"…And this is the Library!" the Mayor of Mineral Town declared. "You can't take the books home, but Mary would be happy if you paid her a visit once in a while!"

"Mary? I don't think I've met her." Alexis wondered aloud.

"Well, its Monday, so the Library is closed. You could visit her house though…"

Alexis sighed. "Okay, are we almost done?"

The Mayor nodded. "Yepper-doodles! We've only got to visit Ellen and Stu, the Supermarket, Mineral Clinic, and the Church."

Alexis mentally kicked herself. She thought that this tour would only take an hour at the most. But nooooo. Mr. Mayor decided to say hello to practically everyone, stop and pet a cow, check the town bulletin board, and stop for lunch at the Inn.

"Here's Ellen's house! Stu is her grandson, and he lives here with her. He has a sister who works at the Clinic. Oh, that reminds me… I'll need to pick up a few things at the Clinic. Oh yeah, and it's my shopping day."

Alexis quickly made up an excuse. "Look at the time! It's already 1:50. I'd better get going! I can meet the others tomorrow."

Mayor Thomas shrugged and waddled off.

"Whew. Now I can actually rest!" As Alexis passed the little house attached to the Library, she saw… something on the sidewalk. A girl who looked around Alexis's age was sitting on the sidewalk, her head buried in her knees. Her long, black hair blew softly in the slight wind, and her back rose up and down in jagged movements, like she was crying. Her clothes consisted of something a high school student would wear— including a pleated navy skirt, a white collared shirt with a navy sweater over it, white ankle-socks and black Mary Jane shoes. Although Alexis wanted nothing more than to go home and sleep the day away, she decided to help the poor girl.

"Are you all right?" Alexis asked, sitting down next to the girl.

The girl sat up straight, and you could see she wore glasses. She looked embarrassed, and quickly wiped her tears away.

"Yeah. I'm fine." She sniffed.

"You don't seem fine."

"Its really nothing."

"No, its not. Tell me. I might be able to help," Alexis pleaded.

"Well… okay." The girl took a deep breath, as if preparing to tell a long story. Then, she let the breath out, and blushed again. "It's a really stupid reason." She looked down at her shoes. "I'm Mary, by the way."

"Alexis. Nice to meet you. No, it can't be too stupid. Its not like you don't have any friends. I'll bet you have loads."

Mary was looking flustered. "Actually, that's it."

Alexis resisted the urge to let her mouth hang open. "Why not? You seem like a great person."

"I guess… well, people think I'm a nerd because of the glasses. Also because I own a Library, which nobody visits. And, they assume because I like to read, that I'm quiet. Well, I'll admit, I am kinda quiet around people I don't know much…"

"How rude of them!" Alexis exclaimed. "You're not a nerd! Lots of cool people wear glasses."

"Like?" demanded Mary.

"Uh… okay, okay, I don't know," admitted Alexis. "But, just because you have glasses means nothing." Suddenly, her blue eyes lit up. "I know. I'll be your friend. You seem a lot cooler than that bratty little girl at the Chicken Farm— what was her name again? Wasn't it French?"

"Popuri," laughed Mary. "And, yeah, she's such a baby." She paused, thinking. "Hey, have you met everyone?"

"Nah. That freaky mayor guy took me on a tour- it took forever! He just HAD to stop and pet a cow, visit the bulletin board, and have lunch at the Inn!"

"Wow," Mary giggled. "Pet a cow? I knew that Mayor Thomas was… uh, odd, but I didn't know he's obsessed with cows." After they giggled, Mary had an idea. "Hey, lets go meet everyone else! And, we won't stop to pet a cow, promise!" Mary brushed her finger in a cross against her chest.

"Okay. No cows!" Alexis agreed. "Come on, Mary."

The two linked arms and began walking. "So where did you visit last?" Mary asked.

"I think her name was Ellen?"

"So we're visiting the Supermarket next."

"Yeah, guess so."

As they walked in, a gorgeous girl with amazingly green eyes greeted them.

"Oh, so you're taking over the farm?" the girl asked.

What a wonderful greeting statement, Alexis wanted to say. "Yeah. I'm Alexis."

"Karen. Pleasure to meet you." Then her green eyes settled on Mary. "Oh," she said coldly. "Hello Mary."

"Hi," Mary squeaked. Karen just glared.

Seeing how her friend was terrified of this girl, Alexis thought it was time to leave. "It was nice meeting you."

"Come back to shop any time!" Karen shouted, although they had not yet taken one step away.

"Uh… sure." And the two power-walked outside, not looking back.

"Phew. I hate Karen," Mary said darkly. "She's so perfect, so pretty, and has a beautiful voice. But, she's rude to me—and is an alcoholic."

"Ick." Alexis shook her head. "What's next?"

"The Hospital." Mary informed her.

"Well, at least I'll know where to go when I get sick."

When Alexis walked inside, she tripped over Mary's Mary Jane shoes. Screaming as she fell, she shut her eyes tightly. "Oh no, no no no! This is going to hurt!" Alexis thought. But, she didn't hit hard, cold ground like she expected. Alexis looked up and found herself in the arms of a cute, dark-haired guy wearing a stethoscope.

"Be careful!" He scolded. "You almost hurt yourself!"

Alexis wasn't really listening. She was looking at the hottest guy she had ever seen, and nothing else was on her mind.