Stepping Stones (Phanfic)

Chapter Three

Over the next few weeks Dan and Louise sat together in the library for about ten minutes each day while she waited for Phil, PJ, and the other guy (Dan now knew that his name was Chris). They found out that even though they didn't have a lot in common they got along together very well. Now the stories Dan told his mother about his day weren't all lies. She had told him little things that she thought throughout the day about her other friends, him, whatever some celebrity was doing, and her favorite, Chris and PJ. She was always telling him that she thought they were secretly dating although that both claimed to be straight. Dan didn't really think it was possible but he never said anything.

                 Every day she invited him to sit with her and the other three but he always said no. He wasn't really sure why because they looked like they had a really good time. He had come up with the excuse that he needed to practice the piano for class, which, of course, was a lie but always went to the music room anyway.

                  Playing always calmed him down. His mother had heard him playing a few times and insisted that he take lessons at school which was a complete backfire. Every time he was asked to play in front of another person, especially a whole class, he couldn't seem to remember how to move his fingers. Fortunately no one ever was in the piano room during lunch so he could play however he wanted.

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             After school was out, Dan got on his bike and started on his way home. He couldn't get Louise and her friends off his mind. Why did she think PJ and Chris were dating? They didn't act at all like a couple. Dan had never seen a gay couple at this school either. It seemed like the kind of place where that wasn't really allowed to happen. Why did they hang out with Phil? He felt guilty for thinking it, but Phil didn't seem like the kind of person anyone would want to hang out with. He never seemed to be happy and to be perfectly honest, he looked terrifying.

"LOOK OUT!"

                 Dan realized all too late that he had zoned out while riding down the road and was heading straight for a ditch by the side of the road. He tried to swerve out of the way but his path was blocked by someone.

"FFFFFFFF-" To avoid the person he was about to hit he turned sharply and ended up falling over.

"Are you okay??" The person he almost hit ran over to him. He wished he was dead, this was so embarrassing.

"Are you okay?" They asked again.

                Dan ignored them and tried to stand up but there was something pulling him down. He blinked and tried to roll over. His head hurt like hell and he was seeing black spots everywhere. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It took all his effort to sit up and when he did he found himself face to face with Phil.

"Um..." Dan wasn't sure what to say. Did Phil say something? "Sorry."

                "It's fine," Was he blushing? "I wasn't paying attention and I should have been." How could he possibly think that this was his fault? Dan realized that he was probably just as embarrassed as Dan.

"No, it was my fault." Dan wasn't sure why but he really didn't want Phil to feel like he did something wrong.

Dan stood and picked up his bicycle. This was too awkward for him.

"Hey, aren't you Louise's friend?" Phil asked.

.

"Um, yeah." This is the most awkward conversation ever.

"She really wants you to come sit with us." Phil laughed nervously.

"Oh... Yeah, I uh... I would but I have a lot of homework and I have to practice piano while I'm at school." Awkward. Awkward. Awkward.

               "Oh," He looked at the ground "I... Um... Well if you ever have the chance you should, she would, um... She would be really happy if you did. She kinda thinks that you don't really like her and only talk to her to be nice."

"Oh... Well if I get the chance I will." Extremely awkward.

"Okay, bye."

"Bye." WHY AM I SUCH AN AWKWARD PERSON??

              Dan decided that he would just walk his bike home instead of fall again. He kept thinking about what Phil said. Did Louise really think that he didn't like her?