The Burden

Hello. Welcome back to story time with Uncle Peppershaker. If you're just tuning in (from another planet), then hopefully you're up to date with this story. If not, why are you reading chapter five first? Anyway, as you'll notice, I made Keely's sister Bonnie, again. I find that's pretty refreshing. It's like, if the story calls for "Keely Sister 1," then that's who's going to come up. Um… anyway… Kinda lost my train of thought… well, if I remember what I was going to say, it'll show up in the next A/N. Oh, and to any of you who have author/story alert, my computer had a brain malfunction or something, because one of those fancy separator lines came out as some unintelligible dribble. For that I'm sorry.

"Hello, Pimple," Candida gave Pim the usual greeting.

"Candida…" Pim muttered bitterly. Then she noticed the attachment to her arm. "What's that?"

"Oh, this is Gerard. From the ninth grade," she emphasized the last part. In most schools, Herbert G. Wells Jr./Sr. High included, it was a big deal when a 'sevvie' got a date with a ninth grader. Then again… Candida was popular. And most guys agreed she was pleasant on the eyes. "And your boyfriend is… Oh, wait. You don't have a boyfriend!" Candida laughed as she and Gerard walked away.

Pim started mumbling about Candida, and continued to mumble for the rest of the day.

The doorbell rang, and Phil called out, "I'll get it!" On the other side of the door stood Seth and Owen. "Hey," he greeted them. "C'mon in."

They entered, and Seth asked, "So, what's up?"

Phil sighed. "Can I tell you guys a secret?" They nodded. He took another deep breath, and continued. "Uh, you know Tia's car, right?" Again, the two nodded. "Well… funny story, true story, when she lent it to Keely and I…" Phil proceeded to tell all about what had happened with Tia's car. "…But Bonnie knows a guy who could fix it up, so… hopefully Tia will never know."

"You…" Owen started, "…scratched Tia's car?" Phil nodded, and Owen looked like he was going to faint.

"It's all good, though," Phil added.

"So what are you giving Bonnie?" Seth queried.

"What do you mean?"

"Come on," Seth muttered, "what, did you give her money?" Phil shook his head. "Did you hook her up with one of your friends." Phil responded no again.

Owen frowned. They all knew that Bonnie wasn't the type to do favors out of the goodness in her soul. "Well, she wouldn't be doing it because she likes you," Owen reasoned, laughing.

Phil remained silent.

"Oh!" Seth gasped. "She likes you! Oh, man! …So what are you doing for her?"

"I'm going out on a date with her. Friday night…"

"You like her?" Owen asked.

Phil tilted his head to the side. "…Yeah…"

"Stud!" Owen cheered.

"I was going to ask her out, anyway," Phil said. "But this makes things easier."

Keely picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey girl," Tia said on the other line.

"Hey, Tia. What's up?"

"Listen… I kind of have some stuff to do for the rest of the week… So… I won't be able to pick up the car until Sunday…"

"Really? That's great!"

"What?"

Keely realized her mistake. "… Great that you told me that… I mean--"

"Spare me, Keels. Anyway…"

"What do you have to do?" Keely asked, wondering why she was blessed with extra time to fix the car.

"Well… I have to run a few errands, for some people…"

"You got grounded, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did," Tia replied.

"Figures…"

A ring of the doorbell brought Keely back from the land of semi-consciousness. She opened it, and there stood Phil. "Hey," she said. "Come on in."

Phil smiled, and stepped in.

"Phil, thank you so much for getting Bonnie to get Jared to fix the car!" Keely said, giving him a hug so tight he was afraid that he'd asphyxiate.

"No problem Keely," he wheezed. She released him from her death-grip, and he rubbed his sides, wincing.

"So… what are you doing for her?" Keely asked.

Phil sighed. "Okay, promise you won't get mad, or anything… and I know this might be a little awkward for you, but… I promised to go out with her…" Phil winced, preparing to be struck by a Keely hand or something like that.

He opened his eyes, and she was smiling at him. "Phil," she said warmly (hoping her sheer disappointment was well concealed), "I don't care if you want to go out with my sister… If that makes you happy, then by all means, go ahead and date her!"

"You… You mean that?" Phil asked, jovially.

"Yes," Keely reassured him. "It's totally cool with me."

Phil now gave Keely a bear hug. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" he cheered.

Keely knew she shouldn't really care. But she did. She knew she should've been happy for Phil. But she wasn't. She should've wanted him to be as happy as possible as long as he was trapped in this time. If he had to date Bonnie to be happy, then she shouldn't stop him. It was his vacation, after all.

But still, a burning feeling that did not come from indigestion settled at the pit of her stomach.

A brand new shiny nickel to the person who reviews this chapter first! Stay tuned for my next chapter, whose working title is "Early Sunsets Over Monroeville." And remember that I accept anonymous reviews! I need the support to feel happy, you guys!