Barbara only looked mildly amused as she asked him why he was grinning.
He shrugged and just said, "The dance was actually pretty fun."
"And punching someone was fun, too?"
Phil's jaw dropped and he stared at his mother.
"Tia told me," she replied his unasked question and stepped closer to him. "Look, sweetie, I know it was only defensive, and under these certain circumstances, it's all right, but I don't want you to ever do it again, okay?"
He managed an embarassed nod and then sighed. "Sorry mum. I guess I let my emotions get the better of me, you know?"
She nodded. "Don't make a habit out of it." She nodded upwards at the stairs. "Now go, it's pretty late already."
He turned around and began walking up dejectedly. "And Phil?" she started again, her tone of voice lighter. He stopped but didn't face her again. "Great going," she said, grinning.
He spun around and beamed at her. Running down the steps he had already climbed, he hugged her and said, "You rock." Before she had time to react, he dashed up the stairs again, this time with a happier gait.
She laughed, and went to the kitchen where Lloyd was waiting for her.
-
"Everyone's talking about it!" Tia said proudly, putting the tray down at the table where Phil, Keely and Seth were already sitting.
She was, however, greeted by two glares.
"Whaaaat?" she asked cluelessly, glancing at Seth for a heads-up. He shook his head.
"You told my parents that I'd punched someone at the dance!" Phil asked.
"And how did you know that, anyway?" Keely added, immediately at the aid of her best friend.
She blinked. How was she supposed to reply to that? Then she smiled. "I saw it!"
"Oh?" Phil questioned, leaning closer to her from across the table, his voice more dangerous. "And why were you there?"
"I was with this guy, and he wanted to show me something outside, and - "
Tia was cut off by Keely. "What else did you see?" she asked, almost urgently.
"Nothing else." She smiled innocently. "Why?"
Phil and Keely both reddened. "Nothing," they said in unison.
Tia's smile became more mischevious as she exchanged glances with Seth.
Nothing? Yeah, right.
-
"A new plan. That's what we need," Tia said on the phone to Pim.
"Yeah. And something that'll put them together - once and for all."
Both frowned in thought, when Pheobe, sitting next to Pim, interjected, grinning widely. "Got it."
-
They were both at the library again, this time researching for their history project that they had to do in pairs. They were sitting at the square table, both on the same side of it. She was leaning on him, and he was holding the book up in front of them so that they could both read. In front of them was a stack of more books.
There was a pained look on Marla's face as she realised that there were no more free tables around. With an irritated sigh, she set down the five books she had on the table in front of them. Tanner followed her, looking equally frustrated.
"hello, Phil and Keely," she said snootily, sitting down on a chair opposite Keely.
He put down the book, glaring at their new tablemates. Keely just gave a short and sharp greeting of 'hello' and propped up the book again.
Tanner and Marla, however, had different ideas.
"So you chose each other as partners?"
"Yes, Tanner, we did," Phil said briskly. He added, in his normal voice, "Keel, tu - " and was cut off when Keely turned the page like he wanted. He grinned.
"We didn't have a choice." Marla glanced, frowning, at Tanner.
Keely let out a soft, uninterested grunt, turning another page.
"How's English class?"
"Doesn't he see you during english classes?" Keely questioned. Phil snorted slightly.
"And both of us still see you, Tanner, when we're acting or something," Phil chipped in before either of them could butt in.
Tanner scowled. "Yeah. I remember your last performance." He made a face as he recalled the praises they'd gotten from the teacher.
Marla pushed the book a little nearer to the centre of the table as she leaned on it, smiling suddenly. "I heard you gave Fred a nice little punch on the nose."
Phil reddened. Keely laughed and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. "I thought it was sweet."
He only grew redder.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," Marla commented, in a sickly voice.
Keely got up abruptly and turned to Phil. "Ya wanna go to my house? I can gaurantee that these people," she gestured towards the other two, "won't be there."
Phil seemed only too glad to agree. He got up and gathered the books, then turned to leave mediately. Keely sighed and nudged him, and with an identical sigh, Phil said, "Nice chatting with you all."
"I'd say that, but then I'd be lying," Tanner said with a sarcastic smile. Phil glanced at Keely, looking irritated and slightly disbelieving, as well. She nodded, grinned, and took some of the books off Phil's load. He smiled and left at once, and Keely followed after glaring at both of them.
As they left, Tanner and Marla's faces broke out into identical smiles. She got up and gave the brunette sitting a few tables away and thumbs-up.
Tia grinned in reply.
Part I of plan - complete.