“Mia’s head snaps toward me. Her eyes go wider than dinner plates. She yanks the blanket up to her chin. I just raise my Gatorade like a total idiot and go, ‘…Thirsty?’”

“Let me tell you, I learned more about my stepsister’s ‘specific interests’ in two seconds than any human should ever know. Let’s just say she has a theme. A very… animated theme.”

“For context: My stepsister, Mia, moved in with us about eight months ago after her dad married my mom. She’s quiet. Keeps to herself. Studies a lot. Total ‘innocent honor student’ vibe. You know the type.”

“She grabbed a throw pillow and whipped it at my head. ‘GET OUT!’ she shrieks. I’m already running. I tripped over the vacuum cleaner. I slammed my elbow into the wall. I made it to the front door and literally sprinted to my car.”

“Me? I’m the ‘loud gamer who forgets to knock’ type. That’s important.”

“Anyway, I’m going to go drive to a 24-hour diner and stare at a wall for an hour. Like and subscribe for more trauma. Later.”

“So yeah. That’s my night. We are now bonded by mutual destruction. She’s probably hiding in her room deleting her browser history, and I’m going to have to look her in the eye over breakfast tomorrow.”