Staring Competition ~ Phan AU

XII

Phil's PoV

Dan got out of the hospital three days ago. His arm is okay. There is a giant scar and it won't ever fade. There will be a big line on his arm from where the bullet grazed him. Charity is on crutches because she did something other than just sprang her ankle. I can't remember exactly what. Her ribs were slightly broken, but they don't seem to affect her at all. It was really the bruising that we were all worried about.

I am trying to respect Charity for the fact the she is technically an ex of Dan. I was never the type of person to go Kung-fu on people over other people or things that we both love, so I don't see why it should be any different with Charity. Just the thought of hurting someone makes me cringe.

Jamie decided that we were going to all stay at Dan's for the night tonight. Charity has been staying with Dan. The day we brought Dan home, we brought Charity. Mr. Howell instantly recognized her and told her she could stay. She's getting closer to Dan by the minute now. It won't be long before she takes him. They will be dating and I will be stuck here, watching them love each other and having to move on.

At three PM, I walked down to my car and hopped in. The grey, leather seats were cool against my skin. The tight material cooled me off as I sat in the seat. I grabbed my keys and jammed them into the ignition. I've only had my license for a few months and I'm already acting like I've driven my whole life. I began to drive towards that big grey house that I loved so much.

Upon pulling nag into the driveway, I noticed that Jamie wasn't here. Strange. She said she would be here at two. Maybe she's running late or ran out to get something. It was probably nothing but it struck me as odd.

I walked inside, using the key that Dan gave me. He gave a key to Charity and Jamie as well, so we could all get in. "Dan," I called. "I'm here."

No reply.

"Dan?"

No reply.

"Dan!"

Thud. I ran upstairs to see what was going on. "Oww..." I heard Dan mumble. I realized someone else was up there.

"Oh my God," she squealed. "Are you okay?"

"No."

I ran up stairs and opened the door to find Charity and Dan. Dan had fallen on his arm. How he managed to do that, I have no clue. Charity was bent over him, kissing him! What?

"Uhh... I guess your okay then." They quickly looked at me. Then Dan looked at Charity, anger blazing in his eyes.

"I told you not to do that!" he shouted at her.

"I'm sorry I-" she tried to protest.

They continued to argue and I just stood there in shock and sorrow. I can't believe it. Charity and Dan kissed. Suddenly, I realized Charity was pushing past me. She ran down the stairs and out the door. "I'll get a ride somewhere!" she shouted, throwing her keys on the floor and crutching her way out of the house and down the street. I just stood there, choking back tears and Dan just continued to lay on the floor.

"Phil," he began. I just shook my head. How would he know he hurt me? He doesn't even know how much I like him. He doesn't know how much he broke my heart. I walked out, leaving him there, back on the floor, legs on the bed.

I sat downstairs for five minutes before I heard a door. I looked over and saw Jamie. She saw me in tears and ran right over. "Phil," she said, rubbing my arms comfortingly. "Tell me." I just pointed upstairs and she darted up, pulling me behind her. Dan had managed to get himself to sit up and was just sitting there crying. Jamie walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. She looked at me as if to say HELP HIM, DAMN IT!

I awkwardly walked over and put my hand on his other shoulder. "Hey," I said. "It's... it's alright." I tried to hide my sorrow. The thoughts wouldn't stop running through my head. Dan kissed Charity. Dan kissed Charity. I shook the thought and looked at Dan. Jamie had been trying to comfort him but he seemed to just be staring at me. His big, watery brown eyes locked with my icy blue ones. We had a staring competition going, again, and I think that this one was going to end better.

After another five minutes, Dan finally stood up. "I've got popcorn. Who wants to watch a movie?" We nodded. Dan looked at Jamie and hugged her quickly. She smiled and hugged back before he pulled away and looked at me. He quickly latched onto me, embracing me in a tight grip. "Thank you," he whispered into my t-shirt. I smiled and hugged him back. There was something about the way that he hugged me that made me feel good. All warm and fuzzy inside.

Eventually, he let go. "Alright love birds," Jamie said. Dan glared at her and I just laughed. "Let's go watch a movie!" She ran downstairs, unaffected by Dan's death stares. I shot Dan a quick glance before following, Dan in pursue.

>•<

We were all sat on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn on Dan's lap. Dan was in the middle of the couch with Jamie on his right and I on his left. Jamie had already put the movie in, but Dan and I were clueless as to what it was, although, I had a guess because of her girly giggling. Dan was still protesting for her to tell us what the movie was, but she kept saying nothing. She decided to go get drinks for us.

Dan and I talked for fifteen minutes and she came back. We each got a chocolate milkshake with whip cream. Then she played the movie. Dan instantly knew what it was. "NO!" he shouted. "Not aga-ha-haain!" He was wailing like a fool. After a couple of minutes into the movie, I figured out it was the Titanic movie.

"Oh God!" I shouted. But we just continued to watch it anyways.

Thirty minutes into the movie, Dan began to fall asleep. His head tilted to the side and landed on my shoulder. I, so desperately, wanted to lean down and kiss his fore head, but didn't, knowing that he would flip out and I would have to leave. I just kind of sat there, limply. After about ten minutes, he grabbed my arm and wrapped it around his shoulder and pulled Jamie, by the hair, on top of him, as a human blanket. We lay there during the rest of the movie in that giant heap. Dan slept through the rest of the film and Jamie recited every quote she remembered along with the movie. I began to drift off a little, but remained awake for the whole thing.

During the credits, Dan woke up and rubbed his eyes. He looked at me and smiled, as if it was normal to wake up on my lap. "I'll go and put the dirty dishes away in the sink and wash them and clean them!" Jamie parodied to My Heart Will Go On. I giggled and Dan smiled, closing his eyes again. I looked at his dark brown fringe, which had dipped into his eyes, and resisted the urge to stroke it back. I just kind of watched as his chest rose and fell peacefully.

"Phil," he said suddenly, startling me.

"Y-yeah?" I asked.

He sat up. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," I said, hesitantly.

He looked down at his feet for a long time, leaving an awkward silence. His tan cheeks turned red and he began to twiddle his thumbs, nervously. Was this it? I thought. Was he going to tell me he... liked me? No. He's straight. He would never like me.

"Phil, I-" but he was cut off by the door bell. "Hang on." He ran upstairs and I followed. The door bell continued to ring. "I'm COMING!" Dan shouted, clearly aggravated by whoever was at the door. When we opened it, Charity stood there. She was dripping blood from a gash on her fore head and her crutches were gone. She clung onto Dan's neck.

"Oh my God," she breathed out. She looked up at him, her gold eyes shining with fear. "Ed's back. He's looking for you and he's already sent three people to your dad's work!" Dan instantly pried her off and ran to the car.

"Dan!" Jamie screamed. "You don't have your license!"

"Phil!" Dan shouted. "Get in the fucking car!" I quickly jumped in. "Jamie! Take Charity to the hospital!" He closed the door and we were off.