Many thoughts were racing through Dan's aching head. He checked his pockets. He still had his wallet, but knew he had left his key to his apartment in his jacket at Hazel's. He knew Hazel would bring it to him on campus, or Chris would bring it home with him.
He also had his phone with him still. He checked his messages after seeing that he had several. They were from Chris.
Where are you
Are you okay
Are you mad at us
You left your jacket at Hazel's
Please tell me where you are
Dan wrote a quick reply that read, I'm fine. I think.
Dan looked around the room. If he really was at his professor's house, he would have to compliment him on his décor. All of his furniture was made of dark, lacquer finished wood. There was a large, six-drawer dresser on the wall to Dan's right and on the wall behind him there was a tall house plant and a door to the restroom. Across from him, there was a door that must've led to the rest of Phil's house.
Dan stood up from the bed and approached the door. His heart raced. This was so surreal to him.
He twisted the knob on the door, and peeked out to see a short hall way. The smell of frying eggs filled his nose. Phil must've been cooking. He pulled the door open further and crept out into the hall. The hall opened up to the kitchen where he saw Phil standing over a stove with one hand braced on the counter and a spatula in the other hand. He was wearing a purple t-shirt and black jeans. It was odd to see him out of slacks and a button up. He looked younger.
Dan gulped.
Dan considered trying to sneak out of the house, but he knew Phil would probably catch him.
Phil turned then, and looked right at him. Dan froze like a deer in headlights.
"Hey," Phil said. "You're awake."
Dan didn't say anything.
"Come sit down. I'll make you an egg and some toast," Phil gestured for him to come into the kitchen.
Phil turned back to the stove and Dan walked passed him to find the dining table.
"How're you feeling?" Phil asked him.
"Uh, I'm okay," Dan said as he sat down.
Phil appeared to be completely at ease with having Dan in his own home, which was odd to Dan. But perhaps he was trying to put Dan at ease.
"No headache?" Phil asked him.
"Yeah, but I'm okay."
"You took some medicine right?" Phil asked as two slices of toast popped up out of the toaster.
"Yeah. Thanks."
Phil buttered the toast on a paper plate and the put the cooked egg on one slice. He took the plate to Dan and placed it in front of him.
"Eat," Phil said.
Phil cracked another egg into the pan on the stove and a few minutes later joined Dan with his own egg sandwich.
"Good?" Phil asked him
"Yes, thank you," Dan said.
"Good."
They ate in silence. Dan finished eating. He didn't know what to say.
Phil finished eating and took both of their plates from the table to throw them away.
"I imagine you're a little bit confused," Phil said as he walked across the kitchen and sat down at the table again.
"Uhm, just a little bit," Dan admitted. "I remember some stuff. But why exactly am I here?"
Dan asked "why" and not "how", Phil noticed.
"I didn't want to leave you alone outside your apartment. I found you wobbling down the street," Phil said.
"Well, thanks," Dan said. "Uhm, just so you know, I don't normally drink like that. I don't normally drink, like, ever, really."
Phil grinned and said, "Don't worry. I've had my fair share of, uh, experiences."
"Oh."
Phil didn't say anything for a long moment. Until, "Dan, it would be irresponsible of me if I didn't address a few things."
Dread sunk into Dan's bones. He said, "What things?"
"Well, for starters. I'm not sure you remember some of the things you said last night."
"Oh god," Dan said quietly. Heat rose to his cheeks. "What did I say?"
"Well, apparently you feel like I treat you like a baby," Phil began.
"Okay," Dan said. He didn't deny that. He did feel that way at times.
"And, uh," Phil became very unstill. He adjusted his hair, and then his glasses. He finally said quietly, "You called me handsome. And perfect."
Dan was sure he was as red as a tomato at that point.
"I-, I did?" Dan squeaked.
"Yes," Phil said. "Look Dan, I care very much about you. I just wanted to make sure you were safe. But, I've broken a lot of rules by bringing you here last night. Like, I could lose my job. So I can't tell anyone that you were here. And I would prefer it if you didn't tell anyone that you were here. But I imagine your friends were worried about you. So only tell those you absolutely trust."
"I understand," Dan said.
Phil said, "I'm not scolding you, Dan. It's just-," he sighed and leaned forward as if there was a chance of being overheard in his own home. "I like you. But I don't want to see you getting in trouble."
"I don't want you getting in trouble, either," Dan said with a small smile. His heart was soaring from Phil's confession.
"Okay," Phil said with a deep breath. "So we're on the same page."
"Yeah," Dan said.
They sat quietly for a few moments.
"Your house is nice, Phil," Dan spoke up.
"Oh, thank you," Phil grinned. He then said, "Well, I better get you home."
"You're probably right," Dan agreed, but didn't voice that he'd much rather stay here, with Phil.
Phil stood up from the dining table and went into the living area where he put on his shoes. He returned to the kitchen where he collected his wallet and keys. To Dan, he said, "Let's go ahead and go. We don't want to push our luck anymore."
"Yeah," Dan said, and stood.
As Dan followed Phil, he said, "By the way, I like your shirt."
"Thanks," Phil glanced back. He led Dan out of the house and locked the door behind them. As he did this, he said, "I like yours."
"Thanks," Dan said.
Phil opened the passenger side door of his car for Dan and then went around to his side.
Phil climbed in, started the car, and pulled out of his driveway. He drove slightly slower than necessary in order to spend more time with Dan. Despite his efforts it didn't take long to arrive at Dan's apartment building.
Phil pulled over to the side of the road and the put the car in park.
"Thank you," Dan said. "For everything."
"You're welcome," Phil replied.
They held their gaze for a long moment. Dan wondered what it would feel like to have Phil's lips against his own.
"You better get inside," Phil said.
"Yeah," Dan said.
Another moment passed before Dan finally reached for the door handle.
"I'll see you in class," Phil said.
"See you," Dan replied.
Dan climbed out of the car, bent over to wave at Phil, who shot him a small smile. Dan turned away and went up to his apartment.
"Oh my god. Where were you?" Chris demanded to know when Dan walked into the kitchen.
"Uhm, you won't believe me," Dan said as Chris poured hot water from the kettle into a mug.
"Try me," Chris said.
"Well, when I was walking home from Hazel's, I ran into Phil," Dan took a mug from cupboard to make himself a cup of coffee
"You mean Mr. Lester?" Chris asked.
"Yeah," Dan said.
"Wait, you guys didn't-, did you?"
"Oh, no," Dan said, shaking his head. "He just didn't want me left alone. I couldn't get inside because I left my key in my jacket."
"Oh, I put your jacket in your room, by the way," Chris said.
"Thanks."
"So, what happened?"
"Well, when I woke up I couldn't remember everything clearly, but I realized I was probably at his house," Dan began.
Chris gestured for them to sit down on the couch and Dan followed. Dan went through everything that had happened that morning as they drank from their mugs.
"That's crazy, man," Chris said. "Good to know you were safe, though. We were all pretty worried about you."
"Yeah," Dan said. "You can't tell anyone though. That I was at Phil's. If it got out he could lose his job, you know."
"Okay," Chris said. "I won't tell anyone. Except PJ. Or you can tell him yourself."
"It's fine. You can tell him if you want," Dan said. "Make sure he knows not to tell anyone, though."
"Okay," Chris said.
Dan got up from the couch to put his mug in the sink. Chris followed him to do the same.
The next morning Dan was hoping to see Phil in the coffee shop he worked at, but he never showed. However, he wasn't too disappointed, because he knew he would be seeing him the next day in class.
Monday morning rolled around and when Dan awoke he was, oddly, looking forward to going to his classes. He was going to be able to see Phil.
Dan arrived outside the classroom before the room was unlocked by Phil. A few of his classmates also waited outside the room for their professor to arrive. Dan gazed down the long hallway, watching for Phil. When he appeared around the corner, Dan dropped his eyes to his phone.
He glanced up as Phil approached the classroom. He looked as handsome as ever. He unlocked the classroom door and held it open for the students. Everyone filed in one by one and Dan trailed after them in the back. A few of the students greeted Phil and he said, "Good morning," back to them in his normal, cheerful tone.
"Good morning," Phil said to Dan as he approached the doorway.
Surprised, Dan said, "Morning," back to him.
He found his usual spot in the back of the classroom and sat with his chin resting in his hands.
"How are you guys?" Phil asked the class.
Dan knew it was a general question, but Phil's gaze rested on him for just a moment longer than his classmates. He glanced away. A few students replied as the rest of the class filed in, bit by bit.
Phil began the class once everyone had arrived. He lectured the students, occasionally asking questions and beginning discussions. He also assigned a new paper to the students based off their discussions from that day.
When class ended Dan slowly packed up his things so that he was the last person remaining in the classroom. Phil was sat at his computer by the time Dan stood and walked towards the exit. He had no idea what to say to his professor, but if Phil wanted to speak to him, he was being given the opportunity.
"Hey," Phil said to him.
Dan stopped before exiting the classroom and turned around.
"Yes, professor?" Dan asked.
"How was the rest of your weekend?" Phil asked him from where he sat at his desk.
"It was good," Dan said. "I just hung out on Saturday, worked on a couple of assignments and I had work on Sunday."
"Okay, good," Phil said, nodding. Then he smiled and said, "Okay, I'll see you around then."
"See you around, professor."
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