You know. Things were actually okay. I thought maybe things were actually going to be better from now on. Better for Dan and for myself. It had been two weeks since Dan's little run away stunt. He'd been better in class. Not exactly an angel. But hey, at least he wasn't storming out in the middle of class anymore.

"Phil?"

"Huh. Um, could you repeat that?" I asked softly, avoiding eye contact with our teacher.

Psychology class

Again

Normally I never, ever day dream in this class. Okay, slight lie there. But I'm always listening I've never been this spaced out before. It's just. I don't, it's weird. He's been on my mind constantly and I have no idea why.

I just can't get him out of my mind

He's just always in there.

Only Dan.

I glance at him for a split second before looking at my teacher again before she sighs and repeats her question.

"Name 3 aspects of the psychodynamic approach. Phil"

Oh crap

I'm actually having a mind blank. This is not good.

"Um…well. There's Parts of the personality, levels of mind and um…"

I desperately tried to think of a third one but I just can't. God damn my mind only being filled with thoughts of Dan.

"Childhood experiences"

He whispered, meeting my eyes for a moment before facing the front of the class again. Of course, the most obvious.

How could I forget?

"And childhood experiences" I added flashing a small smile at her.

"Good. Well done. Perfect as always Phil. Anyway, the bells about to go for lunch. You can pack up now guys"

I sighed softly, resting my head on the scratched to death wooden desk.

What was wrong with me?

I think I'm losing it.

At that the bell sounded and pretty much everyone rushed out of the classroom, including the teacher. I swear all I had to do was blink and Dan and I were the only ones left in the classroom.

"I have a meeting for all of lunch. Will…will you be okay?" I asked softly, biting my lip as I waited for his reply.

"Of course I'll be okay. Why wouldn't I be?"

And with that he was gone.

What had I done to offend him now?

************************************************** *******************

"Mum, I'm home-"

"Oh, Phil. Hi"

"Isabelle? What are you doing…It's Dan, isn't it?"

She just nodded, a small sigh escaping her lips. "He ran away again. He went to…actually. I can't discuss that with you"

I just nodded, even though I wanted desperately to know what was going on with Dan. Where he was going, what he was doing. Just anything about him.

"You're probably better waiting in your room…there might be an argument when he gets back"

"Okay, but. Where is he now?"

"Don't worry about that. He'll be back soon"

I nodded, making my way upstairs to my room. Well, at least a I had a little down time now. I could even start that new book. Yeah. That sounds good.

Id only just got comfy on my bed and read maybe only a page or two when the shouting began. There had never, ever been arguments before. Well, never ones where the adults shouted. Isabelle sounded like she was going crazy down there.

I sighed, placing my book down and plodding down the stairs to my usual listening spot.

"Do you have any idea how worried we were about you Dan!?"

Silence

"Why don't you understand!? If you don't cut this crap you're gonna end up in some shitty care home where no one will care."

Another long silence

"Why can't you see you have people who love you here"

"Like who? I'm sorry, but this fucking middle-aged woman doesn't give two shits about me!"

I thought id react straight away to Dan talking about mum like that, but…It kind of didn't bother me. Honestly, I think I was kind of on Dan's side for this argument. Isabelle was being horrible.

"Dan. Of course I care. And Phil cares. Phil cares about you a lot"

I heard him sigh softly. Maybe he was finally calming down. Maybe it would just be another normal, calm evening.

"You don't care. You're not my mum"

"I just want you to trust me Dan. I'm on your side. You don't have to go through this a lot, I know it hurts-"

"No. no you don't know how much it hurts! Just shut up about it!"

"But Dan"

"You're not my fucking mum! This isn't my family!"

"Well it's the closet god damn thing you'll ever have from now on" Isabelle sneered

That was it. I was done. I couldn't let Dan go through their torments alone.

"Leave him alone!"

Isabelle and mum both wore matching looks of surprise as I walked into the kitchen. I glared at them both, Isabelle more than mum though. I then set my eyes on Dan.

A loud gasp was the only sound in the room

It took a few seconds for me to realize I was the one who had emitted the sound.

"Dan. What, what happened to you?" I asked quietly, slowly making my way over to him. He had a black eye, a bloody nose. Make that possibly broken nose. Even dried blood from his mouth.

"We need to take him to hospital or something" I began but Isabelle shot me disproving look. "We're not done here. Phil, kindly leave"

"No" even I was surprised at how confident I sounded as I spoke that word to them.

"Excuse me?" Isabelle growled, narrowing her eyes at me.

"I said No. No, I won't leave. I won't let you treat Dan like this"

It felt so great to be actually acting out like this. I guess I wasn't the perfect little boy anymore. Dan actually looked pretty amazed as he looked up at me from where he was sitting. He looked so helpless, so broken. It really broke my heart to see him in this state.

"Phil. Be a good boy and go to your room" Isabelle growled through gritted teeth.

"No Isabelle. I'll let you know you're not sticking your job very well. Whatever happened to giving the client choice?"

"There is no choice here. She-"

"What? She has the right to see him and vice versa?"

"Don't you tell me how to do my job Phil. What the hell has gotten into you? You're normally such a nice kid."

"I'm sick of being 'the nice kid!' How does that sound!? Does that sound impossible or something? I'm not god damn perfect you know!"

"Stop! Stop all of this. This is about helping Dan, not arguing" I nodded in agreement at mum's statement. Isabelle sighed, nodding as well to show mum she should continue.

"Look, Dan. I know this is really, really hard for you. It must be scary, moving into a new house, new school, a family you don't know." I saw Dan physically twitch at the word family. "We can be a family together you know. You, me and Phil. We can be happy. Don't you want that? You don't need your mum. You can have a loving family instead-"

"Shut the fuck up!" he screamed, standing up and shooting one last hateful glare at mum before storming out of the room. I knew I had to go after him. He would be a danger to himself in the state he was in.

I don't think they even noticed the tears in his eyes through all that talk about his mum and family. I swear. How is Isabelle even in this job if she can upset a kid like that?

I had to help him this time.

"Dan wait!"