Chapter 2: Alphabet Boy

"Sooo," Louise drawled out, fluttering her long mascara coated eyelashes. Dan sighed, waiting for the endless amount of questions to begin, like they did every god damned morning. "You're meeting Phil this morning, right? For your 'French lessons,' correct?"

"Yes," Dan responded between gritted teeth. "You know I've been meeting him every school day for the past two weeks."

Two weeks ago, Dan had told Louise (almost) everything about his encounter with Phil Lester. He conveniently left out the numerous times the older teen made him blush, or the fact that he revealed he was only thirteen years old.

The first few days of French lessons were insanely uncomfortable. After the first week, Dan had warmed up to Phil and took his French lessons seriously. During the second week they grew even more fond of each other, and started talking about things that weren't French related. Dan discovered they shared many similar interests such as video games, scary movies, music tastes, favorite foods, and dreams for the future.

During the second half of the second week, they became more accustomed to each other. Although they would never admit it out loud, both boys looked forward to spending their mornings alone together. Phil had offered Dan a ride home once or twice, and Dan gladly accepted, happy to be riding in Phil's sleek black Mercedes.

"Are you excited to see him again?" the blonde haired girl questioned, her voice filled with curiosity.

Dan scoffed and rolled his beautiful chocolate colored eyes. "You know I hate the guy. Why the hell would I be excited to see him?"

More like, why the hell am I lying to myself?

Louise giggled and twirled a long strand of hair between her fingertips. An obvious blush was painted across her make up covered face.

"I don't know, maybe it's the fact that he's cute and popular? Come on, Dan. I know you're not blind. You have eyes, you can clearly see how gorgeous he is!"

"Since when did you care about superficial things like looks and popularity?" Dan asked, exasperated with his best friend. Thankfully, his question was a perfect excuse to disregard Louise's previous claim.

Dan and Louise had never been ones to care about social status or school reputations. Why was she suddenly so interested?

"I don't," she replied. "I only care because I think he likes you."

Dan chuckled and ran his hands through his hair. "As if a senior like him would over date a little kid like me."

Louise sneered and crossed her arms across her chest. "You're not a little kid... I'm only playing when I call you Cry Baby. God, you are so dense."

"I am not dense."

"Whatever you say, Cry Baby," Louise mocked. She loved Dan to pieces, but he was quite stubborn at times.

Dan rolled his eyes once more and placed his hands on his slim hips. "Moving on, what do you mean I'm not a little kid? I'm a socially inept thirteen year old in a private high school. I'm the literal definition of a child around here."

"Okay, you're younger than all the other kids her physically, but mentally you're more mature than all of the students enrolled at our school."

"I am?" Dan asked, surprised his best friend was being so kind. Typically she was fun and goofy, but right now her voice carried a more serious tone.

"Yes, you are," Louise continued. "You're intelligent, kind, emotional, and the perfect student. You try hard and always work for what you want, even when there are obstacles pushing you back. The way you dealt with the incident, I've always admired you for that..."

Dan's blood ran cold as the gray eyed girl's voice trailed off. She was right. He did handle the incident well.

"Yeah, t-thanks for that."

Louise smiled, her eyes trailing across Dan's lean body. The thirteen year old felt himself shiver out of discomfort.

"Also, don't give me that bullshit about you hating him. I'm not blind, either. You stare at him all the time and all you ever do is talk about him."

"I-I do n-not!" Dan stuttered, a deep blush appearing on his tan cheeks.

"You should get to the auditorium," Louise said, saving Dan from his own cringey behavior. "The bell is about to ring, and I doubt you want to keep Phil waiting. And remember, you really are mature. You proved yourself to me."

"Thanks, Louise. I'll see you in English."

And with that, the brown haired boy walked off in the opposite direction, refusing to turn back.

Why does she keep bringing up the incident? Doesn't she understand that it's over now? We're safe, it's been weeks since it happened... Why can't she just let it go?

~Page Break~

"So," Pj groaned, trying to break the awkward tension within his group of friends. "Did you guys like, make out or something? What's wrong with you two?"

Chris' face completely drained of color and Phil struggled to find the right words. The blue eyed boy knew Chris had been crushing on Pj for months, so this situation must have been especially mortifying for him.

"No," Phil finally said. "Nothing happened between us, and nothing ever will."

"Why not?" Chris asked. "Am I not your type?"

"Nope," Phil replied simply, purposely popping the p.

"Is it because I don't have soft brown hair and pretty chocolate colored eyes?" Chris joked.

Phil glared at the shorter boy, and Pj's eyes quickly went from one teen to another. Phil stomped on Chris' foot, causing the brown haired teen to scream.

"Fuck, Phil! I was just playing with you!"

"It wasn't funny!" Phil protested.

"Okay, can someone please tell me what's going on here? I'm feeling really left out, and it's not a good feeling."

Phil sighed, contemplating whether he should keep his mouth shut or tell Pj the truth. The dark haired boy knew he didn't have the best group of friends. If he was totally honest with himself, he knew the only reason he hung out with his group of friends was because he wanted to be liked and fit in. He didn't actually care about any them, he just wanted a good reputation and the popularity that came with it. Yes, it was a vain thing to do, but he'd rather be considered vain than be a forgotten outcast.

Chris and Pj... They weren't like the others. The three of them had grown up on the same street and been friends since before they could walk. Phil knew he could trust both teens with his life.

"It's a long story," Phil began. "Let's go somewhere more private. I'll explain it then."

The group of three exchanged a mutual nod and headed towards the school's exit. They found a nice quiet place behind the main entrance. Pj sat down on an unoccupied rock, Chris flopped down onto the grass, and Phil simply sat down with his legs perfectly crossed.

"Explan?" Pj asked softly, the hurt evident in his voice.

Phil nodded his head, building up the courage to reveal the truth. He sincerely hoped Pj would understand and not brand him as a disgusting freak. The blue eyed boy took in a deep breath and started to speak.

"If you haven't noticed, I've had the biggest crush on Dan Howell since the beginning of the school year."

Pj's hurt look was swiftly replaced by a shit eating grin. "The junior with the pretty smile and even prettier eyes?"

"Yes, him. Well, kind of," Chris added, rolling around in the lush green grass.

"Kind of?" Pj repeated, suddenly lost within the conversation.

"He's thirteen years old," Phil clarified, the words burning his heart.

Pj had the same response that Chris had. His jaw dropped open from shock and he was at a painful lost for words.

"I know," Phil sighed. "I couldn't believe it either."

"How can he only be thirteen? He's the smartest kid in my digital programming class. He tutors all of the other older kids!"

"I had the same response," Chris stated.

"So, how is that going to work?" Pj questioned. "Between you and Dan, I mean."

"There is no me and Dan," Phil countered. He had to pinch the inside of his palm in order to keep himself from displaying the disappointment he was secretly feeling. "Yes, I have a massive crush on him, but I can't do anything about it. He's a minor, for god's sake! I can't risk getting caught in a romantic relationship with a thirteen year old kid. I'd get in major trouble, and no universities would ever even dream about accepting me. I can't risk my future over some pretty kid with nice lips and gorgeous eyes."

"Nice lips and gorgeous eyes," Chris mouthed, but neither Phil nor Pj noticed.

"So you're never going to tell him?" Pj pushed.

"Right," Phil said. "I should go. Class is about to start, and I wouldn't want to keep Dan waiting for too long. We have a lot to go over before he's fully caught up with the rest of the class."

~Page Break~

As Phil walked down the corridors of The Forrest School, he effectively managed to shut the rest of the world out. The only thing on his mind was a certain chocolate eyed boy. Nothing else mattered right now.

The idea of having to work side by side, on a couch, alone with Dan every morning made Phil's heart do a gymnastics routine. Sadly, he knew nothing would ever happen between them. Nothing ever could happen between them. If anything did, then Phil's entire future could possibly be ruined.

Phil decided that he would keep his feelings locked away in his heart, forever hiding them from the person he cared for the most.

The dark haired boy entered the auditorium a few minutes before the bell was scheduled to ring. He was surprised to find Dan already sitting on the couch, his French textbook opened in front of him.

Phil ran his eyes over Dan's lean and beautiful form. Today he was clad in a tight pair of black skinny jeans, matching black Converse, and a Muse t-shirt.

"I love your shirt," Phil remarked, joining the younger boy on the couch.

"You like Muse?" Dan asked, visibly impressed. The little smile pulling at his dark pink lips made Phil's heart melt.

"They're my favorite band of all time," Phil answered, a perky smile inching onto his own lips.

"What's your favorite song?" Dan continued like the excited teenager he physically was.

The older boy shifted closer towards Dan, their knees and shoulders now touching. Dan felt an electric current course throughout his body.

"How about we say it at the same time?" Phil suggested sweetly.

Dan eagerly nodded his head, and at the same time, they both blurted out Undisclosed Desires.

"No way!" Dan yelled.

Phil grinned and playfully ruffled his hand in Dan's soft scene styled hair. "You're such a cute little kid."

Dan's smile faded and he gave Phil a sideways glance. "I'm not a little kid."

"You're thirteen," Phil countered.

"And?" Dan retorted. "I may be young physically, but mentally I'm above most of the students at this school."

The brown haired boy who, moments ago was actually enjoying Phil Lester's company, was now overcome with anger. How dare Phil treat him like a child? Where did he got off, talking to him like he was some little boy?

"Sure you are, Dan."

Dan scoffed and scrunched up his nose. "So now you're deciding to act like an asshole?"

"I am not acting like an asshole!" Phil defended.

"Yes you are!" Dan screamed, his voice cracking. He hated his stupid body for still going through puberty.

Phil giggled, unable to keep his grin hidden any longer. Dan, still filled with embarrassment, picked up his French textbook and headed for the auditorium's exit.

"Where do you think you're going!" Phil called after him.

"I don't need this bullshit!" Dan shouted over his shoulder. "I'm old enough to make my own damn choices!"

"You-You can't leave!" Phil argued. "We have a lot to review today!"

"Vous vis, vous inutile! Je ne suis pas votre chienne!"

"Dan, Dan get back here! Get back here right now!" the older boy demanded.

"You're not my daddy and I'm not your little dolly, you can't control me!"

And with that, the thirteen year old opened the auditorium door and sprinted down the hallway, trying to get as far away from Phil as possible. Hot and angry tears flowed down his tan cheeks. Dan let out a little sob as he stormed into the boy's bathroom.

Fucking Christ, I can't believe I actually thought I had a chance with someone like him! Of course he doesn't like me! He's an eighteen year old man, and I'm just some little kid who was nerdy enough to be placed in his class!

Dan slammed his fist against the bathroom mirror, completely shattering the glass. Thankfully, his fist didn't receive any serious damage, but he still decided to leave that bathroom and never look back.

~Page Break~

Dan managed to avoid Phil for the rest of the school day. Even in their shared French class, he faced forward the whole time. Whenever Phil tried to tap his shoulder, the younger boy would let out an aggravated huff and brush him off. Whenever Phil or Chris tried to pass him a note, Dan would loudly crumple up the piece of paper and toss it into the garbage.

When the school day was finally over, Dan jumped out of his seat and practically bolted for the school's exit, trying his best to avoid a certain blue eyed boy in the process. For whatever reason, the universe seemed to be working against him today.

Unlike the normal boring and predictably sunny weather of London, the city decided to have a massive downpour of rain.

"Bloody hell," Dan muttered underneath his breath. "We don't even live in the north!"

He knew his mother and father were too busy teaching at the University of London to pick him up and give him a ride home, which meant he would have to walk the three and a half miles to his house in the pouring rain.

The chocolate eyed boy, now fully accepting his fate, maneuvered his way past various students and down a flight of wet stairs. Halfway down, he felt a large and strong hand wrap around his thin wrist. He would have fallen over if it hadn't been for the mysterious person's strong grip.

"Dan. Come on, talk to me. You can't ignore me forever."

The brown haired boy instantly recognized that the voice belonged to none other than Phil Lester. He quickly retracted his hand and continued to stomp down the slippery stairs, still upset about being compared to a child.

"Dan! Seriously Dan, let's just talk!" Phil yelled.

"I have nothing to say to you!" Dan shouted over his shoulder for the second time that day.

Just go away, Phil. You've already broken my heart. There's no need to rub it in.

"Are you really going to ignore me for the rest of the school year? Stop acting like this!"

The thirteen year old whipped around and gave Phil his best death glare. "Can you stop, please?" His eyes scanned the quad, and Dan realized he and Phil had gathered the attention of the entire school.

"Please?" Dan repeated. "You draw enough attention as it is. I don't need this right now."

My heart can't take this right now.

"Okay, fine, I'll stop yelling," Phil compromised. "But can you at least let me drive you home? If I don't, you'll catch a cold out here, and then I'll never be able to forgive myself."

Dan looked up at the stormy gray sky. The rain was coming down even harder before, and he had a feeling the pattern would continue for at least a few more hours.

"Fine," Dan agreed bitterly. "But only because I don't want to walk over three miles in the freezing rain."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Phil's lips. "Let's go."

Dan simply nodded his head and followed the taller boy all the way into the school parking lot. Phil unlocked his Mercedes and got into the front seat, Dan copying his motions and climbing into the passenger side. They barely drove down the street before Phil started talking.

"I'm sorry that I was mean to you earlier," Phil said so quietly, Dan wasn't sure if he heard him right.

"Excuse me?" Dan questioned, raising a perfectly arched brown eyebrow.

Phil snickered as he came to a stop at a red light. "I know you heard me the first time."

"No, I didn't. I swear," the younger boy promised. "I wouldn't manipulate your words like that."

Phil swallowed his pride and worried his bottom lip between his teeth. "I said I was sorry about what happened this morning. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."

"It's about time," Dan grumbled. "I told you you were acting like a total dick!"

"I know, I know," Phil admitted. "I'm sorry for acting like such a twat."

"Why were you so mean to me?" Dan inquired, his sensitive side breaking through the surface.

Phil turned the corner, raking his mind for an answer to Dan's question. They were almost to the brown haired boy's house.

"I don't know," the blue eyed teen sighed. "Maybe it's because I was afraid?"

Dan snorted and rolled his lovely chocolate colored eyes. "You're afraid of me? Why?"

Phil pulled over onto the side of the road. They were over fifteen minutes away from Dan's house on foot, but it would only be a three minute drive from there.

"Why did you pull over?" Dan asked.

The older boy put the car into park and turned off the vehicle. He briskly ran his hand through his hair and across his pale face, unable to meet Dan's troubling gaze.

"There's a lot I haven't told you, and I was never expecting to say anything in the first place."

"Can you just tell me instead of being so damn cryptic?" Dan pushed.

Phil felt like his heart was about to explode. He liked Dan. He knew he liked Dan. He also knew that pursuing a younger boy could destroy his entire future.

Then again, Phil always wanted things he couldn't have. And Dan Howell was definitely one of those things.

Mustering up all the courage he had within him, Phil decided to reveal his feelings to the younger boy. If Dan rejected him, fine. At least he wouldn't have to live with the regret and thoughts of what could have been. And if Dan returned his feelings, well, then they'd cross that bridge when they got there...

"You're not a little kid," Phil began. "Mentally, at least, like you mentioned before. Your emotional intelligence is that of a mature young adult. But physically, you're still a minor."

Dan cringed within his seat. He hated the word minor. It made him feel uncomfortable. This whole ordeal made him feel uncomfortable!

"And?" Dan asked softly, his tone urging Phil to continue. He felt like his heart was on fire.

"But I think you're really cool," Phil continued, not cutting to the point he was trying to make.

"I think you're cool, too," Dan stated. "Obviously everyone in school thinks you're cool, but I don't think they see past the commercial persona you try so hard to maintain. You're not like all your other friends, Phil. I was stupid for ever believing that you were."

After spending so much time with Phil, the younger boy realized he was different from all the other popular kids. He actually cared about his grades and school. He had a real personality, and when he was that Phil, he was funny and creative and childish and a million other little things Dan loved. Yes, Dan felt love towards the blue eyed boy, and he had been struggling for days to keep his feelings hidden.

Phil's cheeks burned red. People always complimented him, but they were just doing it to get on Phil's good side. But Dan... He was always honest with Phil. He said things other students wouldn't dare say to his face, or at all for that matter. He kept things genuine and never conformed to Phil's standards just to keep him happy like everybody else did.

"I meant it when I said you looked cute this morning," Phil admitted.

"W-What?" Dan stuttered, his pupils blowing wide and his insides burning bright.

Phil placed his hand on top Dan's and intertwined their fingers together. He half expected the younger boy to pull away, but he was pleasantly surprised when he felt Dan's hand respond.

"I said," Phil started, facing Dan and slowly inching forward. He smirked when he saw the younger boy bite his lower lip. "I think you're cute."

"Are you going to kiss me now?" the younger boy whispered against Phil's soft lips.

When Phil didn't respond, Dan eagerly leaned forward, connecting his lips with Phil's.

End of another chapter!

Haha, sorry for the seriously lame ending. Who doesn't love a good cliffhanger? If you guys could drop a review, favorite and follow this story, share it with friends, etc it would mean the world to me.

I honestly don't know when I'm going to update, but hopefully soon! Reviews help me write faster!

~Naya