Hate Me Closer (Phan)

Chapter Forty-Two

Phil was the last to put his cutlery down, refusing to leave an empty plate in front of him, despite his family so eagerly waiting to return to the game. They ate late, with the skies outside already darkened and bedtime drawing close. The black-haired boy crossed his arms, chuckling up at the eager faces as he exclaimed, "I'm done. Happy now?"

"Good!" Katherine clapped, "Let's hope we don't have to continue this game tomorrow morning." she chuckled, taking her seat beside Nigel as the teams had cut down to three: Phil had gone bankrupt, returning his properties to the market and taking his friend's side; Nigel went broke, doing the same but joining his wife; and then Martyn ruled the board with the whole dark blue set and his money raking up.

Phil's older brother cackled as the two teenagers landed on him again, "Can't we just call it a win now? I've thrashed you all, it's just a slow, painful death."

"Then a slow, painful death it shall be." Katherine scowled, "You don't know that you'll win."

"The only way you can win is if I roll on the both of you five times in a row. That's all while you don't land on me, when I almost own half the board and you're both approaching it." the young adult pointed out.

At that moment Dan and Phil rolled one of the two die each, their total bringing them onto Martyn as Dan mumbled, "We're out."

"We might not be!" Phil defended, counting the money up, but he pouted as he calculated it all, "We're out."

"Ready to call it quits, Katherine?" Martyn mocked, crossing his arms and leaving back.

She looked at her small hand and how her son ruled the empire, but also the victorious grin he held on his face, "Fine." she sighed, throwing her hands up in surrender, "You win. You're on pack-up, though."

"Fine!" he cockily smiled, taking the pieces in and folding them all into the box. He stood up, patting Phil on the back as he said, "Well done, I think that was the longest you survived today. Maybe Dan's your lucky charm."

"Stop that." Kath pointed at her eldest child, her tone assertive to stop Martyn's misdemeanours. But, he winked at her and walked away from the two boys.

"Can we take a film upstairs?" Phil asked, walking towards the wicker box they kept all of the DVDs.

Nigel nodded, "Go ahead, it's only nine."

"Thanks." Phil smiled, rummaging through the pile of plastic boxes with Dan, "Have you ever watched Wall-E?" he asked, inspecting the case.

The younger boy shook his head, "You underestimate how much of my childhood was Freeview." he didn't like the pitiful smile he got, but Phil tried to hide it as soon as he recognised it himself. Sometimes his thoughts couldn't be helped.

Phil took the package out, jumping over the arm of the sofa and leading Dan up the stairs. He put the DVD on the side and walked himself to the bathroom, "I'm going to get washed first, so I don't have to get out of bed again." he chuckled, grabbing his pyjamas from the side and walking out of the room.

Dan watched him leave, feeling his own heart drum in his chest as his hands began to sweat. He took the moment to change into his own nightclothes, which were simply a pair of old shorts and a loose t-shirt. He waited a moment, but ended up giving up on waiting around, so he took himself to the bathroom door and knocked on it, "Are you changed?"

"Yeah! Do you want to brush your teeth?" Phil asked, opening the door. His friend nodded, walking into the room with him and taking out his own toothbrush. They stood beside each other in silence, before the younger boy walked to the door and shut it, returning to Phil's side and tightening his arm around his waist. The older boy smiled, his brushing faltering as he lost himself in Dan's brown eyes.