Nothing Lasts Forever (Phan)

Chapter 18

Phil POV

The next morning I wake up late. I feel empty. Numb. I shower slowly, and skip breakfast completely. I glance at my phone, but leave on the couch beside, instead opening my laptop. I check the video I posted last night, flick through some comments, then shut down my laptop.

I pick up my phone, desperate to try some form of communication with Dan, even when I knew he wouldn't answer. I listen to the dial tone beep. Once. Twice. Three times. Pick up.

Pick up?

He picked up?!

"Dan?" I ask tentatively. "Is that you?"

"Yeah it's me." His voice is hoarse and strained, but it sounded like he was in the same room. My heart leaps to my throat,  if he picked up and replied, maybe he was coming home!

"You picked up." I whisper. "You finally picked up."

"I know, Phil I'm so sorry..." Dan croaks, I could hear the tears in his voice as if he was right behind me.

"Come home Dan. Please. I need you."

"I can't Phil."

"Wh-what?" My heart plummets, and tears fill my eyes.

"I can't come home Phil." Dan whispers. His voice sounded so real.

"Why not?!" I cry. I freeze as I feel two arms wrap around my waist from behind me, and a chin on my shoulder.

"Because I'm already here." Dan whispers in my ear. I end the call on my phone, and slowly turn around, coming face to face with Dan.

"Dan." I whisper. He stares into my eyes, as if searching for something.

"Did you mean it?" He asks in low voice.

"Mean what?" I ask breathlessly.

"You said you loved me. Did you mean it?" Dan looks nervous, like he was about to lose everything. I smile at him.

"I love you Dan."

Dan grinned. "I love you too." And then he kissed me. He pulls me tight against his chest, and kissed me like he wouldn't get the chance to again.  And in this moment, here in Dan's arms, everything I've been through over the past month, it seems worth it. All the pain and loneliness seems like nothing now, because the only thing on my mind, was Dan. He was the only thing that mattered, and everything else could wait.

Except maybe breathing.

We pull away, breathing hard. Dan leans his forehead against mine.

"Do I get to do that again?" He asks quietly.

"That depends." I whisper. "Are you going to run away for a month beforehand?"

Dan shakes his head. "I'm never running away again. Unless its with you."

"Then yes. You can do that again."

We stare at each other in silence for minute before Dan sighs and steps back.

"Looks like I've got some explaining to do huh?" He says normally. I chew the inside of my lip.

"Yeah, but not now. I'm busy." I shrug nonchalantly. Dan frowns.

"Doing what?" He asks.

"Well you see, I've got this hot new boyfriend, and I haven't seen him in a while, so I'd rather hang out with him."

Dan grins, wiggling his eyebrows. "Boyfriend huh?"

I nod. "Yup."

Dan step closer to me, forcing me to step back. He does this again and again until I'm backed up against the wall. He puts his arms either side of my head, caging me in.

"Well, I hope your boyfriend doesn't mind me doing this."

Dan leans forward and kisses me.

"I don't think he'll mind." I whisper, before wrapping my arms his waist and pulling him closer.

I don't know how long we were there for, but we were still making out against the wall when everyone walked in.

"Look Phil, we know Felix said-"

At the sound of voices, Dan jumps away from me and I stand up straight, turning to see a grinning Tyler, Louise, Carrie, Chris and PJ.

"Well, don't mind us, we'll come back later once you two have 'caught up'." Tyler chuckles.

"Speak for yourself!" PJ calls. "Phil's gonna hide him away after this and none of us are going to get to see him!" He runs over and jumps on Dan.

"Don't run away ever again!" He coos, cradling Dan's head. Dan looks unimpressed, and pushes PJ away.

"Proper hugs only." Dan say sternly, before turning and smirk coyly at me. "That is, if my boyfriend doesn't mind."

Everyone cheers and laughs at me as I groan, blushing. Then they leave me alone and turn on Dan.

"Now you, do you know just what you did to Phil when you ran away." Louise says, advancing on Dan. Dan looks down guiltily, and I swallow the lump in my throat. Carrie catches my eye and frowns.

"Guys I don't think they've had a chance to properly catch up yet." She turns to me. "You guys have your talk and text me when your done, okay."

I nod gratefully. "Thanks Carrie."

Carrie ushers everyone and I look at Dan.

"Good old Carrie huh?" He laughs. I walk over and bury my head in Dan's chest, wrapping my arms around his waist. Dan his arms around me.

"I'm sorry Phil."

"I know you are, and I forgive you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I just didn't want to scare you off."

"Well we're here now aren't we." Dan smiles, pulling me over to the couch. We flop down, stretching our legs out and putting our feet on the table. Dan drapes his arms over my shoulders and I smile at how natural everything feels. Dan sighs.

"Phil, when I came home that night and had to sleep alone after sleeping with you for so many nights, I don't know, I think that was the loneliest I had felt since meeting you. I ended up going down this rabbit whole of what ifs and I realised then that I loved you. I can't pinpoint exactly when I fell in love, probably Vegas or something.  But I felt so scared, I knew everything about you, and never once had you indicated you might be gay. I mean, our whole relationship seems gay through and through I guess, but, that was our norm, I didn't realise what it meant. God." Dan runs a hand down his face. "I don't know what I was thinking Phil, running away seemed right at the time. Now, I've never felt like a bigger idiot."

I shake my head. "Like you said, we're here now right? Have you watched all my videos?"

"Yeah I watched them all last night."

"Then you know how I've been the whole time I was alone, but, where were you? I rung your mum the day after you put up your video but she said you were gone. Was she lying or?"

I then listen as Dan explains where he stayed and all the run ins he had with investigators. When finishes his story, the room falls silent.

"Should we make a video to say we haven't quit YouTube?" I ask.

"Tomorrow." Dan replies.

"Should we call the others back?"

"Tomorrow." Dan replies. "But maybe you should lock the door. We don't want them walking in on anything." He wriggles his eyebrows suggestively.

"Who's said there's going to be anything to walk in on huh?" I retort. Dan leans closer and closer towards me until I'm lying on the couch and he's hovering over me.

"I'm going to take that as a challenge." He grins.

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Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnndddddddddddd ITS DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!