t go around threatening people. People here have it out for rag—Mid Easterners anyway.”
    Caleb’s slip made me laugh harder. “Ragheads? It’s okay, infidel. You can say it.”
    â€œI didn’t mean—”
    I put my hand up to stop him. “I know. It’s okay. And I didn’t threaten your girlfriend, so you don’t have to worry.”
    â€œShe’s not my girlfriend.”
    â€œBut you haven’t been at school all week, and you know about it.”
    â€œHey, I haven’t talked to Kailee.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that you got me out of the house for her.”
    â€œWhy do you keep saying that? I have no idea what you’re talking about. What did you say to Kailee, Mirriam? Josh said she’s threatening to have you arrested.”
    I pursed my lips. “Hmm. I may have asked her if she wanted to be the first headless cheerleader on YouTube. But I didn’t threaten to do anything.”
    â€œWhy would you do that? You have it hard enough here.”
    â€œLike you care.”
    Caleb’s eyes went wide as his brows knit together, forming a crease in his forehead. “Hey, you know what? You shot me down in front of my friends. You cut me down in front of people every chance you get, and I’ve still been the only person telling people to watch what they call you since you showed up. So don’t attack me.”
    It was true. I hadn’t exactly been nice to Caleb, and while he hadn’t exactly been nice to me either, until the paint incident, he was never cruel. His monologue was convincing. Either he had been defending me when I wasn’t around, or he was a very a good liar, and I couldn’t decide which.
    â€œOkay. I told your stupid little tramp to stay away from my house and my family or become a headless cheerleader. I think you know I’m not a terrorist, and I don’t behead people. I had to say something. I don’t even know why she hates me, but it was my fault we left Iraq. It won’t be my fault we have to leave here, too.”
    Caleb’s eyes softened. He looked like he was about to say something, but I didn’t give him a chance. He called my name and struggled to stand, as I walked out the front door.

Chapter 14
    Caleb
    M had lost her mind. I had no idea why she kept saying I got her out of the house, or what she thought Kailee did. Even if I did, she had still lost her mind. It wasn’t like Mirriam singlehandedly started a war. It didn’t make sense that she thought it was her fault they had to leave Iraq.
    The night at the library flickered