After holding his face for a second Phil threw a punch back at Pete. It looked like it hurt a lot more than what Phil felt. Pete backed away holding his face but before they left Tessa threw another punch at Phil, and then they ran off.

He leaned against the wall, holding his face. I shut the front door and ran to the fridge to get some ice.

"I'm so stupid," I muttered, "This is all my fault. I shouldn't have told you about Pete. I can't believe I just let this happen to you." I quickly put the ice in a bag and held it on his head.

"Don't worry man! So long as you're alright," he said, taking the bag of ice from me. As he did his hand touched mine, I swear, my heart skipped a beat. I felt weird. Phil smiled at me. My head looked away, what was I thinking?

"Want to get back to that game?" Phil said heading back to his room. The rest of that evening I was pretty quiet, Phil could tell something was up. He kept saying 'You don't have to worry about Pete, things will be alright'. If only he knew what was really on my mind.

Lil got home at about 10, after Chuckie walked her home. We were teasing her; that got my mind of things. It seems they got on very well as more girlfriend-boyfriend rather than just buddies. I felt happy for them, but teasing her was fun, and Lil played along so everything was all right.

That evening Phil fell asleep before I did. I felt kind of weird, lying in Phil's room. I didn't usually feel like this; I'd slept over in Phil's room before. I watched him sleep; he lay peacefully on his bed. All night all I could think about was Phil, how he had looked after me recently. I felt sick though. These feelings couldn't be real though; I've just turned 10! I did fall asleep, quite a way into the night.

Phil was awake before me that morning as well. At 9:30 he woke me up. Nudging me in the arm.

"Hey, want to go bowling with all the guys today?" Phil asked as I woke up.

"Sure," I replied, trying to feel normal, "When we going?"

"I told the guys we'd meet at the bottom of the street at 10:30," Phil replied. He was already dressed, wearing a new logo shirt and jeans.

"I'll go get changed," I said, picking up my clothes and heading for the bathroom.

Later that day Phil and I waited at the bottom of our street. We were alone and I couldn't stand it. I needed someone else here, why was everyone late? Phil kept smiling at me, again he comforted me with sentences like 'Pete will think twice about hitting us, just hit him back if he does'.

It wasn't long before Kimi showed up though. She instantly noticed the bruising on Phil's head.

"What's been going on now?" Kimi questioned.

"Just another hit, don't worry about me!" Phil said.

"You've got to tell someone about this," Kimi said in concern for Phil.

"No, Pete should," Phil joked, "I hit him back just as hard,"

"Harder," I chirped in.

"You have fights with boys younger than you?" Kimi said. Before Phil could answer Tommy and Olivia turned up, not long before Lil and Chuckie, who had already spent the morning together at Java Lava, showed up.

"Walk into another door brother?" Lil asked looking at the bump. It had gotten clearer overnight so it was noticeable now.

"Just a little accident when we were wrestling," Phil said elbowing me.

"Yeah, that one was my fault," I said, sounding rather true full. I felt it was the truth. After last night I was beginning to feel telling mum wasn't such a bad idea.

At the bowling alley I avoided Phil as much as possible. Often having the opportunity to talk to Tommy.

"Well I'm going to get something from a vender's," I said stuffing my hand in my pocket and bringing out some change. I put the money in the machine but then felt someone coming up behind me I turned.

"You have to tell someone before Phil gets seriously hurt," Kimi said.

"I know and I will," I said. She looked a little surprised.

"What's changed your mind?" Kimi asked.

"Seeing it happen before my very eyes," I said. 'And these new feelings I have for him' I thought, but I couldn't say that aloud.

Kimi was happy though. She was a lot happy that day after I said that. But I was nervous now; I knew I would have to tell mum and dad. Kimi was expecting me to. Like last night, I was quiet again. I walked as slowly as possible back to my house from the bus stop, Phil offered me to go to his again but I didn't. I couldn't be around him it felt too strange.

I got home and mum was making sandwiches for lunch. I couldn't tell her.

"Mum... I...err...mum?" I stuttered.

"Yes honey?" Mum said turning to me.

"Where's dad?" I said.

"He's in the basement," I went down there and dad was sitting down, looking at a sheet of paper, instructions probably.

"Dad, can I talk to you?"