I was going to hurt Charlie.

She knew the trouble that Philby and I were going through, yet insisted that I go to sleep. According to her, if he had to choose between the two of us, he would "most definitely" choose me. I didn't agree with her, but I also did not want to start up another fight. So I fell asleep. It didn't take much effort.

Sure enough, I woke up with the red-head in front of me.

"Welcome," he said.

I must have looked like a mess. For a moment, I saw that look in his eyes. The one he had when the two of us would hang out together and not have to worry about Keeper business. When we would climb after school, and we would race to the top, I would win and he would give the look of awe. It gave me a warm feeling inside. Something I could not exactly place my finger on. It also confused me. It made me feel light headed. Like sun coming out from behind a building, just closing your eyes could not make it go away.

I blinked a few times to get the thoughts out of my head.

When I finally came back, Philby had lost that look in his eyes. He guided me out of the break room. We didn't talk on the way but I knew he was taking me somewhere private for the two of us to talk. I wanted to grab his hand. Or his arm. Or something, just so I knew I was protected. But I couldn't.

Soon we arrived outside the Vibe.

"Where's Charlene?"

"Waiting for you," I responded a little irritated that he didn't even ask how I was.

"I'm not sure I understand."

"We got seriously lost, okay?" I folded my arms across my chest defensively. "Thought we could find our way back, but failed. We expected you to try to return us and, if that failed, to try to cross us over. Thankfully, you're predictable. I curled up under a bush and took a nap . . . believe me, it wasn't hard. We're both super tired . . . Charlene is standing guard. "

"Predictable? You think?" he said.

Really, is that the only thing he got from that rant?

"You'll get over it."

"I am over it," he said with a harsh tone that caused me to take a step back. I leaned against the wall and turned to stare out over the ocean, before he continued, "And where are you?"

"That's the thing . . . we're lost," I wouldn't met his eyes. "We don't know where we are. But we think we're somewhere basically southeast. On a trail in the middle of nowhere. I thought maybe with 2.0 I could return with a flare or something."

"Never happen," he said. Why does he keep arguing with everything I say? "It's one thing to cross over with something in your pocket; that has proved pretty stable in beta. But to pick something up and return with it?'

"We haven't tried it?" I was trying to save myself from looking ridiculous. I was getting fed up now and was about to lose it.

"It's not going to happen. This is a projection system. It's not teleportation."

I sighed, "Then we're stuck out there."

"Not necessarily," Professor Philby stated. "You may not be able to signal us, but we could signal you. "

I don't know what came over me then. It was instinct or something. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. It didn't really work; my hologram went right through him. But he got the point. I would have gone for a full on kiss on the lips but I was still waiting for him to make that move first.

"You're brilliant! That's what I love about you! You think of everything!" before thinking the words were already out. I had just told him I loved him. I didn't even know I loved him yet!

He stuttered for a moment unsure of what had just happened. "We can head out there with flashlights and whistles. You hear a whistle or see a flashlight, you move toward it."

"Deal," I nodded.

"The main thing is for you to stay where you are. If you start moving around it'll be too many variables?"

"I get it."

He started working out a plan until I was reminded, of what Charlene and I were doing when we got stuck out on the paths. All the information I had began to spill out. I talked to fast trying to tell him everything I knew. Slowly I began to lose control.

Philby grabbed me by my shoulders to get me to stop. He looked me in the eye. I could tell he was trying to formulate a plan with that genius mind of his.

"Earth to Philby," I said, trying not to laugh.

"Is this legit?"

"It's what we heard."

"You're right: we need to focus on it then."

"And not us." I was kind of upset that he was not going to get the chance to save me.

"Of course, you too. I didn't mean it that way."

"But Finn and Maybeck already have assignments. You can't be in two places at once."

"no." he stopped to check his phone either for a message or a time. "Maybe you won't have to wait for us to find you. The fireworks will be starting soon. "

"Oh, joy. I can hardly wait," I replied sarcastically. Why was he talking about fireworks? It's hardly time to take a break to watch the sky.

"I will take the runway. Theres an old plane there I can hide in."

"But you're back up for the boys?"

"They haven't asked for any help. If they do, there's that. But we can't leave the runway unwatched. Not after what you overheard."

"Okay," I replied. I didn't understand what was happening. He still hadn't answered how Charlie and I were getting back. He was on a roll now with his plan and I wasn't following.

"I'm not abandoning you." Oh thanks cause that clears every up.

"Of course not."

"Are you listening to what I'm saying?" he was frustrated now. But I didn't understand. Something was not connecting the dots that he had laid out.

"Yes!" I defensively crossed my arms again.

"The . . . fireworks . . . will be . . . starting . . . soon," he repeated. This is when he made me angry. He talked as if I was incapable of understanding.

"You don't have to be rude."

"I'm not being rude, I'm being deliberate. I know I have to remind some of the others twice, Willa. But not you."

"Fireworks . . . "I whispered to myself. "Being staged from . . ." I sighed. Now I understood. How could I be so stupid! I just made a fool out of myself in front of him, and managed to make myself angry with him at the same time.

"Now you're getting it!"

"The beach? The ship?"

"The latter."

"A beacon to follow!" I just about screamed, but stopped myself remembering we were not completely alone. "I'll send Charlie to Finn and I'll meet you in the old plane on the runway. Providing everything works out."

"Everything will work out. I'm going to return you now. Where did you say you went to sleep?"

That look in his eye was back. I felt that warm feeling grow inside of me again. We were going to be okay. It was all going to work out and Philby was going to get his chance. We went through the plan one more time. Then we would be together at the old plane. I couldn't help but hope that maybe Philby would finally make his move. As long as h didn't go back to the arrogant guy that seemed to take over his body lately.

"You're going to be okay," he told me.

"Yes," I whispered. Slowly, I could feel myself slipping away back to my real form. I held my hand up to his cheek as my hologram disappeared.

I sat up quickly, starting Charlene.

"Did it all work out?" she asked nervously.

A loud boom sounded at the ended of her question. A single red firework.

"We have to go!" I grabbed her hand and dragged her along as we ran towards the spectacle of colors.