Moving In With My Step-sister -

“Stoichiometry,” she sighed, rubbing her temples. “I have a midterm tomorrow, and I’m pretty sure my brain has reached maximum capacity.”

Leo grabbed his duffel bag, his stomach twisting. He was eighteen, just months away from college, and now he was moving into a stranger’s life. He hadn't seen Mia, his new step-sister, since the wedding three months ago. She was seventeen, sharp-tongued, and clearly just as thrilled about this merger as he was.

Leo pulled out the chair across from her. “My dad’s a chemist. I grew up hearing about moles and reagents instead of bedtime stories. Want some help?” Moving in with My Step-sister

“It’s a fresh start, Leo,” David said, his voice hopeful. “Ellen and Mia are excited to have us.”

In the weeks that followed, the house began to feel less like a battlefield and more like a home. They started a silent pact: Leo would handle the late-night snacks, and Mia would help him navigate the social hierarchy of their new town. They weren't just two kids forced together by their parents' marriage anymore; they were a team. “Stoichiometry,” she sighed, rubbing her temples

One afternoon, while helping Leo hang a shelf in his room, Mia stopped and looked at a photo of Leo and his late mother.

Mia looked like she had just come from a photoshoot for a grunge magazine. Her dark hair was messy, and her expression was one of bored defiance. He hadn't seen Mia, his new step-sister, since

Mia looked ready to snap a retort, but then she looked at the mountain of notes and slumped. “Fine. But if you make it worse, I’m telling my mom you broke her favorite vase.”