div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"Dan couldn't help but think of carnations when Phil asked him, "why are you here?" Carnations with a blood-red hue. Deep red carnations symbolized a longing for someone, and that's exactly what Dan felt right now. He wanted to reply with something around the lines of, "I came here for you," or, "I wanted to see you." That sounded cheesy even in his head. He locked eyes with Phil's , and the ache in his chest grew. A plethora of emotions stumbled around his mind, confused and in need of some kind of resolve. His heart palpatated at what seemed like a hundred miles per hour - the same pace as the raindrops that were pitter-pattering outside./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""I-," he attempted to answer. However, he barely even knew why he had stepped into the shop. The longing, once again, panged inside his rib cage, and was gnawing at the base of his throat. He then recalled the small rainstorm brewing in the sky outside of the cars and buildings. "I have an umbrella," he blurted. Phil furrowed his eyebrows in confusion./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""You have an umbrella?"/div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"'Dammit Dan,' he scorned himself and blushed. Then he patted his bag, remembering that he did, in fact, have an umbrella. It was a small, foldable umbrella he saved for rainy days such as this. This one in particular.. It was a lifesaver./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""Erm, yes-yeah. Right here." He pulled out a black object. It rustled against its confines that were Dan's hands. "In case it rained. Um... Which it is." He looked down. "But, in case you wanted to- oh wait.." He fumbled with it before looking up again. "I was wondering if you were free this weekend? Like, if you wanted to come over to my flat or something. Maybe we could go to the cinema, or..." He was flustered, and his mind refused to cooperate with his wishes at the moment. Phil, however, had a quirky smile on his lips./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""Well it just happens, Danny," he smirked. "that I have no plans whatsoever this weekend, and would be very obliged to hang out at your place. What day?" Dan shifted his feet around./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""I was thinking maybe you could stay the whole weekend, then. If that's alright." His heart was now pounding at an unimaginable speed. Phil adjusted his fringe, then gently took the umbrella, putting his arm around Dan's shoulders. Dan wanted to scream./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"'Keep your cool, Daniel.'/div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""I don't see why not." They exited the parlour, Phil locking the door behind them. Then he popped the umbrella into place before stepping out onto the sidewalk. Dan wasn't sure quite what to think anymore. How would he ever sort out his emotions if this man kept acting all flirty? He even linked elbows with Dan as they neared the apartment complex, and began to skip. They ended up skipping all he way to the lift, then out of the lift and to Dan's flat./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""Oh my lord, that was the most exercise I've gotten in my LIFE!" Dan wheezed, laughing, after they had taken their shoes and jackets off./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""I know right?!"/div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""I don't know how I didn't pass out in the lift, Philip, sweet mother of god." He made his way to the lounge and flopped down onto his sofa./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"***/div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"Phil observed the room he was in. It was small and rectangular. A small sofa where Dan was seated was positioned near the edge of the room, and a bookshelf sat next to it. On the opposite wall, next to an empty doorway leading to the kitchen, was a television and a gaming console. There was a Rock Band drum set, along with a guitar of similar origin, and assorted video games. One lamp and one small coffee table completed the scene./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"He took a seat next to Dan on the sofa. A sudden rush of warmth came over him as his friend's scent wafted over. He smelled of fresh laundry, foliage, and moist earth. It was comforting. So much so that Phil had the urge to lean over and rest his head on Dan's shoulder. A little part of his mind told him that he should. Maybe he should, and maybe, just maybe, Dan would be comfortable with it./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"No./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"He didn't have the courage to do so. The only thing he could do right now was gaze at the side of Dan's face. After a couple of seconds, however, it wasn't the side of his face. He was facing Dan directly, their gazes inches apart./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"'You could do it,' Phil thought. 'You could lean in right now and kiss him. Everything is in your power right now. The outcome of this situation is yours to decide.' He couldn't look away, despite the ever-growing tension./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""Something wrong, Phil?" Dan asked softly. Phil blinked./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"'emUgh/em, just do it already Phil.' His fingers twitched on his knee. 'What'll you risk? You can always cover it up with some excuse.'/div
div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;" /div
div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""Uh, nothing. I'm just- um.." He bit his lower lip, scanning his friend over. Everything about this man was driving him crazy. His gaze landed on the brunette's lips. Should he? Was it worth it? Like, was it emreally/em worth it?/div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""Do you want anything to drink? Are you hungry? We could order some pizza." Dan's inquiries snapped Phil out of his drowsy state, and back into the real world. He suddenly felt dizzy, and the room seemed to be caving in on him./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""Yeah, that-that sounds good.. And... A glass of water would be nice, actually." He struggled to steady himself. Were the late nights beginning to take their toll? After only five weeks at his work, was he already fatigued? 'Get it together, Philip.' He found a hand putting pressure on his shoulder, and he realized he had started to tip forwards./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""Phil, are you alright?" Dan's voice was filled with concern. "Seriously, if you need anything- tea, medicine- don't hesitate to tell me, ok?"/div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"Phil nodded and replied, "I'm a bit out-of-it, I'm terribly sorry. I think I'm just tired is all." Dan gently laid his head back down on the sofa, and hurried to fix a cup of tea./div
div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;" /div
div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""You can turn on the television if you'd like, Phil," he called from the kitchen./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""Yeh, maybe some emNetflix and Phil/em," Phil teased, chuckling to himself./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""Oh shut up!"/div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""You know you want it." They were both giggling at this point. Phil looked around for a remote and found it, switching on the t.v. "Any specific movie you want to watch?" He scrolled through the movies and landed on Kill Bill./div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""Nah, you can pick whatever sounds cool."/div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""Well then. Kill Bill is never not cool."/div
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div style="font-size: 12.8px; color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;""I'm always up for some Tarantino." Dan looked up from the electric kettle just as it clicked. He poured it into two mugs and carefully stepped into the lounge. They watched action films for the remainder of he evening, only stopping to order a pizza./div