Hate Me Closer (Phan)

Chapter Fourteen

The first day of class was nothing like Dan expected it to be. He guessed that he assumed everything would go back to how it was before they broke up last term. But, kids grow up and their holidays change them. He wouldn't lie to himself in saying he couldn't recognise a few of the boys in his class.

He recognised Phil with his still dyed-black hair and vampire-white skin. He thought he would suit some unnaturally coloured eyes, like white or purple, maybe even a mixture of both. He was sure Phil's face had changed too, although he saw him halfway through the holiday so it was hard to say how significant the difference was.

They waited outside the classroom, the vampire boy with his face in a book whereas Dan and Chris obnoxiously bashed each other playfully in the corridor until a passing teacher told them to quieten down. Their first lesson was Drama, fortunately with the same teacher as last year as they'd become fond of him. The class was smaller because at least half the students had dropped it, meaning they'd get much more done in a class of eight. It did mean, however, that the boys would be forced to get to know each other more, but Dan assumed with Phil and PJ running their year's play, they'd be forced to anyway.

"What were you doing at my park in the summer?" Dan asked the taller, lankier boy to his left.

He didn't get a response until another boy in the class, Thomas, bashed into Phil, sending his book onto the floor and his glasses crooked on his nose, "He was talking to you, fag."

Dan glared at Thomas, his cheeks sucking inwards and his fists hot beside him, "What did you just say, Dickhead?" Dan began, stepping closer.

"Dan, drop it," Chris warned.

"Please," Dan snarled, "You out of anyone should know he can't fucking get away with that!"

"I can. Why, got a problem with it?" Thomas snickered, looking away.

"Dan not on the first fucking day of school." Chris held his shoulder, biting his lips and staring into Dan until his friend calmed down.

"I thought that was you." Phil mumbled nonchalantly, "You didn't wave back."

"Obviously I didn't." Dan spat, "So, what were you doing?"

"My grandparents live near there. I was spending the weekend with them," he replied, a smile somehow on the corners of his lips.

"Right." Dan nodded.

"And you?"

"My grandma lives there." Dan snapped, not revealing that he lived with her both to hide he was orphaned and that he lived in an estate of pensioners.

Phil nodded, putting his book in his bag as the teacher invited them into the classroom.

"Hey, at least you weren't down Phil's neck that time." Chris laughed, but his friend didn't laugh back, "Miserable shit." he teased, throwing his bag into the corner of the studio.

***

At the end of class, the teacher reminded his students to sign up for the plays they wanted to be in for the term. There was another one Dan could've signed up for, but he decided two was enough for now, especially if he was dealing with Phil during one of them. He thanked the teacher at the end of the lesson as he stood at his desk, marking his name under the plays before he stumbled out of the classroom, his rucksack flung over one shoulder.

"Signed up for our play?" PJ asked excitedly.

"Yeah, Mrs Blackwell suggested me to," Dan admitted as he trod down the halls. He sighed, deciding not to make a fuss, "An original, right?"

"Yeah! Mr Davies doesn't normally pass them because they're normally...well, shit, but he liked mine."

"Are you hoping to be a playwright?" Dan asked, sticking gum between his teeth, despite the rules. At least he wasn't a dick who pressed it beneath the desks.