Author's note; Happy new year everyone! AND SHERLOCK SHERLOCK SHERLOCK DAY ANDERSON WHY

Jan 21st

So all I can really do is stare at Phil. He's way older than me, I have no chance with him. Plus I don't even know if I'm gay. Although GOSSIP ALERT; I do know that Phil's gay. A few girls were whispering about it next to me at lunch. I was sat with boys in my year. They're not exactly my favorite people in the world but it's either them or sit alone. I prefer the latter. So yeah, the girls were discussing whom they'd go lesbian for (note; girls are weird) which lead to a long and slightly boring conversation to the homosexual pupils. It became very not-boring when they spoke about Phil though. Apparently he had a boyfriend who left school last year to go to college instead of sixth form. Apparently that's why he looks sad a lot. I wish I could be the one to make him happy. It'd be a privilege.

Jan 23rd - House time (a.k.a free period/form)

I'm not the biggest fan of school but house time is nearly torture. I don't have anybody to talk to in house, the only students I actually knew were some popular girls and I've never even spoken to them. I just kind of awkwardly sat in the corner, doing some homework. Well, I used to until the girls started to spread a rumor that I was gay (I don't know how they even found out) and more or less the whole house turned on me. A colourful array of insults thrown pointedly at me, a few shoves, weird looks and nasty thoughts were enough to make me go to sullen and quiet Dan mode. Luckily my teacher noticed and I'm being transferred to a new house. Today.

I walk down a corridor plastered with club propaganda, accompanied with my old house tutor. I stay silent, like always, just looking at the posters around me. "Dan, do you want me to tell your new teacher why the other students were being mean? It's totally up to you hun," She's being so nice to me but treating me like a child. I sigh, pondering her question. Do I want my new house tutor to know I was being taken the piss out of? Maybe, then if it happens again, I suppose she can put an abrupt stop to it. I nod, still keeping my silence. I don't feel much like talking recently. She catches on and nods back, smiling at me. A pity smile. Ugh. We're nearing the English department; I love English. The language, the writing, the reading. Every aspect of it is enjoyable. Except when we have to speak in front of the class, that sucks. The teacher stops outside of a room I know. My English room. This is Miss. Hellin's house! I smile despite myself whilst the door is opened and Miss. Hellin greets me, the old teacher leaves and I take in the students I'll spend the next three and a half years among. My eyes skim across the class and I note a few girls in my year, popular year elevens, two scared year sevens and cocky footballing year tens. And then I see the sixth former. He's at the back, his nose in a book but I'd know that hair anywhere. It's Philip Lester.

"Listen class! This is our new house member Dan Howell. Be nice, okay?" The pupils look up and eye me suspiciously. The girls know me and go straight back the their boring girl conversation. The sevens look up at me, intimidated; I do look older than my age. The football dudes analyze me, note me down as non-jock and go back to their debate about some game or whatever. Phil looks up hesitantly from his book and- oh. Oh no. He recognized me. From my coughing spree the other day. Wonderful. I blush a deep red, embarrassed from the attention. Still, I look at the ground and I haven't said a word since my arrival. Miss. Hellin smiles and takes me to a desk in the corner, sitting down with me. "I'm sorry about this chuck but I have to ask you about your last house. Regulations," She sighs, holding up a notebook. Another pity smile. I smile back this time, though. Might as well, I do like Miss Hellin afterall. "That's fine," I mumble unintelligibly, still looking down. Why am I so awkward around people? Oh, of course. The bullies in the last house snatched all of my confidence away from me. It all comes just screaming back to me and I breath deeply to calm myself. "Jee, I remember you in year seven, Daniel. You were a bright spark, always smiling and laughing. You know, if something's troubling you, you can always talk to me sweetie," She smiles again. I'm kind of starting to wish smiles are contagious. I just can't bring myself to smile back this time. "Um, yeah. Sure." Wow, let's just slow clap out that reassuring reply. Just. Seriously? I sigh internally, scolding myself for my god-awful social skills. She eyes me, her manner still kind.

"So explain to me hun, what kind of things were the other kids saying to you?" I have a moment of panic, my heart fluttering madly. I inhale fast, getting myself together. How could I possibly say the other kids were mean because I was gay? How could I tell a teacher I was gay?

"Oh, just like insults and stuff. Nothing too bad." I feel eyes looking at me from around the room and my ears accompany my cheeks to a lovely scarlett shade.

"Righty, nothing in particular?" Yes.

"No."

"And you got moved for this?" She motions to my black eye. Oh, yeah. I had forgotten about that.

"Y-yes," I stutter, starting to get worked up about the whole thing. It's not like I was being bullied or anything. There's so much fuss about a few bruises and one student.

"Dan," She says softly. ",Are you okay?" I look up for the first time and see her with concern plainly on her face. I open my mouth to reply but shut it again. She doesn't really have to know. She doesn't really want to; it's just regulations, right? I blink rapidly, riding all emotion. I can still feel eyes trained on me, I can still feel my burning cheeks and I can still feel the aftermath pain from my eye. No, I'm not okay. But I will be, perhaps, if you let me just sit alone in a corner. Forever. "Miss?" I look up again to see- oh. Phil. Um. Okay. "Do you want me to ask?" His eyes (oh god, his gorgeous eyes) look serious and well, it seems Miss. Hellin can trust him because she stands up, defeated. "Remember hun, I'm always here." I nod again. Phil sits opposite me, looking at me, analyzing. Oh, I'm so not ready to confide in my crush. Like I have a choice.

P.s; Hope you enjoyed! A massive thank-you to ElzyPhangirl (first review=internet cupcake :D) and NeverlandNat (second review= internet muffin :D) and to the mysterious guest! Thank-you for the tips :D Ohno, I'll swap Dan to his second year in High School. (I was 13 at the beginning of second year in my English High School)

Please feel free to drop in a review! See you soon -NeonLuna ^.^