Of Monsters and Twins

2. Family Ties-a-Rooney

The Rooney family pulled up to their new home. It was older, but it was also much bigger than their previous home. The movers started unpacking immediately while the four kids bolted inside to claim their individual rooms. Liv chose the room with the largest closet, of course, and Maddie chose the room next to Liv's. Joey chose the room with an adjoining bathroom to Parker's room, and Parker's room was big enough for him to modify it but small enough that he couldn't build something large inside.

After all the boxes and wrapped-up furniture were brought inside, Karen started telling the movers where she wanted everything. The children mostly set up their rooms by themselves after their beds and other furniture were inside their respective rooms.

The whole process took about 8 hours from start to finish. Everyone was exhausted and now relaxing in their new family room when the phone started ringing. "Can't move... too far," Karen said dramatically with an outstretched arm.

Joey, closest to the phone, picked it up, "Yellow?" Maddie face-palmed at his greeting. "Mom, Dad, it's for you. Someone named 'Lockhart,'" Joey said, covering part of the phone, only it was the wrong part, and he heard a muffled 'Lockwood,' "Whoopsy-do, Lockwood."

"Oh! Lockwood," Karen said, jumping up and running to grab the phone from Joey. "Hello, this is Karen Rooney," she said quickly. "Uh-huh. Yes. Thank you, Carol. Yes, we'll be there. Okay, bye." Everyone looked at her waiting to see what 'Carol Lockwood' had told her. "Looks like we're going to a party next weekend."

"I need to figure out what to wear, and Maddie you can borrow something of mine," Liv said, thinking out loud.

"Why don't we all go to sleep? We've got to be up early for school," Pete started, "oh, we almost forgot. Parker will be joining you three at the high school."

"Are you kidding me?!" Joey screeched. "Come on! I need to be cool this year.

"Yeah, that's gonna happen," Maddie snorted and high-fived Parker.

"Okay. Bed, now," Karen said.

.....

The whole family was nervous and excited about their first day at a new school. Liv woke up at five in the morning, so she could pick out what she was going to wear, and Maddie woke up about 30 minutes before they had to leave. Karen and Pete drove Parker to school, and Liv drove Maddie and Joey in her car.

They got out of the car, Liv and Maddie gave each other a look that said, 'we're going to be okay.'

The whole family went to the office, the kids getting their class schedules and the adults went to speak with the principal. Liv and Maddie found that their lockers were only three apart, and Joey and Parker's lockers were in the opposite direction. Liv was in the process of trying to get her locker to open when a massive wave of blonde and brunette hair appeared in front of her. "Oh my gosh! You're Liv Rooney!" The blonde said excitedly.

"Yes. Hi," Liv said, trying to cover her nerves.

"Well, I'm Caroline, and this is Bonnie. We loved your show 'Sing it Loud!'"

"Oh, thank you. It's so nice to meet you."

"Hey Liv, we have to get to class," Maddie said from behind the girls.

"Right, well, I'll see you later, bye," Liv said sweetly, walking off to class with Maddie.

.....

Their first day went fairly well, except for the judgy looks the four siblings got. Pete got a lot of attitude from the various teams he was coaching, teams that Mr. Tanner used to coach.