My name is and I�m a quite popular girl, well... I used to be �till and his girlfriend Sabrina Smith decided that I was no longer �cool�. You know, sometimes I wish I could turn back time and never have laid my eyes on him. You�re not understanding what I�m talking about, are you? Well, everything happened last year when I moved here. I was really afraid on my first day at school but soon the ice was broken �cause some girls found out I am millionaire. Anyway, some of them were actually nice and were making me feel comfortable but, at lunch break, I saw something that made me pretty mad.
_ That�s it, weirdo! Go back to the planet you came from!
_ Yeah, there�s no place for you here, nerd!
Some guys were bulling a boy and I got shocked with that scene. The guys were hitting the boy�s head and messing his hair.
_ What�s going on over there? � I asked shocked.
_ Nothing much, is just , the school weirdo. � , one of my mates answered. I kept watching that �til the bullies crossed the line and threw the boy�s food on the floor...
_ Hey! Stop it! � I yelled.
Everybody in the cafeteria looked at me.
_ Look, I know you�re new here so I�m gonna explain it to you � one of the bullies said �This guy worthies nothing, he�s rubbish!
_ Really?! So as you �cause only rubbish can recognize his own species.
Everybody started to laugh and I thought I�d be dead in any minute but, the bullies were so embarrassed that left the cafeteria running. Finally I took a good look at the boy. His uniform was all messed up, his hair was all greasy, his face was full of zits, he was wearing glasses and braces all over his teeth.
_ Thanks. � he said shyly.
_ Don�t mention it. I�m .
_ I�m .
We shook hands and I felt something different about him.
_ You shouldn�t have done that. � he said concerned.
_ Why not? Aren�t you human like me?
smiled, thanked me again and left.
_ You could get in trouble helping that geek. � tried to warn me.
_ He seems to be a nice guy.
_ Anyway, he's stil a weirdo. � said.
_ He has a name. A beautiful name by the way.
_ Whatever ! � mumbled.

After that day I tried to approach him, what wasn�t that easy. thought I was embarrassed being by his side and always ran away from me. As the days were going by, I started to date the most popular guy in school, well, at least he was �til last year. , my ex � boyfriend, and his friends and were trying to make a band. I tried to encourage them saying that their voices were fine being a trio but, thought it was better if they had a fourth one. They were in that �hunting� everyday as I was too busy with the cheer leading squad and helping people, what annoyed and my friends too much. I know you�re thinking that they are really shallow but it�s not like that... ok, they�re shallow but they�re only being themselves and I respect that. Anyway, one day I was late to English class when I heard a beautiful voice coming from the hallway, I followed the voice and saw in front of his locker singing.
_ You have a beautiful voice! � I said amazed.
_ Thanks! � he said dropping his books.
I helped him to pick them up and noticed he had a black eye.
_ What happened to you?
_ The usual, you don�t have to worry about it. � he answered almost whispering.
_ Here, put this around your eye and in hours this black mark will disappear.
_ I said you don�t have to worry about me. I�m use to it.
_ You are but I�m not! Just take the cream and do whatever you feel like with it.
took the cream from my hand and laughed.
_ What�s so funny?
_ You�re funny. I mean, why do you care so much?
_ �Cause I don�t like to see you being mistreated.
As if! The truth was I liked him, more than you can imagine! I didn�t care if he was ugly, all I cared was about him but, though I had that in mind, I was pretty shallow myself �cause I would never admit that to my shallow friends and would never break up with my perfect and popular boyfriend. Well, I told Simon and his friends about �s voice and guess what they did.
_ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... Are you crazy?! � asked laughing as hard as he could.
_ No, I�m not! I heard him singing and he�s great!
_ Look, one thing is you help him all the time and another is make us accept him. � said still laughing.
_ I�m just saying that you should give a chance to him.
_ Maybe he knows how to sing but, come on! Do you think we could go somewhere with him looking like that? � said between laughs.
_ They�re right, honey. He�s way too ugly to be in a boy band. � observed.
_ , try to understand. He�s a millionaire just like you but, not even all that money can do something for his looks or help him to have a girl �cause I bet he�s still a virgin. � said laughing as well.
I was watching all of them laughing and making fun of when I had a crazy idea. The idea that later will change everything.
_ Ok... the vacations are near and I�m suppose to go to the Bahamas with you but, what if I stay and transform , �the weirdo�, in , �the most wanted guy in school�? They stopped laughing and looked at me in shock.
_ You can�t be serious! � said astonished.
_ Let�s make a bet. If I accomplish my mission making looking good, you guys accept him in the band...
_ And if you don�t accomplish your mission? � asked.
_ I stop help people with their problems and close my web site.
I was betting too much �cause I loved to help people, I still do! That�s why I still have some friends, �cause of my web site � Solves�. Anyway, my friends thought I was crazy but accepted the bet and, all I had to do was to convince it was time to change. I�ve tried to talk to him in different ways but, he liked to be who he was �til the last day of classes.

We were leaving school when I saw some bullies bugging again, playing with his glasses and calling him a bunch of names. The guys did that for 15 minutes and, when they got tired, they left. leant on the wall, he was angry and crying.
_ Are you ok? � I asked nicely.
_ Of course not! I�m tired of this! Everyday is the same, those guys calingl me names, messing with my stuff and leaving like I was nothing! � he yelled crying.
I put my hand on his shoulder then, wiped his tears.
_ Thank you. You�re the only friend I have. � he said trying to smile.
He put his glasses on and I helped him to take his things from the floor.
_ I wish I could change so anyone would bother me anymore.
I heard that and, like a fairy godmother or the devil itself, I thought it was time to win my bet and decided to grant his wish.
_ I can help you if you want.
_ What do you mean?
_ Today is our last day in school and we won�t be back in less than a month. I could help you change through this time.
_ Are you serious?
_ Positive .
_ But, aren�t you going to the Bahamas with your boyfriend?
_ If you want my help, I won�t go anymore.
smiled and gave me a hug. That felt so good, I�ve never been so close to him and I wish it could last forever but, it didn�t �cause interrupted us.
_ Hey ! Aren�t you coming with us?
We quickly broke apart from the hug.
_ I�ll be there in a second!
I yelled back then looked at again.
� Look, I�m gonna give you my number and you call me tonight so we can plan your big change, ok?
I wrote down my number and put the paper in his hand.
_ Thank you . I�ll never forget what you�re doing for me.
wanted to hug me again but he saw and getting near us so, he just left.
_ Ok, you wanna help the weirdo, fine but, be seen hugging him in public is way too much, don�t you think? � reprehended me.
_ Shut up. I need to gain his trust.
_ What a way to gain it! Tainting your reputation. � observed.
_ Look, I have to meet my boyfriend before you go to the Bahamas so, bye!
I went to �s house and we spent the whole afternoon together but, I was thinking about , how sweet he was and a bunch of other things that my friends would say I was going crazy. That night I was at my house and, around 9 my phone rang. I was so anxious that I almost fell from the stairs.
_ Hello!
_ Hi , it's me .
_ Hey!
_ Well, what are we gonna do about me?
_ I was thinking we should go out of town.
_ What do you mean?
_ My parents have a house in New Haven and I thought we could spend the vacations there. What do you think?
_ It�s a good idea, start the new me away from here. When do we go?
_ What about tomorrow morning?
_ Ok, tomorrow starts part of my new me.
was all excited about his change and I was all excited about spend a month with him far away from everyone. We set all the details for our trip and then I went to bed. I couldn�t sleep that night thinking about him and, on the next morning we went to New Haven.

All the way we chatted and laughed, I was getting to know him better and, little by little, I was falling more in love with him. Through the days he went through a make over. He bought contact lens so the glasses were gone, I took him to the dentist and the braces were gone, we went to a esthetician and his skin was getting soft and smooth, he got his hair treated and cut and we bought a bunch of new clothes too. The beast became a real handsome man.
_ I can�t believe this is me! � said looking at a mirror.
_ Believe! You�re finally free from you cocoon! � I joked.
_ Thanks to you, .
took my hands and I shivered inside. He was smiling and I have to say that those years wearing braces paid off. He looked into my eyes and when I thought he was going to kiss me...
_ Do you think I�d have a chance to go out with Sabrina Smith?
Did anyone see the truck that hit me? Well, I faked my best smile and encouraged him.
_ Of course! When she sees you she�ll be amazed.
_ You really are a good friend, do you know that?
The worst is that I knew it. only saw me as a real good mate who helped him when he needed the most, it was really sad, at least for me.

On our first day back to school, I was anxious about how people would react when saw him.
_ So, where�s your mission? � asked.
_ He�s late but he�ll be here any minute.
I was looking at the door all the time as my friends made fun of me. The bell rang and no sign of but, when we were in class he showed up.
_ May I help you? � the teacher asked.
_ Don�t you recognize me, Ms. Geller? It�s me, . � he answered smiling.
Everybody almost fell from their sits and I had the biggest smile on my face.
_ Did I accomplish my mission or what? � I asked.
_ He better have a good voice. � said shocked.
_ He�s gonna be perfect in our band! � said amazed.
_ Yeah, babe. You accomplished your mission and I�ll pay the bet. � said mouth opened.
stepped in the class and winked at me. I was almost walking on the clouds. I said almost �cause Sabrina Smith was staring at him that way she always does when is about to make a move on a guy. I felt terrible. All day was like that, didn�t talk to me �cause everybody, including and , were all over him. invited him to join the band and, less than a week, Sabrina and were a couple, the cutest couple in school! The following days he started to ignore me �cause he didn�t have time for me anymore. Well, that was what he said and now, every girl around wanna be with him. The truth is, before he becomes the way you see, he wasn�t a beast at all. He was the greatest guy in the world and now his character is a big beast. Anyway, I was still in love with him so, I broke up with �cause it wasn�t fair with him or me all that thing. became the most popular guy in school and Sabrina Smith said what was �hot� and what was �not�. Anyway, !I was at lunch break one day, minding my own business when came to talk to me.
_ Hey ! How are you?
_ I�m fine. � I forced a smile.
_ Can we talk?
_ Sorry but, I�m late for my next class.
_ Oh... can we talk later?
_ Maybe . Bye.
You�re probably thinking that I�ve wasted a great chance with him but that�s not what I think. I had to forget about him and move on with my life. I was on my way to my next class when and saw me.
_ !
_ Hi girls!
_ Are you going to �s party Friday night?
_ I don�t know.
_ Why not? � asked surprised.
_ �Cause he didn�t invite me, that�s why.
_ But he said he will. � said amazed,
_ Well, maybe he forgot. I have to go to class now, bye.
I couldn�t believe it! Even if he invited me I wouldn�t go. What was the point? I didn�t wanna see him and Sabrina �shinning� together! But, that same night he called me inviting me to his party and made me promise I�d go so, on the next day I went shopping to find something that�d let everyone mouth opened.

Friday night, at �s party, I was feeling uncomfortable. I was afraid to go in his house. Hey, don�t throw the web site on my face. I know � Solves� everyone�s problems but had difficulties in solving her own.
_ Hi !
_ Hi ...
He was so cute... I don�t know how many times I caught myself lost in his eyes.
_ Honey, who�s there? � his girl interrupted us.
_ Hello Sabrina.
_ Oh... hi
I guess, by the way she was looking at me, she killed me in many different ways in her head.
_ Honey, there are more guests waiting for you. � Sabrina said with that annoying voice.
_ , can we talk later?
_ Sure . I see you�re very busy right now.
_ See you later then.
He had to kiss her in front of me? I knew Sabrina was his girlfriend but... ahhh.... I hated them! Ok, I�m calmer now... hours later I was enjoying the party and dancing when came near me again.
_ ! Can we talk now?
_ Ok .
We went to the pool and the things didn�t turn out good.
_ So, what do you want to talk about?
_ I miss you.
_ You miss me?!
I got shocked when he said that.
_ Yeah! We don�t talk anymore and I�m missing our conversations.
_ How can you say that?
_ What?
_ You were the one who decided not to talk to me anymore, better, Sabrina decided it for you.
_ Hey! Don�t say that! You know how much I like you and Sabrina has nothing to do with that.
_ You don�t like me , and Sabrina controls you all the time. You came to me and said that didn�t have time to our friendship. Damn day that I took you to New Haven with me!
_ Why are you saying that? Why can�t you be happy for me and Sabrina? We love each other!
At that moment I swear you could hear my heart breaking. I didn�t understand why he could love her and not me! Then, I ended up saying what I was not supposed to say.
_ I�m happy for you but I�m hating what you became! Before we go to New Haven you were sweet, nice...
_ I was a loser!
_ No, you were not! � I yelled.
_ How do you know I wasn�t?
_ �Cause I�d never fall in love with a loser.
looked at me puzzled. He wasn�t understanding what was going on there.
_ What?!
_ Since the first day I saw you I fell in love with you. I didn�t care about your glasses, your greasy hair or the zits on your face. All I saw was your soul! That�s why I broke up with Simon when we came back from our �vacations�. I know you don�t love me but, you could at least be my friend. I miss having you around.
Tears were falling from my eyes as he was shocked with all he heard.
_ , I didn�t know that.
_ I know!
_ But you should�ve said something.
_ Really?! You�d probably think I was making fun of you.
_ I thought that when you told me about the bet.
_ And you didn�t care! You kept going through all this! You�re popular now, are in a band and have the perfect girl by your side, isn�t what you wanted?
_ Yeah but, I wanted you to be by my side too!
_ Things don�t always turn out the way we want. I better go now before someone sees you with me.
_ What do you mean?
_ It can taint your image...
I left the party crying like a baby and went for a walk around town to find a way to forget about him. You already know it was impossible.

On Monday morning at school, I was feeling much better. I was going to my first class when I saw a commotion. And then I couldn�t believe my eyes.
_ ! What are you doing dressed like that?
_ You said you liked me the way I used to be so, here I am! The old with greasy hair and glasses.
I got shocked and, even though he tried to get ugly again was helpless �cause had changed a lot. I had no reaction, I didn�t know what to say! Everybody was looking at me then I finally said something.
_ Look, I really like the old and trying to dress like �him� is not gonna work. You�ve changed and I don�t mean outside. You�re not the guy you used to be. You forgot your old friends, those who were there by your side everytime something went wrong to you.
I went to my class and ignored him all day. I couldn�t stand look at his face. Did he think it was like that? He�d appear dressed like before and everything would be fine again? NO SIR! He had to wear his old soul!

Anyway, the following days I badly saw . and filled me in with what was happening to him but, to tell the truth, I didn�t wanna know. For months it was like that �til I decided to move to another school. I know, you�re thinking is way too much but, I wasn�t liking that. Well, I went to this new school, kept me away from trouble and swear to myself that I�d never fall in love again. One night I was at home talking to some people on � Solves� when I received an e-mail.
�Hello . It�s my first time here and I really need your help! I have a friend and I guess she�s pretty mad at me �cause I�ve said and done some things that hurt her and, it�s been quite a while that I haven�t seen her. I wanna know what can I do to have her in my life again and say I�m sorry.�
It wasn�t a simple thing to solve. A girl was hurt �cause her friend did something wrong. That made me think about and, thinking about him, I answered the e-mail.
� Well, what have you done to her? Ignored her �cause you found yourself a boyfriend/girlfriend? You got sick of her and decided to stay far away from her? You�ve been really busy and didn�t have time for your friendship anymore? You two had a fight and you ended up saying things you didn�t mean? Anyway, if you�ve done any of this you have to stop and think for a while. �What�s really important to me?�. Relationships come and go but a good friend stays forever in your life. Make time for your mate, go talk to her, put all your differences behind, apologize for every stupid thing you�ve done and most of all, be true to her. Show who you really are with no disguises.�
After answered that e-mail I went to bed. All night long I dreamt about , Sabrina and my old school mates.

On the next day I woke up around 8 and all I could think was about that e-mail. I had my breakfast and, since was too early to wake up on a Saturday, I took my housemaid�s little daughter and went to the park. I was having lots of fun with the little girl. I guess we played for 2 hours nonstop! I felt like a five year old girl again playing hide-and-seek and running all over the park.
_ Aunt , I�m thirsty.
_ Me too Laura! Let�s buy something to drink over there.
I bought coke for us and when we�re gonna sit on a bench near us I heard someone calling my name. When I turned around I saw running towards me.
_ Hi !
I don�t know why but I didn�t answer him back.
_ Hi! � Laura said. � Who are you?
_ I�m , �s friend.
_ You�re handsome and �s beautiful... you should be her boyfriend.
looked at me smiling and I was red like a tomato.
_ Laura, go play over there with your friends and let me talk to him, ok?
The little girl looked at me and did what I said.
_ What do you want ? � I asked coldly.
_ I was looking for you. I called you at your house and your mother said you were here.
_ Why are you looking for me?
_ I�m sorry for being a jerk. �s right, I have to think about what�s important in my life.
_ What?!
_ I looked for help yesterday on a web site called � Solves� and she gave me a good advice so, here I am. I�m wearing no disguises.
It couldn�t be! He actually did something to save our friendship.
_ So, what�s important in your life?
_ You, . I have to confess that when I saw you I fell in love too but, since I was the way I was, I thought I�d never have a chance with you. When you started to talk to me at school and helped me to change I thought you just saw me as a friend or a brother, that�s why I asked Sabrina out.
_ What about her? Isn�t she important to you?
_ Not anymore. You were right about her controlling me. As time went by I realized she was after my money and, she had her ways to not let me go.
_ I can imagine those ways...
_ Anyway, I broke up with her 2 months ago and told me you were still hurt. I wanna make it up to you, I wanna put all our differences behind and have back what we had.
I was astonished, I wasn�t expecting to hear all that. First I thought I was dreaming and soon enough I�d wake up but then hit me. was there in front of me saying all those things.
_ , are you listening to me?
_ Yes, I�m listening but I'm not understanding.
took my hands and I shivered inside, just like that day in New Haven. He looked inside my eyes and got so close that I could feel his breath on my face.
_ What I�m trying to tell you is... I love you . I�m sorry for what I�ve done to you.
He closed his eyes and kissed me. It was so sweet, so soft and so tender. When we broke from the kiss he looked at me with that beautiful smile and I looked both ways.
_ What�s wrong? � he asked curious.
_ Did you see the truck that hit me?
_ What? � he asked laughing.
_ Never mind, it�s a long story.
Well, I guess you know what happened. Duncan and I are together and everyday I find something amazing about him �cause his character is not a beast anymore, it�s beautiful, just like when I met him. And now you can throw my web site on my face �cause, after all, here was able to solve her own problem.