The relationship between Brennan and Dale in the hit movie Stepbrothers can describe the relationship between some South students and their step-siblings. That said, not all step-siblings try to create bunk beds using tape or live with their parents in their middle-ages.

Not to be confused with half-siblings, step-siblings have no genetic relation. However, according to Coletta the relationship is like that of biological siblings.

“I’ve known [my step-siblings] since they were like six or seven, so they kind of just remember me as their big sister,” Coletta said.

Senior Maya Bassin agrees with Coletta.

“Because we are siblings we obviously get in fights and argue but in the end we work it out because we are a family,” Bassin said.

Coletta also expressed how meeting her three younger step-siblings when they were young might have affected their relationship, making it easier for the strong bond to form.

“When you meet [your step-siblings] when they’re older, it’s more like you’re friends rather than siblings,” Coletta said.

Bassin said she is now one of nine kids, having gained three step-siblings from her mom’s husband and three from her dad’s fiancée. She also has two biological siblings.

“[We met at] the Light The Night Walk, [because] my brother is a cancer survivor […] so my mom invited [my step-siblings] to come and we walked and talked,” Bassin said.

According to Bassin, it was weird but she got along well with her youngest stepsister and the oldest stepsister. She said the middle sister didn’t talk much but as time went on, they became best friends.

Coletta and her step-siblings met under different circumstances.

“[My brother and I] met [my step-siblings] at their house, Coletta said. “We watched a movie and then went outside and had a snow fight.”

According to Bassin, when her family goes on vacation they have an ongoing joke about her brother.

“For some reason, my biological brother Coby never ends up coming with us,” Bassin said. “We’ve gone on two or three big vacations without him. It’s always our joke to find random teenage guys to take pictures with us and pretend that they are Coby.”

Both Bassin and Coletta say that they spend half their time with one parent, and the other half with the other parent.

While Coletta is at her mom’s house, she and her biological brother have their own room, but at her dad’s house, her brother shares a bedroom with her stepbrother and Coletta gets her own room.

According to Bassin, her mother’s house is bigger, so it’s easier, but they have to get creative when she stays at her dad’s house.

Both Bassin and Coletta think living together with their step-siblings makes it easier for them to bond.

“In some ways it’s very clear that we are not biologically related,” Bassin said. “But I always call my stepsisters just my sisters because I hate having to make the distinction. We live together and I’ve known them half of my life so they’re really important to me.”