Since We Were Kids|| Phan (unfinished sry)

Prolouge Part 3

The necklace above is a reference to the thing at the end of the chapter

Mr. Howell rubbed his eyes, "He's got to grow up."

"Sweetie he is just turning seven-"

"Exactly, why hasn't he grown out of this? Do we need to get him checked? Because this isn't normal."

"You're overreacting, he just has an overactive imagination. He'll grow out of it, I'm positive."

.

"My parents don't want you to come to my party," Dan scuffed his shoe against the asphalt.

"What? Why not?" Phil was sat down on the grass next to Dan who was standing in the street. "I'm not sure," he replied, "Something about how it should be just my friends from school..." he mumbled. "But you'll still come right? I don't care what my parents say, you'll still come to the party right!?" he spit this out with a sense of urgency.

"Of course! I'll just tell them I didn't realize there was a party going on, I don't want to get you into any trouble now," he winked at Dan and gave a small giggle. Dan felt a wave of relief wash over him, he smiled back, "You don't even have to get me anything." Phil smirked, "I'm sure I can get you something."
.
*Day of the party*
People slowly dragged in, one by one, bringing presents and joining the party. Dan counted...
1...
2...
3...
4...
5...
6...
.....
"Hey come on sweetie, you need to pay attention." He looked up at his mom with large eyes. "I was just waiting for... never mind" Phil wasn't supposed to be here anyway but he still felt a rock in his stomach. Why wasn't Phil here? He told him the time, so why wasn't he here? He trudged back to his group of friends. "Well Dan, all your friends are here so let's start the party!" His mom said this in a high goofy voice, and Dan knew this was reserved for him when he was around his friends or other kids, this fact definitely didn't make him feel any better. It just made him feel small like he was only seen as a kid, which he was, but he still didn't appreciate it. He put a smile on and tried to enjoy himself, he didn't want to upset his mom or any of his guests. He'd seen some kids throw temper tantrums at parties and he thought of it as silly of them, and uncomfortable for everyone else. So he carried on, just a bit disheartened. But every five minutes or so he looked towards the driveway expecting to see his best friend walking up it, he let his head drop every time there wasn't anyone there.
.
The presents had been opened and ice cream eaten, Dan's mom even surprised them with a piñata they got to bust open. His friends still wouldn't believe him when he said Phil couldn't make it, they said he was lying about Phil to make him look cool. Being reasonable for his age, he let it drop knowing he wouldn't get anywhere with them. As the day ended he started saying goodbye to his friends as they hopped into their parents cars. He went back into his house with his shoulders a little drooped.

"Hey sugar what's wrong?" His mom fluffed his hair. She thought of this party as a success, hopefully dissuading him from the idea of his imaginary friend. "I just... I mean... I thought Phil would show up."

His mom sighed and squatted down to look at him. She thought this would fade out but it looked like it would take some of her persuading, "Hey... Dan...don't you think it's time you let go of Phil?" He shook his head not understanding what she meant. "I think it's time for you to make better friends with people at your school."

"I have plenty of friends at school, really good friends!"

"I know you do, that's why right now is the best time for you to let go of your imaginary friend. You know Phil is just made-up right? You are seven now, that makes you a big boy! You don't need him anymore, you're allowed to stop pretending he's real."

Dan stumbled away, taken aback, he squinted his eyes and looked up at her in in confusion. He ran blindly out the backdoor and into the yard staring at everything in disbelief, why would his mom say things like that? Phil was just as real as you and me! He's been over to their house! He's eaten their food! Dan could touch him, see him, talk to him, listen to him, he played with him everyday! He laid down in the grass feeling it lightly poke his back and neck, making him uncomfortable, everything around him smelled wrong like an earthy bitterness.

He stayed there perfectly still thinking over what his mom had told him. He heard footsteps crunch through the summer dried grass. He sat up and saw sad eyes.

"Hey"

"Phil!" Dan jumped up, "I thought you weren't coming, why are you so late?"

He was slowly stepping towards Dan, keeping his eyes on the mundane grass below him, unable to make direct eye contact. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to come to the party," he took a breath for a pause,"I just didn't want tell you now. I didn't want this to end."

"What are you talking about? What do you mean?" Dan asked, this day was becoming very confusing to him.

"I'm not sure how I can explain this to you, but all you need to know is that I can't be here anymore."

"What do you mean 'be here'? Where are you going?"

"I've been selfish Dan, I wasn't supposed to spend so much time with you." his voice started to waver a bit, "I should have let you go before today, but I couldn't. You were the best friend I've ever had and I didn't want that to end." His hands trembled as he continued, "but that's not my choice anymore, I will have to go soon-"

Dan ran into his friend's arms hoping to calm him down. He breathed in, Phil smelled crisp and comforting compared to the hot sluggish air around them. "Stay. Please stay. Don't leave me." He felt a cool metal being pressed into his hand, he brought it up and realized it was attached to a piece of leather, it was a necklace. "Happy birthday Dan" Phil breathed out, "You are the best friend I've ever had," He sniffled as a tear fell out of his eye. Dan realized how much Phil looked like a kid at that moment, not some strong matured big kid, but just a regular kid.

Phil's voice hitched as he said the most painful word of all, "Goodbye."

With that he walked through the driveway and turned down the street.

Unfreezing from his state of shock Dan started running as fast as he could hoping to catch up with Phil. He turned to face the street he saw Phil go down but no one was there. It looked barren and empty. He didn't see any leaves move but he felt a cold breeze hit his skin, which was odd for these summer nights. It ruffled his hair and whistled in his ear as the gust seemed to sweep upwards. The chill settled through his clothes and seeped into his skin, along with the memories of what just happened.