Phil and Dan had so much in common. They used to sit behind the science blocks and just talk for the entirety of their break and lunch. It was a shame the only class they were in together was Media, Dan was in the year below so he had to sit alone through his classes until lunch came. They often walked home together, but Phil didn't want Dan to come round because his Dad wouldn't approve

"What do you actually do in your spare time, because I barely see you out of school?" Dan questioned eagerly.

"Um.. Well, I don't really leave the house.. My Dad needs me at home a lot." Phil said quietly.

"Hang on, so you're telling me, that your Dad can't fend for himself so he gets you to do it and doesn't let you go and get a life?" Dan sounded surprised indeed.

Phil didn't really like to talk about his home life to anyone. But Dan wasn't just anyone. He felt closer to Dan more than anyone he had ever been friends with.

Phil took a deep breath and began to explain his story to Dan.

"Three years ago, my mother died from a tumour in her brain, my family were so happy before she passed away. But after she died, my dad grew angry and blamed me because he said caused her too much stress. He used to rant on at me about how I was my fault. He occasionally brings her up when we have arguments. Well we don't have arguments, I never say anything he just shouts at me. He makes me do all the jobs and doesn't let me go out with my friends, that's why I never used to have any friends. Until now." He smiled at Dan who had gone completely quiet.

"I.. Phil I'm so sorry I shouldn't have brought it up."

"Its fine, it's just that I've never told anyone that before…" He looked up at Dan's sorrowful face "Most people don't understand.."

"Your Dad.." Dan began "Does he.." He took Phil's arm gently and lifted the sleeve of blazer. He saw the bandage wrapped tightly around his arm and started to unravel it slowly. He finally removed it completely, to reveal the swollen arm covered in cuts and bruises. He gasped at the state of Phil's skin and ran his hands along the swollen cuts.

"Did he.."

"The bruises, yeah." A slight tremble in his voice.

"I.. I'm sorry this is probably quite private to you.." He began to put his arm away.

"No its okay.." Phil liked how Dan's touch was gentle and soothing.

"Did you do that" he said quietly, referencing the red slits on his arms.

"Y-Yeah" Phil whispered.

Dan gently wrapped his arm up again and wiped a tear from his eye.

"Phil, can you promise me something." Dan sounded like he was going to cry.

"Sure, what?" Phil tried to sound more casual.

"Don't.. Don't do that again.. Please, for me.." Phil didn't know how to react to this request. Why did Dan care so much? Why does it matter to him?

"I promise…" Their eyes locked for a second unaware of the unending silence between them.

"You should come round mine sometime.." Dan sounded his usual cheerful self again "my mum won't care, she gets on with her business I get on with mine."

"That would be great, my dad will probably be too pissed to notice" Phil chucked.

"Great" Dan said happily "What about tomorrow after school, you can come home with me."

"Tomorrow after school, great." Phil said getting up as the bell rang.

"See you later then!"

"Yeah seeya" Phil walked away smiling to himself.

Phil hadn't been round someone's house in years… he couldn't remember what you really did at someone's house, should he bring spare clothes? Games? The latest Muse album? He thought he would pack a t-shirt just in case.

When the bell rang for the end of the day, he went to his locker to see Dan happily waiting for him.

"Alright?" He said putting his books into his locker and started to walk with Dan.

All the way to Dan's house they talked about Muse and Sonic. Phil barely realised he wasn't going his way home, he didn't particularly care.

"This is me" Dan said meekly nodding at the small white house standing in front of them.

"It's better than mine though." They both laughed before walking through the small white gate. Dan fumbled for his keys and unlocked the front door. They walked into a wooden hallway with cream walls.

"Come put your bag upstairs." Dan called sown from the landing. Phil walked up the stairs, his hand feeling the smooth wood of the bannister. He got to Dan's room and slowly opened the door. The room was covered in Posters. Muse, Kill Bill, My Chemical Romance…Phil smiled to himself as he looked around the room.

"Sorry for the mess" He said quickly shoving what looked like two empty Malteasers boxes into his very small, overflowing bin.

"Don't worry, mine isn't any better." He put his bag down and sat on the bed.

Dan put a game in his Xbox and chucked a controller at Phil, which he caught instantly. Sonic came up on the screen and they grinned at each other instantly. They played for what felt like hours.

"Dammit, No NO NOOO!" Dan shouted as Phil beat him the fifth time in a row.
"You just can't accept that I am better than you." Phil teased followed by a smac on the head with a pillow.

"This time. This time I will beat you Phil." Dan said confidently. Their fingers danced around the buttons on the controllers and hunched up toward the end as they neared the finish line.

"Yes! What did I tell you? I AM VICTORIOUS" Dan shouted excitedly.

"I still won the five other games Dan." Phil said smugly.

"Shut Up."

Dan slumped on the bed beside Phil. "Thanks for coming round, I don't normally have people here.."

"I'm just glad to be out of the house." Phil smiled thankfully.

"You know I was like you in my old school, I didn't have any friends that appreciated me."

"I get paranoid a lot, but I can't help it, I can't help thinking that someone is going to let me down. Like they always used to do.." Phil looked down at his feet.

"Well I can promise you I won't let you down." Dan said lifting his chin up. There they were. Those piercing blue eyes. Dan never got a glimpse of them properly. They were like ice, but not so cold. They had been looking at each other for what felt like hours, identifying both their features and how they complimented everything about themselves.

Dan didn't know what he was doing, his conscience had drifted off somewhere, he started leaning in to Phil, he could feel his body heat rise as he got closer. They were inches apart and their eyes never broke their gaze. He leaned in closer until he met Phil's lips. A sudden feeling erupted inside him, a warm welcoming feeling. Phil hesitated and Dan broke away quickly.

"I.. I'm sorr-"He was interrupted by Phil leaning in to meet him again. They fitted perfectly together, like two pieces of a puzzle. Dan dragged his hands up Phil's back into his hair and tugged on it lightly, this made Phil shiver and he pulled Dan in closer to him. Dan opened his mouth slightly and licked along Phil's bottom lip and into his mouth and he like the taste of it. Dan put his leg over Phil and sat on his lap. Phil wrapped his arms around Dan's neck and pulled him down on the bed on top of him.

They broke away slowly, still locked in each other's grip.

"I.. I don't really know where that came from …" Dan panted

"Me neither, but I liked it" Phil whispered. They both laughed before returning to kiss each other passionately.