Sister act.

Wouldn't you just love for your sister to hold the coveted title of BFF? We can help you and your sis come closer than ever to actually being friends.

Mary-Kate and Ashley spend every New York minute together. Haylie and Hilary can't get 'nuff of each other. There are Ashlee and Jessica. Venus and Serena. Paris and Nicky. These sisters are thick as thieves. So why is it you and your sis are at each other's throats? Relatively speaking, we think we kin help.

Take the taste test

You gravitate to certain gal pals because of similar interests. But you and your sister didn't choose each other--fate threw you together. So, truth is, it's not uncommon for sibs to have different tastes. But just because you don't like the same music or movies, you can appreciate each other's choices. You dig Clay; she's more Green Day? Spending an hour listening to American Idiot doesn't make you an Idol defector. It demonstrates major respect for what she's into. And there's a good chance that next time you turn the tube to The Starlet, she'll let the hour pass without groaning about missing a Veronica Mars repeat.

Public enemy--not!

Your family is a force in your life--you need to feel you can lean on them when the going gets tough. So dissing your sis, poking fun of her or re-hashing your fights to everyone at the pool will most definitely backfire. It will probably also hurt her, even if she doesn't let on. If this sort of social sister-trashing continues, she's sure to feel she can't depend on you to be there for her--and that means she won't have your back when you need someone on your side. Plus, people will wonder: If you aren't loyal to your own sis, what kind of a true-blue bud could you possibly be?

Get it together

You share the same bathroom, same meatloaf-and-mashed dinner and same set of parents. Household dynamics can be stressful, so a change of scenery could do wonders for bonding with your sister. Hanging with each other outside your usual domain will open a window to a side of her personality she doesn't flaunt at home. Come up with an activity you can do together in neutral territory. Invite her for a frozen cappuccino, shoe-shopping spree or a few laps around the indoor ice rink. This will make it loud and, clear that you value your sister's company.

Tell it, don't yell it

Try talking (not yelling!) next time your sister criticizes your choice in crushes, makes a crude comment about your new 'do or "borrows" your best handbag without asking. Rather than firing off a nasty remark, calmly tell her how her actions make you feel. Get it out in the open so you can avoid similar incidents in the future. She might not even realize how much she has upset you. Or it could turn out you misunderstood what she meant to say.

Look into the future

If you've tried to get closer to your sister but the distance between you hasn't lessened, don't sweat it so much. It's doubtful things will be this way forever. Though it might seem hard to believe, the fact that you and your sis aren't best buds now doesn't mean you won't be in the next few years or so. When one of you heads to college or moves away from home, chances are you'll actually miss each other. And while absence makes the heart grow fonder, well, so does maturity. One day, you might find all her irritating quirks somewhat endearing. "No way," you say? "You'll see," say we!