I followed Isabella into the kitchen where my mom and dad were quietly talking. I watched them feeling a little better, since my dad promise me he would talk to mom. As soon as they saw Isabella and me they immediately stopped talking and gave us nervous smiles. There was an awkward silence and quickly tried to think of something to say.

"Mom, can I talk to you for a moment? In private?" I asked.

"Sure sweetie." She answered as I lead her into the living room. I heard dad and Isabella starting a little conversation as soon as we left. It was good because I didn't want them to hear what I was saying. We sat on the couch and I knew exactly what I was going to say.

"Mom, I'm really sorry about what's been happening between you and I. I mean, I know that I haven't exactly been the perfect daughter and-"

"But Lizzie, I'm not expecting you to be perfect." My mother interrupted. I knew this wasn't true.

"Isabella's perfect." I said softly. My mom stared at me and was speechless. I knew it, I thought. She did think Isabella was perfect.

"That's not true." She finally said. "You should know by now that no one is perfect. Isabella can also be bad sometimes and not behave herself."

"But mom, it just seems like you're treating her differently from me. And I feel like you like her better! To be honest, sometimes I feel like I wish we never adopted her because I want us to be a happy family again and for you to be together with dad. I'm miserable now and my life sucks! I've been trying to tell you for ages how mean Isabella is to me and how much she's wrecked my life but you won't listen or believe me!" I insisted. I made sure I said this quietly to make sure she didn't hear me. "Every time I bring it up, we just start fighting and I hate it."

"Oh, I hate it too Lizzie. I'm sick of us fighting, really I am. And I have to admit, it is partially my fault but I've been really stressed lately about your father and I separating. It's terrible. I've realised you haven't been acting yourself lately and I know things have been difficult for you since Isabella came into our family." She replied.

"If you know things are difficult between Isabella and I, why don't you believe me when I tell you she's done something mean to me? You just start getting angry at me and you never do anything about it! I feel like I'm drifting further and further away from you. I used to be able to talk to you about anything but now I can't because I feel like I'm getting in the way of you and Isabella. I feel like...I feel like she's the favourite." I said truthfully. My mom looked a little taken back and didn't know what to say. "And no offence mom, but Matt and I feel rejected."

"You and Matt really feel that way?" She asked finally. I nodded.

Telling my mom about how I felt and letting all my feelings out, actually made me feel a lot better. My mom took it in better than I thought and we got to have a proper conversation without yelling at each other for a change. We discussed our problems with each other calmly and slowly. It did take a while, but I didn't care. As long as we sorted things out, it didn't matter if it took ten years. She promised me that if I had a problem, she would listen next time and if any time she was treating me unfairly, to tell her. We ended up forgiving each other and promised that we'd never fight like this again. I felt happy as ever and felt like I had actually succeeded in something.

"So there's nothing else you'd like to talk to me about?" She asked.

"No, I think that's all mom. Thanks, you've really made my life a lot easier. I love you." I said. It felt so strange saying that because I hadn't said that in ages.

"Oh, I love you too!" She said as she hugged me tightly. I knew she was on the verge of crying and I was too. My dad and Isabella came in wondering if everything was okay. When Isabella saw us hugging, she rolled her eyes and turned away. She was now no longer the only person that mattered in my mom's life as far as I was concerned. I wasn't going to let it happen again no matter what. She shot me a dirty look and I just looked back and smiled at her. Even though I hated her, I wasn't trying to make her jealous. Isabella didn't care about anyone but herself and she always had to be in the centre of attention. But that was all going to change soon.

My mom finally let go of me and smiled.

"Everything's going to turn out okay between me and your father." She said. I wasn't completely convinced but nodded slowly. I watched her as she got up and went into the kitchen with my dad, and left me and Isabella standing there alone. She was about to walk away when I spoke.

"Wait."

She turned around and shot me another look.

"What?" She snapped.

"I guess I'm not really angry at you anymore for telling Gordo about what I did. But the fact that we had a deal and you promised not to tell him is what makes me mad. Why did you have to break your promise? You got everything you wanted which was to stay with mom in Hill Ridge!" I said.

"I broke my promise because I hate you." She said calmly. She went to walk off again but I blocked her.

"Why? What have I ever done to you?" I demanded.

"I just hate you okay!" She insisted.

"You? Hate me? I'm the one that should hate you Isabella! You're the one that started this whole thing! If it wasn't for you, my mom and dad would still be together and I wouldn't be in New York! We'd still be a happy family and I'd still be with Ben! But it's all stuffed up now because of you! It's all your fault! And ever since you've been here you've treated everyone like dirt, especially me! And all we've ever done for you is adopt you and you even stole my room! Without us you would be no where! I've tried being fair with you and getting things straight but you won't let me! You need help Isabella, you really do!" I said fiercely. I knew what I said was pretty harsh but it was completely true. She just stared at me and look like she was going to cry, but I didn't regret it. We just stood there looking at each other, waiting for a reply.

Mom and Dad came rushing into the room wondering what all the fuss was about.

"How dare you say that! Did your parents die? No! Did you have to suffer? No!" She shouted. I could tell she was trying her best not to cry."

"You? Suffer? It doesn't seem like you've suffered a bit after the way you've been acting and treating people!" I yelled back.

"How the hell would you know?" She asked. She came up to me and shoved me into the wall to walk away.

"I'm not done with you yet!"

"Yes you are! You can't tell me what to do! You're the one that needs help you know! It's not my fault that you wrote awful things about your best friend in your childish diary and now Gordo hates you! You deserve it anyway!" She snarled. Isabella couldn't say anything more as I had already lost my temper and had pounced on her and started attacking her. I felt like some sort of wild animal. She started slapping me and kicking and I tried to get her back. This reminded me of when I thought Miranda had stolen the lipstick from the shops and we got into this huge cat fight in the middle of the gym and everyone was staring at us. We didn't want to be each others partners anymore for our dance routine so we starting trying to kill each other. Well this was exactly what it was like now, except with Isabella. It was so much harder though because she was a lot taller than me.

"Alright you two, BREAK IT UP!" My mom yelled over the top of the noise. My parents tried to pull us apart but we kept taking a swing at each other. I knew this seemed like a kind of childish thing to do, but I had had it with her. Matt had come down and looked like he was really enjoying watching us fight.

"STOP IT THIS INSTANT!" My mom shouted as loud as she possibly could. This time, we heard her and froze where we were. Both our parents where looking as angry as ever.

"We cannot believe what we just saw! You two should be ashamed of yourselves and you are not five year olds!" My dad shouted at us. Isabella still had her fingers around my wrist and I was still clenching a bunch of her hair. I could hear Matt giggling in the background but stopped as soon as my dad yelled at him too.

"I don't know what your mother and I are going to do with the both of you! I am really disappointed at such behaviour!" He continued. We all just stood there in silence for ages not knowing what to do next. Isabella and I had finally let go of each other and we were standing on opposite sides of the room.

"Get in the car, both of you." My mom said all of a sudden.

"What?" Isabella asked.

"NOW!" She insisted. We both followed our mom to the car and got in.

"Mom, where are we going?" I asked.

"You'll see. If you two can't sort things out for yourselves, I will." She answered.