"Dan! Phil! Thank God you're okay!" My mother says as we are enveloped with hugs and kisses and bombarded with gifts.
"I'm so glad you're both safe," Phil's mum adds.
"Mum?" I say timidly. "What about our flat?" This is a question I've been dying to know the answer to since I woke up.
"Don't worry. The real damage was done to the floors above you." Mum tells us. "All of your stuff should be safe and sound."
I hear Phil give a sigh of relief.
"You'll both have to come back home for a bit until the building is deemed safe but I'm sure you two won't mind that" Phil's mum says with a smile.
I look at Phil. Phil looks at me. We burst out laughing.
"Noo!" says Phil. "I thought we'd moved out for good!"
"Well not to worry. It'll only be for a week or two." Mum says in reply. "And I expect you'll be needing an extra hand, Dan. Or should I say an extra arm."
I cringe at my mum's failed attempt of a pun but laugh all the same. The doctor knocks on the door and inspects our burns, telling us that we can go home as soon as the nurse puts on fresh bandages. The doctor leaves us and we chat for a bit until the nurse comes to change our dressings.
"Lie on your stomach," she orders me. I do as I am told without hesitation and she gently removes the bandages. Mum gasps.
"What is it?" I say, unable to see the wounds for myself.
"Nothing it's just that they look pretty bad.." Phil says.
"Now I'm going to soak them in some cool water to make sure no infection occurs and then put on some aloe vera to take the heat out of them. It might sting a little."
I swallow and brace myself for the inevitable pain. I feel a few drops of water slide down my back and into the wounds. I let out a yelp.
"Just breathe," says my mum as she holds my unbroken hand.
"Sting?" I choke. "It feels like I'm on fire!" I grip my mums hand tight and close my eyes tight.
"Danisnotonfire," says Phil softly.
Despite the pain, I manage to smile slightly. Then suddenly there is a cooling sensation and I sigh in relief.
"That would be the aloe vera," she chuckles. "Your turn," she says to Phil as she finishes wrapping fresh bandages round my torso.
I sit up straight and watch as Phil grimaces in pain.
"It'll be over soon, buddy," I say to try and comfort him but he stays silent. It was awful seeing him in pain. He didn't deserve it. It broke my heart.
"There. All done," says the nurse. She ties a sling around my neck and rests my arm in it. "You can go home now."
Our parents hand us a fresh change of clothes and leave us to get changed in privacy behind the curtain.
"Don't look!" Phil warns as before he takes his hospital gown off.
"I'm not." I say though I can't help but think of Phil naked. "Hey have you ever thought about the fact that the doctors have seen us naked?" I laugh even though I'm a little creeped out.
"Da-aan!" Phil complains though I can tell he's smiling. I had a little trouble trying to do the button and zip of my jeans with only one hand so I decided to leave it open and ask Phil for help.
"Are you decent, Phil?"
"Yep." I turn around to see Phil in just a pair of jeans and no shirt on. I can't help but stare, transfixed at his perfect pale skin and icy blue eyes staring right back at me. I examine every single hair on his body carefully, burns and all. That worried expression that made you want to give him a cuddle. He was so beautiful.
Phil's POV
"Are you decent, Phil?" Dan asks.
"Yep," I reply, zipping up my jeans and hastily doing the button. We both turn around to face each other. And I suddenly notice what a beautiful glowing brown tone his skin is. How slender his body is. His naturally curly "hobbit" hair. His deep brown eyes gazing directly into mine. We observe each other for a few seconds until Dan snaps out of his trance.
"I er.. you….uh...was just…" he stammers going pink in the cheeks.
"No…yeah..it's fine..I was…totally.." I butt in trying to make the situation less awkward but failing miserably.
"I'll help you do up your jeans," I say noticing that he was struggling.
"What are you doing?" I think to myself. Dan's eyes were still fixed on mine, his expression hard to read.
Dan's POV
I could feel my cheeks burning as I realised that Phil caught me staring at him. But was he staring right back at me too?
"I er..you….uh..was just…" I stutter trying to save myself from further embarrassment.
"No…yeah..it's fine..I was…totally.." He replies just as flustered as I was. Then he offers to help me do up my jeans. He starts making his way towards me. I freeze. He stops, his face just a few inches away from mine. I can feel his breath on my cheek. He gently puts his hand on my face then slowly caresses it down my chest and stomach, all the way to my crotch. He carefully does the button and zip and looks back up at me. As I lose myself in his eyes, I am almost completely sure of my feelings for him.
"Phil?" I whisper, barely audible. "Kiss me?"
