The next day when Ike showed up with Brandy for dinner, it took every bit of my strength to be nice to her.

"Did the hair dryer explode?"

"Jessi!"Mom exclaimed."That's not polite. Apologize immediately."

Brandy smiled sweetly."That's all right Mrs. Hanson. I went in for a perm yesterday and it came out a little curlier than I usually like."

That was a nice way of putting it.

I was silent a while longer, waiting until there was a slight lag in the conversation to drop my little bombshell on Brandy."So, Brandy, have you talked to Kurt lately?"

"Kurt?"She stared at me with a blank expression on her face."I don't know any Kurts."She took a sip of water.

"Sure you do. His full name is Kurt Barry."

She almost spit out the water she was so surprised. I could tell she was getting a little nervous.

"Who's Kurt Barry?"Isaac asked, looking at Brandy with a concerned look on his face.

"An ex-boyfriend."She seemed to have recovered quickly."We had a messy break-up a few years ago and afterwards he spread all sorts of nasty rumors about me all over school, saying that we had never really broken up and that I was cheating on him with a guy I dated briefly after that."

"Oh, how horrible,"Mom sympathized. I so could not believe that she too was falling for this.

Brandy glared at me from across the table. I wasn't afraid of her.

* * *

It only took her a few minutes after dinner to corner me in the living room, alone.

"Look, you little brat,"she glared at me as she spoke,"you may know about Kurt, but who's going to believe you over me? I believe you have a record of lying."

"Who, me?"I asked, giving her my most innocent look."I think you've got the wrong sister. Avie's the one who lies. I'm the one who's always right."

"Like you can out-wit me. An eight year old? I think not."

"Nine."

"Like it matters."

"Wow, like you say like a lot."I smiled widely as she marched out of the room in a huff. She couldn't even handle a little good-natured teasing. I started upstairs.

"Not so fast."Ike's voice, uncharacteristically angry sounding, made me stop in my tracks.

I turned around."What?"

He glared at me."I don't know what your trying to pull, but stop it. You may not like Brandy, but I do, and I'm going to date her no matter what, you got it?"

"But Ike, there's something you really need to know about her!"I tried to explain, but he refused to listen.

"I don't want to hear any more of your far-fetched stories. Not after seeing how upset Brandy got when you brought up that story about her ex. It's one thing for you to be mean to us, but what did Brandy ever do to you?"

If he only knew.

* * *

Well, operation get rid of Brandy was a total and complete failure. I think I've finally met my match.