"How dare you?! I was watching my show!!"

"Look, I said I'm sorry!! Now will you shut up?!"

"That's beside the point!! I could have easily gotten hurt!! I mean it was a stupid sports game!! There was no reason to do that!!"

"Just a stupid sports game?? It was the finals!! A girl like you wouldn't understand the importance of the finals!!"

"A girl like me? Are you implying something?!"

"Yes...in fact I am!! Let me spell it out for you. You. Are. A--"

"OK, STOP!!"

An eerie silence echoed through the house. Standing between Zach and Darian was their mother, her face red. Behind her was their father, looking at the two with them with a disappointed look on his face. However, the two didn't seem to notice for they were too busy glaring at each other.

"Now after eight months together, I thought that you guys would have gotten used to each other. However, I see I was wrong. I mean, you two are step-siblings!! Even if you aren't related by blood, you should still treat each other like family. Now, I remember that my brother and I didn't get along when we were young, but I expected better of you, especially Darian. You are the..."

Darian wasn't listening to her mother. Instead, she kept her eyes on Zach. In her head, she was already formulating plans of revenge.

"...now go to your rooms!! I want you two to sit there and reflect about yourselves!! The next time I see you guys fighting, I promise you that the consequences will be much worse!!"

Before turning to go to her room, she gave one last glance towards Zach, who was facing her. On his face was a smirk that was directly aimed at her. Then, he turned to walk towards the basement. Darian felt herself burn with anger, and had to restrain herself from walking up and slapping him. With a deep breath, she walked towards the stairs.

Darian slowly walked up the stairway, breathing deeply with every step. Remember, there's a white bubble of happiness around you. Calm down and breathe. By the time she got into into her room, she felt slightly calmer. Slightly.

After making sure the door was closed, she went to the canvas standing on the far side of the room. She took off the cover, and put on the apron that was hanging on the side. Then, she took a medium sized brush and dipped it into some red paint. With rough, quick strokes, she painted the paper without really looking at what she was doing.

"Stupid...immature...annoying...egotistic...idiotic...moronic...clueless..." Darian said, muttering an insult every time she brushed the paper. After a few more strokes, she dipped the brush into the black paint, mixing the two colours. Then, she went on with her insulting. "...evil...dumb...thick...dense...BOY!!"

After she finished her rant, she looked at the drawing that she had created. In the end, the result actually looked quite interesting. The picture turned out to look like a cloud floating in a ominous blackish-reddish sky. The white spots that Darian had missed then ended up looking like rain.

"...It looks...kinda good..." Darian said after observing it. She got up, and took off the apron. Then, she reached for the drawing. However, as she was reaching for the drawing, she heard someone coming up the steps.

Immediately, she stopped and quickly took the cover and put it on the canvas.

Then she jumped on her bed, and pretended to be resting. Slowly, the footsteps became louder. Then, just as slowly, the footsteps became softer until Darian couldn't hear them any more. Darian breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she slowly got off the bed. After taking the cover off, she picked up her drawing and walked over to her closet which was right next to the canvas. Gently, she opened the doors.

Inside the closet was many sets of shirts and jeans and other combinations. Darian pushed the clothes aside, revealing a space behind the clothing where many pictures were lined up. Gently, she added her newest creation to the pile. Then, she made sure the clothes covered up the pictures and closed the closet.

"Phew..." Darian said, stretching out. "I suddenly feel much better."

She then went to her desk, and opened the drawers. She reached down all the way to the back until she felt a book like object. Grabbing hold of it, she took it out and opened it. Then she got out a pencil and started to write in a neat fashion.

Dear Diary,

Today was terrible. Well then again, ever since Zach became a part of my life, every day has been terrible. Anyway, let me begin. I was watching TV peacefully, when...

---

"...Zach just came up and pushed me!! Can you believe it?!! He was such a jerk!! And he didn't even apologize!! I mean, it's just a sports game. If he asked politely, I might have actually let him watch!! But instead, he just pushes off the couch instead!! He is such a--"

"Evil, immature, annoying, jerk. Yes, yes, we know." Riley said. "Why do you get so mad?"

"Because I LIVE WITH HIM!! The least he could do is show some manners!!" Darian cried out.

"Yeah, you're so lucky you get to live with a hot guy like him!! I mean, he may not be Josh, but he's still kinda cute." Megain said, dreamily. Riley snorted.

"In your eyes, no one can beat the "great Josh". You literally obsess and stalk him." Riley said.

"I don't stalk him...I just...want to know things about him!! I'm researching information!!" Megain said, her cheeks a hot pink. Riley and Darian laughed. Megain just turned a darker shade of pink.

"You know, he's just a football player. What's so great about him?" Darian asked. Riley groaned as Megain started to smile in a silly way.

"You going to get her started again." Riley muttered.

"Josh is just...amazing!! I mean, he's so cute, and hot, and smart, and kind, and tall, and...sexy!" Megain whispered the last word as if it were banned. "And did you see his black shirt today? It just went perfectly with his awesome blue eyes..."

"Yeah...totally..." Darian said, her tone betraying that she was slightly freaked out. Megain, however, seemed to catch it.

"Well, at least my crush is understandable." Megain huffed in an offended way. "What about your crush?"

"I sense something bad is about to come..." Riley muttered. Darian suddenly found her food very interesting to stare at.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about." She said.

"Oh come on, it's so obvious that you like Elliot..." Megain said in a teasing way. Darian immediately looked away.

"Why would you think I like Elliot?" Darian said, her voice completely steady. However, her face started to turn slightly red/

"Aww!! You're blushing!! How cute!!!" Megain said. Riley then immediately cleared her throat and started to talk in a loud voice

"You know, Megain, are you going to ask Josh to the Sophomore Gala?" Riley said,changing the subject. Immediately Megain's face became dreamy.

"Me? Nah, I'm too shy...but still, it's nice to dream about..." Megain said. "Yes, have I told you about my latest fantasy?"

"Please don't." Riley asked. "Watch, I can already predict what it's about. First, you ask him out. However, he rejects you. Because of that, you run away crying. Then, someone else comes to comfort you and Josh then becomes jealous and realizes he likes you. However, that other person has already asked you out to the gala and you agreed. Then, at the gala, as you keep glancing at Josh, your date will realize that you like him, and tells you to tell Josh. After you tell Josh that you like him, he will smile and say he likes you too. Then, you kiss and have a happy ending right?"

Megain, didn't seem to notice Riley's sarcastic tone, and went on talking excitedly.

"Actually mine went a little differently, but that one sounds really good too!! Anyway, here's what happened. Josh is dared by his friends to ask me out but..."

---

Darian sat at her table, doing her homework. Repeatedly, she tapped her pencil, trying to figure out the problem.

"So the plane flies for 5 minutes...travels 230 miles...how do I find the acceleration?" Darian mumbled to herself. After a few moments, she threw down her pencil. "Ugh, I hate calculus."

Suddenly, there was a noise that sounded like a doorknob turning. Quickly, Darian turned around. However, the door didn't move. Darian stared at the door suspiciously. Then, Zach's voice rang out muffled from behind it.

"Darian!! Open up!!" Zach said, sounding annoyed as he knocked on the door. Darian stood up and walked over to the door. Quickly she opened the door, facing Zach.

"What do you want now?" She asked.

"Mom wants to take out the trash." Zach said, pointing to something behind him. It was then that she noticed that behind him was a large black bag, many things bulging out of it. Immediately she backed away to get away from the smell.

"Okay, okay, just wait." She said.

"Mom said she wanted it done NOW." Zach said, his hands behind his back.

"Look, I'll do it later! Just leave it here." Darian said.

"Are you sure?" Zach said, his tone innocent. On his face was a childish smile. Darian however, didn't notice.

"Yes!"

"Fine." He said smugly. Before Darian could realize what he was doing, he had lifted the back and poured it's contents on Darian. Immediately, the foul stench that Darian had smelled earlier intensified. Bits of many things that Darian did not want to know were splattered all over her. She felt herself become sick as many wet things stuck to her face and clothing. For a moment, she did nothing but stand still, wishing that it was a dream.

Zach stood watching her, laughing so hard that he was clutching his stomach in pain. Darian felt herself bristle with anger.

"You immature jerk!!"

Zach seemed to notice Darian's anger and started to run away. However, Darian had already started to throw a banana peel at him. Unfortunately, it missed. However, Darian already had something else in her hand and had started to throw. Not caring whether she missed or not, she kept throwing pieces of garbage. Zach ran away, still laughing while dodging the pieces of flying garbage. However, just as he reached the stairway he stopped, his eyes wide at something.

"H-Hi Mom..." He said, a weak smile on his face.

---

Their mom walked back and forth in front of them. They watched her, sitting on the couch, back straight, waiting for what was to happen. Yet nothing did, for all their mom did was walk, her face white with anger. Finally, she stopped and turned to face them. Darian closed her eyes, waiting for the storm.

"That's IT." Her mom began. "I'm tired of trying to be nice, hoping you two would get along in time."

Darian opened her eyes, surprised. This wasn't the usual beginning of a lecture. However, she still felt as if something bad was going to come.

"Unless you two learn to get along, I'm going to..." Her mother paused. "I'm going to...I'm going to make you two go to the prom together!!!"

For a moment, there was silence, as everyone processed what she had just said.

"WHAT?!" said Darian, Zach, and their father, all simultaneously responding at the same time. Immediately, everyone started talking at once.

"Eleanor, don't you think that's a bit unfair...and odd?"

"My reputation would be ruined if anyone found out I was going with my sad excuse of a step-sister!!"

"You can't do that!! I'd rather die than go to the gala with Zach!! It's unfair, and unjustified...and it's nearly incest!!"

Her mother, however, seemed to start to like the idea. An excited smile grew on her face as she started to think about it.

"Yeah, this actually kind of makes sense!! Zach, Darian, you two have one month to learn to get along with each other. If you don't, I'll make sure you two arrive at the gala AND that everyone sees you."

"But...!" Darian began to protest. However, her mother cut her off.

"No buts. John, we'll talk about this...LATER." Then, her mother and father walked off into the hallway, talking in hushed whispers. Darian fell back against the couch, feeling dead.

"Oh, my, god...I have to go to the gala with Zach...this is a nightmare..." Darian said. "What am I going to do now?? What am I going to tell Megain and Riley??"

"You should be grateful that you actually have a date, especially with someone like me!! I'M the one who's in a nightmare. I mean, I'm going with my geeky step-sister!!" Zach said, also falling back against the couch.

"Excuse me? Did you just call me geeky? You shouldn't be the one to talk. At least I'm not a player." Darian said, offended.

"Me? A player?! What makes you say that?"

"You flirt with every girl within your sight and play around with them, but never actually become intimate with someone. You play with a girl's heart, leading her to believe that you actually might like her, but then drop her as soon as you see another female."

"Ahh..so you're jealous! Really, if you wanted some attention all you had to do was ask."

"You sick jerk!! You think I would actually want to go out with you?! It's bad enough that I have to live with you."

"And how do you think I feel about living with you?"

"Excuse me?! Well--" Darian then stopped talking, realizing that they were fighting again. Taking a deep breath, she started to talk calmly. "Look, let's at least try to get out of this."

"And how will we do that?"

"Easy. The circumstances that Mom set for us is that we have to get along with each other. So all we have to do is pretend to be nice to each other enough to convince Mom."

"Your mom isn't that stupid."

"Look, do you have any better ideas?" Darian said, starting to get annoyed.

"...Fine. However, we do NOT tell anyone at school about this otherwise my--

"Reputation will be ruined, I know."

---

OK, amazingly enough, I was able to get two complete chapters for this plot...except since my brother and I rarely fight, I had no idea how to continue this, since I really can't think of any good things to fight over...

The original plot: Darian doesn't like Zach. Zach doesn't like Darian. Yet they live together. So the result? Endless amounts of fighting...and fighting...and fighting. After a while, their mom decides to set things straight. Her punishment? The two have to go to the prom together unless they learn how to get along in one month.