"Speaking of what just went down," Cam piped up, a little too quickly, "you so will not believe it! We were just in the Jewelry Corner and saw this shoplifting."

Beth's eyebrows shot up. "No way! What happened? What'd you do?"

Exactly what are you about to tell her? Alex's thoughts soared into Cam's brain like a paper airplane. Same story as you were about to tell the police?

Cam giggled nervously and backpedaled. "I mean, it looked like this girl...was sorta being goaded on by this woman...to like...steal this bracelet."

Miffed, because she knew she was being left out again, Beth shook her head. "You're being weird. Which so defines you these days."

Weird was understating it, and Cam knew it. Since they'd met in grade school she'd been able to tell Beth anything, everything. And vice versa. Their trust in each other had been total and complete. "Friends till the end" they always said, locking pinkies when they were young. Now everything was different. There was very little that Cam could tell Beth about the truth, about her past. And this had created a rift between the two best friends. It felt like there was little Cam could do about it.

But Beth could. Deliberately turning away from the twins, she picked up a brochure from the cart, feigning mega-interest in the Helping Hands info. Shane promptly fixed his attention on her. "Hi, can I take a minute of your time to tell you about..." Beth flashed him a shy smile. And told him she had plenty of time. And would love to listen.

Cam stood watching, feeling foolish. Should she insert herself into their convo? After all, she'd bumped into Shane first...not that this was about a cute guy! Besides, now that they had met up, the three of them should hang together. She took a step toward Beth.

But Alex grabbed her elbow and pulled her back, whispering, "Beth doesn't want to hang out with you right this minute."

"How would you know? Don't tell me — she was thinking that!"

"I did not have to hear her thoughts to know her pride is hurt," Alex whispered as she forced Cam to walk away with her. "You didn't mean to, but you dissed her. Now she's acting like she's got better things to to. Let her. You'll make it up to her tomorrow at school. Besides, you still don't have a present for Emily."

"We don't have a present," Cam corrected Alex. It was the only correction required. In terms of everything else her twin had said? Straight up. Alex was right. Again.