Bzzzzz.
The light above the flight of stairs flickered weakly as the two boys stumbled into the corridor.
"Dan," giggled Phil, as he struggled to support Dan's limp figure against his shoulder. His eyes were glazed, Phil observed as their gazes interlocked.
In an instant, the translucent sheen in his eyes dissipated and the warm brown of Dan's eyes suddenly resurfaced, his pupils juxtaposed perfectly, huge and questioning, curiously stark against the paleness of Dan's shockingly pale wintry skin.
The two had just arrived back at their flat in central London after a Christmas dinner at their friend Briony's house. Needless to say, their inhibitions had been thrown out the window a long time ago as they'd consumed more alcohol in the last seven hours than they had in the entire second half of the year. It was late, and both of them were giddy and unusually happy.
"Dan…" repeated Phil, his heart pounding away in his ribcage. He and Dan hadn't been this wasted since - 2009. They had agreed that any form of physical affection was awkward in their uncertain relationship, so Phil was more than surprised with the way Dan was behaving.
The brunette had pulled the older man into a tight embrace, feeling every inch of his broad back, the strong and unwavering back that had been by his side for so many years. He squeezed Phil hard and didn't loosen his grip for even a second.
"Promise-" Dan sniffed, trying his best not to let anymore tears spill down his cheeks. The rest of his sentence was incomprehensible to Phil, who felt that his heart was literally being twisted around in his chest by an invisible hand.
"What was that, bear?" he whispered softly,
"Nothing," said Dan, horrified at the words that had fallen out of his lips so easily. He hoped Phil hadn't heard them.
Phil was speechless as Dan extended both arms and pushed him away so forcefully he almost stumbled over.
The tears were flowing freely down Dan's cheeks now, and acccompanied by the sound of choking sobs. Phil reached out to Dan but pulled back almost instantly, realising that Dan was not in a state to be messed around with. He had seen this Dan before, he thought, his heart sinking. It was best to leave him alone.
"You fool!" Dan screeched, smacking his own forehead in frustration. "Don't look at me, I'm a screwed up mess," he moaned, looking at Phil pleadingly.
Unsure how to respond, Phil could do nothing but stare at his own feet uneasily.
Dan felt his cheeks burning with embarassment. He then turned around and scurried up the stairs and didn't look back until he reached his room.
The sound of Dan's slamming his room door shut echoed throughout the silent flat dismally, leaving Phil alone, weary and hurt. An overwhelming sense of loneliness swept into his heart as he walked into the kitchen silently to make himself a mug of hot cocoa, putting aside the chaos he felt to be dealt with in the morning. Or rather, the chaos in Dan's heart.
Phil sighed as he flicked the kettle on. It was going to be a long night.