HI Phil fans. Here's chapter 2! Thanks for all of your amazing review from chapter 1. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

The next day at school, Keely asked Via about her first kiss.

"Well, Keely, it was kind of awkward," Via said. "I mean, neither of us really knew what we were doing. But it was sweet, because I really liked Sam—that was his name. It was after soccer practice. He was on the boys' team, and I was on the girls'. And we kissed underneath the stands."

"Aw, Via. That's so sweet. Sam..." Keely said, dreamily. "I wish that would happen to me. Why hasn't it?"

"Keely, you told me yourself that it's almost happened a million times, but you always put a stop to it," Via said.

"I know. I think next time, I'm gonna give in," Keely said. "I'm just too old for this."

"Now, Keely, that's not what I meant," Via said. "I think it should be with the person who you want it to be with. It's better that way. No matter how old you are."

"You don't think I'm a little bit to old be never have kissed a boy?" Keely said.

"Well, maybe you're a little old, but age isn't as important as who, and I think you know that part of the equation," Via said, smiling.

"Yeah? And who did you have in mind?" Keely said.

"Come on, Keely," Via said. "What do you mean who? I think you know."

"Via…." Keely said, "I mean, I think I know who, but it's not like I can just come out and say, 'Kiss me, Phil.' "

"Somebody say my name?" Phil said, walking up to Keely and Via, grinning. Keely turned green.

"Oh, hi…. Phil," said Via.

Keely was mortified. She couldn't speak.

"Phil, you didn't just hear us, did you?" Via said.

"Not a thing. Promise. Just my name," Phil said. He was intrigued, though. Keely was being uncharacteristically silent. What have I interrupted? he thought.

"Well, then, I'm just going to walk over…. there.…" Via wandered into the hallway traffic, leaving Phil and Keely alone.

"Keel?" said Phil, waving his hand in front of her eyes. "Earth to Keely, come in Keely."

"Yeah, Phil," Keely said flatly.

"Everything okay? You look a little green," Phil said. He put his hand on her forehead like he was taking her temperature, and Keely swatted at it.

"I'm fine, really, Phil, fine. I guess I need to get to class." Keely said, avoiding his eyes. Why did I have to ask him about the whole kissing thing? She wondered to herself. I just want everything to be normal. If he kisses me, he kisses me. I'm not saying anything.

"Keel, it's lunchtime," Phil said.

"Oh, right," Keely tried to laugh. "Sorry, kinda out of it today," she said. She looked at Phil. He was standing really close to her. She could see the tiny brown stubble on his cheekbones. She could smell his shampoo. He also smelled like outside, like grass and fresh air. He smells really good, she thought. She had an urge to lean against his body, to touch him, and she reached out her hand and placed it on his chest.

"Uh, Keel?" Phil said, looking at her hand and then smiling at her. "Whatcha doin'?" He glanced around the busy hallway. People were beginning to look at them.

"We're best friends, Phil," she said. Her eyes looked kind of glassy to Phil. Like she wasn't all-the-way awake.

Phil nodded. "Yes, Keel. The bestest," This is a little strange, he thought. She doesn't usually get all fuzzy-eyed like this. In fact, Phil had only seen Keely this way once before, when he'd surprised her with a picnic for her birthday.

"Good," Keely said. She looked into Phil's eyes and searched them for a sign. A sign of what? She thought. I don't even know what I'm looking for. "Sorry I'm kind of weird today, Phil. I don't know what's gotten into me."

"It's fine, Keel. We all have days like that," Phil said. "Lunch?"

"Yeah," Keely said. She let her hand linger on Phil's chest for a moment though, before grabbing his elbow and walking alongside him toward the cafeteria.

Suddenly Phil had a thought. "Hey Keely? Is that conversation we had yesterday bugging you?"he said.

Keely stopped in her tracks. Is he psychic? she thought. "Well, maybe, Phil…. I don't know. I just kind of want the whole thing to be over with. It's like I'm the only one, you know?" Keely said, staring straight ahead.

"Well, see, I just had a thought…. I think I could help you," Phil said, his insides squirming. Phillip Diffy, his conscience was saying, don't you take advantage of this girl! I'm not, Phil said back to himself. She wants a guy to kiss her. I'm a guy. It's a victimless crime. And maybe I can decide about these "feelings" for real. If there are any sparks, I'll be able to tell. And it's better it's with me than just someone who doesn't care about her, Bruno for instance. This way I'm sort of protecting her. It's my duty as her friend who's a boy.

"Really? You could coach me in kissing?" Keely said. She was slightly taken aback. "Um, well, who would I kiss?" she said, eyeing him suspiciously.

Phil's stomach lurched. Suddenly he felt guilty about this little experiment. "Well, I mean, well, of course it would be a separate party. A replicate, to be precise," Phil said. "Yes. A replicate. I'll create a kissee for you to practice on." Phil's heart was racing now. Well there go all your free Keely kisses, Diffy, he thought. Replicate? Why did I say that?

"Phil! That's a great idea! Like a movie star?" Keely said, he eyes bright. She jumped up and down.

"We'll see…. A replicate. Yeah, that way there's no… you know… feelings…" Phil said.

"Oh my gosh, I have got to tell Via!" Keely squealed.

"Wait! Keels! You can't tell anyone! What would Via say when you said a replicate was going to be your kissing partner?" Phil said, grabbing her by the shoulder. "You can't tell a soul, got it? This has to be our little secret."

"Oh, gosh, right. Sorry… Woops! Here's my head?" she was grinning ear to ear. The sight of her face so illuminated and happy made Phil weak in the knees.

"So, why don't we meet after school. My house?" Phil said.

"I am so there, Phil. And I am so excited!" Keely said. She attacked him with a bear hug. "You are the greatest best friend I have ever had, ever!"

"You are too, Keels. Now let's go to lunch before I eat my hand," Phil said.

"How could I possibly eat at a time like this, Phil? I want my breath to be completely untainted. All I'm eating is peppermints," Keely said. Phil rolled his eyes. I've created a monster, he thought, as they walked into the cafeteria.