Phil breathed deeply before unlocking the front door with his key. He opened it quietly and walked in through the hall.
"Phil? Is that you?" He heard his father's quiet voice coming from the kitchen.
"Yeah.. I'm home." Phil said nervously.
"C-come in here, I need to speak to you." He sounded upset, and hurt.
"What is it?" Phil said proceeding into the kitchen slowly.
He looked up from his hands, his eyes red and tired. He hadn't slept in days. He looked thin, like he hadn't eaten and his face struck with relief.
"Sit down. Please." Phil sat down slowly and the chair creaked loudly in the stiffening silence.
"I.. I have probably been the worst father in the world i.."
"Dad what?" Phil asked before he was interrupted.
"I should be sent to jail for my behaviour.. I.. I just wanted to say, I am so sorry, I, I'm just so so sorry" He sobbed.
"dad, I…"
His father sniffed and wiped away his tears.
"I shouldn't have insulted you and your friend in that way. Dan is it? I thought you might like to get away from here." He took two slightly crumpled pieces of card from his pocket. I knew you liked that band, Muse, and saw they were performing in Paris in two weeks time. I thought you might like to spend some time away, with your friend." He handed the tickets across the table to Phil. He read the computerised letters which read: MUSE, PARIS STAD. 21:00. Phil stared at the tickets in amazement.
"Dad I" Phil awed at the two paper tickets. "Thank you so much!" Phil hesitated before reaching over to give his father a hug. It felt strange, different. He hadn't been this close to his father for years.
"I thought you might like a couple of days to yourselves before the concert so I phoned the school to say you're on holiday" He added.
"Dad.. I don't know what to say…" Phil then realised something. His Dad was going to find out he was gay soon enough. He thought that now was the best moment as he was in a fairly good mood. "I.. I need to tell you something."
"Go ahead son, you can tell me anything."
"I.. I don't really know how to say this, but.. Dan.. Dan is my boyfriend." There was a sickening silence following Phil's words. He lowered his head avoiding eye contact..
"s-since… when?" His Dad said slowly.
"Since.. Dan.." Phil replied awkwardly.
"So he made you.."
"Well, he is the first person I've ever been with.."
"Right… okay.." his father tapped his fingers on the table quietly. "Have you two.." he hinted."
"What…."
"You know.." He hinted further.
"OH, Oh, no. No we haven't.. had.. yeah.."
"Yeah…" His father shifted in his seat. "I think I'd better.. get to bed…"
"Yeah, me too.."
"Right, ok.
Phil collapsed on his bed when he reached his bedroom. He stared at his cealing.
"I think he took that well" Phil said optimistically before pulling out the two glossy tickets and tweeting them to Dan. He grinned to himself and closed his laptop lid. He smiled to himself thinking about Dan. He thought about how he would react. He could imagine his face smiling into his computer. He started thinking about Dan waking up next to him. He leaned on his side and he could smell Dan's scent on his jumper, as he let Dan wear it when they didn't know how to turn the heating on, the week he stayed with him. When Dan spilt soup down his jeans, Phil let Dan wear his. Phil breathed deeply taking in the smell of Dan's washing powder. It was really strong, and it brought back more memories of that week, when Dan had tried to work the washing machine, and put too much in. When Phil over-did the washing-up liquid and they shoved the bubbles in each other's faces.
"AAGH PHIL" Dan squealed as Phil put some in his hair. "It will go all frizzy now!"
"It looks cute that way" Phil complemented.
"No it doesn't, I look like Frodo after he had a wild night in the Shire."
They both stared at each other for a second, before bursting into fits of laughter.
"I adore your creativity Dan but that description just makes you look even more attractive that way."
He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his temple.
"Well I think I look hideous."
"You aren't hideous Dan, you are perfect" Dan rested his head on Phil's shoulder.
"I wish I could believe that."
"Believe it."
"Oh Dan, I love you."