Chapter 1
Mornings were always a hectic time for the Macdonald-Venturi family, but today more than usual.
"DE-REK!!" Casey screamed from the bathroom. "What did you do to my shampoo?" She emerged into the hallway clutching a foaming shampoo bottle.
Derek smirked up at his stepsister. He ran a hand through his deliberately messy dark brown hair, as he grabbed his school bag and left the house without a word.
"That insensitive jerk!" Casey fumed. "At this rate I'm going to be late for the field trip."
Lizzie, always the family peacemaker, trotted up the stairs, with a half-eaten bagel in hand. She turned to her sister and sighed.
"What is it now, Casey?" Lizzie said as she wiped cream cheese with the back of her hand.
Casey shook her head. "Who do you think caused this?" she squealed as she held up the ruined bottle of shampoo.
Lizzie furrowed her eyebrows as she took the bottle to examine it.
"Derek," she muttered under her breath.
"Who else?!" Casey cried, near hysteria.
Lizzie placed a reassuring hand on her sister's shoulder.
"You can use my shampoo," she cooed.
"Thanks Liz. However, it doesn't change the fact that Derek's a JERK!" Casey screamed this last word as she turned swiftly on her heel and stormed into the bathroom. Unfortunately, this action was nowhere near as smooth as Casey had intended. She tripped on the bathroom rug and fell headfirst into the bathtub.
"Owww!" she yelled.
Lizzie sighed and closed the bathroom door after her sister.
She knew that Casey, always the drama queen, would recover shortly from her accident.