The next morning, Lizzie and Miranda were walking to a cabin group activity. They were walking quickly to keep up with the group who was heading to the rock-climbing wall.

"So, what's the deal with Tudgeman?" Lizzie asked.

"Lizzie, come on, there is no deal with Tudgeman," Miranda stated.

Out of no where, Tudgeman popped up. "So Miranda, is our date still on for tonight?"

Miranda laughed nervously.

"I'll take that as a yes," Tudgeman said as he darted off.

"A date? With Tudgeman?" What happened to you thinking he was the grossest human being on the planet?" Lizzie asked.

Miranda sped up and avoided eye contact with Lizzie. "Well it's not a date, technically. He just wants to sneak some ice creams and go sit on the pier. And he's not that gross. You know, when he washes his hair."

Lizzie smiled contentedly. Her friend had finally come around to a person who she knew wasn't so bad. "Good, because you know, he's a good guy."

"Did I just hear what I think I heard?" Jessie asked. "You have a date…with Larry Tudgeman! You've got to be kidding me!"

"No I don't! He just thinks we do! I wouldn't go near him if my life depended on it! He is so disgusting!" Miranda shouted.

"Miranda!" Lizzie shouted appalled. Then she looked over and saw Larry standing not more than 20 feet away. He had heard everything and quickly walked up to Miranda.

"Busted," Jessie said under her breath.

"You know, I thought you were different from the rest of these…lemmings," Tudgeman said. "Not you, Lizzie." He added before he darted in the other direction.

"Larry wait!" Miranda shouted bolting after him. "Larry!" She finally caught up to him and grabbed his shoulder.

He swung around. "What Miranda?"

"I just, I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I didn't mean any of what I said. I don't even know why I said it. I don't care what Jessica Alasdiar thinks of me. Honestly, I don't. I don't care that she knows that I want to be your friend."

"Good. That's…good. You shouldn't care. But you know what? I'm not going to waste my time with you. Do you know how I've been treated my whole life? Just like this. Like crap. My life may be strange, but it's no joke, Miranda!"

"I know that, Larry, believe me, I really am sorry. Can we just…forget I said anything. You know, start over."

"Ok fine. So, hi Miranda," he said quickly.

"Hi…Larry."

"You still want to go to the pier tonight?" Larry asked.

"I'd love to," she said smiling.

"Oh, well I do too, just not with you."

"Tudgeman!" Miranda yelled at him, but he just kept walking. She stood there dumbfounded.

Lizzie walked over to her. She hated the way Miranda treated Larry behind his back. "Nice going, Miranda. Very swift," she said sarcastically.

"Lizzie, I don't want to hear it," Miranda said gloomily.

"Sorry, Miranda. "Maybe it's not even worth it," she said trying to cheer up Miranda,

"Not even worth it? Not even worth it? You just told me he was a good guy!" Miranda said angrily.

"No, Miranda, I didn't mean it like that! I just meant you could stand being a little nicer sometimes, and if you can't be nice to him then maybe it isn't worth it." Lizzie said honestly.

"A little nicer? I told him I was sorry!" Miranda shouted over her shoulder as she stalked off in the direction of Tudgeman.

Oh great, what did I do now? Lizzie asked herself as she walked toward the rock-climbing wall. It seems whenever she tried to help someone, everything came out wrong, and she made it even worse. Now who could she be friends with at this camp? Certainly not Charlotte, she was too preoccupied with Gordo. And definitely not Jessie or Jenna, they were far too, well, Kate-ish.

When she reached the rock-climbing wall, Miranda was no where to be seen, but she noticed Gordo's cabin group was there too. She felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders when she saw him standing there. She started over toward him, but noticed Charlotte standing close to him, getting the ropes ready. Lizzie abruptly stopped.

"Gordo, will you help me with these ropes?" Charlotte asked.

"Of course," he said smiling as he untangled the ropes that were hanging down off the wall.

Lizzie had an overwhelming feeling of rejection. She didn't want to be at the rock-climbing wall. She didn't even want to be at camp anymore. She sidled up to Rachel. "I don't feel very well, I'm going to go sit down over there," she told Rachel.

"Okay, McGuire, I don't want you getting any sicker."

Lizzie sat down on a large rock away from everyone. She had come here with her two best friends and neither of them seemed to want to be around her anymore. She just wished her mom would suddenly appear through the trees and hug her and tell her everything would be all right. She could feel tears forming in her eyes and a lump in her throat as she thought about her mom.

"You okay, Lizzie?" Rachel said walking slowly over.

"I don't know," Lizzie croaked as she wiped away tears with the back of her hand. "I just try to be nice to everyone. And not just because I have to, but because I want to. And now, I have no friends."

"Oh come on, what about Miranda?"

"She hates me."

"Oh I bet that's not true. And what about Gordo over there?"

"I don't know. He's with Charlotte. I bet they're gonna get married," she said bitterly.

"I hate to say it, but maybe you're a little well…" Rachel started as she leaned her head into Lizzie's, "…jealous," she whispered.

Lizzie didn't say anything, she just turned her blurry eyes toward Rachel, pondering this strange equation. Me? Jealous? Lizzie asked herself. Rachel put her arm around Lizzie and let her cry.

"It's possible," Lizzie said gazing over at Gordo as he was laughing with his cabin mates. Lizzie couldn't help but let out a little laugh when she saw him laughing.

"Everything's going to be okay," Rachel said comfortingly.

Rachel was no Jo McGuire, that's for sure, but some how she made Lizzie feel a little bit better.