Fix Me | Phan High School AU

Chapter Three

A/N: I'm actually pretty happy w/ this after editing

PHIL'S POV

I sulked around the rest of the day, keeping my head low and trying to make it through all my lessons. The classes here were about the same as they had been at my old school—really, really boring.

I did take relief in that Anthony decided to skip school halfway through History. I quickly realized that his group of friends were harmless without him. They called me names in the hall several times but did nothing to get in my way. Dan followed reluctantly behind them, casting me an apologetic glance when they said something particularly rude. I tried to avoid him most of the day, but that proved to be difficult since I sat next to him in four classes.

Fatigue washed over me as the last bell of the day interrupted my thoughts, its angry ringing like a mocking laugh. Most students long for the end of the day to come; I had been dreading it. It was my first day at a new school and I already had detention for the dumbest reason ever. I was also less than pleased that I'd be spending this hour of extended school time with Dan. I still wasn't sure how to feel about him; he had been a complete dick to me this morning when he was with his friends but was so nice when it was just us. I wasn't sure which character was real. Though, if he was a genuinely horrible person, then why would he try and fake it by acting nice to me? It wasn't like he had any of his friends to impress.

"Maybe he likes you" The typical assumption popped into my head, but I quickly shut it down. "He's straight, dammit, not every hot boy you meet falls madly in love with you. He's probably hated what his friends do for a long time and just finally decided to do something about it."

I slammed my locker shut, hurrying down the hall to detention.

...

I stepped into the empty room, looking around. Much like a prison, this room looked bleaker than the other ones I had been in. The walls were a dirty white color and no effort had been made to cover them with posters.

"Take a seat."

I jumped at the voice, turning to see an ancient-looking woman at the desk. She looked very displeased to be here, but it could just be the wrinkles from years of frowning.

I took a desk in the back of the room, pulling out a book. It was only a minute later when the professor spoke again.

"Take a seat, Howell."

I looked up, immediately making eye-contact with Dan. For a moment I almost considered motioning for him to sit next to me, and maybe I would have, but the throbbing pain in my side begged me to do otherwise.

Dan averted his gaze, taking a seat on the other side of the room.

I don't hate the guy, but I don't really like him either. I was only trying to be nice to him because I thought—I hoped—that maybe he wasn't as shitty of a person as he acted around his friends. That, and I found him to be kinda hot. In my defense, how could you not? He looked like a model. His skin was tan and absent of blemishes, just as perfect as his dark brown hair. His eyes shone when he laughed (even with malice) and dimples poked shallow holes in his cheeks. Even if he was a bit of a prick, he was gorgeous.

I glanced down at myself, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Already pale, my dark hair only made my skin look lighter. I would stop dying it but I felt it was the only color I had ever gotten to suit me. The constant bags under my eyes on top of my scrawny frame just made me look unhealthy. While Dan looked extremely hot with his sleeves rolled up, I would just look like a suicidal mess—long sleeves were the only thing protecting the many scars traced up and down my wrists from the condemnatory views of others.