It was a rainy day at the Surprise Hut. Dana, Marcus, the Guardian, Salls, William, Oinkers, and Daniel were hanging out in the living room, watching old episodes of Psych. William put his arm across Dana's shoulders, but instead of blushing and cuddling next to him, she looked uncomfortable. Marcus quickly noticed this.

"What's wrong, Stargirl?" Marcus asked.

Dana glanced at William. "Oh, me?" she asked. "Nothing's wrong."

"Come on, beautiful," William said. "You can tell me."

"Seriously, let's just focus on the show!" Dana blurted out.

"Hmm..." Marcus said. "Ever since that road trip, you haven't been happy around William."

"Road trip?" William asked. "What road trip?"

"Oh yeah, I took part is a road trip," Dana said. "It was somewhere between the shapeshifter encounter and the night of the Southeast ball. I can't really recall the exact spot on the timeline."

"Besides, it wasn't that big of a deal," Marcus said.

"Not so fast," Daniel said. He looked over at the Guardian. "What exactly did happen on that road trip, Spacewoman?"

"Yeah, I want to know too," William said.

"Oh, alright," the Guardian said. "It all started on a warm summer day..."

The Guardian (who was still pretending to be Silvia at the time) put a bumper sticker on an RY as Salls helped pack it up. "And don't forget bug spray!" the Guardian said.

Dana (who still wore her blue and white pine tree hat at the time) approached the RV. "An RV? Camping gear?" she commented. "Are you relocating the Surprise Hut?"

"It's the ultimate Oregon road trip adventure!" Salls said.

"Sort of," the Guardian said. She pulled out a map of Oregon's tourist traps and handed it to Dana. "Salls and I are visiting every tourist trap along the Redwood Highway so I can check out the competition."

"Bow wow!" Gary said. "Time to let the road dogs bark!"

"That's us," Cameron said. "We're the road dogs."

"Thanks for letting me bring Cameron and Gary along for our road trip, Graunt Silvia," Marcus said.

"The more the merrier," the Guardian said. "Just come on in." She, Cameron, and Gary walked into the RV.

"What do ya say?" Salls asked Dana. "You comin'?"

"I already went to the trouble of packing all your stuff," Marcus said. "Even the stuff you kept in that secret box under the bed."

As if on cue, Marcus dropped a box, and notecards came out of it. "What's that?" Marcus asked.

Dana started cleaning the notecards up. "Uh, nothing!" she said. "Just...date planning stuff...for when I'm with William."

"Awww!" Marcus gushed. "How cute!"

"Yeah," Salls said. "Ever since you and William hooked up, you've been all happy and smiles."

"Of course I am," Dana said, smiling wide. "William is perfect! Plus he said I'm his dream girl, so that means we were obviously meant to be."

"So do you want to come with us?" Salls asked.

Dana shrugged. "Sure," she said. "Besides, it's not like one little road trip can change everything."

The RV bounded across the open road. The Guardian was driving as Salls acted at a human GPS with the map.

"Man, RVs are amazing," Gary said. "We're sitting at a table in a moving vehicle!"

"Ooh! Informational travel pamphlets," Cameron said. He held up the pamphlets. "I want to read them all and gain their travel knowledge."

The first stop was at Granny Sweetkin's Yarnball. The kids had gotten out and they were looking around, while Salls entered the gift shop. A tourist boy walked by, and he noticed Dana.

"Hey there, gorgeous," the boy said. "Come here often?"

Dana blinked in confusion. "Uh... No?"

The boy chuckled. "You're funny," he said. "And incredibly pretty, especially with your eyes."

"Thank you..." Dana said, still not sure what was going on. Was he going to bully her afterwards?

The boy then proceeded to write his e-mail address on Dana's arm. "I like you," he said. "Send me a message some time." And with that, he walked off, leaving the brunette girl confused.

Dana was shocked. Did a boy just flirt with her? What was going on? Wasn't he weirded out by her freakish appearance?

The brunette girl walked over to the RV and looked at her reflection in the rear bumper. What was pretty about her anyway. Her hair was too messy, her whole face was messed up, and she dressed a lot like a boy. Plus her parents always told her she was a freak, inside and out. Who would find her appealing anyway?

But then Dana thought back to what the boy said. It was about her eyes. But what was so pretty about them? They were a muddy color. There was nothing special about having mud-colored eyes.

At that moment, Salls left the gift shop. She quickly noticed Dana, so she walked over to her? "What's wrong?" the older girl asked.

"I don't know," Dana said. "I think a boy just flirted with me, but why? I have ratty hair and mud-colored eyes. Plus I dress like a boy."

"Dana, you're crazy," Salls said. "Even I think you're super pretty."

"That's not what my parents say," Dana said. "They frequently told me how ugly I am and that a guy will never love me. I know I'm dating William, but it's a miracle that he saw past all the ugliness."

"Don't say that about yourself," Salls said. "Your parents were obviously lying. You're the prettiest girl I ever saw. Just look at yourself and tell me what you see."

Dana looked at her reflection in RV rear bumper once more. "A freak," she answered.

"That's not what I see," Salls said. "Your hair might be knotted and messy, but it looks and probably feels soft. Not to mention your face is very adorable. And there are guys who are attracted to tomboys."

Dana looked back at Salls. "You really think so?" she asked.

"Positive," Salls answered. "The next time you see a guy, be more confident. Talk to him like you normally talk to Willam."

"I'll try," Dana said.

The next stop was Upside-Down Town. The RV pulled up and stopped. "Upside-Down Town," the Guardian said. "Rumored to be the nausea capital of the state."

The kids put on shoes with Velcro on the bottom, so they could walk on the carpeted ceiling. They got aligned with the ceiling and walked into the house.

Dana noticed a blonde boy. She cleared her throat. "Hi, I'm Dana," she said. "Crazy place, right?"

"Oh, hi," the boy said. "I'm Marty. You know, if you pretend we're right side up, it looks like everyone's hair is standing on end."

"Yeah, weird, right?" Dana replied.

"And speaking of hair," Marty said. "I've never seen hair like yours. May I...?"

"Uh, sure," Dana said.

Marty proceeded to touch Dana's ponytail. "Wow," he said. "It feels as soft as it looks."

Dana smiled softly. "Thanks," she said as Marty withdrew his hand.

"Marty, come on!" a nearby man said. "We have to get to Canada before your mother gives birth!"

"It's a long story," Marty said.

"Maybe you could tell me sometime," Dana said.

"Here's my e-mail address," Marty said, writing his e-mail address on Dana's hand. "Write me and I'll tell you all about it." He then left with his family.

Dana smiled wide. She then jumped in the air in delight and fell to the floor, landing next to Marcus, who was in the gift shop with Gary and Cameron.

"I'm okay," Dana said. "I'm better than okay. Marcus, hi. There's that awesome guy known as Gary. Cameron, looking great, looking great. Is that a new pair of glasses? Very shiny." She left the gift shop, playfully laughing as she did so.

"Dana seems a bit different," Gary said.

"Yeah," Cameron replied. "Very confident."

Some time later, the gang was back on the road. Dana, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was so happy regarding her encounter with Marty.

"Looks like someone's in a good mood," the Guardian said.

"Salls gave me some advice regarding talking to guys," Dana said. "And this Marty guy thought I have soft hair. Maybe my parents were wrong about me. Maybe I really am pretty."

"Of course you are," the Guardian said. "Never have doubts about how you look. All girls are pretty in their own may."

And so, while the Guardian visited the various tourist attractions, Dana chatted with other boys. From Log Land to the Corn Maze, she started to feel more confident about herself.

That night, the group took a break at the Septic Ridge RV Park. While Dana, Salls, and the Guardian were in the RV sleeping, Marcus, Gary, and Cameron were sitting at a bonfire outside, eating marshmallows and laughing.

"Okay, it's time for Truth or Dare or Don't!" Marcus said. "Cameron, care to go first?"

"I choose...don't!" Cameron said.

Gary groaned. "You always choose don't!" he complained.

"Fine," Cameron said. "I choose truth."

"Do you...like someone?" Marcus asked.

Cameron blushed. "Okay, maybe just a little," he admitted. "I don't know for sure. It just...happened a while ago, and it came back in full force."

"Tell us! Tell us!" Marcus and Gary chanted.

"Okay," Cameron said. "She has gorgeous brown hair, a killer punch, and the cutest voice I ever heard."

Marcus and Gary groaned. "This again?!" Gary asked.

"Cameron, listen," Marcus said. "You're an awesome friend, but how many times do I have to tell you that my sister will never see you like that?!"

"I can't help it!" Cameron said. "Ever since that Surprise Hut dance, I've been so in love with her! And now she seems different lately. Less sweaty, and more charming."

"Trust me on this one," Marcus said. "I think it's best to leave that crush alone."

The next day, the RV was back on the highway. "Alright, everyone," the Guardian said "We're about to reach our final destination: Mystery Mountain. It's five times the size of the Surprise Hut, and it features supernatural-related attractions."

"I read about this place," Cameron said. "It has a sky tram, a mummy museum, and sightings of half-human, half-spider creatures."

Marcus started moaning. "You alright?" Salls asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Marcus replied. "Just getting a bit car sick."

"Gary, your elbows are poking me," Cameron complained.

"I can't help it," Gary said. "You know I'm the size of two people."

"Alright, that's it," the Guardian said. "I don't want to hear any more complaints. Marcus, you and Dana are switching seats. Gary, you're going to have to sit by yourself."

After the change-up, it left Dana sitting next to Cameron. "Cameron Chiu, 6th grade," he said confidently.

Dana simply blinked. What was going on?

"So Dana, I was wondering if you would want to walk around Mystery Mountain with me today," Cameron said.

"...Sure," Dana said. "I mean, wasn't that already the plan?"

"No, just us," Cameron said, intertwining his fingers with Dana's.

Dipper looks shocked as the Guardian slammed the brakes on the R , coming to a stop in front of the Mystery Mountain entrance.

Outside, Marcus and Gary walked over to the large Paul Bunyan statue. "I'll see you there!" Cameron told Dana. He winked at her as he left the RV.

Salls noticed Dana's confused look. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Salls, you gotta help me!" Dana exclaimed. "The whole confidence thing worked too well! I think Cameron just asked me out on a date!"

"So?" Salls asked.

"Cameron's alright, but he's a pony nerd!" Dana said. "And I never thought of pony nerds like that!"

"Then just tell him that," Salls advised. "It doesn't hurt to tell the truth."

And so, Cameron and Dana were at Mummy Town U.S.A., sitting on a bench. A banner above them read 'NEW MUMMIES DAILY'.

"This place is so enchanting," Cameron said.

"I'm sort of confused by the phrase 'New Mummies Daily'," Dana said. "I mean, how does that even work?"

"This mountain's full of mysteries," Cameron said. "For instance, how could a girl be so breathtakingly beautiful?" He put his hand on Dana's waist, pulling her close.

"Uh, Cameron..." Dana said.

"I'm serious," Cameron said. "You're just so...beautiful." He took off her hat and untied her hair, caressing her messy locks with both hands. "Dana, I love you."

Dana's eyes widened. "What?!" This was making her feel uncomfortable.

"Shhh..." Cameron said. He leaned closer to her. "Don't ruin the moment." He leaned in even closer to her, his lips barely touching hers-

POW!

Dana withdrew her fist, seeing that she had broke Cameron's nose. She glared at him as she tied her hair back up in a ponytail and put her hat back on. That punch was a reflex reaction, since he was getting too close to her.

"What the heck was that for?!" Cameron asked, wiping off blood from his nose with his hand.

"Cameron, I don't have feelings for you!" Dana exclaimed. "Pony nerds aren't my type!"

"Geez, I was only trying to be nice," Cameron said.

"That was you being nice?!" Dana asked. "You were acting like some weird psycho!"

"You honestly think I'm a psycho?" Cameron asked, standing up. He looked hurt. "Well just to let you know, I'm not." With that, he left the museum.

"You actually punched Cameron in the nose?" William asked.

"I had no other choice!" Dana exclaimed. "He was violating my personal space!"

"So what else happened?" Daniel asked.

"Well it turns out Darlene, the woman in charge of Mystery Mountain, was actually a spider-woman," Marcus explained. "Cameron had an idea that involved escaping on the sky tram, but..."

"Ride like the wind, sky tram!" the Guardian exclaimed.

But the tram was moving very slowly. A voice played over the speakers.

"Welcome to Trambience, the world's slowest treetop tram ride. Enjoy the sights at 0.1 miles per hour."

Gary groaned. "Move, move, move!" he exclaimed, stomping on the floor with his feet.

"Ugh, can't this thing go any faster?!" Dana asked.

"No it can't. This is Trambience."

"But it turns out Cameron's plan involved trapping Darlene underneath the Paul Bunyan statue," Salls said. "Very clever plan."

"Then we found out that New Mummies Daily exhibit was the only real attraction at the mountain," Marcus said. "So with the help of Granny Sweetkin's giant yarn ball, we created another attraction: the world's biggest sweater! Afterwards Darlene promised to never turn people into mummies again."

"So what happened to Cameron?" William asked.

"His parents found out about the whole broken nose thing, and he was grounded for the rest of the summer," Marcus sadly said. "Poor guy wasn't even allowed to watch the musical episode of Psych with me and Gary."

"Now that I think about it, we've changed a lot since that road trip," Dana said. "I stopped wearing my hat and I feel more confident about my birthmark."

"And I'm relieved that I can stop pretending to be Silvia," the Guardian said.

"At least nothing else has changed," William said proudly.

"Yeah..." Dana lied. That road trip actually changed her so much. The only reason she agreed to date William was because he was the first guy she met who was genuinely attracted to her. She realized there were so many possibilities, and that as long as she was confident, she would eventually find her dream guy.

Then there was the fact that Dana might be starting to fall for Patterson, but that's another story.