A/N: …I understand if you all are in line with burning pitchforks and water balloons, ready to kill me for not updating for so long, but college has been such a hassle this term that I haven't had time to write, much less update. Please forgive me, and enjoy this theme. I apologize profusely once more to you, my loyal reviewers, for letting this go not updated for so long…

"…": characters talking to each other

'…': characters talking to themselves

(…): extra facts about something in the story

(Takes place sometime after "Inner Strength")

Theme 5: Confidence

Rocca Household, November 27, 2006, 10:00 PM – Briarwood, CA, USA

Vida's POV

"Maddie, what are you doing with that video camera?" I asked, not in the mood to deal with my twin's constant videotaping. It's not that I love Madison for her talent with the camera; it's just that I have a killer history test tomorrow on the Renaissance in Italy and northern Europe, a topic that I haven't looked at in over two weeks.

"Filming," Madison answered. I was pissed; how come she doesn't have to study for the damn history test; we are in the same class after all!

I turned around in my desk chair and asked, "How come you're not studying, sis?" I deliberately let acid slip into my voice, making my annoyance with her obvious.

Madison casually shrugged and replied, "Already studied." She then grinned and moved the camera closer to me, so close, in fact, that it was practically in my face.

"Get that away from my face!" I hissed, not wanting to get Maddie in trouble with our dad. See, he doesn't really like the fact that Madison films and I DJ when we should be learning to dance and sew… those thoughts give me the creeps.

"Got a question for ya, V," Madison chirped, her voice sounding too perky for my taste. I narrowed my eyes; just what was she up to exactly?

"What is it?" I asked, slowly, knowing that I would regret the question a minute later.

"What do you think of Xander?" she asked; I inwardly groaned; yep, there was the regret rearing its head.

"What is there to say?" I mused, trying to stall. I honestly didn't want to answer this question. "You know, I have to really study for this test tomorrow; go away." I moved to put my hand on the camera's lens, trying to block my face from being used for posterity later. Madison danced out of reach, however, preventing my success.

"Not going to work, sis. You need to answer this question for me or else I won't leave you alone; your choice," Madison said, moving to annoy me into answering; a tactic that seemed to work every time. It sure did this time.

"Fine!" I snapped, slamming my book shut, not caring who heard it. "You want to know what I think of Xander? He's an egotistical, arrogant, over-confident bastard!" I moved to exit the room, not wanting to think about Xander's attitude, and how he always seemed to get to me, but before I'd even gotten a foot away from my desk, the camera was once more in my face.

"Now, I know that's not how you really feel about him," Madison whined, knowing that I was lying through my teeth. The whining was what broke my patience.

I sighed; why did Madison always have the effect of making me tell the truth every time she asked me something instead of letting me lie? "The truth," I mumbled, loud enough for the camera to catch my voice but not loud enough for Madison to hear, "is that I admire Xander because of his confidence. He has such confidence in his tactics of pacifism; he really doesn't like to fight, despite how many we have every day, unprovoked as they are. He exudes this air of self-assurance and peace; whenever I'm with him, I feel like nothing can go wrong; he just instills in me the confidence needed to get through the shit that happens in life. Besides," at this I grinned, "any guy who can stand up to me when I'm chewing them out for taking my jeep without my permission and still have a confident air about him is worth my time." I then shut up, wiping the smile off my face as Madison turned off the camera.

"Thank you for your time, V," Madison said, her tone betraying nothing suspicious. I merely glared at her, sure that she was planning something for later on; however, I was too worried about my test the next day to really try and push her for the plans she had in store for that footage.

"Okay, Maddie, if you will please: could I have some silence to study and try to pass this damn test so I won't fail, because if I do fail then you know what dad might do…" At this, we were both quiet, remembering the punishments we had gotten in the past for failing something. Madison nodded and after giving me a quick hug and whispering good luck, went out the door and to her own room. I sighed and closed the door, standing against it. I slid down to sit on the floor in the front of the door, letting my thoughts wander for a few moments; oddly enough, they all revolved around Xander and that sense of confidence he exuded almost every day…