This is all gushy and romantic and I'm sorry.

~L

"It's quite a long story..." I laughed nervously.

"I want to know every detail, no interruptions. Okay?" He smiled, squeezing my hand. This really wasn't normal best friend behaviour.

"So, it pretty much started up when I was born... My parents were arguing, I was supposed to be the solution except, I was a problem child. I kept them up all night, all day, I barely slept. It didn't get better as I grew up. My dad started having an affair... I found out. I saw him with her and tried to run away. I was missing for almost two weeks, but they weren't looking. It was my Nan who found me. She seemed to be the only one that cared. We were forced to go to family counselling sessions, which aren't the same as what you went for. I'd have to talk about how much I hated my parents and well life. I was a weird kid, I've said before, but I was also the reason my parents didn't have any other kids. Anyway, by the age of 15 I was depressed. I always came across as such a happy energetic person but truth being, I was dying inside. I escaped, I went to live with my Nan for a couple of years, I was much happier... And then she passed away. I had no friends; I had to move back home and well a few years later I found YouTube. I stopped counselling and became a happier person, this is why I didn't answer when you asked where my parents where, they don't take me on holiday with them and I'm pretty glad or I wouldn't be here with you... Dan, now I have you, the final piece of the puzzle, a best friend." I breathed finally, awaiting his reaction. He smiled, pulling me closer.

"And I promise as long as I'm here no-one will ever hurt you again." He whispered. "Too cheesy?"

"Not at all!" I laughed. "This is a bit weird isn't it?" I asked.

"Yep." He replied, shuffling away from me. "Better?" No...

"No, come back..." I whined, aching to hold him again. He laughed and rolled back over. "I just like hugs okay? I've been starved of them for a while..." Dan was now dangerously close to my face, his nose almost touching mine his puppy-like brown eyes inches away from my own. I tried to breathe.. Well fuck, I'd forgotten. He bit into his lip and sighed, slowly sinking towards my chest. I inhaled as much as I could, everything smelt like Dan.

I awoke the next morning still cuddled up next to him.

"Dan... Do you want pancakes for breakfast?" I asked, smiling. He nodded frantically.

"A decent meal would be nice!" We went downstairs, me holding his waist for support. He sat at the kitchen table watching me quickly mix flour and eggs together before pouring them hastily into a pan and flipping it like a pro. "how'd you learn to do that?!" He asked in awe.

"My Nan taught me when I stayed with her." I laughed. "You wanna try?" He stood up and came over to me , putting his arms around my waist claiming it was for support. "Right so you just have to try little throws first, okay?" He nodded, taking the pan from my hands and flipping the pancake moderately well. He smiled, looking excited. "Haven't you done this before?" I asked.

"No, my mum wouldn't let me... She thinks I'm a terrible cook. Hahaha." He handed me back the pan and eased himself up onto the counter, searching through the cupboards for sauces. "Omnomnom, syrup and lemon." He whispered, pulling the jars out and setting them down onto the worktop. I plated up the pancakes and divvied them out, half and half. Dan gulped his down within minutes and belched loudly. "Better out than in, I always say!" He laughed, putting his dishes into the sink. "I'll see you upstairs..." And with that he ran back up, laughing with pain at his stupidity of trying to run. I finished my food quickly in order to join him, when I arrived upstairs he was sitting on the floor playing sonic on my decade old tv and games console.

"Hey, is this a challenge?" I asked, putting my game face on. He smiled devilishly.

"It won't be, because I'll win easy." He laughed, throwing me a controller.

"Prepare yourself." I whispered, sitting down next to him.

The weeks went by faster than I'd expected and I woke up the day he was supposed to go home scared.

"I'll visit as much as I can and you can come and see me and we can Skype all the time, I promise!" He smiled, pulling me in for a hug before placing the last remaining items into his bag.

"Don't forget I'm getting my own place soon, you can come stay with me there to." I smiled back, trying to stay positive but barely able to function because I didn't know how long it'd be until I saw him next.

"I know you don't want me to go, I don't want to go either but the last term of my first year of uni starts in a few days and I have to prepare." He rubbed my arm re-assuringly, he was taking law at uni and even though it wasn't what he wanted to do he still put a lot of effort into it. "And, your new place is nearer my university anyway so we can see each other all the time." He sighed, the smile fading from his face.

"I know but I'm still gonna miss you..." I trailed off, staring at the carpet.

"I'm gonna miss you too." He whispered, taking my hand in his and squeezing. We left for the station soon after, it was pretty late, almost 9 when we arrived.

"Phil, my trains here." He sighed standing up. I nodded, walking over to the platform with him. It was now or never.

"Dan there's something I need to..." I trailed off.

"Phil?" With that, I stepped forward clearing the inches between us and joining our lips. I kissed with all the force and passion I could muster then pulled back quickly. Dan squeezed my hand, kissed me once more and then got on his train. I pulled out my phone.

'I love you Phil.' Was all I could see on the screen, Dan's name signed off at the end.