Like you (Phan)

2024: HAPPY ENDING

This chapter was written by me just so I didn't die of an unhappy ending- if you want to experience the fic the way the author intended, PLEASE do not read this chapter.

It had been five years. Five years in this perfect cookie-cutter marriage. A perfect, not-too-big yet not-too-small house. A chocolate lab to cuddle with by the stone fireplace. A steady career. Phil Lester was living the dream.

It was absolute complete and utter hell.

Now that was an exaggeration, of course. Phil loved his life. He loved his house. He loved his dog. Phil loved his wife. But there was always something missing.

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"Goodbye, Daisy!" Phil kissed Daisy on the cheek and ached to feel his heart swim in pure exhilaration and love. But there was nothing. He walked to the station to catch his train. He saw hundreds of people living their lives and doing the exact same thing he was doing. Were they happy? Phil wondered. Did they love their lives?Did they find joy in the boring office job, picking up groceries on the way home, having a home cooked meal, and making love before going to bed at 8:30? Phil surely didn't. He hated to admit it, but he missed the greasy takeouts and scrolling through tumblr with his head rested on a familiar knee till four AM. Sure, his house was beautiful, with the pottery barn perfect matching furniture and cute plate and silver wear sets. But it would never be his home. To Phil, only one place was his home. And he longed for it.

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"How was work, darling?"

"Lovely dear. I picked up the beef like you asked me, what time will dinner be at?"

"7:30."

"Alright"

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Day after day, week after week, the blandest five years of his life.

"It's not professional!" she had complained about Phil's online job. So he did whatever it would take to please her. He quit YouTube and got a job with a box cubicle. Two pictures inside, one of his wife and one of his dog.

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Phil stretched his feet out on the coffee table in front of the couch and reached for the newspaper. A shooting, a scandal, a puppy that was saved, same old same old. Until-

"What??" Phil shot up in his chair. Staring back at him was none other than his best friend, Dan Howell.

"Dan Howell, YouTube sensation writes his first book?!" Phil read the headline out loud and gasped. "That's not even true, we wrote a book together years ago!" Phil's heart was pounding faster than it had in years. To make it easier, he cut off all contact with Dan after he was married. He hadn't even seen a picture of him since his wedding day. He didn't know what to do. But then it came to him. He knew he shouldn't do it. But he had to.

Phil Lester went on YouTube for the first time in five years.

YouTube was a sore subject for Phil. It was the best thing he ever did. His absolute favorite job. But it was the past. It was over.

Phils fingers trembled as he typed in the username. Danisnotonfire.

"Hello internet!"