New Perspective (Phan)

1 - Eleven Minutes To Sixteen

~Dan~

"Daaannn..."

I look up at the sudden sound, almost jumping. Thankfully it's only my little brother, looking all tired and cute in his train pyjamas.

"Oi, why aren't you asleep?" I walk over to my bedroom door, where he stands.

"Because you're making too much noiiiise. You're noisier than the trains!"

"I am not!" I protest in a whisper, coincidentally just as we hear a train pass by. Our house is a few streets away from our town's train station; the noise is usually the sole reason why I wake up in the mornings.

My little brother moans, and then trudges back to his own bedroom. It's not like building forts at 11:39 PM on a late Autumn night before my sixteenth birthday is weird or noisy.

For the first time in my almost-sixteen-year life, I think I've built a perfect fort. Without flattering myself too much, I'd say I was pretty good at building, as far as that goes in the way of forts. But all my previous forts? Get out. This is the future generation of forts! Feel special, fort, I think to myself. You got the Dan approved rating.

The feel of being in your own little comfy cave, protected from everything around you, really appealed to me.

Eugh, I think, snuggling to myself in all the various pillows and blankets I've collected over the years. The first day of year eleven is my birthday, how awful. And year eleven means I've got to complete the second year of my GCSE courses, all the same teachers, yadadada, same people, same everything.

I have two sort-of friends... but, they don't seem to care about me much, but I force myself to tag along with them since I have no-one else. I've been at this school for four years now, going into my fifth and final year... I'm much more looking forward to college. All that "fresh start" stuff.

I check my phone, hoping for a rare message from Lucas. He used to be my closest Internet friend, but for a few months now, he'd been distant. I'd messaged him asking about it, but he always said he was busy and couldn't talk.

Still, he always used to say, "Happy Midnight!" and tonight of all nights, I thought he would have. By now, he'd have finished school. Time difference. I log on to Skype and see that he's online. Hopeful, I type.

Dan: hey, afternoon lucas, are you around?

Lucas <3s Hannah: Oh hi dan. Can't speak right now sorry.

Dan: what's up?

Lucas <3s Hanna: Busy

Dan: okay... well maybe tomorrow then? since it's the weekend? message me when you're free? it's been a while, we need to catch up. :)

I'm breathing a little more heavily than normal. It's been about thirty seconds and I'm already annoyed. That smiley face was so forced.

Lucas <3s Hanna: I said I'm busy dan so leave me alone ok? Bye.

What the hell?

"Fucking fuck him!" I whisper-yell under my breath, as I angrily half-throw my phone back on to my bedside table, anger burning in my throat.

It's something so incredibly simple, but it makes me so mad. My impulse wants me to tear my fort down, kick everything and then burn it.

Can't speak? Can't speak, again!? I don't even know why I bother trying with him any more. The best conversation we've had in three months was one where he'd actually told me why he couldn't speak to me. For god's sake.