Sisters Forever

by Lexi Ryals

  Copyright © 2015 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

  Published by Disney Press, an imprint of Disney Book Group. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information address Disney Press, 1101 Flower Street, Glendale, California 91201.

  ISBN 978-1-4847-1136-1

  For more Disney Press fun, visit www.disneybooks.com

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  Contents

  Part One

  Maddie

  Liv

  Maddie

  Parker

  Joey

  Liv

  Parker

  Joey

  Maddie

  Joey

  Liv

  Maddie

  Liv

  Maddie

  Liv

  Part Two

  Liv

  Maddie

  Joey

  Liv

  Maddie

  Liv

  Maddie

  Liv

  Joey

  Liv

  Maddie

  Joey

  Liv

  Maddie

  An Interview with Dove Cameron

  Photos

  I can’t believe it. Today is finally the day—the day my identical twin sister, Liv, comes home for good. That sounds dramatic, huh? Well, let me explain. My name is Maddie Rooney. I’m fifteen years old and I live in Wisconsin. My sister, Liv, moved to Hollywood to live with our aunt a few years ago when she was cast as the lead actress on the hottest musical TV show ever. It’s called Sing It Loud! Ever heard of it? Of course you have. Anyway, Sing It Loud! just came to an end after four long years. Liv probably could have stayed in Hollywood and landed a spot on a new TV show, but she decided to come home instead and finish high school with me. Bam! What?!

  So, like I said, she’s coming home today and I’m excited and nervous and I can’t wait. I cleaned our room, made sure she has plenty of space in our closet, and even planned the most perfectly Liv-esque surprise welcome-back party. I decorated the living room with really cool pink and purple balloons shaped like hearts, because if there’s anything Liv loves more than balloons, it’s hearts and stars. I just want everything to be perfect.

  All that’s left is hanging up the WELCOME HOME banner I made. Dad’s helping me hang it, since he’s so tall. But, um, he’s not doing the best job. Time to step in.

  “No, Dad, no. Okay, it needs to go up. More. More. Up more. Down a tiny bit.” When the banner’s finally level, I say, “Perfect! Twin sister officially welcomed. Bam! What?!” (In case you haven’t noticed, “Bam! What?!” is kind of my catchphrase.)

  With the banner in place, the living room finally looks ready for Liv.

  Time to make sure we have the snacks covered. You can’t have a homecoming without snacks, right?

  I spin around to face Mom, who is rearranging the balloons. “Okay, Mom, snack update. Where’s Liv’s favorite dip?”

  “Oh, you mean this dip?” my younger brother Joey mumbles from where he’s seated on the couch, his mouth full of vegan spinach-artichoke dip.

  “We’re going to need more,” says my youngest brother, Parker, who’s sitting next to Joey. He and Joey have nearly polished off all the dip, carrots, and cucumbers I set out five minutes ago. It’s not a big deal. Actually, it’s a big deal!

  “You two are eating the dip?” I shout. “This is Wisconsin, you can’t welcome people home without dip! You two are officially banned from the welcome-home zone!”

  My brothers are the worst. They are just such annoying dweebs most of the time. Okay, that’s not totally true. I mean, I love them, and I won’t ever admit this to them, but they’re both really smart in different ways. But right now, they’re officially the worst.

  “Maddie,” Mom says sweetly, “if you’re freaking out about Liv coming home, we should talk.” My mom is a psychologist, so she always wants to talk about feelings.

  I take a deep breath and smile. “Mom, she’s my twin, my built-in best friend,” I assure her. “I’m not freaking out.”

  But of course I’m freaking out! Starting tomorrow, I’m going to high school with my celebrity sis. And we have the same face, yet she’s the “cute one.” I mean, what if everyone at school likes her better than me? What if Diggie, the guy I’ve been crushing on all year, decides he likes my sister instead of me? What if Liv and I don’t get along anymore? There are a lot of “what ifs.” I just have to keep breathing and remember I’m excited to see her. Everything’s going to be fine.

  “Hey, guys!” says Parker, pointing out the window. “A limo pulled up and there’s a bunch of people with cameras on our lawn!” Parker jumps up and runs over to peer outside.

  Joey nods. “Either Liv’s home early or I won the zoo’s name-the-baby-elephant contest.”

  Mom and Dad join Parker at the window, followed by Joey and me.

  Well, here goes nothing.

  Liv’s back and nothing will ever be the same again.

  Walking up to my house is absolutely the best feeling in the whole wide world! Well, next to giving makeovers to those in need. I pull my suitcases up onto the front porch. You’d think someone would have come out to help me by now. I mean, it’s not like I’ve ever been known to travel light. I, Liv Rooney, star of Sing It Loud!, seriously own over one hundred pairs of fabulous shoes.

  I just finished the final season of my smash-tastic TV show Sing it Loud! It was one of those super-realistic shows where kids would suddenly break into song for no reason. I loved Hollywood and I’d been offered a quazillion other shows and movies, but I missed my family—especially my twin and best friend, Maddie. It was time to come home. So here I am!

  I turn and pose for the paparazzi waiting on my lawn, flashing them my trademark smile and waving. “I’ll miss you, paparazzi,” I say more to myself than to them. “When I walk through this door, I will be just another regular fifteen-year-old girl.”

  I try not to let them see how nervous I am. To tell you the truth, I am freaking out about how to become just a regular girl. I haven’t gone to a regular school since fifth grade, and now I am a sophomore in high school. What if everything that was cool in Hollywood is totally different from what is cool in Wisconsin? What if no one likes me? What if Maddie and I don’t get along anymore? Nope! Only positive thinking allowed. Everything will be amazing!

  “Boom, boom, boom—send,” I say brightly to the photographers, hitting three different poses. (That was my catchphrase on Sing It Loud!) I blow them a kiss and turn away from the flashing cameras to go into my house, but the door won’t open.

  I try it again and the door flies open. Before me, I see Maddie waiting for a hug.

  I squeal. “You stole my face!”

  “I had it first!” Maddie counters. We hug each other tightly.

  We really couldn’t be more different. I am wearing a black leather peplum top and sparkly leggings. My hair is down and curled, my makeup is obviously flawless, and I am carrying my favorite hot-pink handbag. Maddie, on the other hand, is wearing glasses, sweats, and a sports T-shirt. Her hair is in a ponytail and she wears no makeup at all. But none of those differences matter to me; Maddie will always be my best friend. I hug her again.

  “Take notes,” Parker says to Joey. “That’s what it looks like when a girl is happy to see you.”

  “Thanks, Parker. And this is what it looks like inside my armpit,” Joey says. He grabs Parker’s face and buries it in his armpit.

  I stroll over to my two younger brothers. “Aw, I was worried you two grew up while I was away,” I say, and give each of th
em a hug. My brothers are totally immature dorks, but I’ve missed them.

  “Yeah, there’s no chance of that happening,” Joey says, shaking his head.

  “Um, the people who gave you life are still waiting for their hugs,” Dad says.

  “Oh, right, you guys,” I joke, trotting over and hugging Mom and Dad.

  I’m having trouble not tearing up. It’s really good to be home. I take a step back from Mom and Dad. “Sorry about the camera-palooza,” I say. “They’re just here for my homecoming.”

  “Oh, who cares?” Mom says with a smile. “All my babies are under one roof!” She pulls out her phone. “Family photo time!” We all gather around her and she holds out her phone at arm’s length to take a faboosh family selfie. I really hope she gets my good side. Who am I kidding? I only have good sides. Maddie is leaping up and down to get in the frame: we can’t all fit.

  I have the best idea. I tap Mom’s shoulder. “Mom,” I say. “I’ve got this!”

  A few seconds later we are all on the front porch. Luckily, the paparazzi are still there. I stand back and study my family. “Okay, people, say ‘dazzleberry’!” I tell them in my signature singsongy voice. I step in beside Maddie, throw my arm up, kick up one heel, and give the cameras my best red-carpet smile.

  “Dazzleberry!” my family says in unison.

  Then a host of flashbulbs go off.

  Sometimes being famous can really come in handy!

  I spend the whole evening helping Liv unpack. If it had been me moving home, we’d mainly be throwing a bag’s worth of gym clothes into the dresser and hanging up one or two shirts, but Liv’s unpacking is a different story. We’ve been at it for hours—color coordinating and sorting by season, pattern, and length.

  Liv and I have always shared a room, and it’s going to be nice actually having her occupying her side of the room again. My half features a plain desk, a big bed with a basketball headboard, ribbons and trophies hanging from the wall, and shelves racked with sports gear. Liv’s half of the room has a turquoise velvet bench, several mirrors, lots of scarves and necklaces hanging from wall hooks, and a bed with a glittery white headboard.

  I plop down at my desk, pick up my spare pair of glasses, and turn to Liv. “Okay, returning fashionista,” I say, holding up both pairs of glasses to my face, “which glasses should I go with—green or purple?”

  Liv drops the blouse she was folding and trots over to me.

  “If I were you, I’d go with contacts and a little mascara,” Liv says with a smile. I laugh. She knows I’m not a contacts-and-mascara-wearing girl. I hate having anything touch my eyes—and I only use mascara when I absolutely have to. It’s so nice to have Liv home. She knows me better than anyone else on Earth.

  I put down the spare pair and look at Liv. “How great is this? Liv and Maddie, back in the same room together,” I say, smiling. “Oh! I got you a little welcome-home gift!” I lift up a special remote control that I made for her.

  I press the button on the remote. “Ta-da!”

  The poster above Liv’s headboard lights up. It took me weeks to hook it up with all its tiny blinking lights. The flashy poster looks beautiful. It says “Sing It Loud!” in huge letters, along with other Liv-isms, like “Choose Happiness” and “Dreams Do Come True,” written around it.

  “O-M-Wowza!” Liv squeals, clapping her hands in delight.

  “Go ahead,” I say to her. “Take a diva moment.”

  Liv hops up on the bed and strikes a pose in front of the poster. Then she sings. She hits a note and holds it. My sis really does have a fantastic voice. I clap.

  Just then Mom and Dad throw the door open and rush in.

  “We heard a noise,” Mom says, looking around frantically.

  “Everything okay?” Dad asks.

  Liv and I both look at them like they’re crazy.

  “We’re fine,” I tell them.

  “Yeah,” Liv says. “Just doing twin stuff.”

  “Well, your twin stuff can get a little intense,” Mom says. “Don’t forget about the curling iron incident of sixth grade.”

  “In my defense,” I say, “who sneaks up behind someone and tries to curl their hair?”

  Liv pushes her hair to the side and points at her forehead. “I have a huge scar. It’s right here.” She feels her forehead, searching for the non-existent scar. “Wait, it’s here somewhere, I’ll find it. It’s horrible.”

  “But we’re more mature now,” I say. “No more twin drama.”

  “Right, no more twin drama,” Liv says.

  “I give it a day,” Dad whispers to Mom. “They’re a ticking time bomb.”

  “Shouldn’t you be at one of your weird parental fun nights? Like square dancing or couples yoga?” I ask them as they walk out the door.

  “Tell me you didn’t sign us up for couples yoga,” Dad says to Mom.

  “It’s on Wednesday. Don’t wear your tights,” Mom says as she pulls the door shut.

  I roll my eyes and face Liv, turning my charm bracelet around and around on my wrist and trying not to blush. “I’m so glad you’re home. There’s something I’ve been dying to tell you about.”

  Liv gasps and jumps down from the bed. “This is about a boy!”

  I stare at her in disbelief. “How’d you know that?”

  “When you get nervous, you still play with the charm bracelet I gave you. Duh,” Liv says, widening her eyes at me. “Now back to the boy: is he cute?”

  “Are you nosy and sparkly?” I ask her sarcastically.

  Liv squeals and claps. “Then he is cute! Spill.” She sits back on the bed.

  I laugh. It feels so good to talk to Liv. I’ve been dying to tell someone about my crush for months. “Well, his name is Diggie and he’s captain of the basketball team. And you know that competitive thing I get where I grind my opponents into submission?” I sigh and smile. “He has it, too.”

  “Wow,” Liv laughs. “Blush much? Someone has a serious case of the Diggies!”

  “I do,” I say. I can’t stop smiling. “This is so great to talk about. I’m kind of hoping he asks me to the dance this weekend, and he hasn’t exactly—”

  “Ooh,” Liv interrupts. “Speaking of dance, I’ve got the series finale of Sing it Loud! Do you want to see a sneak peak?” She picks up her tablet, taps the screen a few times, and passes it to me.

  I watch as Liv dances and sings on-screen. Her performance is amazing, as usual, with backup dancers, a cool outfit, and colorful stage lights. And the song is pretty catchy. But I can’t focus on it too well. I can’t figure out why she’s showing it to me when I was in the middle of telling her about my crush. “Liv, this is great, but we were talking about Diggie,” I say gently, setting down the tablet.

  “Absolutely,” she says, picking up the tablet. “But you haven’t even seen the best part!” She hands the tablet back to me.

  I watch Liv’s song and dance routine until the music video ends.

  “What’d you think?” she asks breathlessly, then squeals and stands up.

  I can’t believe she’s being so rude. I’ve been waiting for weeks to tell her about Diggie, and I want her advice, but she’s acting like it doesn’t even matter. I guess I’ve been stupid to think she actually matured. As usual, it’s all Liv all the time. Maybe things won’t be as good as I’d hoped after all. I hand her the tablet. “I think you cut me off when I was telling you about something really important to me,” I say. “Liv, you’re the first person I’ve even mentioned Diggie to.”

  “Well, Maddie, you’re the first person I’ve shown this to,” Liv says, hugging her tablet to her. Then she pauses. “Except for everybody on the plane. They all thought it was amazing.” She smiles and laughs.

  I put my hands on my hips. “You know what I thought was amazing?” I say. “I actually thought we were going to talk about me for once.” I storm to the door. I need to clear my head. But I almost run right into Mom and Dad, who were waiting outside in the hall. They stumble past
me and into the bedroom.

  “We weren’t listening,” Dad says, blushing.

  “Neither was she,” I tell him, trying not to cry.

  Mom stoops and picks up my curling iron. “You know, I’m just going to hold on to this curling iron for the next few years,” she says.

  I couldn’t sleep, so I snuck down to the garage to play video games. The garage is full of old stuff, and me and Joey have always used it as a fun place to hang out.

  Joey steps into the room. He’s got a sandwich. “What are you doing out here in the garage? Do Mom and Dad know you’re awake?” he asks me.

  “Nope. They’re too focused on Liv and Maddie to notice anything we’re doing. I spent all afternoon on the roof with a homemade catapult blasting joggers with buckets of mashed potatoes,” I say.

  “Huh,” Joey says. “You know, you’re right. They didn’t say a word when I made beans and didn’t clean the pot.” He pauses and looks sort of thoughtful. “The two of us are using our freedom a little differently.” He shakes his head. Then he jumps up in excitement. “Wait. If we can get away with anything, we should team up—for something big.”

  Now he’s talking. I think of all the cool things we could do.

  “Take the car and drive to Vegas?” I ask, grinning.

  “Smaller,” Joey says. “Let’s put this TV in our room.”

  “But Mom and Dad say we can’t have a TV in our room.” I slump back in my chair.

  “Mom and Dad who?” Joey says. “So, what if our room wasn’t our room? What if it was our...bro cave?”

  Joey and his big ideas. “What’s a bro cave?” I ask him.

  “Forget this crummy garage. In a bro cave, we’d have everything we could possibly want in our room: a TV, food, a hot tub with a high dive, that invisible zebra you’re always talking to,” Joey explains.

  I roll my eyes. “I was four. Let it go!” I say.

  “Bro cave, bro,” Joey says. “No parents, no twins, just you and me blasting mutant video-game bunnies in our underwear. Close your eyes and let me take you there.”

  I close my eyes, and my face breaks into a big grin. I can see it now. A bro cave unlike any other, with good snacks and endless hours of playing wicked cool video games.