Hate Me Closer (Phan)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"Again, guys, seriously?" Dan asked, knocking on the shower room door, "There was no mouse, was there?" he groaned.

"We're idiots." Phil laughed.

"This is what...the fourth time? We should just stop going places together."

"No!" Chris screamed from behind the door.

"Well stop scheming to lock us in places! We've not even fucked or anything like you're probably hoping!" Dan pounded on the door.

"Guys, seriously." Phil tried, "The light is broken in here, too, and you know that."

Dan stood back against the wall, his eyes shut as he tried to breathe calmly. Phil approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder as Dan whispered, "Did I ever tell you I'm..."

"Scared of the dark?" Phil spoke even quieter, "No, but okay." he knocked harshly on the door with three firm strikes, his voice stern as he said, "PJ, let us out of this one."

There was silence before shuffling, and the door creaked open as PJ muttered, "On it." they had an unspoken agreement that was just acknowledged.

The second the light was back in the room, Dan's breathing calmed and he smiled towards his best friend, mouthing "Thank you."

"Are you alright?" Phil asked, and the younger boy nodded. He chuckled as he left the shower room, making sure he stood in the way of the door closing as Dan made his way out.

"We'll get you again." Chris tested, seeing if they were okay to keep teasing the two boys.

Phil nodded, giving a sly smile as he said, "I don't doubt you will."

***

"Right." PJ began, addressing his three friends with their next short film set-up prepared, "Music Man. Chris, you know your lines?"

"As always. I'm a mop for scripts." he grinned.

"That sounds weird." PJ furrowed his eyebrows playfully.

"Give me the words to absorb and I'll swallow then whole."

"And, it's getting weirder." PJ recognised, "Right. Lights set up and the floor done, it's just the background."

"What do you want and I can get it from the music cupboard?" Dan smiled, crossing his arms as he leant against the doorframe.

"Well, to be honest, we need music stands and colours for the lights."

"Right, so an illegal cupboard job?" Dan chuckled, reaching into his bag for the key they now only used for access to the cupboard.

"I still can't believe the school hasn't asked you for that back." Chris chuckled, shaking his head.

"I know." Dan smiled, "Pretty sure they've forgotten." he threw it to himself and caught it again, "Right, how many music stands do you need?"

"Chris and I will run our script if you can get like...six? I think that should cover the back frame." PJ smiled, taking out his script.

"Sure, and for the lights?"

"Purple and blue. Uh...tissue paper if they don't have gels."

"Got it." Dan nodded.

"I'll come with you, then." Phil offered, standing up from his chair and following his friend.

"Make sure they're not following us." Dan whispered as they left, "Knowing them they've schemed this to lock us in."

"I'll keep an eye on them but they seem to be absorbed in PJ's short film." Phil laughed.

Dan nodded, still not convinced as he was overly familiar with their two friends' antics. He took out the key from his pocket when they arrived, clicking into the door and letting it hold itself open. He rummaged at the back of it, looking for the light gels as he pulled out different shades. Phil was gathering the music stands until Dan asked, "Can you turn the light on-?"

As the black-haired boy turned around to flick the switch, the door shut and the sound of their two friends laughing mischievously erupted out. Then, the click of the lock.

"You left the key in?!" Phil screamed, flicking on the light before Dan panicked about the dark.

"I always do! It doesn't unlock from the inside, so I get paranoid it'll close itself if I don't leave the key in!" he defended himself, "You weren't looking out for if they were following us?!"

"I was, I swear!" Phil shrieked, cackling in amusement.

"We went around the other way!" Chris giggled in glee, "Have fun for an hour!"

"Let us out!" Dan chuckled, knocking half-heartedly on the door, "They can't keep this up forever." he sighed.

Phil let out a breath and pushed the music stands back into place, clearing them some space to take out the chairs blocked by the rest of the clutter. Dan grumbled, "Leave it for now, the floor is probably easier."

"For what?" Phil chuckled, looking downwards at the floor as he made the suggestive remark. He looked up, seeing Dan casually resting against the shelves with his hands in his school-trouser pockets. He stepped forwards, leaving just under a meter between them, "You know, this does mean that they've gone. They don't have to hold this door open." Phil pointed out.

Dan held in a shocked shriek, instead biting his lips as his chest rose and fell with each breath, "Suggesting something?" he tried to casually brush off.

Phil kept walking towards his friend's side, speaking until he was leaning into the same set of shelves, "Am I?" he asked, "It's been a week and a half." he spoke, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

"I know." Dan nodded, looking down to Phil's chest that was facing towards him. He chuckled as his left hand hovered upwards, until his fingertips touched the front of the taller boy's school shirt. He unconsciously slipped his fingertips either side of a white button, hooking them mindlessly around.

Phil giggled, catching Dan off-guard as he pulled him out of his thoughts. The older boy enjoyed watching the shock spread across Dan's face, seeing it melt away again when he settled his hands on his waist. They looked at each other, scanning each other's eyes as if they were asking if they were really going to do this again. But, Dan's smile was all it took for Phil to brush his lips against the quivering teenager's, giggling when he felt his best friend's hands drag his closer.

Phil turned them around so he was holding the smaller frame against the shelves, unknowingly pushing his back into the boxes behind them as both of them pulled Phil towards Dan. The brown-haired boy's straightened hair was already tangling at the ends where it trapped itself between the plastic behind him, or the stunning boy that had him pinned. He was sure that, if he wanted to, he could take his legs off of the ground and the force that was on his torso would hold him in place.

Their lips moved delicately, speeding up with each inexperienced movement until they felt as though they'd been kissing their entire lives. They thought it was something quite like from a movie, but Dan never expected it to be himself who was buckling under his knees for another person.

When Phil's tongue was against Dan's again, he felt as though he was back in the small laundry cupboard, kissing before his mind caught up with him, and before either of them recognised what they were doing. But this time, they knew. Dan gasped as his tie became trapped between their chests, so he loosened it at the neck and unbuttoned his collar, taking his fingertips to Phil's to undo his as well.

They giggled, swallowing the vibrations that came from the other's laugh until their gasps drowned out any hums. Dan sighed, letting his head fall back against the cupboard as his body heaved with each breath as it tried to refill his lungs.

Phil looked down, his cheeks blushing as he let a small gap separate them, holding his hands either side of Dan as the younger boy's fingers threaded into his hair. He let him fix the strands, closing his eyes as he felt every touch from the boy.

Dan stood up straight, wrapping his arms around Phil's waist as he rested the side of his forehead into his friend's neck. It confused the taller boy for a moment, but then he relaxed, moving his own hands to Dan's back and pulling him closer in the embrace. They stayed there with their eyes closed, and nothing but the very distant sounds of the almost empty school building echoing against the walls.

Their other two friends would come back for them later, knowing nothing of what happened apart from two loose Crossings ties, and a pair of unhooked collars. They didn't know Dan's hair was curly.