Chapter 2

(Dan's POV)

It was a day like any other. I woke up in my trash dump of an apartment, and I woke up feeling the hatred of one thousand suns like always. I looked over at the digital clock next to my head to find the red numbers displaying, ten twenty-one in the morning. I had to meet Chris around noon, and by meet I really meant that Chris was coming here to pick me up, so that we could do that wretched errand of his.

Chris had plead with me to help him pick out a gift for Elise's upcoming birthday. I normally wouldn't have a problem with something like this, but...I really love the the oblivious oaf I refer to as my best friend. Chris asking me to help pick out a gift for my nemesis in love was hardly a kind thing to do; but he wasn't aware, so he wasn't doing it on purpose. I rose to get out of bed, hitting my head twice on the stupid, forgotten hanging lamp that was positioned over my bed.

Stupid lamp. I really should get a new one. Were my inner thoughts.

I never could bring myself to though. The lamp had been a gift from Chris when I first moved into Casa Paradisio. It was now a quarter to eleven and I decided I should probably take a quick shower; maybe I'd even use some deodorant today.

"Mew." Purred Mr. Mumbles.

"Good morning Mr. Mumbles, yes, I slept pretty good. You?" I asked the tiny kitten.

"Meow."

"Well that's good to hear. Now you be a good kitty while I take a shower." I replied sleepily as I shuffled tiredly into the bathroom.

I sighed deeply once I shut the door. Today was going to be a long, hard day.

I rubbed my face as I turned the hot, then the cold handles, making the now warm, water spurt from the shower head. I peeled my underwear off my slightly sweaty skin and climbed in, letting the warm water envelope me. I scrubbed my body lightly with soap, even my ears were washed this time around (they were really filthy). After that I washed, with shampoo, my raven colored locks of luscious hair. I was as close to squeaky clean as was possible for me personally. I turned the water off. I exited the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist as I cleaned my ears out with a Q-tip.

I froze immediately. Chris was standing just inside the doorway. He must have just arrived because the door was still wide open. I could feel the blood rushing into my cheeks.

"Chris! Wh...what are you- ugh! Why are you here so early!" I yelled as I tried my best to calm down.

"Uh, um, well..." Chris's eyes had strayed from my face, gazing a tad lower than I would have liked.

"Well what!" I impatiently inquired.

"I was ready and I figured you wouldn't mind if I was a little early." Chris stated in a defensive tone.

I growled in frustration and exasperation.

"Whatever, wait here while I get dressed." I snarled.

"And call ahead next time."

Chris began to say something, but I slammed the door to my room, nearly cracking the door frame. I hid my blushing face in my hands as I leaned against the door.

Today's going to be lousy. I thought as I ran my fingers through my damp hair.

I decided I'd better hurry it up, or else Chris might just feel inclined to waltz right in. I pulled on some fresh underwear and my usual jeans quickly. I fished out my shirt from the pile of clothes and slipped it on after I sprayed some deodorant on my arm pits. It actually smelled pretty nice. I heard a light knock at the door.

"Dan? Are you almost ready?" Chris's muffled voice came from the other side.

"Yeah yeah, I'm coming." I replied.

I pulled the door open and walked past Chris, grabbing my keys off the counter, and exiting. He followed close behind me as we walked down the old cement steps to his waiting car. We climbed into the blue vehicle and began to drive down the street.

"So, where are we going?" I asked almost curiously.

"Well, I figured we could go to Burgerphile and grab a bite to eat." Chris had said with a goofy grin on his face. It showed off his, admittedly, adorable gap in his teeth.

"Okay. Then what?"

"We can discuss that over lunch." Chris retorted.

I merely nodded my head, and a few minutes later we pulled into the Burgerphile parking lot. Hortense, the only one I thought could make me forget my feelings for Chris, would never be here. She had ran off to get married to Jeremiah Burger. I could only hope he would die of a heart attack or something. I followed Chris into the building and we ordered. I got my usual hamburger with just the meat and bun while Chris ordered his ridiculous amount of food; always topped off with a chocolate milkshake. We received our sustenance and sat down in a small booth by the window. As I placed ketchup on my burger, Chris instigated the conversation whilst he ate.

"Um, sorry about walking in on you like that."

I froze, my burger inches from my mouth. A small bit of ketchup plopped down onto the tray.

"Wha-why are you even bringing that up? I thought we were going to discuss what to get Elise for her
'special' day!" I harshly replied. I let the annoyance I felt show clearly on my face.

"I just wanted to apologize before we discussed Elise." Chris quietly stated.

"Fine, apology accepted, now let's just get to the topic at hand." I hissed.

"Yeah, okay." Chris replied as he stuffed the last bit of cheeseburger down his gullet.

He really could fit a lot of food into his mouth. After we had both finished eating, we decided on a watch. We were heading towards the store, Watch Emporium. They had a pretty nice selection usually. Only problem was you had to drive down a long wooded road to get to the store.

Chris and I walked through the large double doors and couldn't help but gawk in awe at all the watches; whether they were expensive or dirt cheap. A young, female employee spotted us soon after we'd entered the establishment and approached us quickly.

"Hello sirs. Is there anything I could help you two lovely people with? We have a special discount for couples today." The perky young woman stated.

I practically threw up.

"Excuse me?" I felt my cheeks turning red again.

"Um, we're not a couple. Dan here is just a friend, he's helping me pick out a watch for my wife's birthday." Chris explained nervously.

"Oh, I apologize. I just assumed-"

"Yeah, you did." I stated grumpily.

"Well, here's the discount coupon anyways. I hope you find what you're looking for." With that she strolled away.

"That wasn't very nice of you to cut her off in the middle of her apology Dan." Chris harshly whispered.

"Whatever, let's just find your wife her stupid watch so we can get out of here." I snapped.

I averted my eyes in time to see the female employee looking at me with an almost sad understanding. She couldn't have known how I felt though after only looking at me for a few seconds.

"Dan!" I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Chris yelling.

"What?"

"This one looks perfect! It's a matching set." Chris pointed excitedly into a glass case.

I slunk over to where he was standing and saw a double watch set. One was for a male, the other a more slender, feminine design. They were really nice, and with that fifty percent discount it would be a bargain buy.

"Yeah, she'd really like this one. You should get it." I could feel tears pricking at my eyes. But I blinked them back and didn't let it show. I was good at hiding my sadness by now.

"Okay, well that went a lot quicker than I thought it would!" Chris spoke cheerfully.

"I'll go get these rung up."

I nodded my head in approval. "I'll go and wait by the car."

"Sounds good." Chris said as he rushed off to the check out area.

I rushed out to the car, only to be stopped at the door by the young woman from earlier.

"I am so sorry about your unrequited love." She stated. She at least sounded genuine.

"Look lady, I appreciate your concern, but I don't need your pity or sympathy. It will only make things worse." I sighed, irritated.

"I know, and I apologize. But I noticed something when I mistook you two for a couple." My ears perked up at this.

"What's there to notice? He probably looked completely disgusted at the idea." I inferred.

"No no no, nothing like that. He blushed slightly. You were crimson red, but that's besides the point. Because he blushed, that must mean he's thought about it before right?" The employee excitedly spoke.

"I guess, but someone like Chris? That's just impossible. I've known him for years, plus, he's married."

"Yeah, well just give it some thought. Maybe he'd be more than willing to begin a relationship with you." She smiled.

Chris was suddenly standing next to me, causing me to jump.

"Chris! Don't sneak up on me like that!" I grumbled.

"Sorry, I was just wondering if you were done talking to her and ready to go." Chris asked.

"Yeah, let's go. Thanks, maybe I'll see you again sometime." I bid my farewell and got inside the passenger's seat next to Chris.

We began our long drive back home in dead silence until Chris apparently couldn't take it anymore.

"So what were you two talking about?" Chris had inquired curiously.

"Nothing really. She just had a question about some useless thing to do with love. Don't know why she was asking me though." I answered stiffly.

Chris suddenly jerked the steering wheel, pulling over to the side of the road.

"Are you crazy!" I screeched.

"Don't lie to me Dan. She was talking with you about me wasn't she?" Chris sternly questioned.

"W-well yes. But it's nothing important that you need to know about." I stuttered.

Chris shoved the car door open and slammed it shut as he walked over to my side. He opened the door and gestured for me to exit as well. I hesitantly unbuckled my seatbelt and joined him. Chris roughly closed the door and locked the car so I couldn't get back inside.

"Tell me what you two were talking about." Chris had a serious look on his face, his brows were a little furrowed in the middle.

"No." I said bluntly.

"Dan, TELL me. I mean NOW." Chris was beginning to look a tad on the angry side.

"I said no." I mumbled.

Chris released a sigh of annoyance and ran his fingers quickly through his hair. He was actually loosing his cool.

"Dan, I already have an idea of what was said, just tell me!" Chris spat out.

"NO!" I yelled. I didn't want to deal with this right now.

Chris had opened his mouth, ready to make another demand. I lost it, tears were threatening to fall. I suddenly tackled Chris sending us down a shallow slope into the forest.

~Author's Note:

Okay, so here's how they came to be there from Dan's POV. Next chapter we'll get to see things from Chris's POV. I'll probably have it up sometime tomorrow; if not, then definitely Friday. Hope you gus enjoyed the latest chapter!