A/N: Hey everyone! I know, I know, it's been a while. I've missed writing! But school has kept me busy and I've gotten easily distracted in my free time. But I'm back and focused now, so I hope you enjoy this new chapter of New Boy!

Dan's POV

Seeing Phil alone every day should've broken my heart. I should've felt immensely upset that he seemed to have no friends. I should've been incredibly disheartened that he was alone wherever he was. I should've felt sympathetic to his situation. But no. I wasn't.

I wasn't sad Phil was all by his lonesome. Sure, I knew maybe he got a little lonely from time to time and I could relate and sympathize with that, but I wasn't saddened by his apparent friendlessness. But honestly, I was actually kind of, I don't know, happy about it. I didn't want him to be alone, of course, but I could only see one person beside him. Me. And if it wasn't me, I selfishly didn't want there to be anyone else.

So when I noticed Phil sitting by himself at a lunch table, I just couldn't help myself. I had planned to ask him to hang out or something, no concrete plans, but Jesus, the way he responded to my presence was not at all how I had expected the conversation to go. I had left with my vague mission unaccomplished, but I felt like I was filled with warm bubbles. Strangely enough, it was bliss.

Upon arriving back to the so-called friends I had zero interest in, I only received a few looks from a few people before they went back to their conversations and food. Okay, I thought. No big deal. Everything's fine. I stabbed my fork into what I assumed the school system thought counted as lasagna and allowed myself to smile.

I must've jinxed myself or something, because as soon as the forkful of food was in my mouth, someone slammed their hand down on the table. Seeing as I was exceptionally surprised, my food decided to wedge itself in my throat. I coughed and coughed, but I received no help whatsoever from anyone at my table. I supposed they were too busy staring at the terrifying girl who the hand on the table belonged to. After what felt like ages, I managed to choke down the pasta and grabbed my bottle of water, chugging it down.

After confirming I was alive and breathing, I willed myself to look up at the girl. My table was breathless, anxiously waiting to see what appeared to be some sort of fight between me and the girl. It was Soph, green eyes alight with rage and what I suspected was rampant jealousy. I gulped, despite how goddamn cartoonish it was. She was fucking furious. Oh no. How hadn't I noticed her absence upon sitting down again?

"Daniel," she hissed angrily. "I think you and I need should have a little talk." Her voice dripped with vehemence. Yup, there was definitely jealousy there. My tablemates remained silent, probably rejoicing at all this drama they were getting to soak up from us.

I nodded and got up. She whirled around and sashayed out of the cafeteria angrily. I grabbed my tray and sped walked to the nearest trash bin, my unappealing lunch long forgotten as it tumbled to the bottom. I hurried out of the same doors that Sophia had exited out of before me. Just before the doors swung shut, I turned and looked back. My gaze slid over the tables until settling on Phil. He was turned and staring at me curiously. Even from the doorway, I could see the worry. I grimaced slightly and shrugged before the doors shut, cutting off my view of the only person I wanted to be with.

I turned my head, looking left and right before spotting Sophia standing somewhat impatiently at the end of the hall. I began to jog towards her. She must've heard my footsteps because she turned to me, her arms crossed. She was definitely angry.

I finally reached the end of the hall, where she had turned back around and was looking out the glass doors leading to the outside world. She spun towards me and her hand shot out. I hardly knew what was happening before I felt the impact of her hand on my cheek and the stinging that followed immediately after.

"What the hell?!" I exclaimed, clutching my cheek. Sophia was glaring at me defiantly, as if daring me to say I didn't deserve it. But I didn't even know what I did! I opened my mouth to angrily say so, but snapped it closed when Sophia turned back to the windows. Tears were forming in her iridescent green eyes.

I reached my hand out to give some sort of comfort, but she snatched my hand out of the air, her light blonde hair flying as she spun towards me.

"Don't even say you don't know what you did!" she growled at me. The misery in her voice was plain as day. "I knew you could tell I was in love with Phil! I knew it! But, despite my unnecessary kindness towards you, you, in a complete asshole move, moved in on my best friend!" she screeched the last part. I yanked my wrist out of her tight grip and rubbed the aching fingermarks. My cheek still throbbed, but it was fading, and my anger was taking the place of my pain.

"I don't know what the hell you're on about, Sophia, but all I'm trying to do is become Phil's friend!" I shouted, the bold loudness of my voice shocking us both. Sophia burst into tears, motivation for our conversation gone. She was sobbing, tears blackened from her excessive mascara running down her cheeks. I had no idea what to do, so I stood there awkwardly while she wailed. She finally looked up at me with her bloodshot eyes and brushed a bit of her bleached hair out of her face.

"That may be so," she croaked, "but you probably don't see the way he looks at you." I could only stare dumbly at her. What was she talking about?

"He never looks at me like that. Ever." This particular statement of hers send her into another wave of hysterics. I reached my hand out to attempt to comfort her once again, but yanked it back when I heard the door open. I turned warily to glare down the hall, but my body flooded with relief. A dark haired boy peered around the hallway until his eyes settled on us.

"Dan?" Phil called. "Sophia?" He dashed down the hall and nearly collided with me. He cast a confused look at me before approaching Sophia and wrapping his arms around her. She sunk into his arms, tears continuing to flow. He looked concerned and worried, all traces of irritation I would expect from him nowhere to be found. All I could see was unease and confusion.

"Hey, hey, it's alright. Soap, it's alright," he whispered soothingly to her. I raised an eyebrow. Soap? Phil noticed my intrigued expression as he stroked her hair and shrugged ever so slightly. Childhood nickname, he mouthed at me. Or, at least I assumed he did. I wasn't entirely sure.
The bell rang overhead, signaling the end of the lunch hour.

"Hey, um, I need get going," I began, but Phil just nodded, grimacing, and waved me away. He wasn't going anywhere. I couldn't help but ask, "Will I see you in science?" I could almost hear the yearning and hope in my voice.

Phil's expression softened, and he nodded at me. I smiled a tiny smile back at him briefly before turning and walking down the hall towards the rest of my fellow teenagers flooding out of the cafeteria's doors. I cast one last look behind me at Sophia and Phil before getting lost in the crowd of students. But as I was herded along, I couldn't help but feel relief. The last I had seen of them, they were pulling apart, and the sound of Sophia's angry voice carried down the hall. Maybe it was messed up I was glad Soph was yelling at him, but this way, I knew that at least Phil wasn't falling for her.

Phil's POV

I shrugged by backpack over my shoulder and slammed my locker door shut. My mood had quickly turned sour after Dan left Sophia and I in the hallway after lunch. I had hugged her, whispered comforts into her ear. But just as quickly as she had fallen into my arms, she pulled herself away.

She launched into a mainly undecipherable lecture, the few words I picked up being Dan and asshole. Thanks for that, Soph.

Eventually she tired herself out, and marched herself down to the nurses, claiming she suffered from a migraine caused by my idiocy. I was going to be late for science, and I had no idea what Dan was thinking about Sophia's outburst. Honestly, I had no idea why Sophia threw her tantrum right then and there with Dan or even what it was about, but I was irritated and late for class and I didn't even notice the kid in the year below me in my way.

The boy's head was stuck in his phone and I was lost in my cloud of bad thoughts. The collision was unavoidable, of course, but the surety of the situation did nothing to calm my climbing anger. I barked a quick apology to the kid, who looked rather cross, and continued on my way to class.

I jogged the rest of my way to the science lab and yanked open the door. I may have been too violent, given the entire population of the class looked up, as did the teacher at the front of the room. Great. The room was absolutely silent as I slunk my way to my desk. I was an oncoming storm, and I think they could all tell. I tossed my backpack to the ground underneath the desk and sank into my seat. I attempted to focus my attention to the front of the room to where the teacher was droning on about something or another, but my eyes were pulled elsewhere.

I turned my head ever so slightly, and found myself caught in the brown eyed gaze of none other than Dan Howell. I felt my irritation and anger melt away beneath me, my resolve crumbling. How could someone be furious while looking at Dan Howell? Without realizing it, I had begun to smile. Dan, whose face had been occupied with concern, smiled softly back. Stunning.

My attention was jolted back to the teacher called out my name. I slowly realized she was announcing partners for an upcoming project. I prayed she would call out Dan's name to go with mine.

"-and Daniel," the teacher announced, her eyes glimmering with calculation. "Daniel Howell."

I could hardly believe my ears. I looked around frantically. Did I mishear? Did everyone else hear that? No student seemed to be paying attention to me. Quite a few girls and at least one guy had sighed when Dan's name was said to go with mine, but now I was no longer of any interest. I finally willed myself to look over at my new partner.

Dan looked like he was glowing with enthusiasm. An excited smile was stretched across his face, and he was practically overflowing with eagerness. As I smiled back at him faintly, I finally allowed a thought to come forward that was practically screaming inside my head since the science teacher had said Dan's name. Dan was going to be my partner. I almost giggled as I realized that science partner wasn't the only partner I hoped Dan would be of mine. Was I blushing? Oh, hell. I was blushing.

I nervously glanced over at Dan, and it looked like he was thinking the exact same thing as I was. He was flushed and grinning, with an expression I assumed mirrored my own. This definitely changed things.

A/N: Phew, all done! This chapter was so much fun to write! As always, I hoped you all enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you next time!