The weather in London was growing harsh and cold as they progressed further into fall and further along in Dan's college semester.
Dan would have said nothing changed, but the changing seasons were evidence of the contrary. Time was definitely passing, and he continued to feel as though he couldn't keep up. He found purpose and escape from the monotony in his books.
On a particularly cold and rainy day in October, Dan waited for the bus outside the downtown library, cursing himself for not coming prepared with more layers. He shuffled and shivered, lifting his feet off the ground to try and relieve from the cold seeping into his shoes.
There was only one other person waiting for the bus at the same stop and Dan couldn't help but envy the older, bearded man for the heavy coat he wore.
He checked the time on his phone repeatedly, continuing to shuffle, and looking down the road the bus was meant to come from.
Please just fucking hurry up, he thought, frustrated. He gazed down the road again, hoping to see the bus in the distance.
A silver, smooth-shaped car was slowing to a stop along the curb and Dan was amazed to find his professor leaning over and rolling down the window.
Calling out the window, over the sound of the rain, Phil said, "Hey, are you okay?"
Dan moved closer to hear and asked, "Huh?"
"You okay?" Phil said again.
"Yeah," Dan bent slightly in order to look in and see Phil's concerned, light-colored eyes looking up at him.
"Do you want a ride?"
"Is that, like, okay?" he asked Phil.
Understanding at Dan's meaning crossed his features but he reasoned, "Well, either way, I don't want to leave you here in the cold."
Dan supposed that whether or not it was proper to accept a ride from his professor, he was in desperate need to get out of the cold as he was sure his toes would fall off before he finally made it home.
He pulled the car door open and slid into the seat. He shut the door quickly as Phil smoothly pulled away from the curb.
"Oh," Dan moaned as he was engulfed in warmth and Phil let out a throaty chuckle.
Warmth seeped into Dan's shoes when Phil turned on the vents near his feet.
"What are you doing without good shoes?" Phil asked in a light-hearted manner.
"I didn't expect it to be so cold today," he said quietly, almost a mumble.
In truth, he needed to buy himself a new pair of shoes and the ones he was currently wearing had holes in the bottoms of them.
"I'm glad I found you then," Phil replied with his voice soft and silky, surrounding Dan like a small sanctuary.
"Thanks," Dan said to him in a by-the-way tone.
"No problem," Phil said, his tone becoming more casual as he deftly made a turn. He laughed then, and said, "Where am I taking you, anyways?"
Dan recited the name of the street where he and Chris shared a flat together and said, "Do you know where that's at? It's not very far from here."
"Yeah, I think so," Phil said.
Phil made the rest of the journey focused on the road, while Dan became more and more relaxed in the warmth of the car. He couldn't help but scan Phil's body, taking in his long legs and steady hands on the steering wheel.
He had never felt so close to Phil than when he sat beside him, without nearly a single barrier. Phil had once put a hand to his arm to help him stand and surely that was something rather intimate, although something felt even more intimate, almost dangerously so, about the calm and warmth of the car.
It was as though he and Phil were in a separate world from the rest as he gazed out into the rain that continued to fall.
Dan was dreading it when he would have to finally leave the safety of Phil's car.
"My apartment building is on the end," he finally spoken when Phil turned down his street. "On this side," he added, referring to the side of the street Phil was already driving down.
"This one?" Phil asked as he slowed to a stop in front of the building.
"Yup." Dan said. He adjusted his messenger bag and the sweater that he wore, before reaching for the door handle.
"Thanks," he said to Phil.
"No problem," Phil said cheerfully. "Keep warm."
"I'll try," Dan replied, letting out a small laugh. He pushed the door open and stepped onto the asphalt, the cold sinking into his clothing once again. "Bye, Phil. And thanks again!"
"No problem," Phil said. "Have a good night."
Dan shut the door, knowing that the warmth would quickly dissipate if he left it open. Phil waved goodbye with a smile before he pulled away and Dan slipped between the bumpers of two cars parked against the curb.
He walked up to the building and then up to his and Chris' flat. Chris wasn't home yet, but hoped he was holding up better than he had in the cold. He put his things away in his room, making a mental note to start on the reading he needed to get done after he settled in. He turned on the heater and started a kettle for tea for himself, and for Chris when he did arrive.
He put on Netflix using their gaming console for background noise while he sorted out something to make for dinner and made a mug of tea when the kettle whistled at him.
A damp Chris came into the flat not long after Dan had and dumped his things onto the couch.
"The kettle is ready if you want some tea," Dan told him from he was sat on the sofa.
"Ah, perfect. You're the best, babe," Chris joked.
"I'm definitely the best, but I'm not your babe," Dan retorted with a laugh.
"Right. You're Lester's babe," Chris said.
"Mm," Dan agreed. He stood from the couch and said, "Speaking of Lester, I got something to tell you. You won't believe me though."
"Did you guys fuck?"
Dan let out a roll of laughter and thought, I wish, before saying, "He passed by me while I was waiting for the bus and he gave me a ride."
"No shit," Chris said.
"Yes shit."
Chris laughed. "So what happened?"
"Well, nothing really. I mean, it was kind of nice, I guess," Dan said with a shrug as he made himself a second cup of tea.
"All romantic and stuff," Chris teased.
"Er…," Dan paused in thought for a moment. "Not really," he finally said with a laugh.
"Hm," was Chris' response. They dropped the conversation after that, leaving each other to their own things until Chris offered to cook that night.
Later that week, Dan's throat grew rough and his nose, stuffy.
On Saturday, dread sunk into his bones when he realized how ill he had become and blamed it on the weather.
He managed to make it to work, but luckily his boss was kind and sent him home instead, telling him to return when he felt well enough. He decided to only skip that day as he knew he couldn't afford it.
But that night he e-mailed his teachers, including Phil, explaining that he'd have to miss class.
His math professor replied by the next morning and said to use his book to do his best to complete the online assignments. Phil's reply included an explanation about the online assignments and what they were currently reading as well a "get well" wish. Phil also said in his e-mail that if he didn't understand the assignments he could talk to him after class.
So that Monday, Dan worked diligently on his math assignments, knowing they'd be the most difficult, despite being sick. He drank cup after cup of coffee and tea in an attempt to soothe his throat. By Wednesday, he felt well enough to return to class, but carried cough drops with him.
At the end of Phil's lesson, Dan purposely packed his things up slowly in order to allow the rest of the students to shuffle out.
"Dan, are you feeling better?" Phil asked him.
"Yeah. I, er, I get the assignments, but I just didn't do them yet. I was working on my math on Monday and then Tuesday I had work and stuff," he explained, nearly rambling.
"No problem," Phil said. "It's still Wednesday, so you have time to turn them in for full credit still."
"Oh, erm, okay then." Dan replied. He adjusted his bag awkwardly.
"You can work on them here if you like," Phil told him. "On one of the computers. I'll just be doing some grading and planning, so it'll be quiet."
"Okay, that sounds good."
Dan chose a computer that was against the wall near the front of the classroom and logged on. He did manage to get the reading done, so all he had to do was answer the quiz questions. The quiz questions were comprehensive and in-depth so they took some thought.
He managed to get through most of them, but about mid-way through one of the assignments he was stumped.
He glanced over at Phil, and then back to the question. He supposed he could just answer with some bull-shit nonsense, but didn't want to admit defeat.
"Do you need any help?" Phil suddenly spoke up.
"Oh, er," Dan hesitated as Phil turned in his chair. "I just don't really understand this one."
Phil rolled his chair up next to Dan's and managed to keep his palms from sweating and his cheeks to heat up as they discussed the question. Phil was so close that Dan could smell his fabric softener. Dan couldn't place the exact scent, but it sure was nice.
"So," Phil said, as he leaned back. "Does that make sense?'
"Yeah, it does. Thanks," Dan said and began to fill in the answer as Phil rolled back in his chair to his own computer.
When Dan completed his assignments and stood, Phil turned quickly and said, "Hey, I know I shouldn't really do this again, but it's still pretty cold out there and I can't imagine it's helping you recover fully, so do you want me to give you a ride home?"
"No, that's not necessary, Phil," Dan said quickly. "But thank you for the help with the," he gestured to the computer.
Phil replied, "You're welcome. But are you sure you don't want a ride?"
I would love a ride, Dan thought dirtily, and nearly rolled his eyes at himself. He said, "I'm sure. Have a nice day," he paused and then added, "Professor."
Phil's eyebrows knitted almost imperceptibly and then he said in a resigned tone, but still with a smile, "Okay then. You too. Bye."
Dan left the classroom and made his way out of the building, off campus and to his bus stop.
Luckily, he didn't have to wait long for the bus and made it home to work on his math assignments for that day.
While he and Chris ate dinner that night, Chris mentioned a party that he and PJ were going to on Halloween and that Dan should join them.
"I dunno," he said hesitantly. "I'll think about it."
"It'll be fun," Chris said as though that alone would tempt him.
"I bet," Dan replied. He'd much rather spend the evening alone with a book.
"You're such a loner, Dan. You need to get out more," Chris said to him.
"That is so not true. I live with you," Dan argued.
"I said you need to get out more," Chris repeated light-heartedly.
"Whatever," Dan said. He stood up from couch, taking care of his plate from dinner before going into his room for the night.
Chris shook his head at Dan's shut door.
Dan collapsed onto his bed and then turned over. He stared up at the ceiling for a while, and then absentmindedly double checked that his alarm was set for work the next morning before reaching for his bag to retrieve a book he'd recently checked out.
Dan's work shift the next day passed without much occurrence but did get to see Phil's bright eyes and friendly smile looking up at him at the beginning of his shift.
"Good morning," Dan said with a smile.
"Morning," Phil said with a grin to mirror Dan's and recited his order.
Dan collected his pay, told him it'd be ready soon, and then moved onto the next customer.
When his coffee was ready, Dan wrote a note on the outside that said, "Phil, the coolest professor in London."
"Thanks," Phil laughed when he read the note and left the shop with the cardboard cup keeping his hands warm.
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