Hate Me Closer (Phan)

Chapter Thirteen

Dan found it strange to walk into Hepburn to see a bunch of First Formers anxiously wandering the dorm hallways. It barely felt like last month when he was one of them himself, mindlessly manoeuvring himself to the ways of Auburn School.

He was in dorm 2c and for the first time that was without Chris with him. He didn't think it would matter too much as they could go into other's dorms as long as they had permission, and they weren't exactly going to disturb others because they definitely weren't the loud ones of their house.

On the other hand, he was in class 2A, surprising to himself as his end-of-year grades came back below average. He guessed for as long as the school let him hold a scholarship, he was forced to be in the top set. It was this matter Mrs Blackwell had called him into her office on the first day back, smiling at him as she passed him a cup of tea.

"So," she began, "let's talk grades."

"How am I still in this school, let alone top set?" Dan asked, a slight tone of sarcasm to the question.

"Because, Dan, I slightly fought for you in regards to your situation and that you are actually a nice boy. But, I didn't need to do too much convincing. You're in the 30th percentile for all your sciences, 40th for Maths, and 60th for English. You are expected to be in the 80th percentile to at least qualify to be in the top set, but it takes other things into mind." she saw Dan blankly staring up at her, "Basically, what I'm saying is you're crap at the core academics. But, Geography and Art you're in the 90th percentile." she grinned, looking up, "And then you're in the 100th percentile for Music and Drama. You're third in the year for Music, but you're number one for Drama."

"Above the scholars?" Dan asked, a smile dragged across his cheeks and into his eyes.

Mrs Blackwell nodded, "We can't keep you here on an English scholarship if you don't get to the 90th percentile by Christmas. It's just not reasonable. But, you can have Drama or Music in terms of finances, but you can have the title of both."

"So...?" Dan questioned.

"We're basically offering you two scholarships, if you drop your English one."

"Done," Dan admitted.

"Are you sure? English looks better on paper-"

"I had it for a year, that's good enough, right?" he laughed, "I want to be an actor," he admitted.

"Well, you've got a bloody good chance with the path you're going down. Sign up for all the plays you can be in this term. I think we've got a house play due that our head prefect is running. That's Davey, have you met him?"

"Probably." Dan shrugged.

"And then you have your year's play."

"Do you know what they are?" the fourteen-year-old asked.

"Ours is a Shakespeare," she sighed, "but, don't let that put you off as I do think it's a modern version of Romeo and Juliet. Then I'm not sure of the year one, but PJ and Phil are leading it and they're in your class, so you can ask them I suppose."

Dan sighed, "Yeah...I suppose. Phil's not a Drama scholar." he pointed out.

"No, but the scholar that leads the play can choose whomever he wants to support him."

"Right." Dan nodded, seeming less appealed to join.

"Sign-up for them. That's not a choice; I'm telling you to."

"I will, I will." Dan laughed, standing up and tucking his chair in, "Thank you."

"So I have the go-ahead for the scholarship swap?"

"Of course." he agreed, leaving the office.

"Dan-!" she called out one last time. He turned back around, smiling thankfully, "Please try this year, you had a rough start but it's okay now, right?"

"It is." he laughed, "The only way is up."

"Good. Have a good year Dan, alright?"

"Thank you, you too."

Dan marched up the stairs and into his new dorm, ignoring the other boys he shared it with and grabbing his new Nokia from his suitcase. He walked to the room beside his, knocking on the open door before entering to sit with his best friend, "I got a phone." he waved it, opening it to steal Chris' number.

"Oo, perfect. Copy my number, then, and I don't have to call your grandma's landline in the Christmas holiday." he laughed, sitting back on his bed with Dan. He sighed, "You think it's going to be weird not being in the same dorm?"

"Nah." Dan admitted, "We'll basically be in the same one anyway with how much time we spend together."

"True." he chuckled, "Oh! Dan! You won't believe where I'm going at Christmas. So, you probably won't be able to call me anyway, but..."

"Where?!" Dan asked, excited for his friend.

"Australia." he deviously grinned.

"Seriously? Like, other side of the world?"

"Yeah! Dad has a temporary job over there. So, it's not a choice I have, but a bloody good thing to be forced to do!"

"That's amazing. So, you just get a holiday?" Dan questioned, giving Chris back his phone.

"Yeah, basically. My mum and I can hang around in the hotel that's been paid for. It's got swimming pools and shit so. All-inclusive ice-cream, too."

"You'll get so fat." Dan joked, rolling his eyes.

"Worth it." Chris laughed back, slipping his phone into his pocket, "Say, you still learning piano?"

"Right." Dan began, "You don't believe what I've been offered by the school. Basically, if I drop my English scholarship that I'm failing at, I can get Drama and Music."

"Seriously?!"

"Yeah! I got the top grade in Drama, and third in Music. I beat all but two scholars." Dan watched Chris slightly deflate at his friend's success.

"Sorry, that's amazing for you. I got third in Drama, I'm just being a shit."

"Hey, no, you can be annoyed."

"How about you make it up to me by showing me what you've learnt on the piano?" Chris cackled.

"Fine." Dan sighed. He liked to show off to those he was fond of, but not particularly while everyone else could hear.

"You'll be amazing, come on." Chris pushed, dragging him out of his dorm and into the Dining Hall, where Dan's claimed piano stood proudly still.

"There's people better than me in this house." Dan pointed out.

"Not if you keep practising like you are. Go on, stop procrastinating and play!" Chris sat on the dining bench, watching and listening to his friend for the next few minutes, until a small crowd of people who got distracted passing by stood in the doorway of the hall. Dan wasn't a musical genius, but if he took up the instrument four years earlier, there'd have been little doubt that he'd have mastered it by now.

He stopped playing, turning to Chris who was bashfully looking at the people in the doorway. Dan turned too, his cheeks reddening and hands burning up. Chris laughed, "Awe, you're embarrassed."

"Shut up." Dan laughed, "I just didn't think people would want to hear me play."