Chapter 3

"Why did I have to go and say that?!" Ray moaned loudly in the Underground after school. Lily wasn't there, because she was too angry with Ray to even see him. So she gave Sue Ellen the tour of the neighborhood, Mickey's and all that. Robbie and Travis were being tortured by Ray's complaining.

Travis wanted so much to answer to Ray's rhetorical 'Because you're an idiot,' but Ray was in a bad mood and if anything upset him even more, he would go and murder someone. Someone that he calls 'Swami' a lot.

Though, Robbie wondered something aloud. "Well, maybe it's because you're blunt? Or maybe it's because you were too surprised about Sue Ellen to even care about Lily's feelings? Or maybe is it because you're just a thick-headed, dense moron?"

Then he knew that he had to add to that. Travis answered his best friend, "Probably the last one. It's the answer to any of Ray's random outbursts."

And yes, like his wise best friend thought, those comments did get Ray's blood boiling. "I really don't want to hear this from my so-called pals." He got up from his chair, grabbed his backpack and swung it on his shoulder. "I'm out."

"Ray!" they both shouted. "What about the show?"

Pausing for a moment, he then yelled over his shoulder, "I don't know what to do with the show. I'm a thick-headed, dense moron remember?"

"At least you know who you are!" Robbie called after him, as he slammed the door with a bang. Then the two remaining fellows glanced at each other. "Should we cancel?" he asked.

"No…" Travis said, putting his earphones on. "I think this would turn out to be a great show."

"Lily! Lily, look at the dress." Sue Ellen called out and Lily stopped walking and looked into the store window at a knee length black dress. It looked like any ordinary dress. Just...a dress. "Don't you think I'd look good in it?"

Of course, Lily didn't mean to be rude but she put her hand up to her mouth to keep from laughing. A snort came up, and Sue Ellen looked confused, "Cuz, you getting a cold?" she asked politely. Lily shook her head. "Well, come on." she grabbed her hand as they ran into the shop. "I'm going to try it on."

A few minutes later, Lily was sitting in a chair, sighing, watching the clock go very slowly. It was 4:25. The show was almost half over. She was really sorry she missed it. RFR was how she got her feelings out.

"Lily, here I come." The dressing room opened and there stood Sue Ellen, in the black dress. Sure, it looked ordinary in the store window. Sure, it was just a dress. But when Sue Ellen wore it, her figure really came through. 'Ordinary' clothes like that became alive in her body.

Blinking once and twice, Lily gasped, "Wow." She was speechless. Sue Ellen...she looked like, like her old self! Her cousin gave her a warm smile and twirled around. Her hair spun through the air, shining and looking so full of life.

And, Ray saw it all. He saw her twirling, her looking beautiful. Even beautiful than the 3 summers ago. Dazed and confused, he walked off to Mickey's to get a bite to eat. He needed to think.

So did Lily, but she didn't get the chance to. 'Whoa.' she thought. 'She looks fantastic!'. "You think I should buy it?" Sue Ellen asked Lily, waiting for her thoughts. But her cousin could only nod. Then Sue Ellen smiled and went back into the room to put her old clothes back on.

You know, Lily thought. Maybe Sue Ellen never did change. Maybe the 'hot' and 'sexy' and 'beautiful' Sue Ellen is still under that coat of, um, geekiness. And, she sighed, that Sue Ellen can never, ever come out if I want to keep my friends.

"Ready cuz?" she said and Lily nodded getting up. They headed down to a thrift store. "I looove thrift stores," Sue Ellen gushed as they entered. Lily heard Question Mark come on. Sue Ellen rushed over a sales rack, looking at some t's.

"I'm Question Mark and I'm wondering...why are looks so important?" Lily's face burned and she sat down on a bench, watching Sue Ellen gush over some jeans. In Mickey's, Ray sat down with a cola and listened attentively, knowing that the question was directed to him.

There was a kind of silence then Smog came in with, "I don't think so, that much Question Mark, but some people think that being pretty makes them smarter, or cooler. People are blinded by looks sometimes, and it's sad because they never look at the real person deep down."

"Like judging." Robbie said.

"Exactly."

"Now, let's take a few calls about this. Blinded, tell us your thoughts." Question Mark said in his Robbie voice as Lily slumped down. Maybe they were right. Maybe she were judging Sue Ellen.

Ray thought the same thing and realized if he saw Sue Ellen for the first time in that dress, he would love her. He was SUCH an idiot. Then he pulled out his cell phone.

A girl's voice came in on the air. "Well, my ex was really hot. He was a jock and he was so great. He was popular and everything a girl would want! But then, I heard he was cheating on me. I knew it couldn't be true though. I mean, hello? He LOVES me. He said so himself.

"And I kept fixating on the outside. I kept thinking, 'He's so hot. And mysterious. And he's such a nice guy.' Well, so I thought. A week later, I saw him making out with my younger sister. I dumped him right on the spot. And hated my sister for like, a month before I forgave her."

"Sometimes you learn the hard way Blinded. At least you dumped him." Smog said, then hesitating before saying, "Now here's Jerk Face."

"Thanks Smog." a male voice came on. Lily sat up and Sue Ellen stopped. "I was a real jerk to my best friend, and to her cousin because I...was a jerk. Her cousin wasn't as, uh, attractive as she used to be and I was shocked I guess. But maybe the cousin is still as cool as she used to be. I just...was taken in by the looks, not the brains or personality. I'm really sorry."

Lily smiled for a moment. Thanks Ray, she thought silently. "Oh, that was so sweet." Sue Ellen said. "Some people make fun of my looks or are shocked, and some of them say they are sorry but this takes the cake. He called into a radio station? Lily...he seems like a great friend doesn't he? He really learns his lessons!"

"Yeah..." she said smiling. "He does, doesn't he?"

Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Little cheesy there. Next chapter: SUE ELLEN MEETS KIM! Sue Ellen wants to become a Cougar radio DJ! (GASP!) Will Kim let her in? Waller's smitten (smitten?) with her, but if she does get accepted will the RFR crew be happy? Um, no, no they won't.

Allie