Lilo's 'friends'

I think I remember something explained on the series that Mertle's posse used to be friends with Lilo until Mertle came along and turned them against her. But Lilo still tries to hang out with them. (I remember this happening to me quite a bit. Haha.) But if I was just watching the movie, I would say that Lilo's adorably oblivious that those kids are scared of her.



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Nathaniel: Sire, do you...like yourself?
Edward: What's not to like?

It has been a while, since I have last watched this movie, but I can't think of a moment, where Lilio called Mertle and her girls, for her friends, even if she does try, and maybe her hardest to make friends with them, but you are right, they are more or less the competely opposite, and maybe should be more like rivals then friends.