Colors (Phan AU)

eighteen

Dan was still in the hospital; Phil had nothing to do. After a while of debating, Phil decided he would come out to Dan. He wouldn't confess his feelings for him, but he could at least tell his best friend that he's gay.

Phil needed practice coming out, as he had never told anyone besides his own mother. There was no one else he felt comfortable telling quite then, so he sat down at his desk and stared at the small lamp. He flicked the on switch and light poured across the desk.

"I have something I need to tell Dan, but I really don't know how," he told the lamp. When the inanimate object didn't respond, Phil sighed. He continued speaking to it anyway. "You see, I don't like a girl, in fact, I don't like girls at all. I like boys; I'm gay."
He nearly face palmed himself when he realized what he was doing.

Coming out to a lamp wasn't exactly satisfying Phil. He needed to fulfill his desire of telling an actual living being. He tapped on his desk (a little habit he had picked up from Dan) while trying to think of who to tell. He nearly sprang from his chair when he got an idea.

Phil grabbed his jacket and headed to his car. As he drove he thought of how he would do it. It shouldn't be too hard, he thought to himself. After all, he wouldn't even know the person he'd be telling. Hopefully they were understanding and could give some advice.

He parked his car, then headed inside the grocery store. Awkwardly he shuffled into the first aisle he saw and noticed it was the shampoo isle. Oh well, he thought, needed shampoo anyway. He grabbed his usual shampoo, the kind that made his hair smell amazingly amazing (because, of course, he is AmazingPhil). He then drug his feet to the cash registers. He wasn't nervous, but he wasn't exactly radiating enthusiasm. So he told himself to man up and get it over with.

The kindest appearing cashier was an elderly woman with her gray hair pulled back into a bun and a kind smile on her face. She was wishing another customer a good day when Phil approached.

"Hello sweetheart," she said to Phil as he set his shampoo on the counter. Her smile seemed as though it would never leave her face. "Is that all?"

Phil couldn't help but smile at the woman. "Yes ma'am."

Just get it over with, continuously ran though Phil's brain. No need to be nervous.

"Excuse me ma'am," he said as she was getting him change for 20.

"Yes sweetheart?" She didn't look up from the change, but she kept counting. Something about her made Phil feel comfortable coming out.

"This is going to sound odd but," butting his lip, he hesitated momentarily. "I know I don't know you but, I needed to tell someone... I am gay."

The old woman stopped counting and slid the coins and bills across the counter. Her kind eyes met Phil's, and she smiled even brighter. "Sweetheart, you are brave. I am glad you had the courage to tell someone, even if that someone is an old cashier.

"So is there a certain guy? Surely a handsome young man like you has to have someone. Let me guess, you haven't told him yet?"

Phil shook his head slightly and grabbed the money from the counter. "No, I haven't told him. I was actually going to, but I wasn't sure how. That's why I came here. I needed advice."

"Well, sweetheart, just tell him. If he's a true friend he'll accept you, and if he's gay too," she winked, "you might get yourself a boyfriend."

Phil nearly skipped out of the grocery store; he was excited, confident, and joyful. He needed to tell Dan right away, before his courage faded. He would do as the elderly woman suggested: just tell him.

~

Dan noticed Phil was biting his bottom lip as he pulled his usual chair over to the hospital bed. Phil sat down, and it was obvious he was nervous about something.

"Something wrong?" Dan asked, worried about Phil.

It was quiet in the room as Phil hesitated to answer. He was struggling with finding the right words, Dan noticed. Phil was remembering the advice the old lady had given him.

"Dan," Phil finally spoke, "I have something to tell you... Please don't be mad."

"Go ahead," Dan told him.

Phil took a deep breath. "I'm gay."

Silence took over the room again as Dan processed what his best friend had just told him. He didn't know how to say what he really, truly wanted to. He was scared Phil would hate him for it.

~

A/N

Three weeks, come on me. I need to update more often. Sorry for making you wait so long, I've just been so busy with homework and important tests and stuff. I would've updated sooner this weekend, but I've been on a trip with my parents, and there was no way I was going to pay $10 for wifi for only 24 hours. Stupid hotel prices 😒

Anyway, I'll try to update more often, as I am really enjoying writing this story. Leave a comment telling me what you think will happen in the next chapter. ;)