Phil is practically bouncing as he runs down the stairs to Dan's room. The apartment is decorated in streamers and multi-coloured fairly lights. He wears a bright red paper hair with pride, holding a noise maker in his left hand.

He knocks excitedly.

"Dan, Dan! Come on, it's nearly time!"

There's no answer, just the sound of heavy thumps and a zipper opening.

"Dan?" Phil steps into the room. As he looks around and takes in exactly what's happening, he freezes.

"Uh, Dan? W-what's going on?" he asks anyway, like an idiot. He can't quite believe what he's seeing.

But Dan doesn't answer, just shoves more clothing into the black suitcase on the bed. When he looks at Phil, his eyes are oddly cold and hard.

The noisemaker ironically makes no noise as if falls onto the carpeted floor, abandoned.

"Dan, talk to me. What's happening?"

The suitcase is nosily zipped up as Dan seems to put the finishing touches on his packing.

Dan, please."

Phil has a lump in his throat. He walks over to Dan's side, tears in his eyes now.

Helplessly he stands, as Dan puts on his coat and ties up his shoes, pulling the suitcase down the hall. There's an ache in his chest that's threatening to break him in two, tears falling onto the floor with soft drips.

"Why?" His voice broke. "Why are you leaving me? What did I do?'

"What didn't you do Phil? You see those comments. "Heart Eyes Howell", "Love Eyes Lester,". If this is the only way for them to see, then I'm willing to do it."

"You don't need to prove yourself to them Dan! If you need space, I can do that. Please Dan. All I need is my best friend back."

Dan's face has hardened again.

"I'm sorry Phil. I can't." Then he turns towards the door.

"Don't leave, we can be happy, I swear we were happy…"

"Goodbye."

And the tear's fill Phil's eye's again, swelling and falling over his cheeks as he blinks again.

"I need you, Dan."

"Well, I don't need you."

And the door slammed shut with a final bang as Dan disappeared forever.

Phil collapsed to his knees and let himself cry until he looked as broken as he felt. The clock struck midnight and outside the window were flashing lights and the sounds of fireworks as cheers roar up from the crowds. As the celebration reaches his ears, he wishes harder than ever that none of this had happened and he was with Dan, having a little celebration of their own, full of joy and smiles. But Dan was gone, and in part, had taken a huge piece of Phil with him, one that he knew he was never going to replace.

Happy New Year, Dan.