Thanks again to Pricat for reviewing!

Any real-world franchises I may use (like AFV)...I obviously don't own them. Trust me...if I did, I wouldn't be on this site...jk, jk...

Enjoy!

Chapter Two: Making Adjustments

The next morning, Bella sat at the breakfast table, exhausted from tossing and turning half the night. Claire was looking at a gossip magazine while she munched on some toast, and Max sat in a booster seat, eagerly banging his spoon on the wood of the table.

"Maxie want seal-ial!" he chanted. "Maxie want seal-ial!"

Bella glared at him, but said nothing.

"Heard you got in trouble last night, Iz," Claire commented, using a nickname Bella did not particularly like.

"None of your beeswax, Claire," Bella grumbled.

"Well, I'll have you know that I, unlike you, went straight to bed when I was told last night. In fact, Mom says I get to stay up a half-hour later now that I'm older." Claire smiled to herself in satisfaction.

"Wow, a whole half-hour," Bella said sarcastically. "Quick, someone call the newspaper! We wouldn't want the whole world to live without the knowledge that Claire Carson gets to go to bed later than usual!" She could never resist the urge to talk back to her older sister.

"You're just jealous," Claire said. "Mom says I have responsibility, as oppose to you."

"I'm responsible…" Bella defended weakly.

"Let's think…I'm a whole two years older than you. That means I have two years of experience over your head, Iz. Let's face it: I'm much more responsible."

Bella hated it when her sister got technical with her. She used to be fun, always willing to play Barbie dolls or house whenever Bella asked. But ever since Claire had started middle school, she had become a snob and decided that she was too good for her younger sister (she would be willing to play with Max for a certain amount of time each day, but Bella knew that when Max got older, Claire would ignore him, as well).

"Good morning, sunshine," Connie said to Bella. "I made you your favorite: chocolate-chip pancakes and bacon." The plate of steaming food was set in front of her.

"Nepotism…" Claire sang in Bella's ear.

"Claire…" Connie warned. "Bella had a hard time sleeping. She needs her energy today."

Max eyed Bella's plate hungrily. "Maxie want what Belly's having!" he declared.

"Sweetheart, you can't have pancakes. You get mashed bananas."

"Maxie tiwed of bo-nan-as! Maxie want pamcwakes!"

"When you're older, honey," Connie said tiredly, giving Max a bowlful of mashed-up bananas.

"Maxie no want bo-nan-as!" Max shrieked, banging the bowl on the table. "Maxie want pamcwakes!"

"Max, please," Connie said, tying his bib on. "Eat your breakfast."

"NO! MAXIE WANT PAMCWAKES!" Max threw the bowl across the table, where it landed on Bella's head.

Max started laughing. "Belly has a new hat!"

"Banana yellow isn't really your color, Iz," Claire said, stifling a giggle.

"Max!" Connie scolded. "That's a no-no! We do not throw our breakfast, Max!"

Bella fought to keep her anger inside, but found that it was near impossible. "Max, what the heck?! You always have to make things harder, don't you?"

"Bella, it was an accident," Connie said, wiping the bananas off her daughter's face with paper towels.

"Everything with him is an accident," Bella growled. "No, let me take that back. He is an accident!"

"Isabella!" Connie said. "Don't say that."

"Mommy," Max asked, "whas a axweeden?"

"It means that you didn't mean for something to happen, but it did," Claire said, her eyes on her magazine.

"Thank you, Claire," Connie said, rolling her eyes. "Bella, say you're sorry to your brother."

Bella couldn't believe what she was hearing. She hadn't done anything. Connie had it the wrong way around. Max should apologize to her.

"No."

"Bella…please tell him you're sorry."

She wasn't going to let it go that easily.

"Isn't it pointless?"

"And why would it be pointless?"

"Because I'm not sorry I did it!" Bella exclaimed. "I honestly meant what I said." She wouldn't give up without a fight. It was Max's fault this time. Anyone could see that.

Anyone, apparently, except her mother.

"Okay, that's it. If you're going to act like a two-year-old, I'm going to treat you like one." Connie pointed upstairs. "Go get in the bathtub and wash the bananas out of your hair, and after that, go to your room and don't come out for the rest of the day."

Bella got up and pushed her chair in, hoping to make a dent in the side of the table. She walked out of the room.

"See ya, Iz," Claire called after her.

"Bye, Belly!" Max said cheerfully.

Bella almost turned around and threw the mush from her hair at them, but Connie followed her, and wouldn't stand for any more brawling.

After finally getting all the bananas out of her hair, Bella changed into her day clothes and sat on the floor, sticking her lower lip out.

"Are you satisfied now?" she asked Connie.

"Satisfied with what?"

"Ruining my life."

Connie sighed and sat next to her. "Bella, this can't go on. This constant talking back…and fighting with your brother and sister…you need to control yourself."

"At least I'm being civil. It's not like I'm running around like a crazed maniac."

"You know what I mean," Connie said. "You need to start shaping up. I'm honestly worried about you. You're going to have a hard time in life if you keep this up."

"Dad said it was good that I stand up for myself," Bella said, looking at her mother out of the corner of her eye.

"Not when it comes to your elders, sweetie. You need to respect them."

"Even if they're wrong?"

"Even if they're wrong." Connie stood up. "I'm going to leave you alone to think about what you did." She walked out of the room, and Bella heard her footsteps on the stairs.

Bella had no intention of "thinking about what she did". She was older now; her mother couldn't keep her in her room all day.

In about an hour, she'd be out of here.