"Amy?" Phil greets me, his face drops to a frown when he sees my tears. "What's up? Come inside." He closes the door behind me and i sit down on the sofa, i put my head in my hands and start crying. "Hey, hey. What's wrong?" He asks, sitting next to me and pulling me in to a hug. "I don't think that i can sleep at home tonight. I just keep remembering about last night." I whimper between tears. "That's fine, there's no need to feel bad about it. You can stay here for as long as you need to Amy." I look up at Phil, trying to see if he is being serious. "I can?" "Of course silly, me and Dan love having you round." Then the front door opens and Dan walks in carrying bags of shopping. "Amy?" He says and drops the bags as he sits on the other side of me. "Amy, what's happened?" Phil stands up and gets the shopping whilst i tell Dan as he hugs me tightly. "It's fine, i assume that Phil told you that you can stay here for as long as you like?" I nod. "She can have my bed tonight." Phil calls out from the Kitchen. "We'll take it turns to sleep on the sofa." He adds, handing me a hot chocolate. "Thanks." I mumble, feeling like the world's biggest baby.
We all watch films for the rest of evening, eating popcorn and drinking hot chocolate. For a while i forget about everything and enjoy myself, by the end of the third film i have stitches from laughing so much. I go to bed in Phil's room and i lie awake for what seems forever till i finally drop off at three in the morning.
This time i set my alarm and get up at eight to make breakfast for boys as a thank you. I fry sausages, egg, bacon and mushrooms, whilst singing along to the radio. I start dancing along whilst i dish up the food and turn round and see Dan laughing at me. "Hey! I didn't know you were there." I say, pretending to be angry at him. "Sorry, it's just that, that was really sweet, seeing you dancing and singing." He chuckles. "Well, I made breakfast for you two, so i hope that you're hungry." Dan pats his stomach and i follow with the food in to the living where Phil is on his phone, he looks up and grins when he sees the food. "Wow, thanks Amy." He says, leaping up and joining Dan at the table, i serve them the food and watch them dig in. I giggle to myself and start the washing up.
I stay at their house for the rest of week, only going back to get clothes and books. It feels like I've forgotten that i have a flat downstairs and that there was a time when i didn't live there. I do all the washing and cleaning and help out with cooking in return for the boys letting me stay. I wake up, this time in Phil's bed and go to get my books ready for Uni in the afternoon. Phil was out for a couple of days at his parents so me and Dan were alone. I went to the living expecting to see him there in his usual position, on his laptop but it was empty. "Dan?" I called out, looking to see that the time was half 11, he was normally up by now. "Dan?" I searched in the kitchen but again he wasn't there. I knock on his door, "Dan? Are you in there?" In reply i hear a groan. I open the door and see him lying in bed, white as a ghost. He was shaking and barley had his eyes open. "Oh Dan, you look terrible." I say, walking closer. I felt his forehead and his temperature was boiling. "You're ill Dan." I said. He looked me and closed his eyes. "I'll be right back." I say as i go to the bathroom. I get the packet of painkillers and run the cold tap over a flannel. "Here have one of these." I pass him a glass of water and a tablet. He leans forward and takes it. Then, ever so slowly i press the flannel to his forehead, dabbing it gently. "Better?" I whisper. "Much" Is all he says as he relaxes back and closes his eyes. I get up slowly and leave the flannel on his bed side table. I walk out to the living and get out my phone. "Hello?" I hear the familiar voice. "Hey Phil, it's Amy. I'm just calling to say that Dan is really ill. I gave him a painkiller and left him to sleep." "Oh dear, thanks Amy. I'll be back tomorrow so you'll have to play nurse." "Ok, i'm sure that he'll live." I joke. I hang up and check on him. He has his eyes closed but he is frowning. I decide that i'll take the afternoon off of Uni and look after him. I open the fridge and take out a packet of soup. I cook it and take the bowl to Dan.s room. He now looks more green and he is sweating as he tosses and turns. "Dan, wake up." I say gently, shaking him slightly. He stays still and opens his eyes. "Oh Dan, you look even worse." I say concerned. "Thanks." He mouths, at least he still has his sense of humor. Then his face drops and he leaps out of bed and sprints to the bathroom. He makes it just in time to be sick in the toilet, i stand in the door way, my hand covers my mouth. He leans back and breathes out. "Dan?" He turns round at my voice. "Amy, you don't have to see me like this." He moans as he flushes the toilet. "Nonsense, that's what friends are for." I say as i pass him a glass of water. He smiles gratefully and takes a sip. He already looks a lot better than he did a few moments ago.
Dan stays in bed for the next couple of days, Phil takes over from me as head nurse and i decide that it's time that i went back to my apartment. I thank Phil for everything as Dan was still in bed. "Anytime." He replies. That night i sleep in my own bed for the first time for over a week. But my flat seems too empty, too quiet without the boys.