Everything you never wanted

Chapter 7

The first couple of days after a heat are always the hardest for Phil. He was usually tired, grumpy, and always hungry. Admittedly it hadn't been as awful as it usually was but he was still feeling the effects of it Wednesday when he headed back to class.

Phil frowned softly as he walked inside. He knew that Dan wasn't going to keep his promise, it was stupid of Phil to even ask. In his defense though he wasn't exactly in his right state of mind when he'd practically begged for Dan's friendship. He glanced down longingly at the jacket in his arms, it had gotten him though that long four days but it was time to give it back to its rightful owner. He had no reason to have it now.

He walked into his first hour only to be surprised to find Dan already there. Usually he didn't turn up till a couple minutes after the bell had rung. He quickly looked down, still clutching tightly to the worn and tempting fabric. Approaching Dan was like walking up to an angry bear, at least that's how Phil felt. Every step was forced as he headed over Dan's desk. "Thank you for letting me borrow it." He mumbled as he sat it down gently on the other's desk. "I hope I wasn't too much trouble."

"You weren't any trouble, I'm just glad it worked out." Dan answered easily. His tone was much different than Phil recalled, typically it was cold and sharp. Now it sounded...almost warm? "You doing alright?" Phil nearly choked when Dan asked if he was alright. Something was definitely off about him.

Phil cocked his head at him, was he sick or something. "I'm okay, uh, a bit hungry but I'm good." He hoped he didn't sound as bewildered as he felt. Phil was starting to wonder if he was actually still in bed. There was no way he was having a civil conversation with Dan Howell.

"Skipped breakfast?" Dan laughed, sitting up a bit straighter. He could still smell Phil on his jacket, now it was more like a mix of the two them. Right away Dan decided that he liked that smell, both their scents lingering together.

Phil shifted his weight on his heels, his face heating up a bit as he decided to tell the truth. "During a heat you don't eat much, a bit preoccupied." Food had been the last thing on his mind for the past four days. It was Dan's turn to look confused now.

"I didn't know that, I guess it makes sense though doesn't it. I've just never thought much about it." His face was gently furrowed in concentration as he nearly lost himself in thought. He didn't want to think about Phil's heat though because it wouldn't do him any good, he still had to sit through an hour and a half of class. The last thing he wanted was for everyone to know he wasn't thinking about his education. "You should eat something, lunch is hours away."

"I'm okay, I'll just wait." Phil said as he felt his stomach flutter. Dan was acting so strangely. What happened between Saturday and then? "Besides, I think they stopped serving breakfast by now." Dan glanced up at the clock, sure enough that stopped about thirty minutes ago. "I guess I should um...go sit down or something." Phil stumbled over his words, unsure of how to end the conversation.

"Yeah, okay." Dan nodded as he watched Phil carefully, he couldn't seem to take his eyes off the other. He knew it wasn't a normal feeling bubbling up inside his chest cavity but he did what he could to suppress it. It was hard to though when his brain was telling him to stay as close to Phil as possible.