A great band from the UK, the Kinks (my dad's FAVE), said it best: "Give the people what they want." So I am. I hope you all like chapter 13. I'm not changing the rating on this to M, but I think it's definitely rated R... I don't know why they haven't got that option on this site.
Chapter 13
"Make Love, Not War"
When Keely and Phil walked into Owen's house, Via practically attacked them in the doorway. There was already a big H. G. Wells crowd there, and the music was blaring.
"Why haven't you answered your cell all day, Keely?" Via yelped. "Hi Phil," she added.
"Because I was spending the day with Phil," Keely said. "We got facials."
"Yeah, a chemical peel. I recommend it," Phil said, winking. "Can I get you ladies a drink?"
"Sure," Keely said, smiling. Via shook her head as Phil walked toward the kitchen.
"Oh my God, Keely, how could something this major happen and you not tell me about it?" Via asked after Phil was out of earshot.
"What 'major something' would that be, Via?" Keely asked.
"Hello? You. Phil. Sleeping together? Last night?" Via said. Keely looked confused. "What do you mean what? Keely, quit acting so innocent. I can't believe I was so wrong about you two. I had no idea things would get this serious in twenty-four hours. Well four years and twenty-four hours--I guess that would explain it..."
"Who told you about last night?" Keely asked with an alarmed expression.
"Who hasn't?" Via said. "Everybody here has asked me about it. They expect me to know since I'm your best friend, Keely. But I know nothing. Owen knows more than I do."
"Owen?" Keely asked.
"Yes, Owen," Via said. "Apparently Phil told him everything this morning."
Keely felt like she was going to throw up right then and there. Why would Phil do that to her? He told Owen everything?
"What exactly is everything?" Keely asked. Maybe it's not everything, everything. So what. People knew he slept over. No big deal. She was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"Um, Keely. We've been through this. Phil said you two slept together," Via said.
"No, Via, we didn't. I don't know where Owen got that," Keely said. "Phil spent the night, but we didn't—"
"He got it from Phil, Keely," Via said.
"Via, Phil would never say that," Keely said. Right? She scanned the room for Phil. He was talking to Zach Ellis, the H. G. Wells soccer team goalie and one of the most popular students in their class. Phil and Zach weren't friends at all. Keely saw Zach slap Phil's back and hand him a beer from one of the dozen ice chests on the floor. Phil looked over his shoulder back at Keely and smiled. Keely tried to smile back. What's going on? she thought.
Phil glanced over his shoulder at Keely. She looked a little freaked out. And why was Zach Ellis all of a sudden slapping his back and giving him beer? They had barely spoken in four years.
"So, Diffy, congrats," Zach said.
"Thanks, Zach. Congrats for what?" Phil asked.
"For popping Keely Teslow," Zach said. "Come on, Diffy. I've been trying to get on that since eighth grade."
"Um, what's that supposed to mean?" asked Phil.
"Relax, Diffy. I just always thought she was kind of a tease," Zach said, downing one beer and picking up another. "But you must have something she wants. What's your secret? Exclusive or friends with benefits?"
"My secret?" Phil asked. "What are you talking about, Zach?"
"Look, Diffy. We're not friends. I don't really get your whole"—Zach looked Phil up and down with a confused look on his face—"deal. But you managed to have sex with Keely Teslow. That's huge. Okay? I'm out." Zach walked away.
Phil was stunned, to say the least. Where in the world had this rumor started? Phil hadn't told a soul he spent the night at Keely's house, much less had sex with her. Wait. He hadn't exactly told anyone, but he hadn't exactly not told them, either. Oh God, Phil thought. Owen. Owen talked to Pim at Starbucks. Owen talked to me. Owen assumed everything. Now the captain of the soccer team thinks what Owen thought. If this gets back to Keely, I'm toast.
Zach Ellis saw Keely and Via standing by the front door. He walked up to them and put his arm around Keely.
"Keely. Very good to see you. Lookin' hot," Zach said, gazing directly at her chest. Keely stared at his hand on her shoulder.
"Uh, right, Zach. Yeah," Keely said, nervously. Via just stood there. She'd never talked to Zach Ellis.
"So, if this whole fling with Diffy's over, you should call me," Zach said. Zeely's eyes widened.
"Fling? With Phil?" Keely asked.
"Yeah, baby. I don't know what you see in the Diffy kid, but when you get tired of him, come visit Zach," Zach said. "Zach can show you plenty. Zach can give you the ride of your life." He winked at her and slid toward a group of cheerleaders in the corner.
Keely was motionless. All the color drained from her face.
"Keely?" Via said. "Are you okay?"
"Um, what just happened?" Keely asked.
"I think he, uh, just offered you a ride," Via said.
"Oh my God, Via," Keel said. "Everyone thinks I slept with Phil. Zach Ellis just invited me to have sex with him. I cannot deal with this. I think I need to get out of here." Keely turned toward the door. "Don't tell Phil I left."
Via reached out and grabbed Keely's shoulder. "Keely, I think you need to talk to him. Get the whole story," Via said. "There's bound to be an explanation..."
"No, Via, I think I know the story," Keely said. "He wants people to think we had sex. I guess he's no different from any other guy. From Zach. From Tanner. From anyone."
"Keely, listen to yourself. This is Phil. He loves you," Via said. "You said it yourself that he would never say that. Owen must have, I don't know, jumped to conclusions."
"I don't care Via. It's out there now. What if it somehow gets back to my mother?" Keely said. "She'll flip."
"No she won't Keely. Everyone wants you two together. Even your mom," said Via.
Just then, Mallory Maxwell sauntered over to where Keely and Via stood. Mallory pretty much dated the whole soccer team--exclusively. She was also president of the senior class, valedictorian, and captain of the swim team. She and Keely had been best friends in kindergarten, but not since.
"So, Teslow, according to Zach Ellis, you and your best buddy Phil finally did it," Mallory said. Keely didn't say a word. "It's a good thing we've graduated because I was getting kind of sick of only dating the soccer boys. Perhaps it's time for me to move on to hunky math geeks like little Phil Diffy. I never noticed how hot he was until today, Teslow. Thanks." The look she gave Phil, across the room, made Keely want to scratch her eyes out.
As Mallory moved away, Keely looked around. Everyone was talking. Everyone was casting glances her way. She couldn't believe how crazy it made her feel. She needed to get out of that party. "Via, I have got to get out of here. Don't follow me. Don't tell Phil," she said, before she slid out the front door. Immediately Via went in search of Phil. She found him sitting on the floor next to a keg of beer talking to Candida, a tenth-grader and Pim Diffy's nemesis.
"So, Phillip," Candida whispered into Phil's ear. "Why don't we get out of here? You can show me yours and I can show you mine."
Phil looked at her, grabbed the nozzle on the keg tap, and sprayed beer directly into his mouth. "Ya know, Canada--that's your name, right, little girl?--I, um, only show mine to Keely and Keely only. But thanks for your offer." Candida stood and stomped away and Via sat in her place. Phil looked at Via. "Vee. Please don't say you want to show me yours," he said. "You're a very pretty girl, Vee, but I just don't see it working out, what with you being Keely's best friend and all…"
"No, Phil, I'm not offering," She said, rolling her eyes. "But listen, Keely's gone. She—"
"Gone with the wind," said Phil.
"Are you drunk already, Phil?" Via asked. "How much beer have you had?"
"Only this much," Phil said. He spread his arms wide. "I lost count."
"Phil—" Via said. Phil grabbed her face in his hands and looked at her.
"She's reeeeeaallllyy mad at, ishunt she?" he slurred. His eyes were bloodshot.
"Phil how did you get so drunk so fast?" Via asked him, pulling his hands off of her face.
"Shots, Vee. Just like um like maybe um. Like six? Five. Six. Via, didja know that the word for six in French sounds like sex? And everyone here. Here, Via, at this party. Thinks me and Keely, you know, did that?" Phil said. "Not that I don't want to, but it just hasn't quite happened yet..."
"Oh Phil," Via said. "Yeah, people have been saying things to Keely and she's really upset. What exactly did you tell Owen this morning?"
"O-Dog?" Phil started giggling. "O-O-O-O when can you come out and play?" Phil sang.
"Phil, focus," Via said. "This is serious… What did you say to Owen this morning?"
"Nothing, Via. I said nothing," Phil said, suddenly coherent.
"Did you know that he was misinterpreting your 'nothing'?" Via asked.
"Yeah, Via. Kind of," Phil said. "I'm such an idiot." His eyes were welling up with tears. Via noticed.
"You're not an idiot, Phil... You're just... I don't know. Let's go outside. You're about to get upset, and this isn't the best place," Via said. "Come on." She took his hand and helped him up off the floor. They walked through the kitchen to the back porch and sat down on the steps.
"Via I love her," Phil said. Two fat tears plunked from his eyes.
"I know, sweetie," Via said, putting her arm around Phil's shoulders. "We'll fix this. I could kill Owen."
"It's not his fault, Vee," Phil said. "He didn't mean for this to happen. I should have been clear… I just wasn't thinking."
"Where do you think she'd go, Phil?" Via asked. "Home?"
Keely ran down Owen's driveway. The front yard was littered with beer cans. Couples were making out in every available shadow. She was crying. She didn't know where to go, so she walked to Phil's.
"What am I doing here?" Keely asked aloud when she reached the Diffys' house a few minutes later.
"I was gonna ask you the same question, Tinker Bell," Pim said from the porch. "I thought you and Jughead were at Owen's party."
"We were. Long story," Keely said. "Look, can I come in? I don't know where else to go."
"What about your house, sassafras?" Pim suggested.
"I can't go there. My mother's home. I don't want her to know," Keely said.
"Know what?" Pim asked.
"About me and Phil," said Keely.
"What about you and Phil?" asked Pim.
"He spent the night last night, and we—" Keely said.
"Save it, sister," Pim said. "I don't want to know. Yeah, come in."
"Thanks, Pim," Keely said. "I um, I'll just go up to Phil's room, I guess."
Phil remembered the Giggle. "The Giggle! Via! The Giggle!" Phil yelled. Keely was in his room.
"What, Phil? Giggle?" Via asked. "I'm not following."
"I can't explain now. Um, yeah, I think I know where she is. What time is it?" Phil asked.
"Ten thirty," Via said, looking at her cell phone.
"Perfect," Phil said. He stood up to go.
"You sure you don't need me to come with you?" Via asked.
"I'm good," Phil said.
"You've had a lot to drink, Phil," Via said.
"I'm walking, Vee," Phil said. "I'll be okay."
"Stay on the sidewalk, drunky," Via said, smiling. "Good luck." She went to find Owen, who had been doing kegstands in the backyard, to tell him about the trouble he'd caused with Phil and Keely.
Phil fell down a couple times on his way home. He even mistook Vice Principal Hackett's front porch for his own, only realizing it when he saw Hackett through a window in his tighty-whiteys.
Once he made it to his own house, Pim as waiting for him on the porch.
"Look big brother," Pim said as Phil navigated the steps a little wobbly. "It was bad enough when you and Barbie were just friends. Now she shows up here at all hours of the night and you expect me to entertain her?" Pim sniffed the air close to Phil. "Are you wasted?"
"Of course not," Phil said. The he leaned against the porch railing and burped. He felt a little sick to his stomach, but he fought off the urge to throw up. "Mom and Dad aren't here, are they? I need water."
"I can't believe this," Pim said. "First your girlfriend comes over here, looking for nooky, I imagine. Then you come home, three sheets to the wind, nearly puke in the geraniums, and our parents are off doing who knows what in the time machine."
"Nooky," Phil said, suddenly remembering Keely was upstairs in his room. "The Giggle. Is she upstairs?"
Pim nodded, and Phil ran past her, into the house. When he reached the foot of the stairs he fell down.
Keely heard something downstairs. Phil's voice. Then a clunk. Then Pim laughing hysterically. She had been lying in Phil's bed, so she got up and opened the door. Walking to the top of the stairs, she saw Pim, on her back, laughing. Phil was passed out on the first step. Well, sort of half on the floor and half on the first step. He looked awful. Keely could smell him from where she stood. "Phil."
He didn't respond.
"Phil?" she asked him.
Nothing.
"Oh, no," Keely said. "Pim, what happened?"
"Drunky McDrunkerson busted it," Pim said. "It was priceless."
"Phil?" Keely asked again, kneeling next to him.
"Phil," Phil said. "That's me."
"Phil, sit up," Keely said. "I'll put you to bed."
"To bed with Keelys?" Phil said. "First I need water. Lots."
"Okay, Phil, I'll get you some water," Keely said. "Let's go upstairs." Keely helped Phil stand up. Pim was still laughing. It took them a few minutes to get to the bathroom. Keely helped Phil brush his teeth. And she got him a glass of water, which he drank, refilled, drank, and refilled again. She got him aspirin. She helped him out of his shoes and jeans. She felt like his mother. Eventually they went into Phil's room and sat on the bed. Keely pulled a clean t-shirt over his head.
"Phil, everyone thinks—why did you tell Owen we slept together?" Keely asked.
Phil blinked and shook his head. "I didn't Keel," he said. He knew this conversation was going to happen. This is what was in the Giggle. Phil had tried so hard all day to protect Keely from "the thing" that made her so upset. The thing was Phil. He looked at Keely. Her eyes were getting misty. "He assumed we did because I wouldn't tell him anything." The room was spinning. Phil wanted to lie down on his pillow and go to sleep. He took a few gulps of water.
"But Phil," Keely said. "You knew he was reading more into last night than what really happened. And that's the same thing as telling him. Why did you let him believe that?" The tears fell from her eyes. Phil hated himself. He felt awful.
"I guess I just thought it was none of his business, you know," Phil said. He took a deep breath. "Look, I never wanted him to know anything about us. Is it that important what everyone thinks about us anyway?" He tried to put his arms around her but she shrugged them off.
"Phil, do you know what its like to watch your boyfriend get slapped on the back by a bunch of random jocks who think he's cool because he tapped—"
It killed Phil to hear her say that. She dissolved into tears, her shoulders shaking.
"Keels, it's not like that," Phil said. He sighed. "Yeah, I knew Owen thought we, you know... But I didn't think he'd tell the whole school--"
"I watched Zach Ellis congratulate you on a job well done, Phil," Keely said.
"That doesn't mean anything, Keely," Phil said. Keely kept crying. "I watched the same Zach Ellis stare at your boobs for five minutes. He's a jerk." Phil put his arm around her. She didn't shrug it off. "Keely, I'm so sorry. I really am."
"I guess I sort of overreacted," Keely said, looking at him. "I'm sorry, Phil. Sometimes I just overreact then I--"
"No, you didn't. I should have said something to Owen. I should have punched Zach's face in," Phil said. "I just… Owen's always hassling me about you, and I just let it go too far this time. Big mistake."
"And I really can't stand Zach Ellis. He was so mean to me when I was younger. You have no idea," Keely said, a new wave of tears flowing from her eyes. "And what he thought I'd want to do… with him... is just—disgusting."
"Shhh, Keels, you'll feel much better tomorrow. I promise. Let's go to bed. You can stay here," Phil said. He suddenly didn't feel drunk anymore. He was stone sober.
"I can't go home, Phil," Keely blubbered.
"I know, it's okay," Phil said. "Just stay with me."
Keely sobbed into Phil's shoulder. "What about my mother?"
"Do I need to call her, Keels?" Phil asked.
"No she thinks I'm at Via's," Keely said. "But Phil, she loves you. I mean, I think she'd be okay with it. She still might kill me, but deep down I think she'd be okay."
She looked up at Phil, her mascara running in watery streaks down her cheeks. He kissed her forehead. Then she kissed his mouth. Phil tasted her tears.
"My mom and dad love you, too, Keel." Phil ran his thumb over Keely's cheek. "They'd kill me if I messed this up--and they don't even know about us yet."
Keely smiled at him. "You haven't messed anything up, Phil," she said. "I guess my emotions are just running high, you know. I've never had a boyfriend before..."
"It's good to see your smile," Phil said. "God I love you."
Later, Keely would insist she made the first move. She looked at Phil's face and saw how exhausted he was, but also how happy. She made him happy and that made her feel incredible. She leaned over to the bedside table and flipped off the lamp. Light from a streetlight outside shined into the room. Keely pulled her t-shirt off and lay it on the floor beside the bed. She unhooked her bra and slipped it off. Phil was still, watching her. She shook the pigtails out of her hair slowly. Then they sat there for a few beats in silence before Keely took Phil's hand and placed it on her thigh. She leaned in to kiss him and then pulled him down on top of her, his stubble rough on her smooth cheek, his body heavy and warm. It felt right.
Phil moved his fingers to the button of Keely's skirt and carefully unfastened it. Keely lifted her hips and Phil slid the skirt off and lay it on the floor with her shirt. Then he took his own shirt off. The outside light shined on her face. She smiled at him again. Keely was nervous but more than that she wondered what she'd really been afraid of before. It wasn't the pain. It was more the finality of the act. Of recognizing that something would be gone, maybe. But she was glad that she had chosen this time, and she was looking forward more to the future. The future with Phil. She was going somewhere with Phil Diffy. The boy she loved more than anything. The man she wanted beside her forever.
Keely helped Phil take off his boxers and they moved under the sheets. He gently slid her panties down her legs. His heart was thunder. He knew they were about to change everything. There was another pause and they looked into each other's eyes. Neither said a word. The moment was too huge for words. What could either say that would describe the feelings they were sharing? Keely opened her legs and Phil rested his hips on top of hers. She felt him nudge her slightly and then he lifted his chest up and propped himself on his hands. As he slipped inside her, Keely felt the flash of pain, like a scrape, the prick of a needle, deep inside. She flinched and grabbed Phil's arms reflexively. She pinched her eyes shut and lifted her chin, tightening her whole body. Phil felt her body change and he hesitated. When she relaxed a little bit he continued and she clenched up again. "Keels," he whispered. "Tell me if you want me to stop."
She opened her eyes and he was staring back at her with a somewhat frightened expression. Her heart leapt with love for him in that moment. "Please don't stop, Phil," she said. Keely knew that if she asked him to he would. But she wanted to feel it.
Phil moved into her as slowly as he could, kissing her lips when he got a chance. He wondered if it was worse for him to move so slow or if he should do it really fast like when you rip off a Band-Aid. He smiled imagining having this conversation with Keely. She was still grabbing his arms and clenching her muscles down there, but he didn't stop. In a moment he was all the way inside her. Their bodies were slick against each other. Keely heard Phil make small sounds, like a baby would make, and she wrapped her arms around him and wiped the sweat from his face with the side of her hand. "Phil I love you," she whispered in his ear.
Phil pulled back slightly. The pain was dulling for Keely. She wondered how soon she'd be able to do this again. The sting reminded her of how her legs hurt after a day of water skiing or hiking. Phil felt her body relax. He moved faster, dropping his head down on her chest. "I love you so much," he said over and over. It didn't take him long, and he was relieved when he pulled out because he knew it wouldn't hurt her anymore. He felt guilty even though she'd wanted this tonight. Guilty because he loved her so much and wondered if she'd ever really know what she meant to him.
Afterward they lay there on their backs, side by side, catching their breath. It had only taken a few minutes.
"Eventually I think you'll like it more, Keels," Phil said, his mind buzzing.
"I already like it," she said. She smiled even though he couldn't see her face.
They held hands and fell asleep. Keely had never slept better in her life.
Well? They did it. But it seemed right. And of course they used protection... But I didn't write it in because it just sounded too clunky... Maybe one more chapter for this one. Fourteen seems a good solid number.