Chapter 6 "Surprise!"

It was the second week of school and Phil and Keely were looking forward to summer break already. Phil looked up from his paper long enough to notice Keely had just walked into math. She looked gorgeous... like always. She sat down next to Phil and looked at him. But before ether of them said anything she looked at the board pretending to be interested but Phil knew something was wrong. Phil tried to pay attention to Mr. Hacket but his mind was on what was wrong with Keely. After the class was over he pulled her down the hall into an empty classroom.

"Keely are you okay?" Phil said grabbing her arms forcing her to look him in the eyes.

"No I'm not Phil." Keely said beginning to cry. "After everything we haven't gone any where! We've stayed in exactly the same spot since summer! I don't know Phil," Keely said sitting down at a desk burring her face in her hands. Phil laid his hand on Keely's back but she shifted her wait making his hand fall back to his side. He just looked at her trying to read her expression but her hands were hiding everything.

"Keel you aren't making any sense… I can't fix the problem if I don't understand what it is. Please tell me." Phil pulled her up into his arms. Her tears soaked through his shirt like fireballs. She turned her head so she could tell Phil what was on her mind.

"Phil you and me… we haven't gone anywhere! Not like vacations but us… you know?" She looked up at him. Phil nodded in agreement.

"Keely… I didn't want to move forward to fast… I want to move forward with you but as slow as possible." Phil said with true sincerity in his voice.

"Phil I don't care if we go slow as long as we go somewhere." Keely laid her head back down on Phil's chest. He wiped away a tear that began its descent down her cheek. He pulled her closer and wasn't going to let go… until the bell rang. Phil gave Keely one more squeeze then let her go so they could get their books and get to class. Keely turned to the right and Phil went to the left, literally going their separate ways. But not for long. Phil felt an arm reach out from the janitors closet and pull him in.

"Phil…" It was Via.

"Via? Why are we in a closet?" Phil said rubbing his arm. Via just looked at him like he was an idiot. She shook her head and began to explain.

"Keely's birthday it in two days! Don't tell me you forgot!" Via whisper-yelled sounding concerned.

"No I didn't forget! We've had the same routine for years!" Phil looked at Via trying to give her the impression he knew exactly what came next… even though he had no clue.

"We have to do something special. Something out of the box…."

"How about sending her demo tapes in to colleges?" Phil knew it was the perfect idea but it was up to Via.

"Phil that's brilliant!" Via hugged him but instantly let go when she heard the doorknob turn.

"Phil? Via? What are you two doing in a make-out closet?" Keely said looking from Phil to Via and back over and over.

"Looking for a bucket… our teacher asked us to get one." Phil said holding up a bucket. Via nodded in agreement.

"Well why didn't you say so?" Keely said hiding her suasions. She grabbed Phil's arm and pulled him toward the cafeteria.

That night Phil went to visit Keely to make sure she was getting to bed ok. He climbed up the tree and onto the roof. He saw Keely on her phone most likely talking to Via. He knocked on the window telling Keely he was there. She turned around and told him to hold on. She said good-bye to Via and set the phone on it's base. She opened the window and pulled him in.

"Confess." Keely said letting his hands go and putting her on her hips.

"Confess what?" He said. He knew exactly what she meant but didn't want her to know that he did.

"Hmm… I don't know… maybe why you and Via were in the janitor's closet." Keely looked at him as if she was telling him she wanted answers now.

"Ok. I'll tell you… we were planning your birthday present." Phil admitted. He couldn't stand keeping it from her any longer.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" She said with a smile. She knew there was something going on besides getting a bucket.

"We wanted it to be a surprise but… I had to tell you." Phil put his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels.

"I'm glad you did Phil… I thought you were cheating on me…. but I knew you wouldn't but it just stayed in my mind and I was scared." Keely looked at him widening her green eyes.

"Keely you know I would never do that to you… plus I only like Via as a friend… Owen is the one who likes her!" Phil threw his hands in the air trying to add dramatic effect. Keely believed him but still wondered why they would discuss that in a closet. She grabbed his hand and pulled him downstairs and sat him on the couch. She ran into the kitchen to make him something.

"Um Keel…"

"Stay right there… I have a surprise for you." Keely came back out with two cups of steaming coffee. She handed Phil his cup. He turned the cup around to read what was written on it.

"You kept these this whole time?" Phil said. He looked at his FRIEN BOY cup and laughed. Keely's was the same but it said FRIEND GIRL on it. She began to laugh with him but stopped so she could explain her keeping the cups.

"I don't know… but I am still in love with them. Remember making them?" Keely said. Phil flashed back to the ceramics shop. They had both went in looking good and clean but came out with paint and clay all over them. All them mess and effort was for two matching cups. He nodded head toward Keely. She grabbed the remote and flipped the TV on. The weatherman was telling the weather for the next couple of days. Keely flicked the channel until something caught her eyes. It was a reality show about people who were movie stars.

"It's sad… people make shows about people who where famous… if they aren't still famous it's because they were getting boring… a reality show really isn't going to help." Keely put the cup to her lips and took a sip of the still steaming coffee. She looked at Phil and waited for his opinion.

"I totally agree with you. Some of these show need to go." Phil and Keely began to discuss their opinions on movies and every other thing that came to mind.

"Keely… your mom is home!" Phil said when he heard a car pull into the driveway. Keely shut the TV off and pulled Phil upstairs. She opened her window and pushed Phil onto the roof. He waited until the porch light went off until he climbed onto the tree.

"Phil!" Keely said. Phil lost his footing and slid down the tree.

"Are you okay?" Keely said climbing on the roof and down the tree. She pulled Phil off the ground.

"Yea… that hurt… what did you want?" Phil asked.

"Um… have safe walk home!" She said trying to sound as caring as possible.

"Next time you want to wish me a safe walk home… please write a note." Phil said jokingly. He began to walk home trying to figure out new on Keely, but he couldn't figure it out. He knew he was going to have a long night.

e.n.d..o.f..c.h.a.p.t.e.r..6