Because of where Lizzie and Miranda were sitting, Mr. Diggs would assign their country long before Shelley and Gordo would get theirs. They'd be almost the last pair, but Lizzie and Miranda were already the next group to pick. The two girls watched as Kate and Larry Tudgeman, the school's biggest nerd, chose Japan as their country to research.

"I can't believe Kate got stuck with Tudgeman. I almost feel bad for her." Lizzie commented as Mr. Diggs wrote down the other pair's information.

"I don't. She deserves it, especially since she treated Shelley that way." Miranda said as she continued staring at Ethan Craft.

"What do you mean since she treated Shelley that way? All she did was try to get a decent partner." Lizzie argued.

"She practically threw Shelley out of her way and said 'screw you, he's mine'." Miranda said as she peeled her eyes away from Ethan in order to face Lizzie. 'What's you're problem today Lizzie? First you almost have a heart attack because I had a momentary brain lapse, and now you're actually sticking up for Kate."

"Nothing's my problem, ok. I guess I'm just mad at my mom or something, I don't know. Look, Mr. Diggs is coming. I'll pick the country, ok?"

"Whatever." Miranda said. She had known Lizzie long enough that she knew when she was hiding something, but couldn't tell what it might be. 'Oh well,' she thought. 'I'm sure it's nothing, we're best friends, she'd tell me if it were something important, right?'

***Meanwhile***

"So, how long have you, Lizzie, and Miranda been friends?" Shelley asked Gordo as they waited for Mr. Diggs to get to them so they could choose a country.

"For as long as I can remember. I've known Lizzie forever, and we met Miranda in pre-school. We've been best friends ever since."

"And you guys never fight or anything, right, you're like the Brady Bunch?" Shelley asked sarcastically.

"Actually, we sort of are. The last big fight we had was in the fifth grade when, oh, never mind."

"When what?"

"It doesn't matter, we just got really mad at Miranda and didn't talk for a while, that's all."

"No, now you have to tell me."

"I told you, it doesn't matter."

"Please!" Shelley pleaded, giving her best puppy dog eyes.

'Dang it', Gordo thought. 'How can I say no to that? I just don't want to hurt her!' "No," he said out loud. "You don't want to know."

"Yes I do. Please tell me! If you don't, I'm going to think about it constantly until you tell me, then I won't be able to work on the project." She said convincingly. Then she smirked and said, "I may just have to do my nails the whole time."

"You know, you're very convincing."

"It's a gift, so, is it working."

"Sorry, but I'm pretty hard to convince, so no."

"Oh, come on, please!"

"You don't want to know." Gordo said as he looked away.

Shelley put her hands on Gordo's cheeks and turned his head to face her. A shiver ran down his spine when her hands touched his skin. "Yes I do." She looked right into his eyes and continued holding his face lightly. "Please, I want to know." Gordo sighed and Shelley let go of his face. "I don't care how bad or stupid it is, but you sparked my curiosity, and now I have to know."

"Fine, I guess I'll tell you. But you probably won't like it, and you can't tell them I told you."

"I won't"

"And you have to promise not to be mad at me or Lizzie."

"Why would I be mad, I didn't know you guys back then?"

"Exactly my point."

"Fine, I won't be mad, I promise. Now will you please tell me?"

"Ok, but you're not going to like it…"