“We know who did it.” The words bounced around Phil’s head as the police officer walked into their class the next day. His face flushed while Dan kept an indifferent look. He thought for a quick moment that they wouldn’t say it was him because he was quiet, or because he hadn’t even ever been to detention, but the thought quickly left him as he realized it probably made him look guiltier. It’s always the quiet ones after all, right? “If you come clean, you’ll get it easier.”
Phil felt his world falling apart inside of his head. A criminal record; he’d have one after today. His mind circled around the disappointed looks he’d imagine on his parents’ faces and the permanent residence he would hold in this dead-end town. It scared the life out of him. The police officer stared at each person in the room, hardly giving a second glance to the quiet ‘posh’ kid or the weird one in the back. “I’ll play the clip over. That’ll be your last chance,” he growled.
The film was black and white, facing the street they had been on. It was Dan who was caught, he could tell immediately. He felt a small bit of relief wash over him, remembering Dan didn’t dress as he normally did. What if Dan knew there were cameras…? Did he know? The words were written in a brighter color, showing an off-grey on the monochrome tape. Dan kept a poker face as he sat in the second row, not even flinching as his figure darted away on the screen after drawing a smile on the concrete canvas.
The clip ended too soon and he panicked. He should be happy that it wasn’t him on the screen, but his stomach was in knots for Dan; who didn’t look even the slightest interested in the situation. The police officer stood front and center making eye contact with some of the other students instilling fear. “We know the person is too old to be a child, but doesn’t seem old enough to be any reasonable adult. Speak up or we’ll just drag you out.” That was it. Phil couldn’t handle it anymore. He couldn’t stay quiet about it. He shook a little bit as he stood up, and exhaled.
“I did it. It was me on the film.” Dan’s head whipped back with the rest of the class. He looked so confused to Phil, probably scared himself. Phil trembled a bit and stood silently waiting to be yelled at. The police officer walked over to him and roughly put his arms behind his back, cuffing them in a swift motion. I’m barely seventeen, this isn’t how I wanted my life to go… Oh god… The police officer growled at him; all of the frustration from the spray-painted buildings and signs over the last few months showing through. Phil felt tears fall from his face. He was more afraid then than he had been the previous night, or probably ever.
“Phil didn’t do it,” Dan spoke out loudly, standing up. “I did it.” The class looked at him mockingly, finding his claim amusing. “He’s innocent, let him go.” Phil gave him a glace mouthing What are you doing? Dan frowned a bit. “Didn’t you hear me?” The police officer moved from Phil, keeping him cuffed in the back corner of the classroom and walking to Dan. He stood in front of him intensely staring at the boy as if to break him down so he’d shut up.
“You’re just some posh kid, sit down.” Dan didn’t sit down, though. His expression turned to some kind of anger, though angry just looked wrong on him. As always.
“I’m not posh,” he retorted. “Don’t you think I get sick of hearing people call me posh and expecting me to act a certain way because of it? Why couldn’t it be me? Why the hell are you second guessing me and not him? I admit it, and that kid in the corner,” he pointed to Phil, “is terrified because you’re threatening everyone. Do your job right and take me away.” The class sat in shock. Dan Howell had spoken out about something. Dan Howell had just told off a police officer. Dan Howell was admitting to a crime. Phil stood in the back of the room completely blown away. Dan really had nerves, to say the least.
The police officer gave Dan an aggressive look and handcuffed him, too. “We’ll get this sorted out at the police station,” he growled, taking both him and Dan away. “Both of you are in a lot of trouble,” he muttered. Dan gave Phil an apologetic glance before he returned to his familiar uninterested expression.
YOU ARE READING
Hurts Like Heaven
FanfictionPhil is a no one living in a small town trying to get out. When he sees a vandalized bridge in the park, it leaves him thinking about the meaning. Everything after that is an exciting rush leaving him a new person than who he'd imagined himself to...
