The next episode, 'Ms. Perfect'! Anyway, enjoy!

The next Sunday, Phoebe, Nadine and I were over at my house as we were once again, playing Monopoly. Phoebe sighed as she rolled her dice and moved up a few spaces to Community Chest. Phoebe picked up a card and read it. "Collect fifty from every player. Looks like you're bankrupt again."

My eyes widened as I saw Phoebe taking my remaining fifty bucks. "Hey, look over there!"

Phoebe and Nadine just shook their heads as they decided to turn their heads. By now, they knew my intentions, but they did it out of respect. I quickly took money from the bank as I put it aside as soon as Phoebe and Nadine turned around. I smiled. "Hey, look, I got more money! I can still play this!"

"Whoopee." Nadine groaned.

I sighed. "Girls, let's be frank here. We're in a total rut, aren't we?"

Phoebe and Nadine nodded.

"I don't know, I love the trio of friends we got going... but what we need is a fourth friend." I said.

"We could always invite Sheena." Nadine said. "She's always our go-to."

"Yes, but, let's be honest. Sheena isn't really a good stylish friend, she's smart, but not AS smart, and she loves protesting and animals as much as you do, but..." I shuddered. "Her scabs. Ick."

"Hmmm..." Phoebe said as she looked at a little notepad. "You're right, Rhonda. We've been in a rut with three girl friends for too long... what we need is a fourth girl friend to balance us out!"

"Hmmm..." I smiled. "We better get ourselves started, then."

Over at the park, I turned to Phoebe and Nadine as Phoebe started to do a list. "Okay... so what should we look for in a new friend?"

"Obviously not a boy, strictly girls only!" I said. "Granted, all the boys are great, but we should try and get a girl on our team."

"Right..." Phoebe said.

"She has to be interested in bugs, animals and be good at sports... just like I am!" Nadine smiled.

"Nadine, most of us here are good at sports." I pointed out.

"Yeah, but I've been practicing a lot." Nadine shrugged.

"She has to be pretty smart... maybe not as smart as me, but so we're both equals." Phoebe smiled.

I looked over at each of our hair as I shrugged and said, "She needs to be a redhead."

Nadine blinked. "Why a redhead, specifically?"

"Well, look at us, girls." I said. "Even though we are a good team of three... we don't have the right haircolors for a blonde, brunette and redhead team. Nadine has the blonde part down, but both me and Phoebe... we're brunettes!"

"Raven haired." Phoebe rolled her eyes.

"I'm not changing my hair color to red, and Phoebe's hair is perfect the way it is!" I said. "What we need is a red-head to balance out our little hair color differences!"

"Uh... Sheena?" Nadine pointed out.

"She has brown hair. It's not really... a natural "red"." I said. "No, what we need... is somebody that... sees a good eye on fashion!"

"...Even though you only do it to keep up with the trends, and you always wear that red shirt!" Nadine pointed out.

"As I've pointed out, this is a different shade of red. Today, it's my ruby shirt." I laughed. "Come on, Nadine, keep up with your fashion trends!"

"Of course..." Nadine sighed.

"Okay, so, we need a red-headed girl who loves animals and sports, equally smart, and has good views on fashion in their own way." Phoebe looked over their list. "Looking at the possible candidates, I would say we have NOBODY that fits the description."

"Nobody, huh?" I paused. "Not even our sixth grader friends, Connie and Maria?"

Phoebe shook her head.

"Blast." I sighed. "Well, don't worry girls, I'm sure in time, we'll think of something..."

"Yeah..." Phoebe said.

"You girls want to see if Arnold's home and we can hang out with him for a while?" I asked as I pulled out my phone.

"Sure." Nadine said. "Anything to get our mind off whatever new friend we want to recruit."

And so, we decided to hang out with Arnold for the rest of our Sunday, which was pretty fun in a unique way.

About two days later, on Tuesday, it started out as a regular school day when all of a sudden, I felt my headache coming in. I blinked in confusion. Shouldn't Olga be in her community college classes?

The door opened as we all turned and... hey! I knew that girl. It was the redhead I met Friday evening. I think it was... Lila! What are the chances that I would see Lila again?

I heard the class starting to murmur a bit as Mr. Simmons started, "People, people, people! I have an announcement to make."

Mr. Simmons smiled as he led Lila right through the door as he explained, "We have a new student joining our class. Her name is Lila, and she has just moved into town from the country, and I'm sure you'll make her all feel welcome."

Lila then spoke. "Hello. I'm very glad to meet you, and uh, to be in your class. I just ever so hope we can get along."

I smiled a little as Lila started looking for a seat. I guess we both made eye contact for a brief moment, because in her eyes, she seemed to remember who I was as she gleefully smiled to me and came over, whispering, "Hello. Glad to ever so meet you again, Rhonda."

"Likewise, kid." I nodded as Lila decided to sit next to Phoebe. Phoebe raised an eyebrow in curiosity as I whispered to her, "We've kinda met already."

"Oh." Phoebe nodded as she started to focus back to the class.

"Now, as I was saying before, who can tell me the inventor of the telegraph?" Mr. Simmons asked.

Phoebe eagerly raised her hand, but as I noted, Lila was faster. "Lila?"

"Samuel Morris, in 1840." Lila smiled.

"That's very good, Lila!" Mr. Simmons smiled.

"Huh?" Phoebe looked at Lila in surprise. "But... I knew that one..."

"Phoebe, what have I told you?" I whispered.

Phoebe sighed. "Don't be a know-it-all unless the situation calls for it..."

"Good girl." I smiled.

I paused as my headache wasn't going away, until I paused, curiously. My eyes went towards Lila. Was she another one of my causes for my headaches? If so...why her and Olga, specificially?

At recess, as Phoebe, Nadine and I went out, Phoebe was muttering to herself, "I could have gotten that answer..."

"Come on, Phoebe. So she got a couple of questions right before you did. Doesn't entitle you to be the first girl to answer every question." Nadine said. "Besides, there is such a thing as 'sharing'."

"That's true." I nodded as I spotted Lila, sitting at a nearby bench. "Besides, Lila here is pretty harmless."

Phoebe paused as she said, "She is equally smart..."

Nadine then looked down as she noticed a small caterpillar. "Oh my gosh, this poor thing! What is this caterpillar doing out in the fall weather? I should..."

As Nadine was about to pick up the caterpillar, another hand came down and picked it up. We noticed it was Lila who looked at Nadine. "Oh, I'm ever so sorry. I just noticed this little caterpillar is lonely in the soon to be cold winter days... I thought I would take it over to a nearby warm place so I can release it in the spring as a beautiful butterfly."

"So you think butterflies are cool?" Nadine asked as Lila nodded. "Animals?"

"Love all types of creatures..." Lila smiled as she put the caterpillar in a small jar. "There we go. I'm ever so sorry to disturb you..."

As Lila went back over, Nadine and we stared in shock as Nadine said, "Incredible... she loves animals and bugs like I do... then again, doesn't everybody?"

I paused as I noted a few of the boys in our class were going over as they started to talk to Lila. I put my hand on my chin as I said, "Hmmm... she seems to be attracting some attention from the boys, which is pretty cool."

Curious, we came over as we saw Lila talking with all the fourth grade boys.

"Oh yes, the country is actually not a pretty bad place." Lila explained. "There are a lot of things in the country that most people would ever so not be able to take advantage of in the city."

"You know, I have a cousin that lives in the country." Arnold smiled to Lila as he talked. "I visited him plenty of times, he's interesting in his own unique way, so I know about what the country is like."

"Oh, do you?" Lila smiled. "That's really ever so interesting..."

"Arnold. Arnold Shortman." Arnold said as he shook hands with Lila.

"Please to meet you, Arnold." Lila smiled.

I smiled. "She's really friendly."

"Too friendly..."

I blinked as I suddenly recognized the voice inside my head. "What is it, Deep Voice?"

"Look, you don't know it yet, but that girl is going to be causing you trouble!"

"Trouble? Come on! She's just a harmless innocent girl who wants to fit in! How could she possibly...?"

"I won't give too much away on what happens, but when that day comes, I'll tell you then. Be friends with Lila all you like, but you'll be doomed. You'll be doomed!"

With that, Deep Voice vanished. It was then I was aware of a hand floating in my face. I turned to Nadine. "Oh, did you want something, Nadine?"

"Oh... well... she just said she was pretty good at a few sports." Nadine said as she pointed to Lila, who was talking with the other boys, laughing.

"Oh, is she?" I smiled.

"You know, Rhonda..." Phoebe smiled. "She's as smart as I am, she loves animals, bugs and sports... and have you noticed the color of her hair?"

I smiled as I noted the haircolor. "Red hair... you're on to something, Phoebe. The real question is... can she be fashionable?"

"Only one way to find out..." Nadine said as we came a little closer to Lila, joining in the conversation.

"And then she said, "Whatever you do, don't smell that cow!"." Lila smiled as the kids laughed.

"She sure is nice! And a real snappy dresser! I think I'm in love!" Stinky smiled.

"Okay, boys, give Lila some space." I said as I told the boys. "I know you all want to make her welcome, I can't argue with that... it's the girls' turn now!"

"Okay, okay..." Gerald said as everyone started to get going. "Come on, fellas, we should start off our games anyway."

Everyone muttered, but eventually nodded in agreement as they went on their separate ways, leaving just me, Nadine, Phoebe and of course, Lila. Lila sighed in relief as she turned to me. "Thanks. I love attention, but not too much. I don't know why, but I do ever so always seem to attract a lot of boys. Not that I don't mind the attention."

"No trouble, kid." I said.

"Hey, are you really that into sports?" Nadine asked, curiously.

"I do play a few sports in my spare time..." Lila said.

"How have you managed to learn all about the inventors of the early 19th century?" Phoebe asked.

"I've always been a bit of a studious person." Lila explained. "But I would like to think I do well in school. I study pretty hard."

"Wow..." I said. "Interesting. May I say, what a good green dress you have."

"Why, thank you, Rhonda. That is ever so sweet of you to say that." Lila smiled. "But it's nothing really. It's just my regular ensemble. I've taken up a good amount of sewing in my spare time, so I've stitched together a few bits of clothes."

My eyebrow rose in curiosity. "Oh, interesting. You actually make your own clothes?"

"Some of them." Lila said.

"Hey, Lila, we know you're new here, but... you think we can see some of the clothes you made?" I asked, curiously.

Lila stared in surprise. "Really? Wow... I never had people over before... most girls never were curious about my life... maybe a couple back in Pleasantville..."

"Please, I insist!" I said as I turned to Nadine and Phoebe. "My other friends and I would LOVE to see what you look like in other outfits."

"Well..." Lila paused... then smiled. "Okay. Give me some time, though. I have a... lot going on at home right now."

"Take your time." I said.

"We'll wait." Phoebe smiled.

Lila smiled as we heard the recess bell ring. "Thank you. Are we... well... friends? Because I never had a lot of female friends before..."

Me, Nadine and Phoebe looked at each other and nodded. Even if she wasn't fashionable, I'd make sure she'd feel welcome. "Sure, we're friends."

"Oh, good!" Lila smiled. "Because I wouldn't want to lose an opportunity."

"Lila, where you go, we'll go with!" Nadine said as we started to head back inside.

The next day, at home, I smiled as I looked at a brand new ensemble I was wearing. It was a nice piece of French clothing, with a blue beret. I smiled as I examined myself. Not a bad ensemble, if I do say so myself.

"Rhonda, time for breakfast!" I heard my mother call.

"Be right there, Mom!" I said as I came down.

My mother noticed my ensemble and smiled. "Well, look at you, Miss Fashionable! You look so adorable in those clothes!"

"Don't I, mother?" I smiled. "Thanks again for buying these. I want to at least impress."

"Honey, it's not an issue at all." My mom smiled. "Of course, spending a hundred dollars on yourself for these? THAT is a different story, young lady!"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean?"

"Come on, honey, I know about the hundred dollars you swiped from my purse just so you can buy the beret!" My mother sighed. "Of course, who can blame you? It goes great with the ensemble."

I smiled. "Thanks."

"Your allowance is still being cut, though." My mother said as I groaned.

"Really cute clothes, Rhonda!" Phoebe smiled as I showed them off to my friends, walking to school.

"It beats all the red shirts you keep wearing. Nice to see you're trying on something new." Nadine smiled.

"Nadine, those shirts are different shades of red. THIS stylish piece I'm wearing is a nice and unique French ensemble!" I explained.

"I wonder if Lila's new dress will compare." Phoebe said.

"I'm sure either way, it'll look cu-" I stopped as Nadine, Phoebe and I looked up.

I locked eyes with Lila as we each examined our dresses... which looked almost exactly the same... in fact, we were wearing the same clothes... right down to the beret.

We came closer to each other as I asked, "You made THIS on your own?"

"From a little magazine I had read the one time." Lila said. "Turns out, it's really easy to make this."

"You even made the beret?" I asked.

"Yep." Lila nodded. "Where did you get yours? You look ever so sweet in it."

"Mother bought it for me." I paused as we looked at each other.

I then smiled, "You have a taste in fashion."

Lila giggled. "Thanks. I hope I'm not copying your style... I'm trying not to copy anybody..."

"No, that's all right." I said as me, Nadine and Phoebe laughed. "But Lila... we definitely want you in our circle of friends now!"

Lila smiled. "That is ever so sweet of you girls."

And so, Lila decided to join us. We pretty much shared stories about our families, and she told us everything about how she came around... she eventually told us why she was here.

"So, your father is still looking for a job?" Phoebe asked.

"He is trying his best, and he just got a job interview." Lila said. "I'm hoping he gets the job. I like this place... and you girls are ever so interesting."

"I hope he succeeds, then... because I don't want to lose a brand new friend!" I said as we girls laughed.

"To think, our trio has now turned into a foursome..." Phoebe smiled.

Me, Nadine and Lila looked at Phoebe weirdly as Phoebe yelped, blushing in embarrassment. "That didn't come out right..."

We then laughed as we started on our way to school, I was busy bobbing my head to a little imaginary tune, imagining what having Lila be our fourth would be like...

We were on a stage as I appeared, stage right, singing the words, "Girls, girls, girls, girls, girly girls girls girls..." to the microphone. Phoebe and Nadine came from stage left as they did the "ooo" sounds. Lila then came up in front of the microphone as she took care of the singing the 'girls' line as I joined Phoebe and Nadine on the 'ooo's. As soon as Lila started doing an 'ooo' to a beat, me, Nadine and Phoebe started doing the girls line and as soon as the music stopped, we turned towards the audience as we gave a smile, we held the word 'Girls' on a bit of a long note.

"Rhonda!" Phoebe snapped me out of it. "We're here."

"Oh." I said as I looked at the school. "So we are."

"Forgive me for rudely asking, but does she always do this?" Lila asked.

"Sometimes. Not all the time, though." Phoebe said.

"Come on, girls. We should probably get to class." Nadine said as we started to head upstairs to class.

That's the seventy-seventh episode! How do you like it? Yeah, I am aware I'm cutting a lot of mean-spiritedness out, but you have to remember, a certain someone wasn't there... yeah, I get the girls were originally jealous of Lila in the original episode which she debuted, but I decided to take Lila's appearance in a different direction. While there will still be a couple episodes left in this arc in which, Rhonda, Nadine and Phoebe will be the trio, from the next arc onwards, Lila is going to be making some more appearances, sort of like a fourth girl for Rhonda's group... like the Penguins of Madagascar or the Big Bang Theory boys. Don't worry, I still have a plan for Lila, you'll just have to wait and see what it is. Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!