Chapter 11: The Truth Comes Out
~Dan's POV~
Ring ring ring! The phone rang, waking me up. I groaned, looking at the time. "Who's calling at this time of day?" I thought, getting out of bed and jogged to the phone. "Hello?" I answered, trying to sound atleast half awake.
"Hello Dan." A female voice came on the line.
"Beth? Phil's not h-"
"I know. I'm calling to talk to you." she said simply.
"Oh?" I said, not really wanting to talk to her. I almost thought about making an excuse to go, but I refrained.
"Yes. Dan, it has come to my attention that you think I'm using Phil."
"Well, it's just... uh... you've been asking for a lot of money, t-that's all..." my social awkwardness kicked in.
"I know. Listen, Daniel," she said, using my full name. "I want you to listen very carefully. You will not say a peep more to Phil about this subject, understand?"
"Are you using Phil?" I asked quietly.
"I suggest minding your own business Dan. What goes on between Phil and I is not something that includes you. Besides, Phil won't believe you even if you tell him." she said smugly.
My eyes narrowed. "You bitch! How dare you take advantage of him!"
"Watch your language, Dan. You wouldn't want to talk to a lady like that, would you?" she giggled and hung up the phone.
I slammed the phone down on the receiver, rage pouring through me. I picked up the phone again to call Phil, but stopped. She's right... he won't believe me if I tell him. Then what should I do? I put the phone back once again and thought. I have to plan this out very carefully...
"Dan, I'm home!" I heard Phil call. I jumped off my bed and went to greet him.
"Hey! How was work?" I asked.
"Great! We were actually pretty quiet today. How's your day been?" he said, hanging up his coat.
"Oh you know, the usual." I shrugged. Everything is going well so far.
"It's got to be pretty boring here all day. What do you do to keep busy?"
"Sleep, internet, food." I said non-chalantly.
Phil laughed. "Sounds more fun than my day."
I laughed too."So Phil... Do you think we can have a talk? You know, friend to friend?" I asked. He's in a good mood, now it's time to talk.
"Sure. What's up?" Phil asked, going to sit on the couch, patting the cushion next to him.
I sat down next to him. "Okay, I want to talk to you, but you have to promise to let me finish before you say anything, okay?" I said slowly.
"Okay, I promise." he smiled. I knew that wouldn't last long, though.
"Okay, here goes," I took a deep breath. "I got a call from Beth this morning-"
"What did she want?" Phil asked.
"Phil, you promised not to say anything," I gave him a look.
"Sorry."
"It's okay. Anyway, I got a call from Beth, and she had a few choice words to say to me. Now what I'm about to tell you will probably upset you, but it's for your own good..." I paused. "Beth admitted that she was taking advantage of you. And I just thought you should know." I said quickly.
He stared at me, an expression I couldn't read. After a few moments, he finally spoke. "Dan, I thought we were over this..."
"I just thought you should kn-"
"Dan, enough!" Phil snapped. "I'm sorry that you feel lonely, but you can't keep making up lies about her like this!"
"But Phil, I'm not lying!"
"Yes you are! Beth wouldn't do something like that, and you know it. Stop being selfish! You just have to accept that she's in my life now." he said, getting up from the couch.
"But Phil-" I said, trying to stop him.
"Please, Dan. Stop." he said, walking out of the room.
I slumped into the couch. Well that back fired. What now?
"Phil, there's dinner if you want it." I called towards his bedroom. He didn't respond, which was what I expected.
I sat down at the computer with my bowl of soup and opened twitter. I scrolled through my timeline, eating a spoonful of soup every now and then. I heard a door open and close and turned to see Phil slowly walking to the kitchen. "Thanks." he said quietly.
"Yup." I nodded. I turned back to the computer and continued.
"Dan?" Phil said from the kitchen.
I got up and walked to the kitchen. "Yeah?" I said as I peaked through the door way.
Phil looked at me. "I think we need to have a serious talk."
I nodded. "Okay."
"I'll be out in a minute." he said, turning back to the pot of soup.
I walked back out to the living room and sat on the couch. Phil came out a few seconds later, carefully holding his bowl. "What do you want to talk about?" I asked, although I already knew what was coming.
"I just want to talk to you about Beth." he said calmly, giving me a little smile. Atleast he's not mad anymore... He sat down and blew on his soup. "I just want to know what's going on with you, that's all. What's bothering you Dan?"
I looked down at my lap. I didn't want to start another fight, but I also didn't want to let the subject go. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."
"Hurt? Why would I get hurt?"
"I don't know... It's just, you're my friend, I care about you." I said, looking up at him. That might be a little more true than he thinks...
"I know, and I care about you too Dan-"
"But not in the same way..." I said quietly. Then I realized what I had said. I looked at Phil, who was giving me a confused look.
"Huh?"
"I... um... never mind, continue with what you were saying." I said, panicking.
"Oh, okay... Anyway, I was just saying that I care about you too, and I know you must be feeling hurt, but I really don't want our friendship to be like this. I miss when we could talk about anything, and spend time with each other all day, but sometimes it just doesn't always work out like that. Do you get what I'm saying?"
"Yeah, I think so." I said, getting up and going back to the computer.
"Are you okay, Dan?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm glad we talked things out." I gave him a weak smile and sat back down at the desk.
I woke up about noon time the next day. I got out of bed, stumbling to the kitchen to make me some lunch.
I made a sandwich and went to sit down when the phone rang. I sighed, setting my sandwich down and answering the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey Dan!" Phil said excitedly.
"Hey Phil," I smiled. "Are you going to call me everyday now?"
"Well, I have to make sure you didn't burn the apartment down."
"I didn't burn anything down, I promise." I laughed.
"That's good." Phil laughed too. "Anyway I called with some good news!"
"Good news?"
"Yeah! Beth stopped by today, and we got talking, and we decided that she would come over for dinner tonight so you guys can get to know each other!"
I didn't say anything for a while, letting it all sink in. "Was this Beth's idea?" I asked.
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Lucky guess." I said, irritated.
"Well, be dressed by time I get home and you can help me make the food if you want. It'll be some bonding time for you and I."
