Zora POV

We were all sitting in the living room as I was helping Carlton with his debate speech. I was on the girls debate so we were helping each other.

"Looks like we're gonna be pullin' another all-nighter. We've to get our index cards together for the big debate match next week." Carlton told me as he sat next to me

"What's your topic?" Mr. Banks asked

"When, President Bush said he would never raise taxes was he lying or just kidding?" I told him when Hilary walked in

"Sorry I'm late. Time flies when you're studying." Hilary said

"Ain't that the truth, Ruth." Will said

"How was your day, honey?" Mr. Banks asked

"It was great. I got a lot of work done on my physics research paper." Hilary said as Will laughed

"What?" She asked him

"Oh, no, I was just thinking about that funny thing that happened to you today." Will told her

"What are you talking about?" Hilary asked

"How soon they forget. I'll explain. Well, today after school was out, I went to UCLA
a

nd I sat in the back of Hilary's physics class." Will said

"You did?" She asked

"Oh, yeah. You remember. I mean, after all,
you were in the class." He told her

"That's right. You did. You did. You did." She said smiling

'You remember that funny thing that happened." Will said

'Oh, yeah, that funny thing." She said as they both laughed

"Tell them about it" Will told her

"Well...Will sat in the back of my physics class, and..While he was there..Oh, Will, you tell it so much better." She said laughing

"Well, see, I snuck up behind Hilary, right, and..Well, her head must've been full
with all that studying or something because when she saw me, she said my head looked like the basic element of physics." He said as they both laughed

"And what was that technical term again?
A quark, right?" Will asked

'Right, exactly. I said his head looked like a quark." She said

"Or, was it a neutron?" He asked

"Right, right."she said

"No. It was definitely a quark." He said

"Oh, of course. I don't know. what I must've been thinking." She said as they both laughed and we looked at them strangely

"Well, that was a real scream, Will." Mr. Banks said sarcastically as Geoffrey walked in

"Dinner is served" Geoffrey said as we all got up as Mr. Banks grabbed Ashley and my hand as he lead us in the kitchen

After dinner Carlton and I were sitting in the living room as I was sitting on his lap with our arm around his neck as he had one arm around my waist keeping my steady as we were looking through dictionary's

"Carlton, Zora, I'm living a nightmare." Hilary told us as I turned and saw her attire

"Woah you look like Cinderella you know before the bippty boppty boo" I told her

Hilary, I'd love to talk to you but we're staring down the barrel of an all-nighter." Carlton told her

"Please, guys I need help." She begged us as I got off his lap

"What's the matter honey" I asked

'I'm coming to you because I know how much you don't like Will." Hilary told Carlton

"Will Smith is a fine young man." Carlton told her

"Oh. come off it, Carlton. You're talking to me now. We've let Will wreak havoc in our lives for too long and now I think it's time to band against him as brother and sister." She told him

"Are you trying to take down Will or the Roman Empire" I asked

"What've you got in mind?" Carlton asked closing the thesaurus walking up to her

"That's what I need you for. I don't have any plans. I just want to punish him. I'm very vindictive. I'm just not imaginative." She said sitting down

'Hilary, whether or not I want to punish Will
and for the record, I haven't come out pro or con." Carlton told her

"Why are you so mad at him?" I asked her

'Alright. It's kind of a long story but you've to promise not to tell anybody." She told us

"Sure." We told her as she looked around to make sure nobody was here

First of all, I dropped out of college." She told us as we looked shocked

" Hilary!" I told her

"I know. I know." She said

"Mom and dad are gonna kill you." Carlton said

"I know. But the worst think is, Will found out. And now he's using it to make me do all kinds of humiliating things." She told us

"Like what?" I asked

"He's making me clean his sneakers." She told us

" Really?" I asked

'It gets worse. I have to hand-wash
his lucky draws." She said as my face cringed with disgust

"Disgusting." I told her

"Oh, and this is his latest. He gave me a list
of embarrassing things I have to do at dinner tomorrow night." She told us

"That's awful. Is he making you clean his room?" Carlton asked

"No." She said

'Will you clean mine?" He asked smirking at her

"Carlton! You're sister is in conflict" I scolded him

"I'm sorry, Zora, but this is too good to be true. Why should Will have all the fun?" He said

"Why, you little--"

"Dad?" He yelled

"I hate you!" She sneered

"Be that as it may...I want these debate cards typed by tomorrow morning. Double-spaced"
Carlton told her giving her the index cards as he left and Hilary turned to me

"Zora what am I gonna do" she asked me as I started to feel bad for her

"Well I will do the index cards but you have to tell them the truth. One way or another your gonna fell better" I told her

"Can I" she asked as I smiled sympathetically at her

"Sure" I told her as she put her head on my chest as I wrapped my arms around her hugging her as I rubbed her back

-----------------------------------------------------------

The next day the Banks family and I were sitting in the living room as Ashley was telling us about her day

"Today was career day, Terice's dad came in to speak to us." Ashley told us

"Really? What does he do?" I asked

"John Rivers" she told us as we all looked at her weirdly

"Um, he's a plastic surgeon." She explained as we all nodded in understanding

"Dinner is served." Geoffrey said as we walked to the dining room

I was sitting next to Ashley as we were praying over our food

For these gifts we're about to receive may the Lord make us truly thankful. Amen." Mr. Banks said

"Amen!" Everyone else sais

"A-Woman" I whispered as Ashley smiled at me

'So, Vivian, how were classes today?" Mr. Banks asked

"Fine. I just wish my students would concentrate more on their work. They're very easily distracted." She said

"I see it every day. Don't you...Hilary?" Will asked as she barked

"Did you say something, sweetie?" Mrs. Banks asked

"No." She said as we continued eating

"Will Smith is perfect." Hilary said

"Why, thank you. It's so nice to be appreciated." Will told her

"Yes, but perhaps, another time. You're mother is trying to say something, and I'm sure she would appreciate it, if she weren't interrupted again." Mr. Banks said

"Sorry." She apologized

"Anyway, as I was saying--" she said

"Will Smith is the king of the universe." Hilary said

"Why, thank you." Will told her

"I'd like to finish my story, if that's okay with you, Hilary." Mrs. Banks said as she barked

"Hilary." Mr. Banks said as she barked again

"Look, I know everyone gets a little silly around midterms but, not at the dinner table." Mrs. Banks told her

"I'm sorry, mom." She apologized as Carlton tapped his glass

"Will Smith is the scum of the earth." Hilary said

"Hilary!" He mother scolded as she barked again

"However, Will Smith is the pinnacle of manliness." Hilary said as Carlton cleared his throat and she smacked the back of Will's neck

"Hilary!" Will yelled as she barked again as Carlton cleared his throat again and Hilary hit Will's neck again

"What's with Hilary?" Ashley asked as she barked again as Carlton hit his glass again and she kept slapping Will's neck

"I love dinner at this house" I said as I ate a piece of my roll

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it.. I can't take it anymore! I dropped out of school. There!" Hilary yelled

'You did what?" Mr. Banks asked

"I dropped out of school." She told them

"You dropped out of school?" Mrs. Banks asked

"When did this happen?" Mr. Banks asked

"Three months ago." She told them

"Three months ago?" Mrs. Banks yelled

"And you've been lying to us since then?" Mr. Banks asked again

"Three months ago?" Mrs. Banks asked again

"If you'll just let me explain." Hilary told them

"Three months ago?" Her mother repeated again

"Mother, please, just let me explain." Hilary begged

"I'm not interested. You've been lying to us.
And if you think for one--" Mr. Banks yelled

"Philip, wait. Will, Carlton, Ashley, Zora take
your dinner into the kitchen." Mrs. Banks told us as we grabbed our plates and walked to the kitchen

After dinner I was sitting in the living room with Will and Carlton

"Man, they've been in there for a hour." Will said

"I wonder what Hilary told mom and dad
about our part in all this." Carlton said

"I think it's pretty safe to assume she sang like a canary." Will said

"Well, there's no need to worry, she's been lying to them for three months. We can punch holes in her credibility." Carlton said as Will nodded as Mr. and Mrs. Banks walked in

"Mom, dad, awfully sad about what happened to Hilary. Hope her crazy lies
don't drag down anyone else." He said standing up

"Carlton, sit." Mr. Banks said as he sat back down

"Maybe we haven't been clear enough
about the rules of this house. You are not to blackmail other members of this family." Mrs. Banks said

"Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't know." Will said

"You two are grounded for a month. And, Will, added to the month that you already have that should pretty much take you into fiscal '91." Mr. Banks told them

"Zora, you're grounded too." Mr. Banks told me as I looked confused

"What did I do. I told her to tell the truth and I'm not your kid" I told them

"Sorry sweetie we were kinda on a roll we thought you were one of our kids" Mrs. Banks apologized

I was getting ready to go home when I heard my name being called

"Zora" Hilary said as I turned around to her

"Hmhm" I asked

"You're great friend" she told me as I smiled at her

"Thank Hilary, you're a great one too" I told her as she smiled and I walked out the house

I never to much thought of Hilary and I as friends, acquaintances sure, but never friends. I always felt like I was friends with Will, Carlton, and Ashley, heck even Geoffrey, more than we were, but its nice she considers me a friend. I like being around her too

Sorry I didn't update yesterday it was my birthday so I wanted the day off