This chapter was entirely different at the beginning when I was writing it. After the fire and all the problems that came with it I came up with something that wasn't something I'd like this story to be (?) I'm not sure, I remember I typed it automatically, but after reading it, I cringed so much I felt my muscles seizing, it was horrible at the beginning o.o
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that you're not missing out anything, and that I worked lot of time to get this one done well. I hope you enjoy!
WARNINGS: violence
It wasn't there. Dan swore under his breath as he rummaged through the dark and dusty classroom where he had encountered the creepy guys. He had looked everywhere; checked every corner, peeked under every desk.
Ready for the worst, he even checked the men's room. Luckily, no one flushed his favorite bag down a filthy toilet.
Feeling down and resigned about finding it, Dan wandered the school halls. His intuition told him he should make sure he had money for a new one. And it had to be the exact same type or his parents would get suspicious. Dan had no idea where he could find the same model of a middle size bag in a green pastel colour, with little black flowers and skulls. His was ultimate; he had been putting money aside for it for months. It was going to be a tough job, doing it all again.
Dan balled his fists as he passed classroom from which the usual sounds were coming from; teacher giving a lecture and students' silent whispers.
He had enough of his friend's behavior, Rob. First, he got Dan into such mess and then he only deepened it. Probably whole school knew now about what Rob made it look like; that Dan had been his secret boyfriend who forced Rob to homosexuality.
How much Dan wished he had never swiped those contacts in the first place.
The teacher paused his lecture and was reprimanding some student. Dan couldn't hear his voice; he must had been sitting at the back of the classroom, but Dan didn't waste any time, knowing what would come next. Because though the student's voice remained anonymous, the teacher's didn't. It was Mr Herb, mathematician who was able to throw somebody out of the classroom for same suspicious behavior. If someone didn't listen, or was daydreaming, the best ending was being thrown out of the classroom.
As Dan predicted, soon the door opened, pushed rather harshly. Dan squeaked, noticing he didn't have any hide-away around and he tried to calm down his speeding heart.
He kept walking forward, with no idea where to go. Hands in pockets, with merely his phone, Dan felt he was outstanding more than he normally would before all this. He shouldn't have been here, he knew, everyone had classes, but here he was, almost jogging not gracefully down the hall, praying the thrown out student wasn't the Bulky.
Appear normal, you're just going somewhere, you have a destination, he repeated to himself, attempting to calm down.
"Hey!"
But Dan paid no attention to what the person was saying; he broke into a run. The voice was familiar, Dan feared it was one of the Muscle-No-Brain band.
Certain to have lost his follower, Dan stopped and gulped for air, leaning his forehead on a wall. He glanced around, but no one was in sight. Content and partially calmed down, he plopped down on the floor behind the corner. It was away from the routes people took, no one ever really paid attention to this place. Dan should be safe here, at least until the bell.
"Oh, here you are!"
Nearly jumping on his two feet, Dan turned to face the follower. He watched the blue eyes of the stranger scan him, and suddenly he felt aware about his own appearance. He must have looked disgusting; all hot, sweaty and trembling.
"I've got your bag. Seen you've left it in that classroom. I tried to follow but you were already gone," the guy explained, Dan's pastel green bag slung over his shoulder, along with his own, a black leather backpack.
"How much?", Dan asked, a nervous tone in his voice, but glad he didn't have to dig through sites for a similar bag.
The guy's eyebrows furrowed, he stared at Dan like he was dumb, to say the least.
"How much what?"
"How much do you want for it?" Dan replied with a question, wondering if the guy just wanted more money this way. Dan hoped he had enough saved.
The guy tilted his head, pressing his lips together. Then he said,
"It's yours, you've already paid for it."
For a while Dan could only stare at the offered bag in the other's hand.
"What? You've paid for it, right?" As Dan nodded, the boy laughed, "You're weird, Daniel. Is this seat taken?"
Dan didn't comment on how there was no seat here and how he didn't like people calling him by his full name and how in that very moment, the biggest wish he had was to be far away from this strange boy. He mumbled a 'yes' and sat down himself. He was afraid declining would mean receiving a punch. It so often did.
Hands sweaty, he thought how convenient it would be to leave a body in a place like this.
"You alright? You're shaking," noted the boy and Dan breathed out a shaky breath.
A nervous laugh left his mouth.
"I'm okay," he croaked out, even though everything inside him was screaming on how wrong it was to be sitting next to a much taller boy, dangerous but hot looking boy, who could easily beat him to a pulp.
The guy watched him for what felt like centuries. What was he looking for? A weak spot he could use to manipulate Dan? Dan played with a lonely thread, maybe hoping secretly he'd get out enough so that he could tie down the boy sitting next to him and escape.
He felt the cautious gaze leaving him just when Dan thought he'd start screaming out of frustration.
The guy shrugged,
"If you say so."
Now it was Dan's turn to observe the man. He must admit, he hadn't even looked at the stranger properly yet, having met him in adverse conditions. The boy's hair was black with his fringe dyed blue in part, that much he has taken notice of already. His clothes were all black. A t-shirt, a leather jacket and skinny jeans, all the same colour. For some reason, Dan felt a powerful sense of deja-vu.
The guy smirked, right corner of his rose lips rising and Dan stared at his hands, a crimson coming on his cheeks.
He turned, facing Dan who was flushed at being caught red handed.
"I'm sorry for creeping you out yesterday," started the stranger but Dan had had enough of stress, constant worrying about bullies and making sure Rob didn't walk in on him.
He didn't wait for him to finish his sentence, he broke in, voice angry, but small, demanding,
"Why are you so nice to me?"
He turned to the stranger, coming face to face with him. Dan imagined he would laugh and tell him a slur or two. Then finally beat him up and get on with it.
But no. The boy's blue orbs were much wider than they had been earlier and one of his brows was raised as though he put under question if answering was even worth it.
At last the boy let out an exasperated sigh, jutting out his lip,
"Because I'm not a dick?" he answered, eyes fixed on Dan's face.
Dan casted his eyes to the ground, mumbling, "Sorry, it was a stupid question," having in mind the height and strenght difference between them.
The boy laughed, like he has just heard a good joke.
"It is, indeed, a perfect question. If you doubt every good intention you see someone seem to have, what does it mean? That you don't believe good in people exists, but why? Is it because you think people never do it without a hidden reason? Or because you doubt someone would want to be nice to you?" he asked and Dan was left speechless.
He didn't know if the guy expected him to answer. He felt he didn't like the way the stranger seemed to know what was in his mind. And that this ability at reading him so easily was going to annoy him a lot in the future.
"Whoever saw that doubt in you is a dick," said the boy quietly and Dan didn't dare to look into the stranger's eyes, afraid the stranger may find out more if he does so.
"Anyway, I'm Phil," he introduced himself, his serious tone fading and giving a way to more playful one. He took out his right hand and Dan hesitantly shook it.
Phil didn't question his bruised wrist even though his eyebrow raised and his forehead wrinkled, probably in curiosity.
Dan found out Phil had been the one to call an ambulance and push Erick away from him. When the black-haired was telling him that, Dan wondered how strong Phil must have been. Erick was thought to have super powers. Everyone in Mayfield High School would point at Erick Doge if asked who was the strongest man in the world. Phil didn't say anything about a fight, or him having a second person help him get the pissed Ellie's brother off of a nearly unconscious Dan.
In the end, he decided Phil must be at least as strong as Erick. Which, everyone believed was impossible.
At the mention that Dan must have been pretty out of it because he was rambling about angels, the brunet blushed deeply. He assured that everything looked way worse than it turned out to be, but he still caught Phil sending him a worried glance.
Phil seemed angry and upset that such thing has happened at all. Dan thought that it's how high school is like. For a second, he thought the murderous look Phil gave him was going to tear a hole in his skull, one Eric didn't have time to finish.
Dan wasn't questioned on the subject surprisingly. Everyone who passed him in the halls glanced curiously at him, as though Dan would choose one person from the crowd, invite them and explain everything from the beginning to the end. With an offer for a coffee, it seemed like it.
Phil also seemed to keep himself from asking him about his and Rob's kiss. At the end of their talk, Dan knew that Phil Lester was a strange but interesting creature.
Dan never considered him and Phil to talk once again. Ever.
That's what went on, at first. Him and Phil hadn't shared a greeting, hadn't hung out together or caught up on how were their days going. Life continued on, without Phil Lester, the weirdly polite but strong and more so, strongly punk guy. Dan avoided the bullies and kept to crowds, and bullies were looking for him. A few times he was close to running into them, all those times it was suspiciously shortly after Rob had spotted him somewhere in the crowd. Dan didn't have any evidence so he couldn't really tell.
Then, Rob has seen him again, but this time, he wanted to talk.
"Dan, oh God, they're gonna kill me, you've gotta help me," he pleaded, clutching at Dan's collar and pressing him uncomfortably into the wall of the men's bathroom.
The brunet rolled his eyes, remembering how last time Rob's polite attitude has only led the whole high school getting another reason for hating him more.
"You'll be fine, they won't kill you," he explained calmly. "They haven't done that to me, yet, you'll be alright."
Rob looked at him, incredulous, his eyes boring into Dan's with intensity and hardly hidden disbelief,
"How do you imagine it? That I will be hiding in classrooms and avoiding cafeteria like a wimp?"
Dan raised an eyebrow because Rob had just listed off the things Dan had been doing every day.
"I need you to do me another favour, Dan. Please, just this one last time," he promised, watching Dan's face intently and making puppy eyes.
Dan felt intimidated by his close proximity. He could smell his cigarette breath and he closed his eyes, repeating like a mantra that size didn't matter. Rob couldn't do whatever he wanted just because he was bigger, stronger and the bullies still feared to get a jump on him because of his muscles.
"I haven't done you a favor, Rob. You've given it yourself," he replied quietly while staring at the ground. The only way he didn't need to worry about his voice wavering.
"You gave me no choice, Dan. I had to do something to protect myself," Rob explained, looking down as though he felt at blame.
He let go of Dan's collar then and smoothed it out. A short, quick laugh passed his lips. Not honest at all.
Rob regarded Dan with curiosity as he leaned in,
"It didn't work at all," he whispered, lips so close to his ear that anyone would take the two men for lovers. Hint of disappointment hid behind his words and in his green irises. "But you know it, don't ya?"
He pulled away and stepped away, not breaking the eye contact. He was creepy. He never acted this way, back when they were still friends. Or whatever they were, at the time.
"Just tell me, Dan. Like friend to a friend. How much did it cost you to keep those guys' mouths shut, huh, Howell?" he barked, as if challenging and Dan could only stare with his eyes wide opened.
"What- what do you mean?"
Rob shook his head slowly, making a tsk sound, "And I thought you trusted your friend, Danny."
Dan merely rolled his eyes.
"I only trust the people who have some value."
Not ten but less than five seconds later, his air way was suddenly blocked and he struggled for a breath. Rob's eyes flared red, practically burning in front of his vision. All muscles and tendons on his scalp and neck were poking out and if they carried on with it, they'd surely break like a taut string.
"You think you're so clever. That you've got it all under control," he said through gritted teeth as Dan kept opening and closing his mouth, fingers desperately fighting to loosen the grip on his neck. "Guess what," Rob hissed, adding a fair amount of strength. Dan spluttered, one hand scratching at Rob's hand with his fingernails and the other pushing him away with no effect.
"You've got no one here, Danny. No one, you hear me?" he shouted, shaking Dan's flailing form. "No one who would give a fuck if something happened to you. You're new, you've only been here for a year. I've grown up with those people. They know me," he pointed out.
A prey. He felt like a prey slowly being ripped apart by its predator. With no route for an escape. Fuck, how long till he started seeing stars? He couldn't pass out again, his parents... but then, he was so hot and he so desperately needed to breathe...
"Rob..." he struggled and his own voice sounded off to him, scratchy and weak. "Stop, please-"
Rob smirked. Squeezed his throat tighter. It felt like dying. It felt like dying in outer space, with no life-giving air on hand. But Dan wasn't sent into space, he was on Earth, godamnit, but air was not for him to enjoy.
Dan was gasping, his eyes bulging. Rob was sadistic. And Dan was going to pay for being so stupid. God, when did he learn he was too vulnerable?
The lack of air was unbearable and his fighting back has transformed into merely patting at Rob's hands. Dan's limbs seemed to be slipping as if dancing on ice, anyway.
"You will do as I say next time," Rob spoke calmly and grip on Dan's throat disappeared immediately.
Dan sank to the floor helplessly, spurting and wincing. Rob kneeled beside him. Leaned in. Dan flinched.
"You were lucky our little make-out session didn't leave that room. And you were quite sweet, you know," Rob admitted, catching a strand of Dan's brown hair and playing with it between his fingers.
Dan was clutching at his throat, in disbelief and surprise at how tasty and sweet it felt to be able to breathe again. His chest was heaving and heart hammering with such quick speed he feared it might escape his body.
"All squirming and fighting under me with those little fists of yours..." Rob sighed and closed his eyes, as if thinking about it brought good memories. Dan's stomach was feeling uneasy at the same thought of Rob forcing himself on him again.
Rob's green eyes shot open and he smiled at Dan, tucking the strand behind his ear.
"Next time we may even get to second base," he cooed in a sing-song like tone. "Ahh, I better go. Let you get your breath back." Dan grimaced. "I know, I know. I'm that stunning," Rob said and caught Dan's lips in a fleeting kiss at which Dan had no time to turn away.
The boy stood up and walked to the exit. Hand on the handle, he munched on his lip for a second.
"Ah! I almost forgot to tell you... Some really nice and helpful girl had seen me crying the other day and she was so sweet she somehow managed to make me tell her about my problem. Honestly, she was so polite and caring! I couldn't not tell her how my ex-boyfriend doesn't let me go and still thinks I'm in love with him," he finished with a shrug and a dismissive wave. "Just thought you'd like to know, darling."
Doors closed shut behind him and Dan hid his face in his pastel green shirt, taking breaths in and out, his hands shaking. Rob's words dripped with sarcasm, he wasn't serious. But then he seemed like he actually meant when he talked about that kiss he stole from Dan.
Had Dan been stronger, would he hit Rob square in the face.
A prospect of his nose smashed and bleeding profusely over his stupid six-pack chest made Dan laugh as if he had never done so in his life before. His calling for help throat reminded him though that his current situation was so bad he probably should have been crying rather than smiling. Somehow though, Dan found himself laughing so hard that he felt he might cry any moment if he didn't stop.
He picked himself up off of the cold hard ground and gripped the sink, empty laughter ringing in the bathroom. Blank eyes stared back at him in the mirror, reflecting every move of his body and every twitch in his face. Shaking hand smoothed out brown hair, but failed to fix the fringe. Somehow, the figure remained strange, unfamiliar.
Dan coughed and coughed, his vocal strings hurting like hell, his manic laughter dissolved into sobbing. He breathed in and out, but not anymore because he craved to breathe but because he was losing control.
Last time he did was so long ago, and he started believing that once retrieved, could never be taken away from him. That his self-confidence, or what little was left after his old friends had stripped him of it, was bulit on such strong ground that its foundation was solid. Yet, once again he was shown how fragile and unstable it was, and what little force it was needed for it to shake and begin to crumble.
And that was the moment, of course that must have been the moment, when the hottie in a leather jacket stepped into the boy's loo.
I hope you enjoyed and I hope you're looking forward to the next chapter! I am. Still haven't written it o.o but that's all for the future :D
Anyway, I wish you a good day, comment, kudo my story. Tu aimes, si écris! (I hope I got that right :D)
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