Chapter 28 - Everybody's Fool

Once Rita got dressed, Phil follwed suit, and dressed in a pair of jeans, a button-up tee, and a regular t-shirt over it, styling his hair afterward. Rita accidentally walks in, and blushes, though Phil was finished dressing.

"Sorry, I shoulda knocked first," She said, continuing to walk in getting her make-up.

Phil turns around. "Oh, no that's alright. I walked in on Pim once, and that wasn't pretty." He joked. "...but then again, seeing Pim and Simon at it isn't very pretty in itself."

Rita snorted in amusement. "Aaah, I remember when I was that age." She says shaking her head at the memories. "Sophia would always crash in with that freaking camera and take a snapshot of Brett and I..." She says, her voice hanging. "That was before I became a Christian," She whispers.

Phil, noting the sullen vibe, decides to change the vibe by one of his cute antics. He bites his lip, and takes a step, falling flat on his face with an 'oof!'. Rita whips her head, and runs over. "Phil, are you alright?"

He cringes, and rubs the back of his head. "Yeah...yeah I think I'm alright, just mistook one of my steps." He joked as he stood up, Rita helping. The door whips open.

"What are you two kids doing in here?! If ya gonna do it any louder, take it to a motel, will ya?" Pim yells in. Both Rita and Phil cover their ears from her yelling.

"Pim! Take it down a notch!" He says, his ears ringing.

Pim hides the megaphone behind her and looks upon her brother with phony angel eyes. "I'm not that loud...am I?"

Phil sighs in annoyance. "Pim...!"

"Toodles!" She says slamming the door. Rita shakes her head and chuckles.

"Pim's so cute sometimes,"

"Yeah...cute as a rattlesnake." He says, still tending to his ears. "So, ya hungry?"

Rita yawns, and stretches more. "Yeah...I could use a bowl of cereal or somethin'."

"'Kay then, just don't mind my father...I'm sure Sophia told you-"

"Sophia told me everything. Don't worry, I know how to handle this. I'm around bigots everyday,"

Phil nodded, opening his door. They walked down the stairs, and into the kitchen, meeting Barb getting bowls of cereal out. "Hey kids! I'm sure you two are starving!"

Rita smiled. "Sure am Mrs. Diffy,"

Phil hugged his mom then sat down next to Rita, pouring her a glass of orange juice. She bowed her head, and prayed over her cereal. Phil just began digging his spoon, and began eating when Rita nudged him. "What? Oh, right..." He said, closing his eyes for prayer. After a few more seconds, he accidentally crossed himself when Rita nudged him again.

"Phil, that's Catholic."

He blushed. "Uh, right...I knew that."

She shook her head, and sipped her orange juice again. Knocking on the door sounded.

"Come in!" Barb sang. Then the door opened, revealing Keely with a messenger bag, ready for school. "Hey Phil! And Hey..." She said to Phil, acting as if nothing has happened, and trying to search for the other girl's name.

"Rita. Remember, from last...night..."

"Rita! Right...Sorry, I just..."

"That's alright."

Keely sniffed sharply, and looked around. "So...you spent...the night?"

Phil cut in. "Yeah, her parents couldn't stand sleeping in their house, so they got a hotel room, and Rita came over here." He said.

Keely knew this was an automatic lie. No girl just spends the night without doing a little something-something...

"Oh...right," She said, sitting in front of Rita. "So, you guys ready for school?"

Phil looked at Rita for her responce.

"I'm in college. And I'm on break for about a week,"

"Oh, cool. So, you go to Pickford University?"

Rita nodded. "Yup. I'm taking an English Major, and Costume design. I used to take Drama, but I couldn't afford the books on it, so I dropped that course."

Phil continued eating, reading the back of the cereal box, ignorant to the conversation. Keely noticed this, and waved her hand between his face, and the box. He still reads. Rita giggles.

"And Phil is so sweet, he carried me to his room and-"

"WHAT?!" Phil says dropping the spoon in his bowl, just hearing that.

Rita shakes her head. "You're so clueless, Phil."

Keely high-fives Rita. "Nice one. So, Phil, ready for school?"

Phil hits his forehead. "Oh pixiesticks! I forgot about the history test! Shoot, I forgot to study last night..."

Keely brought a piece of paper out of her messenger bag. "Here, Phil. Have my history notes. I won't be needing them anymore,"

"Aw, nice! Keely, you're an angel!" He says, looking at it, and studying like an owl. Rita giggles.

Barb walk back in. "Oh, hi Keely! Phil, you're gonna be late for school!"

Phil looked at his watch. "Scraps, gotta go!" He says scrambling to his room, and back down again with his backpack. "Rita, I'll be back, okay?"

Rita nods, and takes a spoonful of cereal. "Don't rush and be good!" She says kiddingly.

Phil chuckles, and heads out the door with Keely. "Bye mom!" He says waving on out. Barb waves back, and continues to clean the dishes. Rita drinks the last of her orange juice, and pours herself another glassful.