Chapter 3: Letting Them In
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(for now) and was able to update sooner! I told you reviewing would
motivate me to write. :) I love everyone who reviewed my last
chapter! Hehe. :D So maybe you can review again? Or review this
time (if you didn't last time)?
And
all at once the crowd begins to sing
Sometimes the hardest thing
and the right thing are the same
Maybe you want her, maybe you
need her
Maybe you started to compare to someone not there
Maybe
you want it, maybe you need it
Maybe it's all you're running from
Perfection will not come
-
All At Once, The Fray
"What?" he asked angrily as a knock resonated on the door.
"Phil? Can I come in."
"Whatever."
Mrs. Diffy walked through the door. "So…" she said, "are you going to behave this time?"
Phil shrugged. "Maybe."
"Phil…" she started, "I know you're upset…"
"I'm not upset," he said stoutly.
"Well then… I know you didn't want to move here."
"That's damn true."
"But I think it'd be good if you get to know some people here."
He laughed bitterly. "Sure… last time you told me that, and I listened, we moved three months later."
"I promise we'll be staying here."
"Yeah, you said that last time too."
"Phil," she said exasperated, "I told my company that if they force me to move any more, I'd quit."
Phil laughed again. "Yeah… and then where would we be? Ever since dad died two years ago, all we've been doing is moving. What is it mom, are you afraid of commitment?"
Mrs. Diffy bit her lip, "No, Phil, I don't think I'm the one afraid of commitment… I think that person is you."
"Hah! Yeah, right."
"Ever since your dad died, you've been surly. Phil, I really think that you should try to open up to other people, even if it is just me."
Phil grunted.
"Phil…"
"What?"
"Why don't you ever make any friends?"
"Because they're all a bunch of boneheads with no mind of their own."
"I think you're just afraid of getting close to people."
"Psh. No… it's just because they're boneheads.
Mrs. Diffy sat down on Phil's bed, next to Phil. She wrapped her arm around his back, pulling him tighter. Phil shrugged, trying to get free, but Mrs. Diffy's hold tightened. "Phil…" she said seriously, "what are you afraid of?"
"Nothing."
"I know this isn't you. Before dad died you had so many friends. And Aly, what happened to her? You guys got along so well."
"She was being an idiot."
"Phil… are you afraid of getting hurt again? You're even distancing yourself from Pim and I."
"Hurt?" he scoffed, "how could I possibly get hurt."
"I know your dad seemed invincible, and he passed away. Is it that you are afraid that you'll lose someone else?"
"No, of course not," Phil snapped.
"Phil," she murmured, "you've got so much to offer. Why don't you show everyone else that?"
Phil remained silent.
Mrs. Diffy sighed, "Phil, I know that it hurt when dad died. It hurt a lot. But that doesn't mean you have to stop living your life. It doesn't mean that everyone else you meet will be lost to you as well. There are so many great things, so many great people out there, Phil. I want you to experience and meet as many of them as you possibly can. But you have to let go first. I know you're scared. I know you're upset. I'm not telling you to forget your father, to forget the pain. I'm telling you to remember, because it will make you a stronger person, but I'm also telling you to move on. You're a great kid, Phil. You just need to show everyone else that."
Phil turned his head away, refusing to look at his mom.
"Phil…" she said, getting up, "please, for me. You don't have to be afraid of losing someone. Maybe you will… but just remember all the good times with that person… remember the good times, and it'll make you stronger. Don't be afraid Phil… don't be afraid." She ruffled his hair. "Please Phil," she whispered, "try. Just try. Let someone in… let someone see the great kid you are. She walked out of the room.
Phil watched as the door creaked shut. He licked his cracked lips, thinking of what his mother had just said and realized how right she had been. He looked down as he felt a hot tear slip down his cheek.
"Kelts," he said, nodding, slipping into his seat. She pursed her lips while he smirked, obviously knowing that she did not even remotely like her new nickname.
"Well, look here," she said to him sarcastically, "you're on time. And you're even being more talkative today!"
He shrugged, "There's always a first for everything." He didn't elaborate, not wishing to reveal exactly what had made him decide to get to know more people. Keely Teslow just happened to be the first one he decided on.
She rolled her eyes and he grinned. "And look there," he said, "she actually has some spark in her. Amazing isn't it," he commented, "She is actually capable of being something other than Ms. Goody-Two-Shoes. Hey everyone!" he mock called, "Lookie here, Kelts here was sarcastic."
"Ugh, why are you always like that?"
"Like what?"
"So mean."
"I'm not mean. You just think that. But deep, deep down," he said, winking, "you know you dig it. I mean, I just say what's on everyone's mind instead of keeping it quiet."
She rolled her eyes again. "Narcist."
"So I've been told." He laughed. "Do you have a problem with it?"
"Actually… I do."
"Really? And what would that be?"
"You're arrogant and conceited. You act like you don't care about anyone or anything."
"Hmm… sounds like a pretty good description of me. But you've only got part of the picture."
"Really? And what would that be?"
"The sweet, sensitive, romantic side of me."
She snorted, holding in her laughter. "Hah. That'll be the day."
He winked, "Don't worry, you'll be seeing it soon."
She rolled her eyes. "Hey Phil."
"Uh huh?"
"Didn't you know?"
"Know what?"
"I have a boyfriend, so why don't you stop trying to flirt with me. Because the answer's no."
"Okay," he said shrugging, "So?"
Her eyes widened. "Okay?"
"Well…"
"Mr. Diffy," the teacher interrupted.
Phil's head swiveled. "Yeah, Mr. Cooper?"
"The bell has rung, and class is about to begin."
"Yeah…" Phil asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Would you please silence yourself?"
Phil raised both eyebrows. Silence yourself?, he mouthed when the teacher had turned. His shook his head and shrugged.
"Now, class," Mr. Cooper said, "we will be starting a new, I know you will all be ecstatic for this, project today for this History class. Fun right?"
The class groaned silently, while some hands shot up in the air.
Mr. Cooper silenced the class. "And before you ask, no, you will not be choosing your own partners." Hands went down. "I will assign them to you." The class groaned again. "For your project, you will be in pairs and you will randomly select a major war in history by picking from this bowl here." Mr. Cooper raised a bowl up in the air and shook it gently, swishing the papers around. He placed the bowl back down on his desk. "Now…" he clapped his hands together enthusiastically, "for partners."
"Hmm… Jessica Hartman," Jess looked up at Mr. Cooper, and than over at Keely, "you can partner with… hm… Michael Brown." Jess groaned to Keely, "Great…"
Keely gave a shrug. "Ms. Teslow…" Keely looked up, "you can… hm… well… why not, you two were talking before class… you can be paired with Mr. Diffy. Show him the ropes will you?" Keely breathed in, and looked back at Phil, who was smirking. She let her breath go, turning back around. She looked over at Jess, who was giggling silently. She narrowed her eyes at Jess. Shut up, she mouthed.
"Ah…" Keely moaned, "Mr. Cooper sucks!"
Jess laughed, emerging, "Like your new partner, Keels?"
"Shut up, Jess, just shut up."
"You get to spend even more quality time with Phillip Diffy!"
"What?"
"Oh, hey Greg," Keely said, "we have a project in History… and guess who I got paired with?"
Greg pretended to ponder for a moment. "Hm… Diffy?"
"Exactly. I mean, I've only known him since yesterday, and already we're being pushed together! I mean… what are the stars aligning up like we're suppose to be together."
Greg grinned, "Well that can't be… because we're together." He put his arm around Keely.
Keely smiled, "I know. But at least I'm not stuck with Mike. Phil seems… nice… sometimes."
Jess stuck her tongue out at Keely. "He still seems like a bad influence," she remarked, "I don't care how much he talks, he's still weird and an outcast."
"Yeah…" But she couldn't seem to shake the feeling that she had somehow felt a small connection with him in their brief moment of talking. She shook her head, and smiled again. "Nah…"
"Nah?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking… but I was wrong."
"Okay," Greg shrugged.
Keely just smiled, laughing inwardly at her previous thoughts. A connection with Phil Diffy? No way! That just wasn't possible!
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A/N: Oh… yeah… I have written some future chapters… but since they aren't in sequence with this one… I can't post them. But I'll just let you know of their existence to tease you! Haha. :D Maybe, it'll motivate you to review… hmm… I'll set you a deal… if I get ten reviews on any chapter (this chapter or any future or previous chapters… but not including the summaries)… I'll give you some previews of some chapters that will be coming up. :)
