In a Parallel World - The Story of Dan and Phil

Chapter 9: Blossoming Friendship

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. GCSEs in my way... So I hope this chapter is ok. A

Chapter 9:

The main hall was abuzz with people socialising and talking. Phil thought about why, and he realised that there wasn't much else for them to do. It was dangerous for them to go outside. Away from the safety of this marble palace/warehouse was like walking through a snake pit for them. Phil ran up the staircase to get a better view of the hall so he could spot Dan, Chris and PJ. As Carrie had said, there they were, stood under the staircase, hidden away by blossoming trees coming from the banisters. Phil quickly ran back down and through the crowds. When he got to them, he bent over and breathed heavily from running. They looked at him strangely. Not like they were weirded out by him, but more like they were concerned. He looked up, caught his breath, and said "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gotten so angry with you. You were only trying to help. All 3 of you. Please forgive me." "Grudges are not something we hold here Phil. We were probably too full on as well. We'll forgive you if you can forgive us" said Chris. "Consider it a done deal" said Phil. "I'm sorry. It was my idea to come over and ask you everything we did" said Dan. It was only now that Phil looked into Dan's eyes properly. They were a beautiful chocolate brown, with big black pupils that reminded Phil of a puppy. They seemed to twinkle in the light. Phil could see in his eyes what Carrie had meant when she said Dan had been distressed. The emotional scars of an existential crisis were so present. But that didn't make Phil love them any less. "Wait" Phil thought. "This isn't love. I'm just grateful" Phil told himself. But he couldn't deny that when he looked straight into those deep dark eyes he could feel his pulse rate rising so much he could feel static in his veins. "Phil?" Dan asked, snapping Phil back into reality. "Sorry. It's been a long day" said Phil. "It's ok. We were just wondering, because... well, we don't get many opportunities to go outside unless Carrie asks us to, which she does quite often to gather information and stuff like that. But Carrie decided to let us to go outside twice a week of our own free will as long as we don't draw attention to ourselves. The rule applies to all of us. I just thought that maybe, seeing as you still need to get used to this, you might want to come with us. We asked her before she went to find you and she said it was ok. So if you want, the 4 of us can just hang out in town tomorrow" Dan offered. Phil's heart leapt, an opportunity to get outside again. It didn't take a moment's hesitation for Phil to say "I'd love to!" "Great!" said Dan. "Does this make us friends now?" asked Phil. Dan looked at Chris and PJ and then at Phil. "Well, Chris and PJ seem to like you. And I trust their intuition. So yeah, if you like" said Dan. Of course, he was over the moon to be friends with Phil. That moment in the food hall earlier made him really like Phil. "I do. I really do" replied Phil. "Cool!" said Dan, and a smile grew on his face from ear to ear. "EVERYONE!" came a voice from the top of the stairs. "Today has been quite a day. We've all made a new friend, hopefully. But now, I can understand that whatever work you've been doing today, you're very tired. So as soon as you feel like it, please go and rest and have a good night's sleep. Thank you all." Carrie returned to a room on the upper level and Dan turned to Phil and said "Do you know where you're sleeping, Phil?" Phil thought about it. Come to think of it, no-one had mentioned anything about sleeping arrangements. "No I haven't. Do any of you 3 know?" Phil asked. "No we don't" said PJ. "Hold on though" said Chris. "There's a spare bed in our room. Maybe it's for you Phil." These were the only friends Phil had. He didn't think he would feel comfortable anywhere else. "Ok. I'd prefer to be in a room with you 3 anyway. I don't really know anyone else yet" said Phil. "Does this mean we get to show you the sleeping quarters?" asked Dan happily. And the foursome walked off, talking all the way.