Hiya! Random thanks to all the people who have been staying with the story! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!

So sorry I hadn't updated. It's been a work-load kind of week in school. Testing soon. Oh boy.

Also, would love it if you could check out my excerpt on KK Insider! The name's Rainbow_Hypnosis. Tell me what you think in your reviews if you can!

Without further delay, I give you chapter seven!

Philby's P.O.V

My dad was at work. My mom was at some book club. I was home alone.

Maybe I was just being irrational. I mean, run away? That just seemed dramatic and stupid. It was just a vain attempt to get my parents to focus on my wants, not theirs. But there was no logic in the plan, either.

Where was I going to stay? I didn't have any money. And if I took my mom's credit card, they'd be able to track it down. I'd be lost and lonely, in a world I knew nothing about, really.

I caught a quick glimpse at the packed suitcase on my bed, hesitant. There was no way I could go through with it, right? But it would feel so good, the freedom. My parents wouldn't be there to tell me this is wrong, that career path is ridiculous, or just demand things of me I didn't want to put up with.

That's not to say I hated them. I loved my parents in reality. But…they don't know how to let go, they want 'perfection', of whatever their definition of it was.

Fiddling with the note in my hand, I stared out the window. This is ridiculous. But, then again, maybe that's why I wanted to do it. Try something new, unexpected. Yet, something this drastic? Would it be worth it?

A knock at the front door of my house. I was on red alert, my heart thumping a million miles a minute, my feet silent and stealthy on the wooden staircase. It wasn't one of my parents, that much I knew. My father was out till midnight at least and my mum didn't stop talking about the book she was reading here at home, imagine over at book club. Yep, this was someone else. Who, exactly? I didn't know.

I peered through the peep hole, only to see a boy, roughly my age, standing on my porch, though I didn't recognize him. Slowly, I opened the door and leaned against the frame. "Hello…" I said, my British accent not seeming to frazzled him, even in the slightest. Most people would raise their eyebrows or something.

"Um…hi. My name's Finn. I just moved in down a few streets down. My laptop has some bugs or something and I heard you're good with this kind of stuff."

It was me who had to now raise an eyebrow. "Hm…uh yeah. I know my way with technology. Would you like me to take a look?"

He smiled. "That'd be great, thanks."

I invited him inside and he walked in, maneuvering into the living room, no problem. It wasn't like it was hard to find but it was like he didn't even have to think twice about it or let me lead him. Like he already knew it was there.

"My name's Finn." He outstretched his hand toward me with one arm, the other keeping the laptop tucked safely.

I shook his hand, cautiously, staring at his eyes. Green. But they were natural, from what I could tell. "Dell. But I prefer to be called Philby."

His eyes shot open wide with surprise, reacting in a near perfect replica of any star struck fan. "Philby? As in the Dell Philby? The DHI?"

I grinned slightly; the awe and amazement still a wonder to me. Were we that famous? "The one and only."

"I saw one of the other DHI's on the news the other day. Willa Angelo…?" My heart stopped at the sound of her name. From his expression, he obviously could tell that he'd hit a touchy subject. "Sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"No, it's cool. I just…rather not talk about it." I said, taking a seat on the couch.

It was out of the mere sensitivity of the subject that I could not speak of it. The fact that, it was in no way inevitable, the fact that if I had only paid more attention, if I had just noticed…It pained me to think about what could have been so awful in her life to make her even contemplate the horrid escape of the mortal world.

We were quick to come to a fond acquaintanceship on the first day of recording. In the time that we sat together, talking, I felt a spark, a connection between us. Sweet and friendly, yet smart beyond that of most others, she was something different. But our relationship hadn't grown past that. Most of the time, we only talked about Keepers stuff. Never had I been close to her to actually talk about any kind of private life of hers, yet I now hoped she had put more faith into me. Maybe then I would have been able to help.

"Just set the computer on the coffee table." I said, quietly though, still deep in thought.

He obeyed, sliding it in front of me. It wasn't long before the techno nerd in me came out and I was lost in a world of binary code. "Wow, you really know your stuff, huh?"

"Yeah," I muttered while working. "I love this kind of stuff."

"You thinking of making a career out of it one day, or is it just a hobby."

I paused, deciphering a good answer. "I've been thinking about it."

"But…?"

"What do you mean?"

He laughed. "There's some kind of hesitance there."

I shrugged, still typing. "My parents have other plans for me. It's complicated."

"Not really." The boy stated, though there was not real way for him to understand. "Your parents can't make the decision for you. What you want to do is more important."

"Not in my father's eyes." I stated, finished up, and then handed him the laptop. "All done."

"Thanks." He muttered. Before he left, I'm sure I remembered him saying something. But I was too fixated on Willa to pay much attention.

She had always seemed like such a happy-go-lucky girl, and I'd found her girl-next-door attitude considerably attractive. It was more than just her smarts. It was the dreamy glint in her eyes and the twinkle in her smile.

Talking to her in the hospital room, seeing her so broken. That was horrifying and disheartening. At that moment, she might have not even been alive. It made me near break down, a cordial shattering that threatening to make my voice strain with tears.

How many times had she feigned that smile? Had all the times I'd found her optimistic attitude contagious been an act?

If it wasn't, I had to preserve what was left of the lighthearted girl she once was. I had to make up not for what I did do, instead for what I didn't but should have.

Maybeck's P.O.V

"So, you're looking for a job, huh?" I heard my aunt mumble from the other end of the store. I had just gotten back from school, dumping my heavy book bag at the base of the stairs and striding closer to the backroom. I listened intently, wondering who she could have been talking to. "Well, I guess we could always use an extra pair of hands but I don't know if I can afford…free?!" She shouted out, obviously bewildered by the suggestion.

Someone was volunteering at Crazy Glaze for no pay. Well…huh. It's not to say I wasn't grateful I could have another helping hand without Aunt Jelly have to scrape out the very last penny of her wallet, I was just surprised. It was an absurd proposal in a way.

"Well, that'll be splendid!" Her voice overflowing with joy, my aunt's delight was apparently hard to contain. "When can you start working?"

There was a pause as the other person spoke. In this moment, I pondered who it could be. At that point, I still didn't peek into the room, yet without knowledge of age or gender. Or anything for that matter. Entirely anonymous.

Either way I celebrated. Yes! This unidentified savior has liberated me of part of my workload, meaning I would have more time for studying and doing homework- something my aunt had been on top of me about for a while.

"Alright, I'll see you next week then." The two walked out, Aunt Jelly with an ear to ear smile plastered onto her face. Then, I had gotten a quick look at the volunteer.

A boy, around my age, strolled out the front door of the shop. Chest-nut haired, he didn't have much of an unusual appearance, just like any average teenager, yet something struck me as odd about him. With a tall frame –maybe not as tall as me, but most people could not accomplish that- and a sturdy build, I knew he and I could share most of the physical labor.

"I just had a talk with the nicest boy." My aunt remarked, wiping down one of the tables. "Looks like we'll have someone extra coming in for a while."

Amanda would probably be glad to hear that; I had a feeling she was tired of lugging around heavy boxing and straining on her tip-toes to stack ceramics on high shelves. But she was a good sport about it, always joking around, with a big, genuine grin on her face. Not that I was interested, really. Don't get me wrong, she was an amazing and fun good-hearted girl, but she just wasn't my type.

Charlene, now she was something special. I didn't know what to make of my feelings for her. I knew it felt like I wanted to be more than friends, but how was I supposed to act on it? She was so beautiful, the most gorgeous girl I'd ever met. And she was so smart and funny and just so perfect. When I saw her fall in Magic Kingdom, I was terrified. I'd never seen her so vulnerable.

But back to Amanda. The addition to our staff would relieve both of us of some chores. It would most likely open her schedule to what I knew she liked the most about the job: being able to assist the kids. Handling children was honestly not one of my strong suits but Amanda was great at it, and it seemed to make her happy. Whenever Aunt Jelly called her over to help out a little kid, she had a radiant smile and a cheery voice.

But she wouldn't start her work shift until an hour from then. I couldn't wait to tell her about the news.

Finn's P.O.V

So many different people I had to be. Well, all in all, each had still been myself, but to every single Keeper a played a diverse role. To Amanda: a mystery kiss. To Charlene: a flirting lunch-sharer. To Willa: a hospital visitor. To Philby: a new neighbor. To Maybeck: a fellow employee. Although, I was still Finn, no matter what.

Now all that was left was Jess. She would be tricky; how do you gain the trust of a girl put under an evil spell? I guess the role would come when the time came to decide.

In the meanwhile, I had to continue my quest to befriend them all and guide each through their problems. Oh, jeez. If only I'd known what would have become of them if I hadn't become a Keeper, never in a million years would I have ever made that wish. It was horrid what I did to them. And I'll never forgive myself.

But it wasn't a matter of self-pardon at the moment. What I needed to focus on was the screen in front of me. The door to my room was shut tight, a mere trickle of light from the crack beneath. My bedroom was dark, so that the dim light from my laptop near blinded me.

It rang for what felt like an eternity. In reality, time passed just as it always had, one second at a time. Ten seconds, then twenty, now thirty. Maybe she wasn't home. Somehow, that didn't seem true. She must have been hesitant. I hadn't thought about the fact that she wouldn't recognize my username, my identity a mystery to her. I could only imagine her at her computer doing homework and then suddenly the call request appears. She stares at the pop-up for a long time, in her mind wondering who it is, why they are calling. Should she answer? Her hand is gently guiding the mouse so the cursor is poised over the decline button. And yet…

"Hi." I smiled at the confused look on Charlene's face; the last person she must have been thinking of was me. "I think I left things hanging last time we spoke."

"Uh…" The same unsure grin from my screen, taking her time to process. "Yeah." She sputtered out finally. "Quick question: how'd you get my number?"

Oh, darn it! I hadn't thought about that; obviously she wouldn't remember giving it to me! Okay, calm down, play it cool. "I know my ways." I smirked, willing the words out of my mouth, nonchalantly. "I don't believe I ever introduced myself. The name's Finn."

"I know." Her tongue raveled out the words before she had a chance to realize what she said. Eyes wide with regret, she stuttered, "I mean…uh. So what'd you call about?" I almost chuckled as her expression gave away her urge to slap herself, amused. Yet, I was also frustrated. Of course, it wouldn't be of my best interest for her to think I liked her.

"Nothing much. Hope you don't mind the late hour." I glanced at the clock which read nine thirty.

"Oh, no. It's fine."

"I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the Mermaid's Cave this Friday." My heart was racing. But it wasn't as though I was afraid of being rejected. The only worry I had, frankly, was that she would misinterpret this as a date invitation. In all honesty, however, what else could it have looked like to her? Great.

No matter how much she tried to repress her smile, I could tell she was ecstatic. Ready to dance around the room kind of ecstatic. "Sure, sounds great." I knew there was no way she could turn it down. When we'd been friends and it was her turn to decide where the gang would hang out, she often chose the Mermaid's Cave; fresh sea food, great music and blue-tinted lighting, she was in love with the atmosphere.

"Awesome, I'll pick you up around eight, then."

"Can't wait." She grinned, before logging off.

I think I just asked Charlie out on a date. Perfect.

Ooooh seems like Finn has got himself in quite the jam there. Will Charlie blow things out of proportions on their date? Will Finn save once again become the knight in shining armor and save princess Amanda? And what will Philby do to help Willa? Stay tuned to find out! Don't forget to READ, REVIEW AND REQUEST! And check out KK Insider!