Her second day at Barringa East was just as bad as the first. Alison could never seem to say the right thing to Erica. It always ended up with Erica ignoring her. They were in class, and Miss Belmont had just handed out two forms, one a permission form for camp and the other a form to choose who you wanted to share a room with.

"On the first form, write down two names of people you want to share a cabin with. No talking about your choices. The permission form must be signed by a parent and returned before you get on the bus to Camp Desolation," she said as she went around to collect the cabin forms. She leaned down to Barry. "By a parent Barry, not a reasonable facsimile."

Erica raised her hand, completely ignoring Alison's attempts at conversation. "Miss Belmont, can I please have a single room? It's just that I suffer from chronic insomnia..."

"Two names, Erica, now," said Miss Belmont, not believing a word of it.

Alison watched as Erica wrote on the form reluctantly, annoyed that she was being ignored for no reason.

At lunch time, Alison headed outside to an empty bench, glad for being alone at that point. Between her classmates being rude to her and Erica ignoring her, she felt so left out that being alone seemed like a good idea. She didn't expect Erica to come over to her and sit next to her.

"Why are you here?" asked Erica.

"In this yard or on this planet?" Alison replied, trying to lighten the mood.

"You know what I mean."

"Well, to tell you the truth, I'm kind of stuck here for the next six weeks."

"I don't belong here either."

"No?"

"Well, I would've thought that was obvious, and I'm taking steps to get out."

Alison nodded. "Me too. My name's down at Kyle Grammar, but they wouldn't take me mid-term."

"Kyle Grammar? Well, that's a dump. My mum says all you learn how to do there is play tennis and hold dinner parties."

"They did have the best results in year twelve."

"What? Does that mean you're calling my mum a liar?"

"No, I'm just saying. Who am I gonna meet here that's going to help me later on in life? Unless I want a hot TV."

"Thanks."

Alison looked away, feeling bad, though she hadn't actually said anything bad about Erica.

"You know what? I knew it. You just think you're better than us because you live up on snob hill."

"No I don't! All I meant to say was..."

"Yes, I know what you meant to say Alison Ashley, and you know what? I don't have to listen to it." Erica stood and stormed off, leaving Alison to feel confused and lonely again.

After school that day, Alison went home and curled up, feeling hurt. Her mother was sleeping, so it wasn't like she had someone to talk to. And then she remembered something. Her dad had given her his number in LA in case she ever needed him. Alison looked up at the clock, and prayed her father would still be awake. It was ten at night there after all. She picked up the phone and dialed the number she had programmed into her own mobile phone, being quiet so she wouldn't wake her mother, though it wasn't like she was doing anything wrong anyway.

"Hello?" asked Mr Ashley, yawning.

"Dad? I'm sorry, it's late. I'll call back later," said Alison, feeling bad for waking him.

"Ali? Honey, I'm awake, I'm trying to finish a project. Is everything okay?"

"I need to talk to someone."

"Where's your mother?"

"Asleep. She works nights on Fridays."

"What's wrong baby?"

"We moved. Did mum tell you?" She was stalling, but she didn't want to hang up yet.

"Yes. She gave me the address, though it was reluctant."

"I started at a new school this week. Yesterday was my first day there."

"Have you made a friend yet?" Mr Ashley could tell his daughter wasn't going to say what was bothering her yet, so he kept talking, knowing she just wanted to hear his voice.

"No. I keep trying. There's this girl, Erica, that I sit next to. She seems like she'd be a good friend, but I always say the wrong thing somehow. I don't mean to, and it's like she never hears anything nice that I say."

"Then maybe she's not a good friend for you."

"She has to be dad. There's no-one else for me to talk to around here. All the kids in the neighbourhood are snobs. I don't want to be friends with them."

"Good idea. Then, maybe, tomorrow, you should try to talk to her again. It's Saturday in Melbourne tomorrow, right?"

"Yes."

"Then that means no school tomorrow, and no friends to bully her into being mean to you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes sweetheart. Try again. And if it doesn't work tomorrow, then try one more time. If that still won't work, then don't bother with her. You'll make friends soon enough."

"I miss you daddy."

"I miss you too honey. I'll try to get down to you soon."

"When is soon?"

"I don't know yet honey. I have to work it out with your mother first." He sighed.

"Right. So that means it'll be ages," sniffled Alison.

"I promise honey, I will try to get there as soon as I can. Your mother tells me you're going on camp soon?"

"Yes. A week from Monday."

"How long is camp?"

"Five days. We leave on the Monday and come home on the Saturday morning."

"Alright. I'll try to be there when you get home, okay?"

"Okay. I love you daddy."

"I love you too honey. Now, go do your homework so you have the weekend free. If you need anything, call me."

"Bye dad."

"Bye Ali."

Alison hung up the phone, and curled up again. Talking to her dad always made her cry because she missed him so much. But she couldn't not talk to him because she missed him. After a few minutes of sobbing on the couch, Alison got up and started dinner, doing homework as she worked.