New Step Brother, New Family, New Life? Thanks for Nothing, Dad

"And these are the two guest rooms. I guess one of them will become yours when you move in," I said, gesturing to the side-by-side rooms that were almost identical. Both had creme walls and white trim with different furniture and room layouts. Ethan simply nodded, looking at me after glancing over the two rooms. I continued to the room catty corner to the guest rooms.

"And this is mine and Smokey's room. Last stop on the Finn House Tour. Thanks for joining us," I said, almost muttering the ending part sarcastically. Ethan pushed through the door and into the bedroom, looking around it curiously. I had to admit, our room was pretty strange. It was large across and split down the middle to make our separate sides. Each half of the room was completely different.

Smokey's side was all about the neon colors and rainbow. She had a full bed with a comforter of blues and greens, oranges and purples in a cool square pattern. Her walls were painted bright pink and yellow, by her own design. A desk was in one corner near her closet and dresser against the far wall.

Sometimes I thought her side of the room was way too bright to even look at.

Anyways, my side was more musically decorated. My bed, though full-sized like Smokey's, was covered in cloth pictures of famous rock n' roll albums. Abbey Road, Thriller, Hotel California and even Band On The Run. Above my headboard were framed original Beatles albums (What? I have to honor who I am named after, don't I?)mounted on black and grey striped walls. Posters of punk and rock bands were plastered randomly on the walls and ceiling. The accents like my computer chair, lamp, bean bag chair, etc. were all red.

Ethan finally let out a low chuckle. "So Smokey is the girl that's parents died and she lives here with you? My mom told me about her. A sad story, I must admit."

"Don't mention anything about it to her," I said stiffly. Her parents were important to me too. He nodded and smiled sympathetically before continuing.

"Anyways, you guys seem like completely different people. Her side is so bright, bubbly, welcoming and such. And yours is so... mature and music-y and kinda boring," he said, sitting in my computer chair. I rolled my eyes.

"Thanks, glad to know you have such a sensitive side," I said sarcastically as I sat on my bed with my legs crossed. "So just because you're going to be my step-brother doesn't mean I have to like you right?" I asked with a humorous smirk.

Ethan put a had to his chest and gasped in fake hurt. "McCartney! I can't believe you would say that to your own soon-to-be brother! I'm appalled!"

I couldn't help but laugh at his childishness. "You know, I just met you. And you know what? You're pretty cool on the McCartney Scale of Amazingness."

"So where exactly is this rank on your scale?" Ethan asked with a smirk.

"Oh, right between Awesomely amazing and slightly nifty," I replied, smiling faintly. We sat like that for a few minutes, relishing in the comfortable silence. I guess it sounded cool to have an older brother to be all protective and what not. Even if he is just a step-brother.

After a moment, Smokey burst through the door with a relieved sigh.

"They were SUFFOCATING me with wedding talk! It was horrible," Smokey exclaimed as she fell backwards across my bed and resumed the position from earlier when we were getting ready (her upper half hanging off the bed). Ethan rolled his eyes at her drama.

"On a lighter note," Ethan said with a smirk, "I'm a pretty cool on the McCartney Scale of Amazingness." Smokey's jaw dropped and I couldn't help but laugh at her shocked expression. After all, my scale was pretty infamous.

"You just met her! I had to give her my PBJ sandwich three times in first grade to get even a 'little bit snazzy' on her scale. And you've known her for, what, an hour and she already likes you?! No fair at all!" Smokey ranted and rambled. She flipped over on her stomach to glare at me.

"Not my fault he jumped the scale. I can't help it when he's just like that!" I defended myself, poorly I might add. She just continued to glare and so it turned into a massive staring/glaring contest. After about a minute of it, Ethan coughed pointedly.

"Well... I was just wondering, you guys want to go to the mall tomorrow? Celebrate the beginning of summer?" Ethan asked awkwardly, tilting his head as he watched us. Our gazes snapped to him in a creepy unison. We had practiced that skill often. Don't make fun of us, we're just like twins. We think alike, finish each other's sentences, all that mumbo jumbo.

Anyway, back to the conversation! In the spirit of my creeper mood swings, I smiled brightly at Ethan.

"Sure. That sounds great. I need to get some Summer Fun Time clothes!" I said. The bed shook as I bounced up and down in excitement. Smokey rolled her eyes and nodded as well.

"Yeah, and we promise not to make you shop for lingerie with us," she said with a sly smirk. It was that kind of smirk you were freaked out by and never really trusted. My eyes widened before I gave a nervous chuckle that turned into a full-out laugh. Smokey was always so bubbly I should of known her randomness would lead to this. Oh well.

"Good," Ethan said with one of the same kind of sly smirks. I was afraid beyond belief of both of their expressions now, though Smokey's seemed to have faded into a look of pure confusion. My face probably read the same expression because Ethan couldn't help but laugh at us and our tilted heads of consternation. Then he added:

"Because I'm bringing friends."