Chapter 1:

Jamie was stood outside his car, leaning on the roof with his elbow propped up. I smiled at him and started to walk a little faster. He smiled back and as I got close he planted a light kiss on my forehead.

We got into the car and Jay drove us out of the school car park.

I was in lower sixth form, so basically Jay being in upper sixth form was old enough to drive a car but I was getting there.

Jay pulled up on my drive, just before I got out, I leant over and gave him a kiss goodbye, then I got out and headed for the front door.

Mum had gotten over me having a boy friend ages ago. So as I went through the front door she didn't greet me with the disapproving glare she always gave Stephen, then again he deserved it.

Stephen was always coming home at 5O'clock in the morning expecting us to just " jump to"!

Will, on the other hand, who was the total opposite, being twins with Stephen made no difference. Will hardly ever went out, he was by far the cleverest guy throughout the whole school. He mostly stayed in his room and no-one ever disturbed him.

I dumped my bag down at the bottom of the stairs, and went into the kitchen on my right. Jake was in there searching through a cupboard trying to find something that wasn't dried fruit or a cereal bar.

Jake was Mum's second husband, my dad had left us years ago. When Jake had moved in, so did Stephen, Will and Hailey.

Hailey, five year old sister, cutest girl I've ever seen. She was Stephen and Will's younger sister and so my step-sister.

So that's my family, not really what you'd class as normal but we're not so different from other families.

Mum walked in and started moaning about Stephen, always being late home, always going out at night, stuff like that.

I turned to leave the kitchen but found Stephen leaning in the doorway his eyebrows raised. I stifled a laugh and tried to squeeze past him.

He caught my wrist, I looked up at his grinning face.

" Is it too much to ask a favour of my favourite step-sis?"

" I'm your only step sis!" I smiled at his sarcastically innocent face.

" Please!"

" No!" I tried to wriggle my way past.

" Just for tonight, can you cover for me, I've gotta go out with some mates, I'll never ask you again."

" You said that last night… and the night before. No! Just get someone else to." I managed to slip past and I quickly ran up the stairs.

" Okay, I'll just go and ask Hailey the five year old, or maybe Will the social misfit!" Stephen shouted up the stairs.

I laughed as I shut the door to drown out his shouting.

I flopped down onto my bed and got out a book, no I am not a nerd! And I don't lock myself away in my room just to read through study books. I kicked back my legs, turned on the radio and started to read.

I'd just started my second page when there was a feeble knocking at my door.

I swung the door open. It was Will.

" I was wondering if you could be a bit quieter. I'm trying to read a book on Darwin's Theory Of Evolution, and it requires complete concentration!" Will looked at me with no expression on his face.

" Ummm?" As I tried to think of an answer, I saw Stephen quietly sneak into Will's room.

" Ummm, yes of course! Hold on? Haven't you read that book before?" As I spoke I saw Stephen sneaking back out of Will's room a massive book under his arm.

" Yes, as a matter of fact I've read it three times before. I'm just worried I'll miss something…"

I smiled thinking he was being sarcastic but when I look his face was clearly very serious.

He left and went back to his room, biting his lip.

I didn't even bother to close the door.

"NOOO!" Will screamed at the top of his voice. He rushed out into the hallway. " Where is it?"

I thought it could be possible that he was talking about the book on Darwin's Theory Of Evolution that Stephen had just stolen.

I couldn't help it, Will was looking at me so desperately, tears streaking down his face. I had to start laughing, tears started to streak down my face. It made it even worse when Stephen appeared at the bottom of the stairs and yelled, " Looking for this. Darwin's Theory on " how no-one is more attached to a book than Will , I wonder what would happen if I set it alight?" Well lets find out!" Stephen laughed as he dodged out of the way as Will lunged at him. I had to see this. I watched as Will chased Stephen all over the house.

Will finally caught up with Stephen and started wrestling with him.

" What is going on?" Mum's face was bright red.

" It was them!" Will pointed at me and Stephen. " They stole it from me!"

Mum plucked the book from Stephen's hand and gave it to Will, who quickly rushed upstairs.

" Probably gone to kiss it better." I said, forgetting that Mum was in the room.

Then for about five minutes of my precious time, Mum lectured us about being mature and that we were old enough to know better. ( Which, seeing as I was 17 and Stephen was 19, was probably true)

So then me and Stephen were grounded for the whole week. But it had been worth it.

" Fee, I expected you to know better!" Stephen mimicked Mum's voice as we walked up the stairs. His longish mess of hair flopping as he lolled against the wall.

" No, that's not right, it was more…Ophelia, you of all people!" Stephen laughed as I faked Mum's high pitched angry voice. I smiled mischievously at Stephen.

" Hmmm, very good." He said, " I suppose she expects me to do things like that… can't think why?" Stephen looked at me and smiled. He then slipped out of the bathroom window.

" I'll see you at about… 2O'clock tomorrow morning then!"

" Two! More like 7O'clock, come on give yourself some credit!" I shouted back, Stephen shrugged his shoulders at me smiling and ran to the bottom of the garden where he jumped over the fence and gave me a vigorous wave before ducking out of sight.