Hate Me Closer (Phan)

Chapter Thirty-Six

The Crossings boys did as asked and kept their tongues in their mouths. Surprisingly, Dan nor Phil was confronted about it outside of their house. For the first few days, they kept their distance, roaming around the halls without exchanging a glance and not addressing each other in class. But, nobody spoke to them anyway.

The Crossings boys waited out a few days, hoping Dan and Phil would get back to normal and they'd feel like they didn't force a wedge between them. But, they weren't very patient and by the fourth day, they felt like tying the two boys together just so they'd get some drama.

"What's the fun in knowing they're a gay couple, if we don't get to joke around with them?" Jacob complained to Chris when they were brushing their teeth in their dorm.

"I'd normally be against that," the shorter boy defended, "but this is worst than waiting before a film to release, or something. Look, I'll talk to them both, see where they're at...and then I'll give us the go-ahead if I think we can...shimmy things along for them." Chris winked mischievously. Jacob rolled his eyes, spitting out his toothpaste and running the tap for his brush.

***

Chris found Dan in the Great Hall at lunch, tinkering at the instrument as he practised his exam pieces. The musical boy stopped playing and smiled at his friend instead, "Hey, Chris." he greeted.

"Hey! No Phil?" he asked. Dan gave his friend a tired glare before returning to his pieces, but Chris wasn't done, "I know, I know." he chuckled, "But it's been almost a week."

"Look, I have my piano exam this afternoon, can't you just hold off until then?" Dan asked, "I'd prefer Phil's lips not to get in the way of a pass."

"And then I can mess around with the two of you?" the shorter boy asked with a devious grin against his lips.

Dan sighed, rolling his eyes with a smile, "Fine."

"Good to know." Chris nodded, walking away.

"Wait, is that the only reason you came in to find me?" Dan called after him.

"I'm Cupid, Daniel. Let me do my work and don't question it!" he cackled.

"Yeah if Cupid was possessed by the fucking devil!"

"See you after your exam, Danny Boy. Good luck!"

Chris left the Great Hall and strode down the stone-floored hallways until he reached the Drama studio, "Knock, knock." he smiled, walking in to see PJ and Phil sat on the desks talking, "Anything I can't hear?" he asked.

"No, not at all. We were just talking about Physics." Phil chuckled, "Nothing to report for the newspapers. Aren't you with Dan?" he asked.

"No, I came to find PJ." he lied schemingly, "He's at the piano, I can take you there if you want?"

"I know where the Great Hall is, thanks." Phil rolled his eyes, a subtle smirk against his lips.

"Although, he's practising for his exam this afternoon, and he did specifically say that he'd 'prefer Phil's lips not to get in the way of a pass', so maybe wait until this evening." he winked. He enjoyed watching Phil's face burn up.

"Leave them alone." PJ laughed, shaking his head at the boy.

"Oh, they both love it." he acknowledged, joining them on the desk. He leant towards Phil to whisper, "But if you want him on your side, you might want to head into town now to buy him some chocolates."

Phil shook his head, "It's one o'clock now, his exam starts at fifteen past and ends and twenty-five to. I wouldn't have time but it's fine I picked some up yesterday after class-" he stopped his ramble and looked down at the desk, "Hey does anyone fancy doing homework?"