WARNING: IN THIS CHAPTER, THERE ARE SOME THEMES THAT MAY BE TRIGGERING SUCH AS ABUSE AND DEATH. PLEASE DO NOT READ IF YOU WILL BE OFFENDED IN ANY WAY!
Phil's POV
Around 1 in the morning, Dan and I decided to go to bed. I shuffled to my room with a blanket wrapped around me and Dan walked to the guest bedroom. I lie in bed staring up at the ceiling. I already miss Dan''s warmth and the feeling of his lip's on mine. Maybe his idea of making out wasn't so bad after all. I was pulled out of my thoughts when my stomach growled loudly. No. I can't give into the temptation. I need to go through with this so I can finally be happy with how I look.
...
I was awoken by Dan frantically shaking my shoulder.
"Phil! Wake up!" Tears were streaming down his face. I quickly sat up.
"Dan! Oh my gosh Dan what's wrong? Are you okay?" I asked frantically. The words came tumbling out. Dan was hysterically crying and shaking. He didn't say anything. He just climbed into my bed next to me and cuddled up to my chest. I wrapped my arms protectively around him.
"Shh... it's alright Dan. I'm here. You're safe." I cradled him in my arms and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.
"I want to help you. I really do. I just can't if I don't know what's wrong."
Dan looked up at me with his big brown eyes. But my heart broke in two seeing they didn't have their usually spark. They were red and puffy. I could see the sadness hidden deep within them. I could see his very soul shattering.
"Well... I. Oh Phil I want to tell you I really do. I just don't think I can."
"It's alright. If you want to tell me you can. If you don't want to, that's okay too. Just promise one thing."
"What?" Dan whispered.
"You will come to me if you ever need anything. And Dan I mean anything at all."
More tears streamed down his face. "I will... but umm. Phil? Can I maybe sleep in here tonight?"
"Of course,"I said gently. I layed down and put my arms around Dan's waist. He buried his face in the crook of my neck and continued to cry silently. It wasn't long before I drifted off into a fitful sleep.
...
The next morning, I woke up to find Dan curled up into my side. He was gently snoring, so I carefully got out of bed and went to the bathroom. I stripped down and got into the warm shower. I couldn't help but worry about Dan. What could he have possibly dreamed about that scared him so much? Was something going on at home? Was it something with his family? School? Could it be me? I didn't want to bother Dan too much about because he obviously didn't want to tell me, but for some reason I feel like he dreamt about something important. And I had to protect him. That was my job as his boyfriend... Or friend? Best friend? Well whatever I was to him, I had to help him. I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard a knock on the door.
"Phil? Are you okay? You've just been in there for almost an hour so I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Oh yeah I'm fine. Sorry about that! I'll be out in a minute," I answered. Even though Dan couldn't see me, I felt a blush rise to my cheeks. I quickly turned off the water and stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around my waist. Dan was outside the door waiting for me and his cheeks immediately started burning a bright red.
"Oh umm. G-good morning. Um Phil," he stuttered out. He kept glancing at my bare chest. I gave him a small smile and gently pressed a kiss to his lips. He blushed an even darker shade of red and slipped past me into the bathroom. I smirked and went to get dressed.
...
Dan's POV
Later that day, Phil and I were cuddling on the couch watching a movie.
"Hey Phil?"
"Hmm?"
"I have an idea."
"And this idea is... ?" He looked up at me curiously.
"How about we go on a first official date today?"
He grinned. "Oh my gosh Dan! I would love to!" he said enthusiastically.
I giggled. "Let's go then!" I said standing up grabbing my jacket and phone.
Phil stood up. "Where are we going?"
I thought for a moment. "Oh I know! Just follow me. I promise you'll love it!"
Phil smiled and grabbed my hand. "Lead the way!"
About 15 minutes later Phil and I arrived at the edge of the woods.
"Um... Dan? Where are we exactly?"
I rolled my eyes. "We're not there yet! Be patient!" I pulled him along behind me into the woods. Eventually we came to big clearing. There were hundreds of flowers everywhere, an old fountain, a couple old benches, and an old playground. Phil gasped.
"Oh Dan... this is beautiful! How did you find this place?"
"I used to come here with my-" I stopped and felt tear slip down my cheek.
"Dan! What's wrong?"
"I... umm. Come on. Let's sit down. I think I'm ready to tell you," I said quietly. Phil led me over to the cleanest bench and sat down putting his arm around my shoulders.
"Listen Phil. Well... I guess I'll start from the beginning. My mother and my father met in high school. They started dating, but when they were 17, my mother became pregnant with me. Of course they didn't want a child, but they didn't want to put me up for a adoption. So once I was born, they decided they would stick together and care for me. Everything was going as well as it could of until I was 2. My mother became pregnant again. She gave birth to my little brother. One night when I was 5 and my brother was 3, our parents got into a big argument. I'm not sure what happened, all I know is my mother packed up her stuff and left that night. I haven't seen her since. As for my father, he was heartbroken. That's when he started drinking. When I was 10 and my brother was 8, he started hitting us. It was terrible, but my brother and I stuck together through it. We were best friends. To escape it all, we used to come here. Then one night, when I was 15 and he was 13, he came home at 3 in the morning. Apparently, he had been at a party. My father didn't approve and he beat him. It was the most horrific thing I have ever seen. My father was so mad at my brother, that he... he killed him. Right there in front of me. Obviously the police found out and he was arrested. I was sent to live with my aunt, my uncle, and my cousin. That's where I live now. Phil... that's what I dreamed about last night. I dreamed about my dad killing my brother. It will never leave my mind. It will haunt me for the rest of my life because I simply watched. Phil I could have done something! I could've saved my brother but I was too pathetic and scared to do anything! It's all my fault!"
I sobbed and sobbed into Phil's chest. I wasn't sure how long we stayed like that until Phil finally spoke.
"Dan it is not your fault. Please don't think that. It was not your fault at all." He whispered. I noticed he was crying too.
"Phil... I am so sorry I brought you into this. You don't deserve any of this. You deserve so much more than me."
"Dan stop it! I won't sit here and listen to you talk like that! Dan... I love you! I love you so fucking much... please don't say things like that. Don't blame yourself. You are the most perfect person I have ever met, inside and out. I love you."
"Phil... I love you too. I'm not sure what I did to deserve you, but I am so happy you're mine." Phil wiped a tear from my face and smiled up at me. I cupped his face and slowly leaned in. Our lips gently touched. I savored every moment of it. The warmth of his lips, the flavor of his kiss, and the slowness of it all. We kissed slowly, but that made it mean so much more. It was the most incredible kiss we had ever had.
