-Dan-

Dean let out a long exhale. "Something did happen, but I wasn't going to say anything because I didn't want to embarrass Olly. But now he's brought it all out into the open. I guess I'll have to"
"Carry on" I said, folding my arms.
"There's not a lot to say, really. Olly tried it on with me on the stag night, and I knocked him back. I think he was trying to get me into his room. I was off my face, so I can't say for sure. I didn't even know he was gay-

"Lunch is ready!"

I sigh, lunch is interrupting my reading again. Why does food always have to be ready when it gets to the good bit? Maybe I just read to much.

That is a possibility.

I look up from my book to see PJ and Chris quickly placing their controller's on the floor and dashing towards the kitchen. Jack is next to move. He stands up, quickly following his beloved friends. Don't get me wrong, Jack is a nice guy but he needs to stop following PJ around like a lost puppy. I then look over to Phil, he's smiling at me softly as he carefully slides a book mark into his book.

"Come on, lets go before Chris steals our lunch like last time" I can tell he's trying to make a joke out of it but his voice cracks slightly as he speaks. Chris is the 'popular boy' if you would, around here. He seems to think he's the best and always will be. Phil's dark hair falls in front of his face as he stands up, moving over to the book shelf were he slots his book into place. I do the same, following him into the dining room. As we take our seats Ben and Tom walk in, the two youngest boys here.

Soon everyone is seated, smiling and chatting like usual. Chris is telling everyone some story he read in a magazine or something. I never know if he's telling the truth or not. I mean, there are some crazy things happen in the world but I swear he just makes half the stuff up. He loves to be the centre off attention. Everyone lets him be as well.

"What were you reading?"

I look up to see Mary, our care worker, looking at me with a small smile on her lips. I guess she noticed I wasn't talking and decided to try include me. Well, it worked, they're all looking at me now. It's kinda intimidating. I'm not socially awkward or anything but I like to have my own space. I don't like being 'normal', or what people class as normal now. Phil gives me a small nudge, that's when I remember I'm being talked to.

"Um, it's called 'Head in the clouds much?'"

I reply softly, looking down at the meal in front of me. It really is weird having seven sets of eyes all looking at you, waiting for you to talk. I'm not sure I like it at all.

"What's it about, Dan?" Mary asks. She really wants to know? Well, if they don't judge me already they will now.

"It's about this guy who's in love with his friend at his work"

"And what's the girls name?"

"…the guys name is Dean"

That's the moment I saw Chris's gaze turn from curious to… I'm not even sure what it was. The small smirk forming on his face scared me a little though.

"That's so weird. Is you reading this your way of secretly telling Phil you're a faggot?"

"Chris" Mary shot a disapproving look in Chris's direction as I lowered my head to stare at my plate again.

"You're gay with Peej so I don't see what the big deal is" I mumbled softly more to myself than anyone else.

Mary let a small sigh out as she looked around at us all. Everyone had gone quiet. Even Ben and Tom who were usually always laughing and joking with each other or the rest of us.

"It's time for your class work now, I'll come get you when it's time for a break"

Class work.

It was a sort of distraction to avoid situations. I stood up, looking to Phil and the rest who all stood up as well. Ben and Tom didn't do class work at the same time as us. Normal kids would all be in school, well, other kids in a care home like us. But not us. We just don't go to school. We have teachers who come by our 'classroom' to teach us sometimes. We always have Mary who helps us when she can. I guess we just don't need to go since we're taught here. I don't see it as that much of a deal. The less people, the better.

We all walk into our 'classroom' and all take our seats. Chris sits with PJ and Jack and I sit on the other side of the room with Phil. Phil's great to sit with, he only talks when you actually want him too. He'll maybe say the odd thing about a lion he spots in the textbook or some joke about the others to cheer me up. But he's nothing like Chris, thank god for that. I couldn't deal with having to be close friends with someone as loud and obnoxious as Chris. I try to be nice to everyone, but him. Chris is an imposable person to be nice too.

I open my text book and smile over at Phil who seems to be lost on what page we're on. "47, we we're on the same page last time" I told him quietly, finding the page for him.

"Thank you" he said, grinning at me before turning his attention back to the textbook. I sigh quietly.

This is gonna be a long hour of work.

So Mary finally came and saved us from our boredom about an hour after that. She collected in our work then lead us outside. It was a pleasant, sunny day. Just the kind you should be spending outside. As we stepped into the garden I noticed Ben and Tom were on the swings, laughing as they tried to see who could go the highest. I smiled softly, just watching them.

I wish I was still that age, being too young to really care about anything else but having fun and friends. They both jumped off the swings at the same time landing on the ground with a soft thump. They grinned at each other as they ran over to the sand pit, quickly claiming a bucket and spade each as they began to build their sand kingdom.

Mary went back inside, telling us before she went that we should 'get some fresh air'. Really, I didn't disagree with her. I quite liked being outside. I mean, if I had been allowed to pick up my book I would have been happier, but this was fine. Chris, PJ and Jack made their way over to the swings quickly claiming them as they began to talk about whatever. I wasn't really interested in what they were talking about honestly, I had Phil to talk to. We both sat on the ground, a little away from the swing set, but not so far away that we couldn't hear what the rest of them were talking about.

"This party tonight's gonna be so awesome"

Chris said, leaning back in his swing slightly. For a minute I thought he was about to actually start swinging but, no. That's way too 'un-cool'.

"I have the perfect outfit picked out"

Of course he does, probably something incredibly slutty that shows off everything he has and makes PJ want to drag him upstairs.

"Yeah it'll be awesome, nothing better than a Halloween party"

PJ said, smiling softly at Chris. I don't understand how he can like Chris. I don't know though, maybe he's different when he's just around PJ. He isn't too bad. But still. They're supposed to be 'dating', I guess you can call it that. Let's get one thing straight here. I am not jealous of Chris. Don't even think that. I just generally feel sorry for PJ having to put up with all his crap.

"You said it"

That was Jack who said that. It's kinda cute that's he's trying to be in their conversations. I just feel sorry for him because Chris constantly has PJ's attention these days so they don't hang out as much as they used to. Phil sometimes sits and talks to Jack when PJ and Chris are off where ever doing whatever.

"Even in this dump, these things still rock"

Like I said, it's kinda cute. No, not he's kinda cute. It's kinda cute. Don't get those two things mixed up.

"I can't wait until tonight"

Phil looked so excited as he grinned at me, like this was the highlight of his year.

"Seems like everyone else is excited too. Most of all I can't wait to see this costume of yours"

It was my turn to smile as those words left his mouth. Of course, my costume. Phil was super excited to see it. I had given him clues about it but had managed to hide it away from him.

"It's not that great Phil, but still, I do agree"

I smiled at him

"Tonight will be fun"