cat whiskers // phan.

Chapter 26

[Dan's POV]

"I need to, it's the end of summer" I tell Emma repetitively.

"But she's in prison!" Emma counters.

"My mum will get arrested if I don't, it's the law. Shouldn't you be in school too?" It's the end of the summer holidays and Emma won't let me go to school, we're outside of the gates and she's just pulling on my sleeve. Emma's suprisingly strong.

"Oh well, Sally needs our help"

"I'm sorry Emma, but my mum is going through so much at the moment and she doesn't need the police on her" I tell her confidently before walking into school, leaving Emma fuming behind me.

The day drags on and it's really boring. Miss Drathon keeps pestering me and I can't concentrate. Every time I try, I find myself thinking of Sally, thinking of Georgie, thinking of Phil. I still don't know what's going on with Australia, they're meant to be moving soon. I can't believe in such a short space of 1 month all of this has happened. When is Phil leaning anyway?

Suddenly I hear everyone standing up and packing away so I do the same, before old Miss Drathon lets us go to lunch. I rush out of the classroom but stop when I realise I'm alone. Phil isn't in my school. I wonder where the group of lonely young girls that follow me around are. I spot one of the red headed girls on the other side of the corridor and stride over to her.

"Hey" I smile at her, but she gives me a really dirty look and turns her back to me and carries on talking.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Leave me alone!" She hisses "I can't be seen with.. you!"

That hurts, a lot. I suck up my remaining confidence and walk over to a group of boys.

"Hey guys" I wave shyly "mind if I join you?"

"You? Join us?" A dark haired boy snickers "we wouldn't be seen dead with a gay boy!"

That's what it's about. Phil.

"I'm not a 'gay boy', you're the poof here" I counter.

"OOOOH BURRRRRN!" 'The African Twins' laughs at the back. They're quite popular around school due to their perfect brown skins, their wanted African accents and their amazing sense of humour.

The dark haired boy obviously can't take the embarrassment - proven by his crimson cheeks - as he connects his fist with my cheeks.

"What the fu-" I start but I'm pushed to the ground. My backpack rips and the contents spill over the floor. His foot is repetitively in my side straight away and the pain is unbearable.

"Stop!" I yell.

"Can't take the pain, can't you?" I can see a crowd gathering around my crippled body, but my vision is blurry. "Gay boy, gay boy, gay boy" they chant. I think of all the pain I've been through in the past month and I realise how insignificant this is. Using all the strength I can muster, I push my self up from the ground and stand in front of the boy.

He's a lot taller then me, meaning I have to look up, but that gives me a slight advantage. I stare into the eyes for a few seconds before smirking slightly.

"Why're you smirking?" He asks, looking slightly worried.

"Because you're stupid" I laugh slightly before bringing my knee up to his [insert any name you have for his private-parts]. He bends over slightly in pain, so I take the opportunity to punch him in the gut and he falls to the ground. I'm taking in my pride when I hear something I never want to hear, especially in this situation.

"DANIEL HOWELL! IN MY CLASSROOM, NOW!"

Miss Drathon grabs my neck and guides me into her hell-hole.

--

"An after school?" I cry.

"Do not raise your voice at me young man!"

"What about him, does he get one?" I ask, annoyed.

"He didn't do anything wrong"

"Nothing wrong?!" I shout "He nearly knocked me out!"

"I didn't see it" she shrugs.

"I hate you, I hate him, I hate this fucking school" I yell, standing up, throwing my chair and making my way to the door.

"2 hours after school on Wednesday" she smiles innocently.

"Fuck you" I sneer and slam the door behind me.

--

"What are you doing on Wednesday?" Phil asks me over the phone.

"I have an after school detention" I sigh.

"Oh, I'm going to Australia" Phil whispers, disappointed.

"I'll see you before school to say goodbye, okay?"

There's a few seconds of silence.

"Actually, I got you tickets to come with me. We can start a happier life over there?" He sounds so nervous with this decision.

"I have to.." I sigh "I don't know Phil, what time is the flight?"

"6pm"

Crap, that's when the detention finishes.

"I have an idea, you take my bags and stuff, I'll see if I can leave 20 minutes early to get to the airport. I should be here just in time"

"Okay then Dan. I'll see you tomorrow, I have to go now. I love you"

"I love you too, Phil" I sigh, before Phil hangs up.

Not knowing what else to do with myself, I go downstairs to talk to my mum.