A/N: More for my public by request of, well, mostly everyone! Hugs to Moofoot (Mondlering Moofoot to you!) and Janine (SurrealPink) for lovin' and helpin' me, even in my writer's block. And a homemade thank-you card to Kylie (kodey)for giving me the kitty's name!
Before you get confused, I must tell you that every time it switches from Keely's third person to Phil's third person ("Wouldn't that make him a sixth person?" Michael would ask before I would pound his head into the sand), the last phrase (or word) that was used in one third person is carried on to the next. Therefore, they're sharing words.
Later note: To make things easier on you readers, how about I just underline the 'shared' words?
Here's the friggin' story.
"Keely, you're going to love him. He's cute, rich, funny, cute, and..." Tia racked her brain for her last word.
"Cute?" She was sarcastic.
"You've met him before?" Keely raised an eyebrow, but continued walking. They were on their way to the mall, as most social butterflies like themselves like to do on Sunday afternoons. Tia was very excited. As a matter of fact, she wouldn't stop buzzing about it all throughout the sermon at church, which made for an interesting tongue lashing from a few adults. On the other hand, Keely seemed very soft-spoken, which lashed as harsh as personalities can against her usual intrepid additude. But, of course, Tia was no dunce. She asked immediately: "Keels, what's up? Don't tell me you're getting cold feet."
"Nothing. It's...it's nothing. Everything's fine." She underlined 'fine' with her finger.
"Oh, I see now." Tia shook her head wisely. "Keely, Keely, Keely..."
"Don't you dare triple-Keely me." She growled.
"Okay, well, if you like Phil, I have an idea. I'll ask Manny to ask Tommy to ask Cynthia to ask Kale to ask Seth to ask Phil if he wants to go out with you. Then he'll tell Seth, who'll tell Kale, who'll tell–"
"Tia!"
"Huh?" She woke up from scheming.
"I don't want to date Phil."
"Keely," Tia grabbed her shopping mate's arm. "we all know about your...'crush'." Her voice got lighter at 'crush'. "It's uber-obvious, girl!" (A/N: We all know that Tia would not use uber as a prefix, but, hell, I thought it fit. BTW, I forgot the code to make the 'u' with two dots over it. Sue me.)
"Tia...there's no crush. You know there's no crush. There's nothing that will ever happen between Phil Diffy and Keely--"
Teslow, Phil typed onto a laptop. 5/12/2008. The French Revolution. He looked up from the computer on his thighs and took the Wizrd from his pocket. He took a cartridge zapped the only empty wall in his room to reveal a screen. Phil put on what seemed to be 3D-glasses and headphones and began watching. "The ProjectoBoard. Simple, old-fashioned, but oh so handy." He said to his companion, Leander, who was busy lapping away at the sides of a giant green bowl.
"Uh huh." Leander nodded, his yellow eyes still in the bowl. The Wizrd was obviously also set to read animal thoughts. Phil clicked a button on the gadget, and out of the screen popped old, grumpy, digital men in coats and rifles. He began taking notes as soon as the battle began onscreen. After a few minutes of muskets firing, Leander yawned. "What else is on?" The tabby cat stepped on the Wizrd with a hardly-timid paw. The tiny cartridge popped out of the remote and the 3D-war had became fuzzy.
"Leander, that's Keely and my history paper's basis you're surfing for The Planet's Funniest Animals on!" Phil grabbed the Wizrd, but it was already on it's memory database. With the 3-D glasses, you could see Phil and Keely sitting in the hall, catsup-splattered, Keely wide-eyed.
"That's Keely. Why's Keely on the screen?" The kitten asked, batting a paw in front of him to the wall.
"The Wizrd's got a memory file that records what's happened around it. If it's been there, it's got footage on it." Phil said, but was transfixed on the two younger teens, his younger self telling his story. Leander smiled the biggest smile a cat could and pawed at the Wizrd in Phil's hand. He hit a button and meowed, "Keely." The Wizrd fast forwarded to the next time he saw Keely afterwards.
"You got to it's voice search command." He smiled. "My dad can't do that. And you don't even have thumbs." He pet the cat, who purred in triumph. He watched himself and Keely, years younger, take a Skyak ride across a clouded sky. His heart melted, seeing how amazed and contempt she was...
"Oh, Keely..."
"Earth to Keely!" Tia snapped her fingers in front of Keely's face. They were already at the mall entrance. "Is anyone home?" She asked, concerned.
"Uh, yeah. Tia, I'm not sure that this is the best idea."
"Nonsense! I'm only doing this for my girl, and what I think is best must be best!" She said, then reached into her purse. "Plus, look at this face!" She pulled out a photo of a tall boy. He had a football helmet in his left hand and held a ball in his right. He had long, flaxen locks and a bright glint in his eye that made you want to know him better. He smiled, showing half his whitened teeth, and Keely felt that she had already known him well enough from the photograph alone. (A/N: I'm pretty much describing Erik Von Detten with light blue eyes and as a quarterback, alright?) "Come on, you don't want to keep this waiting."
Keely sighed. "Alright." She smiled. They took each other arms and walked into the mall. Keely looked around. "Where are they?" She looked for their dates.
"Oh, there's Ethan." She pointed to beside the fountain. There were two boys who seemed like they were arguing. "Ethan? Ethan!" Tia raised a hand and called to her latest boyfriend. A tall, dark-haired boy looked to them and raised two thumbs, signaling them over.
"Where's Keely's date?" Tia asked.
"Um..." Ethan pointed to a slightly taller boy with jet-black hair and pale blue eyes. He was wearing a black t-shirt that said, "If you can read this, I haven't tased you yet." and camouflage pants.
"Oh, he went to the bathroom?" She looked to the facility behind the boy.
"No..." Ethan pointed a thumb at the boy again.
"That guy ate him?" She asked.
"No..." He proceeded in his pointing game.
"Just a second, Eth." Tia turned to the darker-headed boy. "Could you move? We're looking for my friend Keely's date." She pushed him gently aside and squinted, looking for Keely's 'dream boy'.
"Keely?" The strange dark-haired boy tilted his head to Keely, who was a little confused. "I knew you seemed familiar. Ethan showed me a picture of you, and I said, 'That's gotta be Teslow,' but..."
"What?" Keely and Tia asked at once. Ethan came behind Tia and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Tia, Keely, this is Weston." Ethan said.
"Don't you remember me? It's Wessie!" He stretched his arms out for a hug, and Keely jumped, startled. Tia took Ethan aside to the bathrooms.
"I thought you said Weston was cute." She looked to the two. Keely was looking at her feet while Weston regained bad posture.
"Those were not my exact words. I said, 'Keely might like him'."
"But you know Keely! How could you think that? And you gave me that picture of him." She held it up to his face.
"That's from a year ago, and I told you that. I also told you that he was a bit different."
"Oh boy...she's gonna blame me for all of this."
"Well...let's just not leave them alone. Things might be better if we come along with them. You know. To break the ice."
"Yeah, right, like I was gonna leave Keel alone with that psycho-freak anyway. Look! She obviously doesn't know him." She averted Ethan's eyes to the two, who were still at the fountain. Weston smiled, came up to Keely and took a quarter from her ear. Keely turned to him and slapped his cheek. He held his cheek while Keely apologized, although Tia and Ethan couldn't hear them. They walked back.
"I'm so sorry, again." Keely put her hand onto his cheek. "Are you sure you don't need ice?"
"I'm certain. You were never that strong, Keels." He laughed.
"Are you two okay?" Tia asked.
"I guess so." Keely turned to her friend. "Come on, let's go." They all started walking.
"Anything that anyone especially needs?" Ethan asked.
"I need to stop by The Disney Store." Weston raised his hand. "...to reserve a DVD."
"...alright." Tia raised an eyebrow. "Who shops at The Disney Store?" She whispered to Keely.
"Tia." She warned her. "I think Weston and I are fine on our own. You guys can go ahead to Furlong's, Tia. We'll catch up with you later." She then said, louder. Weston smiled, Tia asked if she was sure, and Ethan sighed at the idea of shopping for clothes with the 'Balancer of the Economy', as he called her. Tia dragged him by the wrists to the department while Keely and Weston walked towards The Disney Store.
"I didn't think you'd change this much." Weston smiled again.
"What?"
"You're tall, banana-blonde, and apparently you're as crazy for Disney as I am, if you'd wanna go with me. I mean, I remember Winnie the Pooh, but..."
"Listen, Weston..." She sat him down on a bench. "I don't know you. Well, I don't remember you...but I'm willing to get to know you now. Let's go to The Disney Store, and then, afterwards, we go to FYE, alright?" Keely asked. Weston nodded, and they got up and headed back to the department.
"So, you've known me since...when?"
"Keely, Keely...
"Keely..." Phil said, rolling his head back.
"Don't you triple-Keely me!" Keely shoved him, holding a tennis racquet in her other hand. Present day Phil watched from behind the glasses as they had a tennis-saber duel.
"You're having bundles of fun, aren't you now?" Leander, the basketball player, asked. He had been having fun pawing at the Wizrd, seeing who he could turn himself into.
"Yeah, well...so are you." He sneered, not even seeing that his pet had just turned into a tree.
"At least I'm not reminiscing." Leander laughed, turning himself into Owen. Phil glared at him, then noticed that he turned into his school pal.
"What? What are you doing?" Phil asked, taking back the Wizrd.
"Chil-lax, my main man, I'm just bein' me...being...someone...else–okay, fine, turn me back." Phil changed the settings on the Wizrd and pressed a button–changing Owen back into his tabby kitten buddy. He turned back to the screen, setting the Wizrd down. "So you're just going to sit around and watch Pheely moments?" He asked, pushing another button for a third helping of Fancy Feast.
"Pheely?"
"Yeah, the word's buzzing around the 'net. I thought I'd try it out. It fits pretty good, doesn't it?" He replied, chewing.
"Whatever. Anyway, this paper's not due until Wednesday, and I do need some relaxing time, so what better way to do it than with my best friend? Except she's on a screen...but she'll be back around 5, anyway. That's only..." he checked his watch. "1 hour, 24 minutes and 13 seconds from now."
"Gosh, Phil." Leander sighed. "You're a bit psycho, aren't you?"
"You know me..."
"Crazy." Keely said, reaching out to Weston's extended arm. She had been checking out Tinkerbell-embroidered jeans when she stumbled and fell into a display of Mickey Mouse plushies. She let him pull her up from the mess she'd invented and dusted herself off. "Thanks." She grinned ineptly.
"Sure you're okay?" Weston asked. "You're not gonna cry, right? Because I can't handle that." He put his hands up in the air to show him giving up. Keely laughed.
"I'm fine." She began to pick up the Mickeys. Weston kneeled down and assisted her. "You don't have to help."
"I want to." He smiled. They cleaned up in silence for a few minutes.
"Where do you know me from, Weston?"
"Wessie."
"Excuse me?"
"That's what you used to call me."
"I can't call you that! You're taller than me!"
"By a few inches!" He took a mouse and wriggled it around her neck, which made her giggle. "Fine. Wes will do." He sighed. "You really don't remember me?" He looked to her. She shook her head. "Hmm..." His expression turned from disapointed to sly. He picked up a Disney imprinted hairbrush and let a smile curl onto his lips.
"You have so many relationships in this life,
But only one or two will last.
You go through all the pain and strife,
Then you turn your back and they're gone so fast." He sang out.
"Oh my goodness..." Keely put her hands to her mouth as she gasped.
"So hold on to the ones who really care
In the end, they'll be the only ones there
When you get old and start losing your hair
Can you tell me who will still care?
Can you tell me who will still care?"
"Mmmbop, ba duba dop,
Ba duba bop, ba do bop!" Keely sang into the brush Weston passed to her. They started laughing loudly.
"Ahem?" A man coughed. They realized they were still in the store.
"Ohmigosh, you're Weston! Second grade Weston!" Keely realized quietly, hugging the 'stranger' she was fearful of ten minutes ago. "I can't believe it. You always did sound like a Hanson. And what did you do to your hair?" She ran her fingers through his scalp.
"Cut and dyed it once I saw everyone else at Martha's Vineyard had the same style." He let go of Keely and smiled.
"So, this," She waved a hand over his figure. "This is all about rebellion?"
"Right on the nose, my shimmer." He replied in false-English dialect, pushing her nose in with his thumb and making her giggle once more. "Remember? That's what my Pa would always say to you?"
"Yeah, I do now." She hugged him again. "Wow...I can't believe it. You're, like, my best guy friend. ...wait. Phil..." She let go of Weston and looked at her wrist-watch. "Oh my gosh, I'm late. For a very important date."
"Wow, getting into the Disney spirit already." He smiled. Keely pulled out her cell phone and texted something to Tia. Then she snapped it shut and rushed out of the store, Weston in full pursuit.
"Where'ya going, Keels?" Weston asked. "I've still gotta pre-order PotF on DVD."
"PotF?" Keely pondered for a second. "No, um, I was supposed to meet a friend at five, and I'm late." She said in one breath. "Um...did you drive down here?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Can you drive me down there?" He nodded. "Thank you so much."
"Can I ask you one thing?" Weston asked. Keely nodded. "Are you safe to be in a car with? Mentally? I mean, are you..."
"...okay?" Phil asked Keely, who leaned against the snack table, biting her lip and fighting back tears, losing the duel.
"Kale dumped me." she sniveled between sobs of small tears. "I mean, at junior prom of all places! I should have known. I'm so stupid."
"Any man who would ever make you think that isn't a man at all." He hugged her. "He didn't know you. If he knew you, or even if he had sense at all, he would have never done that." He whispered to her. People were staring, but it didn't matter. He didn't care at all. He stayed with her for ten minutes, letting her weep into his jacket. "Are you ready to go out there? With all those people? I mean, no rush. You go when you're ready." He said after she had wiped the bottom of her eyes, being careful not to smudge what was left of her mascara.
"I think I am. Thank you so much, Phil." She smiled. The song converted from fast pop to a slow ballad almost instinctively. "Phil..." She twiddled her fingers together.
"Anything, Keely. Anything at all, and yes is the word."
"Dance with me, Phil. ...h-hold me." She said, somewhat shy. He held out his hand, and Keely grasped it. They walked onto the dance floor with all the other couples and their dance partners. Keely settled her head on Phil's shoulder, and his hand around her waist.
'What a feeling in my soul,
Love burns brighter than sunshine
Brighter than sunshine
Let the rain fall, I don't care
I'm yours and suddenly you're mine
Suddenly you're mine
And it's brighter than sunshine
'I never saw it happening
I'd given up and given in
I just couldn't take the hurt again–what a feeling...'
"Phil..." Keel whispered. "you're the best friend anyone could ever have." His heart tugged to what could have been a sinking feeling.
"Keely...about that." Phil bit his lip at the thought of mentioning anything to ruin the moment, but Keely insisted.
"What?"
"...I don't know if you had noticed or anything, but..." Phil crossed out the sentence in his mind. "What I mean is...um, I...I sorta...it's not that I don't want to be friends anymore, it's that..."
"You don't want to be friends anymore?" Keely looked up. They stopped moving, but their hands were still on each other.
"N-no, Keely. It's not that. It's just...more."
"More. There's more?"
"There's so much more." He whispered. Their faces inches slowly near each other. They were millimeters away...
'Let the rain fall, I don't care
I'm yours, and suddenly you're mine
Suddenly you're mine
Brighter than...
'sunshine! Woah-ahh-o!
I'm walkin' on sunshine! Woah-ahh-o!
And don't it feel good! Hey!" The music abruptly changed, and jolted the two alive like an alarm clock. He chuckled nervously, and slipped out of each other's hands.
"Want some punch?" He quickly asked, pointing to the bowl behind him.
"Sure–I'm gonna step out for some air." She quickly responded.
"Okay," They both said, at the same time, and went their separate ways.
"Harsh, man. I feel you. He took away your mellow, stupid DJ." Leander said. "Pass the popcorn, huh?" Phil shoved the popcorn to the cat, muttering something about Garfield."Hey, isn't it 5:45 already?"
"Yeah, it is. Why?" Phil said, still watching the ProjectoBoard.
"Well, shouldn't Keely be here?" Leander replied, looking out the window. "And who do you know that drives a 5.0?"
"Keely can stay on her stupid date until 5 in the morning, for all I care." He fumed, upset by the dreams of yesterday.
"Well, she isn't going to. He she comes, now." Leander said. Phil took off the glasses and stared out the window. Keely and a guy stepped out of a red Mustang and hugged. Keely kissed him on the cheek and ran up to the front door, letting herself in.
"Phil?" Keely called in the foyer.
"Up here!" He called back.
"Hey!" She greeted him with the traditional hug, then sat down next to Phil and the kitten. "What are you doing up here?" She looked to the screen, where she watched herself being taught how to play Laser Squash.
"Keely, just keep your eye on the materialized processed energy." Phil said behind her, holding her wrists to control her every move.
"Phil, that thing is gonna hit me!" She put her hands to her face, despite Phil's attempt to stop her, as the energy ball ricocheted off the side of the Diffy's home. As it came towards her, it dropped to the ground with a whimper. Phil let go of her and stepped to the ball of light at her feet.
"See, Keel, it's more afraid of you than you are of it!" He picked it up with two hands. "Now, take the ball." She put a gloved hand towards the incandescent force. It slightly raised itself out of Phil's hands and glowed a light pink. They looked at each other with pride and smiled. "Do you have it?" She nodded. "Good." He regained his position behind Keely and let her wrist nudge the beaming ball forward. It bounced off the wall and came back to Keely, but Phil moved her hands to where it was heading, which caused the strange energy ball to contort a path of it's own and head back to the wall. She squealed with childish delight and turned around in Phil's arms, using her own to embrace him.
"Phil, I did it! I knocked the glowing ball thingy!" She smiled, showing all her teeth. Phil grinned back at her.
"Good." He slipped out of her arms. "Now it's time to teach you to Skyak." He headed to the garage, leaving Keely alone.
"Skyak?" She gulped. The memory laid out on the board made Keely giggle. "What are you doing, then?"
"Just some History."
I know. Crap alert, crap alert! The ending–crap. Pitiful. Anyhow, it was long because, like you, I didn't want to wait to fit this all in three or four chapters. Too much time, extra work, paper trail, et cetera, et cetera. Next chapter gets doubly interesting. :D
---T.J.
P.S.: I know I switched from cat to kitten a lot, but you wouldn't believe how many words are synominous (spelling? or, is it a word?) to cat--hardly any. I wasn't about to type in feline a billion times. Just enjoy the plot, okay?
-mutters something about nit-picking and walks off-