Chapter 12: Plucking Up the Courage

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Sorry I've been away, I still have a couple more exams to do, so there hasn't been much time to write. Also, over 100 reads! Thank you for everyone who is sticking by this story, I promise it will only get better from here on out.


Chapter 12:


They headed to the nearest underground station, so they could head into the London city centre and work their way outwards towards their chosen destinations. At Tower Bridge, they all got off and walked west, with Chris and PJ snapping pictures of every landmark they saw. The Globe, St. Paul's Cathedral, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, all of them. After that, they went to Covent Garden where Dan decided which shade of black clothes he wanted. Every time he came out of the changing rooms to show them the colour, he kept saying "What about this one?", and every time he went back in, the 3 others would look at each other. Phil asked PJ once "Do you see a difference in colour at all?" PJ replied "No, but we don't say anything because he starts going all existential on us if we do." After Dan had selected a jet black pair of jeans which pronounced his unfortunately proportioned butt very well. They then headed back towards The Shard, and stopped in a McDonalds for lunch along the way. They all ate, joking and laughing the whole time. Phil began to feel more and more comfortable about the prospect of living in London every time. And living with Dan... Phil just couldn't Dan out of his head. The way he had to swish his hair out of his face when the wind blew, the way he tripped over nearly everything... Dan was beautiful, and it was only then that Phil realised he was slowly falling in love with Dan. But Dan was probably straight, and not interested in someone like him, he thought. "Phil?" said Dan. "Are you coming?" He said, getting up with PJ and Chris. "We are on a tight schedule remember" he added. "Yes. I just need to go to the toilet first" said Phil. "Ok, but don't be long" said Dan. Phil nodded and ran to the toilet. However all Phil could think about was Dan, his beautiful face and what he looked like in a towel... "Stop it" muttered Phil to himself as he slapped his wrist. He heard the toilet door open behind him and Chris was stood there. "You like him, don't you?" he said. "Um... no?" Phil said quickly. "Yes you do. You were staring at him all through lunch" Phil looked at his feet. "I know how you feel, you know. I used to stare at PJ like that for ages before we started going out. And one day, he asked me why I kept staring at him. I couldn't tell him, and our friendship began to suffer. But one day, he said to me 'I can't handle it when the person I love can't tell me anything'. My heart leapt when he said that. It inspired a confidence in me that made me tell him. But although it turned out well, the weeks we spent not talking to each other is time I will never win back. Tell Dan you like him. Before you lose time too. With our lives, you have to live in the moment. We could be killed at any time. Make the most of the time you have, Phil" Phil nodded. "Ok. I'll tell him. I know! I'll tell him at the top of The Shard. That's romantic right?" Phil asked. "Yes it is. But if you want that chance we need to go now" said Chris. And they walked over to Dan and PJ at the doors. "What was Chris lecturing you about? It wasn't about his undying love was it?" said PJ. "How did you know!?" said Chris. "Why else would you walk out looking so mischievous?" questioned PJ. "True" Chris replied. The 4 then headed over to the entrance of the shard and onto the 1st floor and gift shop. They were about to take the lift before Chris said "Actually, I think the top is a bit high for me. Can I stay down here?" Dan looked at him and said "Ok. But you're really missing out". PJ looked at Chris and said "I'll stay too. I don't want Chris annoying the staff, because he probably will." "You too? You're so going to regret this. But ok." Dan said. "Just me and you then Phil?" said Dan. He was secretly happy that it would be just him and Phil. It made him feel like they were a couple. Phil turned to Dan and said "Yes. Just us." They were about to walk off to the lift before Chris whispered into Phil's ear "Make sure you tell him. You'll be happy about the outcome." He moved away and winked at Phil as Dan and Phil entered the lift.


Dan and Phil's lift reached the top of the building within 2 minutes. They both ran out of the lift to see the view. They were both breathless and they laughed and smiled as they looked out over London from the sky. "Hey, you can see the warehouse from here!" said Dan. Phil laughed. "This was such a good idea Phil. I'm glad we agreed to this. Dan began to reach for Phil's hand. "Dan, there's something I need to tell you" said Phil. "I've known you for only two days, but somehow I feel like I... I-I... I l--". Phil was interrupted by a sudden tremor from the lower building. A second later the whole building shook and Dan and Phil were thrown to the side of the room. "What was that?" shouted Dan. Everyone looked to the lift shaft, where a cloud of smoke was rising upwards. And everybody froze.



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