Phil gave a small smile as he walked back into his small shop. He walked over to where the cash register was, smiling at the Heather who was working away.

As his coworker heard his footsteps, she look up, smiling. "Welcome back, Phil!"

"I'm sorry I kinda came in late. I was talking to one of the newcomers who work next door."

"Oh?" Heather was chuckling as she continued. "Was he threatening? He didn't convince you to do anything, right?"

Phil's reply was almost too fast. "Oh, no. He was so nice, and kinda cheesy. He's cute."

"Cute?"

"I- uh. His way of communicating was cute." Phil felt his cheeks heat up as he rested his right hand on his cheek. "He was kind of interesting. And his pick up line was adorable."

"He used a pick up line on you? Did it work?" Heather was interested now. Was that slight jealously in her voice? Maybe. Phil was too oblivious and excited about Dan to even notice.

"He got my number. I'm expecting a text from him soon."

Heather widened her eyes, not saying anything.

"You know those rumors you heard? About the big guy with the blue hair and terrifying look?"

"Is that what he looked like?"

"Not at all! His hair was this nice brown color and it looked very soft. I kinda wanted to feel it. And he wasn't big and scary at all! He said my eyes were pretty. He was just so nice and I really want to talk to him again."

Heather gave a soft laugh, twirling her hair in her finger. "Sounds like you want to be friends with the competition."

"Yeah, I-I guess it does." Phil felt himself blushing again. He was confused at why though. Maybe it was because the way Heather sounded bored? Or was it was because she was calling him out for talking to much about him?

"What did you say his name was?"

"Oh, did I never say his name? I'm sorry, how rude. He said his name was Dan."

Heather gave a nod and quietly went back to her work.

Phil gave a slight sigh, calming himself down from all that excitement. He checked his phone constantly as he went back to work, expecting some sort of text from Dan or something.

Suddenly, Phil widened his eyes. He began to bite his lip nervously. That note he typed to Dan. Was it too creepy to put that heart there? What if Dan thinks he's a weird creeper now?

He gave a sigh as he slid his phone back into his pocket for about the fortieth time. He heard his name being called by Heather as he put his phone up. Sighing heavily with worry, Phil went off to work.

•••

It wasn't until around eight when Phil heard his phone go off. He wanted to drop the bag of fertilizer he was holding onto right then and there and check it. It had to be Dan.

Phil quickly walked over to his favorite area of the small roses, setting the bag of fertilizer down, making it lean on the legs of the table tagged the roses were sitting on.

Bending down slightly, Phil reached in for a cup that was in the bag of fertilizer. Once he grabbed onto it, he dipped it lightly into the substance and carefully took to cup out, shaking excess off the very top. He began to very slowly and carefully pour it all over his favorite flowers.

Once he finished and set the cup back in the bag, Phil sealed it shut and returned it back into the supply room that was hiding under the staircase leading up to his small home.

Quickly scoping the place out, Phil decided that everything was in order and his shop was nice and neat. He quickly pulled out his phone, turning on the screen. He gave a small smile as an unfamiliar number appeared on his screen and a message.

15 mins ago:

"i didn't get free until just now, sorry hah tell me about yourself."

Phil quickly unlocked his phone, opening his messages app and quickly replying to Dan.

"Already wanting to know about me?"

The emoticon of Dan typing back was quick, and Phil suddenly felt bad. He was so late to reply to Dan's first text and the man was already typing back before a minute even passed.

"you intrigue me, Lester."

Phil scoffed lightly at his phone. Was he blushing? Yeah, maybe he was.

"what kind of music do you like?" The sound of his phone vibrating made him jump slightly. He looked back down at his phone, reading the recent text from Dan.

His reply was almost too quick. "I love Muse a little too much for my own good"

"dude i love Muse!"

Phil felt his heart flutter. Dan loved Muse. That's been Phil's favorite band basically since they've even been considered a band. He began to type again. "Favorite song?"

"i could go on forever about their new Drones album, so" Dan's answer was quick and it made Phil laugh a little. He looked back down at his phone, typing once again.

"Good to know we're not polar opposites" He sent, chuckling a little at his own text.

"lol you're right."

It was Phil's turn to ask a question. Which one though? He looked around and began to walk towards the window on his left. He shut the blinds with one hand as he typed with his other. "What's your surname? I never got it"

"Howell"

"Like a wolf lol" Cue mental face palm. Phil, that was dumb of you to say. He thought to himself.

"haha yeah like a wolf except it's spelt cooler."

Phil gave a slight snort as he read the text. He tapped on the contact settings and quickly typed in Dan's name.

Dan Howell. It had a lovely ring to it. Phil smiled to himself, feeling like the world's biggest dork.

Suddenly, he got a text from Dan.

"so...you send selfies? ;)"

Phil kinda widened his eyes at the wink-y face. Is Dan one of those-

"i don't mean it to sound like that. im not a fuckboi i promise. i just want a contact photo lol"

Cue relieved sigh from Phil. He walked over to where the lights to his shop was, and flicked them off quietly. As he made his way upstairs to his small home, he began to type back.

"Kay good, because I saw that text and began to grow slightly concerned lol." He sent along with "I'll send you that selfie in a second" right after.

"nice, let me also find my lighting."

Phil chuckled and slid his phone in his pocket, grabbing his keys from the same one and unlocking his door.

He walked in, closing the door behind him and tossing his keys on his white coffee table, sighing as he pulled out his phone and walked to his room.

Once he reached the room in the back, Phil slid off his shoes and sat on his bed. He unlocked his phone and opened the camera app, wondering how he should take this picture. Yeah, it wasn't a big deal, but Phil really didn't want to send an ugly photo.

He quickly leaned against his bed frame, lifting his phone up to the air a couple feet in front of him. A couple seconds later and he snapped his first photo.

Gross.

It took his a good five minutes, but soon Phil found a photo he liked.

He was deciding to put a filter on it or not, soon snorting at himself in annoyance. Dan wouldn't want a filtered photo of me, I'm sure. He thought to himself.

He quickly went to his messaging app and went to the texts of him and Dan. Once his keyboard opened up, he quickly typed, "okay I got one! Sorry for the wait!"

He sent the selfie of himself, locking his phone and standing up, beginning to undress into his pajamas.

Halfway through taking his pants off, he received a text. The sound scared him, causing him to trip over the half pulled down jeans.

Sighing lightly at himself, Phil slid his pants off and stood up, grabbing his phone from the nightstand and crashing back on the bed. He quickly unlocked it, reading the texts from Dan.

"wow" Was sent a minute ago along with a, "i want to call you cute, but i dont want to come off as creepy lol"

Phil blushed at the text. Dan thought he was cute. He shook his head from thoughts and began to text back. "Not creepy at all! That was very sweet of you." He sent with a quick, "Your turn!"

He went back to throwing his pajamas on, grabbing the clothes he wore for the day and walking over to a hamper pile, dumping them in. He also made a quick note to take care of the growing pile soon.

Walking back over to his bed, Phil lay down on it once again, grabbing his phone and actually getting under the covers. Ad he turned his phone screen in again, he turned off his lamp and snuggled up, unlocking his phone.

Dan sent a picture and Phil gave a light smile, opening it.

He saw that Dan had a full covered sleeve on his right arm, the designs full of roses and birds and maybe hearts? Phil couldn't tell from the photo, but he thought if suited Dan well. Dan also had gauges, which personally scared Phil. Not that Dan looked bad or anything, it's just how could he stretch them? Dan also had a nose ring and a stud above his upper lip. Also, the front of his fringe was a red He must've had it dyed earlier today when Phil wasn't talking to him.

Usually Phil doesn't dig these kind of people. He would feel too threatened to talk to them. But Dan was different for some reason.

"I like the way you look." Phil texted, soon wondering if that was too creepy to ask.

"you look cuter tho haha"

With that quick response, Phil's face flared up. He didn't answer Dan right away just to put his photo as his contact photo. Once he did, he returned to the text.

"I'm totally not blushing."

"its nice to know that you enjoy my compliments"

Phil gave a chuckle, looking at the time. It was getting pretty late for him, so he decided to text Dan with, "I might go to sleep soon"

"same. its late and i have work tomorrow haha"

"I guess I'll text you when I wake up?"

"i wouldnt mind that"

Phil smiled lightly. "Alright. I'll talk to you later, Howell."

"see you, Lester."

And although they texted their good nights to each other, they kept texting each other.

Phil didn't go to sleep until three in the morning.