"Ugh," Barb groaned, as the shrill ringing of the telephone aroused her from her sleep. She fumbled around for the receiver on her bedside table, and upon finding it, she brought it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Barb? Is Keely there?" Mandy Teslow's worried voice came from it.

"Mandy? It's six am…" Barb sighed. Why people got up so early in this century was beyond her. In the future, everybody woke up at about noon, and she much preferred that approach.

"I know, and I'm so sorry to bother you, it's just that Keely is missing," Mandy panicked.

This woke Barb up. "Are you sure she didn't just go out early? With Phil?"

"She didn't come back last night. Nor did Phil. I…we kind of dropped a bombshell on the both of them last night, and then they both ran off. We had a huge argument. We've been banned from the restaurant. I kept the door unlocked all night, but they obviously haven't been back. Keely's bed is un-slept in, and no clothes are missing, only the stuff that she was wearing, and Phil obviously hasn't been here. Are you sure you haven't seen them?" Mandy asked, rambling on.

Barb got up, so as not to wake her husband, who was sleeping next to her, unaware of anything going on in the world around him. "I haven't seen them Mandy. What did you say to them? Before they ran off?"

"Well, you see Barb, I'm getting re-married. And Graham has accepted a new job outside of Pickford. And when we told them this, Keely flipped, and Phil followed her. Naturally. I just thought that maybe Phil would be able to talk some sense into her. Obviously not. Not that I blame him. He looked livid when he left," Mandy rambled.

Barb walked out of the room. "Well, congratulations Mandy. I would say more, I'm just a bit worried about our children right now."

"Yes, me too. I can't think where they would be!" Mandy said, biting her nails.

Barb wrinkled her nose. Phil's bedroom door was closed. She may have been tired last night, but it had definitely been open when she was going to bed. "Mandy, I think I might know where they are. Can I ring you back?"

Mandy was hesitant. But Barb would tell her. Eventually. That was just who Barb was. "Okay. As long as you make sure they're safe. Are they safe?"

"I'm sure they are," Barb reassured her. Then she hung up, and put the phone on the small table in the hallway.

Then, she slowly made her way over to her son's closed bedroom door.

She stood outside the door, listening intently for any sound. Any sound at all. There was no sound.

Quietly, she pushed open the door, and gazed at the two teens.

Keely had her head on Phil's chest; Phil had his arm around Keely. Both were fast asleep, unaware of Barb standing in the doorway.

She smiled, and then silently shut the door. They obviously didn't want anyone to know they were there. She knew that she'd have to let on that she knew, but there was no reason Mandy had to know they were there. Barb promised herself, that when they woke up, to tell them that she was on their side. Which she was.

Then she made her way downstairs. Once she was awake, she wasn't going back to sleep again.

Keely's eyes snapped open. "Phil! Phil!" She shook her best friend awake, wondering what time it was.

"Five more minutes, Mom," Phil muttered, and turned over in his sleep.

"I am not your mother, nor do I wish to be," Keely snapped, and then shook him violently again. "We fell asleep!"

Phil shot up. "What?"

"We fell asleep. And you called me your Mom. But we'll come back to that later. We fell asleep!" Keely threw her arms in the air.

Phil looked at his watch. "It's seven thirty."

"So, did we get away with it?" Keely asked, wondering whether anyone had seen.

Phil shrugged. "I'm sure we did though. The door is still closed. And the sound barrier is still up."

"Cool," Keely sighed with relief.

They both looked at each other.

"Kids! Phil! Keely! Do you want some breakfast?" Barb's voice came from downstairs.

Keely and Phil both sighed.

"I guess not," Keely said.

But then they both caught each other's eye, and smiled.

They sat downstairs, eating.

"Keely, your mom called," Barb said, dishing up some more bacon. "That's how I knew you were here."

Keely looked at her plate. "Did you tell her I was here?"

"I'm guessing you wanted to worry her?" Barb asked, not really answering Keely's question. "And I didn't tell her. She knows that you're safe. I'm just glad Phil said you could come here. What was your plan? Go into the forest? Stay there all night?"

Keely looked over at Phil. "Your Mom is good."

"My job," Barb smiled. "I want you guys to know that I'm on your side. You guys are mad. I get it. But talk to her. Talk to your Mom and tell her that you don't want to move. Honey, she'll listen. If you tell her all your reasoning, then she'll see how you feel. You may still move, but at least you'll have tried."

Keely thought about this. "But you know my Mom. She never listens to me."

"Keely, if you tell her to listen, then she will. Your Mom may be pushy, but she's not that pushy. Try it. And if it doesn't work, then you can sneak into my house, and sleep in Phil's room."

Keely thought about this and then nodded. "Okay."

"Well, I for one am glad we sorted this whole issue out!" Phil announced, suddenly feeling left out of the conversation.

Keely rolled her eyes.

"So, is there any particular reason why the door was closed last night?" Barb asked, knowing that blushes would ensue.

Sure enough, they went bright red.

"Um…well we didn't know if you'd rat on us to my Mom," Keely said, stammering.

Phil nodded. "Um…yeah. What she said."

Barb smiled, and then walked over to the sink, and began to wash up the dishes, humming softly to herself.

Planning on getting them together soon. Probably in the next chapter. I wanted to put it in here, but it just didn't fit.

But anyway. Review!