Like you (Phan)

2019: present day

REMEMBER: THIS IS NOT MY STORY FULL CREDIT TO
its-just-phun-to-imagine
2019 Wedding ~
"Now, if you'd all be upstanding, as we will now sing a hymn, symbolising the beauty in the world, and how that beauty can produce the kind of love shared by two people." The vicar smiled as an old, angry looking old woman, perched herself in front of an organ, and played the opening chords to the childhood classic "All Things Bright and Beautiful". Dan sung along with the rest, finally the years of school hymns were paying off. So this is what they were preparing me for. He gave a sideways glance to Phil, who was, of course, singing along happily. Dan pulled his gaze away, trying to remember the words to this nostalgic tune. Something about birds, maybe a river? Why are we singing about birds and rivers. Dan's mild internal crisis at the relevance of this song however, was interrupted by some scuffling noises behind him, accompanied by some harsh whispering.
"It's the perfect moment though! C'mon Peej give it back!"
"No Chris! It's their day, so stop trying to take surprise photos of me singing!"
Chris had got his camera back. Dan looked over his shoulder to see PJ's irritated expression, as he stood next to Chris, singing rather angrily. He held Chris' right wrist-which was holding the camera-by his side. Chris was smiling devilishly as he mimed the words to the hymn, opening and closing his mouth at the complete wrong times. Dan loved it. The scene was so typically them. He smiled to himself as he turned back around. What a pair of dorks. They had always been like this, balancing each other out; he'd noticed it when he'd first met them. He'd been introduced to PJ first, through Phil, but things just got a lot more exciting once PJ brought Chris into the equation. It was around that time that Dan had realised how they all balanced one another out. His friends - The Fantastic Foursome back then - all had a part to play to keep the group together.
Phil had been, undoubtedly, the leader. He used to be the one who took them all to the best parties; being the biggest youtuber back then had helped a lot. His confidence would lead them all on the best adventures usually involving alcohol; the one time they found Chris in a ditch (don't ask), and him showing off his extraordinary flirting skills-not that Dan had particularly minded. Dan was always the youngest, so had automatically labelled himself as the awkward, inexperienced lemon. He'd followed the others, wanting to fit in and be accepted...and perhaps impress Phil. The more trouble he got in, the better, even if most of the time he had no clue what he was doing. Chris had been the opposite of course, the joker of the pack, the troublemaker, and had often caused the trouble that Dan found himself in. Chris was the loudest, the centre of everything, and most importantly, he'd known exactly what he was doing-and who. And that's where PJ had come in. It had taken a while for Dan to figure out PJ's role. He was loud, but he was quiet. He'd hang back at the sidelines, yet everyone wanted to hear his stories, and he was always eager to tell them. It was only after one of the many parties that Phil had flirted his way into, dragging the others with him, which Dan had figured it out. He'd come outside to get some air, when he saw PJ sat on a wall. Phil and Chris had been sat on either side of him, heads on his shoulders. Phil had been asleep, but Chris had been mumbling into PJ's shoulder, who'd listened, smiling. After that he'd put his arm around Chris, as he pushed back Chris' hair so he could be sick on the floor.
PJ had looked after the group. He'd always be looking out for everyone. He'd been the designated driver multiple times, letting the others yell drunkenly in his car, dropping them home, or they'd have to crash on his sofa. He'd stop Phil from talking to the creeps; watch one of his oldest friends from a distance, sometimes directing him back to the group. He'd take drinks out of Chris' hands, hold him back when he tried to fight with the wall, let him cry on his shoulder because he'd been rejected again. He'd pull Dan away from the "Spin The Bottle" game he'd been peer pressured into, smile reassuringly at him when he thought he'd made a social mistake, tell him how it didn't mean anything when Phil had flirted with others-and made out with them.
PJ had protected the group. He always has done. He's doing it now. He watched Phil, singing, making sure he's okay. He held Chris' wrist, stopping him from taking photos and causing trouble. And he smiled at Dan. His smile meant that everything was okay, no matter what. It was all, good. Yeah, Chris was fucking around, but he's got it under control. Dan's seen that smile on many occasions, reassuring him, telling him that it was all okay, he didn't do anything wrong. But the most memorable time was the time when PJ's smile was reassuring, yet knowing.
He'd been the first to know. Not because Dan had told him, he was far too secretive, and had too much pride. No, PJ had figured it out. Back then only PJ knew, something that Dan had to deal with. Having PJ know wasn't a bad thing though. Dan smiled to himself as the last few notes of the hymn resonated through the church.
Dan had needed someone to know. Someone to tell him that he was okay, that it would be all right in the end. And that someone was PJ.