Back-Up Boyfriend

We Need Each Other

Phil stepped out of the house and shivered at the damp cold of the summer morning. He shoved his hands into his pockets and looked up at Dan in the driver's seat. He smiled. 

Phil opened the door and slid in seamlessly. "Hey," He says with a smile. "Hi." Dan says looking over at Phil. Phil felt himself blush. 

"Where are we off to today Daniel?" Phil asks as he leans back to grab his seat belt. "You'll just have to find out, Phillip." Dan says with a grin as he starts the ignition. 

Dan took them out of the city and on a windy road. "You're not taking me to kill me again are you?" Phil asks jokingly, trying not to focus on the nauseating turns of the road. Dan laughs. 

"No, not this time, I wouldn't do that," Dan says, his face covered in a smile. "Someone would probably see me." Phil laughs. "Great mood killer." Phil replies. 

"It's what I'm here for!" 

Dan finally pulled into the entrance of a narrow path. "Where are we?" Phil asks. Dan opens his door. "You and the god damn questions." Dan laughs. 

The boys stood at the entrance, looking forward. Early morning fog littered the ground still. Phil nervously looked all around at the trees, the fog, everything. Dan took his hand. "Trust me, It'll be worth it." 

The walk excited Phil once he got past his little fears, Phil naturally loved exploring. Every so often he would stop and pick up a flower or two, or a rock. Dan couldn't help but smile at how adorable that was. 

The path ended and Phil looked up, amazed. Rock formations two times taller than both boys stood in front of them. Phil looked at Dan. Dan smiled and let go of Phil's hand. Phil sprinted to the bottom of the rocks, stepping up into a foothold. Dan followed close behind. 

Phil stepped on the top of the rocks and put his arms up triumphantly. "I'm king of the world!" Dan stepped up, panting and with red cheeks. "Does that make me queen?" Phil laughed and sat down cross-legged. Dan put his head in Phil's lap and looked up at him. 

"So," Phil says running his hands through Dan's hair. "How do you know all of these 'secret' places?" Dan shrugs, placing his hands on his stomach. 

"They're not really secret, just hard to find," Dan replies. Phil nods. "I just, things happen and I need to get away. So I drive, and I find places like these and just let go." Phil nods again, looking off. He really wanted Dan to elaborate on what "things" were, but he felt like he was intruding. 

"But they're pretty nice huh?" Dan asks. Phil looks down at Dan. He places his hand around the outline of Dan's jaw, tilting his head up. Phil leans down and places his lips on Dan's, feeling his warmth. 

"Yes," Phil says looking into Dan's ebony eyes. "Very nice." 

Dan pulled into Phil's driveway at dusk.  Phil sighed, he didn't want to leave. Dan looked over at him. Dan didn't want him to leave. Dan wanted to grab Phil and never let him go. 

Phil couldn't get himself out of Dan's eyes, he was lost. Dan finally broke it off by clearing his throat. "See you tomorrow?" Phil smirked. "See you tomorrow." He leaned over the center console and kissed Dan twice before opening his door and stepping out. "I love you" stood in the back of Dan's throat. 

Phil jolted awake at his ringtone. The screeching guitar opening of Plug in Baby was not the smartest idea. He shakily hit the answer button. "Hello?" 

He could hear crashing, muffled yells, Dan's breathing. "Phil, can I come over?" Dan was quiet, shaky. Phil didn't have a second thought. "Yeah, I'll be waiting at the door." 

Phil watched Dan quickly dim his headlights and park a little ways above Phil's house, to avoid being caught. Phil opened the door slowly, making sure it didn't squeak, and waited for Dan. 

Dan approached him in a black hoodie and sweatpants. With shaky hands, he put his keys into his jacket pocket and stepped in the door. 

Phil turned on his desk lamp and sat next to Dan on his bed, taking his hands. Dan sat stoic, looking down. "Dan," Phil whispered. "What happened?" He had a feeling he knew. 

"He's a fag, he's no man to me," Dan says quietly. Phil assumed he was quoting his father. Phil slowly moved his arm upwards, Dan watched it as Phil put took down his hood. Dan turned his head, but Phil could see the black ring around his eye. 

"Dan," Phil whispers, taking him into his arms. Dan took a deep breath, smelling Phil's scent. "Dan it's okay." Dan felt himself choking back tears. 

Phil let go. "Here," He straightened out his pillows and sheets. Dan lied down and brought his hands and legs together. Phil lies behind him, holding Dan's hands in his own. "You're safe, I promise." Phil kissed his head. Maybe Dan needed Him more than he needed Dan.