Thinking about it, Phil wouldn't know how to react. Instead he just did what his instinct told him and hugged the old friend who he'd missed so much. It made Dil feel a little uncomfortable but also a stab of happiness. The others were still shocked at his sudden appearance to say much.

"Happy birthday guys!" Dil said when Phil let him go.

Phil stared at his shorter friend, unbelieving that he was here, he was back. He looked at Dil from head to toe. He was a mess, a smelly, filthy, yet pleasant mess.

"Sorry I didn't get you guys a present, didn't have the money," Dil joked. Everyone was still stunned. They had no idea whether to laugh, comfort or let him settle down on his own.

"Are you back then?" Phil asked eagerly.

Dil's face screwed up and he bounced his head from side to side and murmured something about not being sure. But Phil still stood in front of him, dazed to see him right now. Today of all days. Dil must have planned it.

"Dil! You're here! Well sit right down and I'll get you a drink!" Betty said noticing the object all the kids' eyes were on. Phil pulled a sit from the table behind and placed it next to him.

"How…how you been?" Kimi asked unsure how their younger friend would react.

"Okay, yeah, I'm used to it now," Dil said coolly, "thanks for the drink," Dil said as he took the large soda cup.

"You got enough money?" Chuckie asked and Dil nodded.

"The people in the city are a lot more… charitable than I'd expected," Dil replied, meaning he was begging, "Plus I get more when I do the monkey dance! Remember the monkey dance! The ohh ohh ahh ahh!" Dil said swinging his arms around imitating a monkey.

His old friends didn't laugh; the majority watched him in awe, others just thought it would have been rude to laugh.

"Anyways," Dil said, wanted someone else to talk beside himself and his silly ramblings, "What was going on before I showed up, I see you've blown out the cake."

"Oh yes, want a piece?" Lil said quickly staggering to her feet and grabbing a piece that was already laid on a plate.

"Thanks," Dil said taking the plate from her.

"Phil was just telling us what he wished for," Angelica said, trying to get herself involved. She had worked herself up to being the centre of attention before Dil arrived; she wanted to be it again.

"Erm…err," Phil muttered, he looked between Angelica and Dil, the two people he sat between and suddenly remembered his wish.

Getting his memory back after the shock made him gasp again and stare back at Dil.

"What is it?" Lil asked.

"My wish," Phil whispered. 'I wished that I'd see Dil again some day' he thought to himself.

"And what was it?" Angelica beamed. Phil dare not tell her the truth; he knew too well what she was like, especially with Dil.

"Just, that you'd always be here for me," Phil lied and gave her a convincing smile. She believed it too.

The atmosphere among the group became uncomfortable again.

"You guys having a party tonight?" Dil asked, directing his question at Phil and Lil.

"Yeah, at our house, you coming?" Phil said quickly.

"Erm…if that's okay," Dil said.

"Of course, you might want to smarten up a bit first," Lil said awkwardly, when she realized how it must have sounded. But Dil seemed okay with it.

"Yeah, Phil you can lend us some clothes," Dil replied, he was more telling Phil than asking him.

"What about your own clothes?" Angelica questioned, not wanting Phil to spend time with Dil on his birthday.

"I was kind of not wanting to go home," Dil said uneasily.

"Why not?" Suzie asked curiously.

"Your parents?" Phil asked, being the only one to know the whole truth, and Dil nodded.

"Betty," Dil called across to the counter, "Please don't tell my parents I was here today, please."

"What? Why not? They don't know?" Betty asked while still dealing with a customer.

"I just don't want them to know," Dil said, "Have they, have they been worried about me?"

"Of course!" Betty replied instantly but she knew she didn't mean it.

"I know your lying Betty," Dil said, "My parents never really cared," Dil said looking back at the group. The gang all watched Dil closely, except Phil who was glaring at the floor.

"If you don't want us to tell, we won't," Suzie said on behalf of everyone, making Dil smile.

"Cool, thanks guys," Dil said, "So, what time's the party?"

A/N – Hey, Thanks for reading. I've been getting really annoyed with the title, 'Changing thoughts'. It sounds a little odd, and I also wanted it to sound like it carried on from the last. I hoe the new title doesn't confuse you with the old story.