In a Parallel World - The Story of Dan and Phil

Chapter 8: Sense of Freedom

Chapter 8

Phil was sat at an empty table with half a pizza on a plate in front of him. Everyone was with their friends, talking and buzzing. As he looked around, he wondered how he would fit in. He couldn't see many opportunities for friendship around him, so he just looked at his pizza and ate a tiny bit at a time, feeling depressed.

Dan looked over at him from the table where he, Chris and PJ were eating. Dan felt sorry for Phil, as he remembered when he first got here. He cried all day and all night for a long time, until Chris and PJ talked to him and became his friends. Dan thought that maybe he should do for Phil what they did for him, and said to Chris and PJ "Do you think we should go over to Phil and talk to him? He looks really sad." PJ and Chris looked at each other, until PJ said "Do you think we should? Sometimes people just like to be left alone." Chris nodded in agreement. "But do you remember when I first got here? I was really sad and then you two talked to me and it made me feel better almost immediately. What if that's all Phil needs? A talk and some friends? We could at least try." Dan said. "Chris, I think someone has a crush on the new guy" said PJ "Yeah, you've been staring at him for ages this evening Dan. Did he accidentally touch your heart when you pulled him back onto that bridge earlier?" said Chris with a snigger. "Shut up! I only just met him, why would I have a crush on him? Just because he's a bit pretty doesn't mean I'm so easily distracted! Are we going to go and talk to him or not?" said Dan, offended. Although it was strange. When he looked at Phil, it was as if the room got brighter, and his heart started to beat faster. Did he have a crush on Phil? He'd only known him for a couple of hours, it was impossible. Or was it? As Dan considered this inner turmoil of emotions, PJ said "If you insist, Daniel." So they grabbed their plates and moved over to Phil's table.

Phil felt a breeze move past him, and looked up to find Dan and two of the people from before. "Hi Phil" said Dan happily. "Hey" replied Phil, with not an ounce of emotion in his voice. "Are you ok, Phil?" asked PJ and Chris. "Yeah" replied Phil, again with no emotion. "Are you sure, because when we were looking over at you, you-"Dan was cut off by Phil saying "What do you care? Any of you? I know you're only over here because you were asked to be. Just leave me alone!" Phil got up and walked out of the food hall, looking for the toilets. "Phil, wait!" shouted Dan. "We just thought you looked lonely and upset and could do with a friend!" shouted Chris. But Phil wasn't listening. When he found the toilets, he locked himself in a cubicle and began to break down into tears again. Thoughts were racing through his mind; too many to count or understand.

After an hour, Phil got up and left the toilets. When he was back in the main hall, he felt a hand on his arm. He turned round to see Carrie. "Walk with me" she said. "I saw you storm out. Was that necessary, Phil?" she asked. "I just want to be alone and to relax" said Phil, tiredly. "Well, I have something to show you Phil that might make you feel better. Follow me" said Carrie. She led him to an elevator and pressed a button, which lit up saying roof. "The roof?" asked Phil. "What are you going to do, throw me off? I'm capable of doing that myself." "Oh Phil" said Carrie. "Just you wait. You'll see. By the way, I contacted your family and explained that you were here for a YouTube convention and might be here a while. So you don't need to worry about them." Phil had to admit, he did feel he could breathe more easily now that was off his mind. Just then, there was a 'ding' and the elevator stopped. As the doors opened and Phil and Carrie stepped out onto the roof, Phil was amazed. He was looking out over the whole of central London, which was coated in a perfect sunset orange glow. He looked out towards Westminster Bridge, and saw that there was now a huge metal frame covering the whole that Phil had fallen through earlier. The sounds of the buses and cars beeping below sounded calming, somehow, and Phil felt like he was master of all, standing atop this huge warehouse-turned-makeshift palace. "How do you feel Phil?" asked Carrie. "I... I... this is... its beautiful" said Phil. "I love it!" He said with a smile. He looked out over the edge of the building and screamed out across the burnt London sky. Carrie was stood behind him and laughed. "Feeling relaxed now Phil?" She asked. "Yes. I really am. God I've been so difficult to everyone. I'm so sorry" Phil said. "You don't need to be sorry Phil. Everybody here understands completely. Believe it or not, everyone had the same reaction as you when they first got here" Carrie said. "I brought every single one of them up here" she mused "And as if by magic, they all felt better. Dan, in particular, was very distressed when he got here..." she hinted. "Oh my goodness! Dan, and the other two! I was so rude to them! I need to go back now!" Phil said worriedly. "The lift takes a while to charge, it is very old." said Carrie. "How am I going to get back down there then?" cried Phil. "Luckily we had a service hatch installed. We all chipped in, nearly blew all our funds" said Carrie. "Service hatch? What do you WAAAHHHHHH!!" screamed Phil, as Carrie pushed him down a hole in the roof. "I'll see you at the bottom!" She shouted down. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" screamed Phil. As he fell down a weird, metal tube, he saw a light at the bottom, and he fell through a hole in the ceiling onto a pile of cushions. He landed with a thud, and stretched out and began to laugh. "Watch out below!" came a voice from the hole. Phil rolled out of the way just as Carrie fell and collapsed into the cushions. "That" said Phil "Was the most terrifying thing I've ever done!" said Phil still laughing. "You'll get used to it" said Carrie. "Now, I think everyone will be congregating in the main hall at this point. If you want to find Dan, Chris and PJ you should look over to the north of the hall, next to the north staircase" said Carrie. "Ok, thank you Carrie. And thank you for that. I feel a lot better" said Phil. "Any time, Phil. We're always here for you" replied Carrie with a smile. And with that, Phil dashed out of the room.