Stockholm Syndrome-PHAN AU

Chap. 3

This could be a bit confusing but think about it.

{•}

"Come on, Dan! Don't expect me to wake you up every day for school," My mum spoke loudly, at least I thought she was speaking loudly, I got drunk last night and had a hangover, not like she knew anyway. Bless her heart, she had good intentions.

I groaned, rubbing my eyes as I noticed bright light streaming through the curtains. Which I thought was weird because usually when I got up it was dark-

"Shit!" I yelled, launching myself out of bed. I was just in my boxers and had terrible bed hair.

At least it wasn't curly at this point in time, that was a bonus.

"Language!" My mum screamed from downstairs.

"I'm late!" I yelled back even though she knew that. I tugged up my black jeans and threw on a black shirt and a beanie, with a warm jacket over the top.

It was January after all and snowing buckets in Berkshire.

I sprinted down the stairs without taking a moment to even glance in the mirror.

"Dan I've made you-"

"No time, no time! Sorry mum," I said apologetically, before kissing her on the cheek, "Thanks anyway, give it to Adrian." Then I darted through the kitchen to the front door.

"Have a good day!" I heard mum call from the kitchen, but I didn't have a chance to reply because by that point the door slammed and I was running down the slippery footpath.

As I was running to the bus stop, the bus sped past me.

"Wait!" I yelled waving my arms like an idiot. Just at that moment, my school books I was holding in my hand fell onto the snow. "Fucking hell." I cursed, skidding to a stop, grabbing my books that were luckily not harmed.

Considering my level of clumsiness, I was surprised I didn't fall.

I groaned and kicked the snow, contemplating on how to get to school, it was most definitely not in walking distance.

I flicked out my phone and dialled my good friend Zoe's number.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

"Yes, Dan, I'll pick you up. I'll be there in five." Then before I could reply, she hung up.

I felt bad for asking her to take me, I mean she was the only one who could afford a car so she kind of signed the carting around contract within our group of friends a while ago.

Twenty minutes later, aka fifteen minutes late, Zoe pulled her yellow convertible up next to me on the pavement.

"You're lucky it was my party last night and I peer pressured you to get drunk, otherwise I wouldn't save your sorry ass." Zoe smirked, winding down the window.

"Thanks, Zo. I really appreciate this." I smiled back, opening the car door and throwing myself in.

"You should, idiot. Now we're both going to be late to school, the teachers will think oh what a coincidence that the partners in crime are late." She said, mimicking the teachers' voices.

"Partners in crime?" I snorted, "Ha! Barely, you never miss class miss goody two shoes." I laughed at her.

"Hey, I want a future. I party too," She pointed out. I couldn't help but agree with that, she threw the best parties. "And I seem to have a talent of making a guy go hard pretty quickly underneath me, if you know what I mean." She turned and winked at me.

I didn't know if I had saliva in my mouth, but if I didn't I certainly found it possible to choke on air.

"Zoe!" I yelled, covering my innocent ears. "That's probably something I could've gone through life without knowing." I groaned.

"What? You started it!" She prodded me with her finger.

The rest of the car ride was fairly silent, I think we were thinking about what our punishment would be once we got into school.

8:42 read the clock, nearly quarter of an hour late to school.

"We're really going to get it this time, Howell." Zoe shook her head, but kept her blue eyes on the road as we were nearing school.

"I know we are, Sugg," I chimed, smirking a little. "Follow my expert lead." I said cockily.

"Your expert lead?" Zoe scoffed, "Your expert lead is literally walking in and saying, just whatever you have, punish me. It's a shitty defence mechanism." Zoe deadpanned.

I let out a small sigh.

"At least it's being sincere." I pointed out.

"It doesn't get us out of trouble."

"And making up bullshit excuses does?" I countered.

Zoe pulled into the car parking lot and turned to glare at me.

"I'm doing this for you, so shut your cheeky mouth." Zoe suddenly snapped, before jumping out of her car to stalk towards school.

Always cranky when she has a hangover.

Or on her period.

Or any other day, to be honest.

But I love her anyway.

I let out a heavy sigh, before jumping out of the car before Zoe locked it on me.

"Zoe!" I cried out, jogging up to catch her up. "Zo, I'm sorry. I'm hung over and cranky," She turned to look at me, and her eyes glistened with tears. "Oh shit Zo, I didn't mean to make you cry, I'm so sorry." I said quietly, giving her a hug.

"Sorry, I'm overreacting." She laughed lightly, sniffing and wiping her under eye.

"No you're not, it's my fault." I said solemnly.

"What's this?" She laughed, before sniffing again, "Daniel James Howell admitting he's been doing something wrong? Am I dreaming?" She gasped sarcastically, putting her hand over her forehead as if she had some kind of sickness and was checking her temperature.

"Now speaking of overreacting." I joked.

"We're already late." She huffed, wriggling out of my arms and took off towards school.

We nervously walked into class together, my brain was bursting with excuses I knew wouldn't work, but I had to give it a shot.

Zoe took a deep breath, glancing at me quickly, before opening the door. Everyone in the classroom turned to look at us, and our teacher, Mr Turner, stopped talking.

The awkward silence only lasted a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity.

I felt my cheeks heat up due to everyone staring at us.

I opened my mouth to make up some form of excuse on the spot, but Mr Turner stopped me.

"I don't want to hear it, after school detention for you both. Take a seat."

I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding, and sat down.