6 Years Later

As I stood facing the large, grey building, the feelings of Déjà vu flooded over me. Good and bad feelings mixed together in my stomach, and I had to stop myself from turning and running away.

I walked towards the entrance, and stopped in front of a wall of pictures. One picture caught my eye in particular. My hand reached out on it's own accord, and touched the glass that surrounded it, gently. I recognised myself instantly, but then my eyes found Pj and Chris. I couldn't help but smile. I wondered what they were doing now. A voice interrupted my thoughts.

'Mr. Howell?' I looked up at the women standing there. She had blonde hair, tied up in a bun. She was wearing a grey skirt and a white shirt. She looked bland, like she didn't take much care over her appearance.

'Yes, and I'm guessing you're Mrs. Bailey, the headteacher?' I walked closer towards her and noticed the freckles that ran down her cheeks. Quite pretty actually.

'That's correct, nice to meet you.' She smiled and her face became animated. She looked friendly. I think I'd like working here. 'If you would like to follow me and I can show you the classroom where you'll be helping out.'

'Yeah, sounds great.' I followed her down a long corridor. That Déjà vu feeling came back. This was where I first met him.

No Dan.

Stop it.

'I mean, you should know your way around pretty well anyway. It hasn't changed much since you were here.'

We walked down a few more corridors, and we passed rooms I recognised. Some made me chuckle to myself. Not all memories here were bad.

We finally reached the room I would be working in.

'Now, Mr. Reid isn't here at the moment, but he'll be back in an hour or so to teach his class. Until then you can have a look aorund the school if you wish. Go and meet some of the other teachers.' The bell rang at that moment and the halls flooded with children, and teens. 'I'd best get going. Got lots of things to do. It was nice meeting you. I hope you like working here Dan.'

'It was nice meeting you too, and thank you for letting me help out.' She held out her hand, and I took it, shaking it twice before she walked away.

. . . . . .

I looked up and down the empty corridor. Where should I go now? Mr. Reid wouldn't be back for 45 minutes. Ok, I knew where I wanted to go, but I knew I would regret going there.

I stood there for another 5 minutes before giving in. What harm can it really do? I managed to find my way around rather easily, and before I knew it, I was standing in front of a classroom door. I looked through the small glass windows to make sure there were no lessons. When I saw it was empty I took the handle in the hand and turned it slowly. It was locked, thankfully, and I wondered in.

It looked the same as it did 6 years ago. After we had painted it, they had obviously never redecorated. I wonder who taught in here now.

I walked over the desk and saw a plaque with a name on. My stomach dropped. It can't be. It just, can't be.

'You looking for someone?' I closed my eyes and turned around. 'You gonna keep your eyes closed forever?' I released a breath I didn't know I was holding, and opened my eyes.

'Oh my God.' I looked him up and down. 'Is it really you Phil?' He laughed and looked down at the floor, making his hair fall into his face.

'Yes, and you are?' Wait. He doesn't he remember me?

'Phil? Are you being serious? It's me. Dan?' He tilted his head and smiled at me. God, I missed that smile so much.

'Nope. Name doesn't ring a bell.' He looked at me and winked.

And then, it was like all the emotions that had built up in me over the past 6 years, just... exploded. I burst into tears, and I couldn't stop it.

'Hey, I was only joking.' Phil ran towards me and grabbed me by my shoulders. 'Of course I remember you. I mean, how could I forget.'

'I didn't know you still worked here, I swear. If I did, I never would've volunteered.' I looked into his eyes, and a new set of tears formed in my eyes.

'Are you kidding me? Do you know how much I missed you?' His hands dropped from my shoulders and found my hands. I forgot how right his hands felt in mine. 'I've wanted to try and find you, contact you, or anything. I was just scared you had moved on.'

I squeezed his hands and noticed something. 'Hey. Where's your ring?'

He looked into my eyes and smiled. Not a forced smile, a genuine one. 'I never got married Dan.'

I let his hands go and stepped back. 'Seriously? Why didn't you tell me?'

He looked to his feet again, but in what was, almost, shame. 'I told you. I thought you would've moved on, or would've hated me or something.'

It was my turn to laugh. I wiped my tears away, and walked over to him, throwing my arms around his neck. 'You're so stupid. I tried to move on, but no-one could ever have replaced you. There was always something they were missing. And I realised after a while, that it was simply the fact that, they weren't you.'

He laced his arms around my waist, and he whispered in my ear. Three little words.

'I love you.'

I nuzzled my head into his neck. 'I love you too.'

. . . . . .

We stayed like that for a little while longer. Just holding each other. And in that time, I realised something. I realised that things have a way of working out, no matter how much you mess things up, there's always a way to fix it.

I thought back to seeing my mother lying on the floor, being attacked in the streets, taking those pills, spending time in the hospital. But, none of it mattered. Because all that matters is the future, and the great thing about the future is that it's a mystery. But wherever I go in life, I know that Phil will be there beside me.

. . . . . .

AN – WOW, I'm such a liar. I'm sorry, I wasn't planning on this, but I was in such a good mood. So here is the epilogue. I hope you've enjoyed my story, Thank you all for reading. I love you to pieces.

Sorry this was so fucking cheesy. But hey, we all need a little cheesiness in our lives. Am I right? ;3

I hope you all have a good day/evening and you're all fabulous and beautiful 3