Procrastinators on the Internet (Dan Howell/danisnotonfire fanfic 1)*unedited*

Part 26- The Prolonged Secrets from my Past

After our quiet moment on the bench, Dan and I aimlessly wandered around London a little more, indulging mostly in food shops where we tried free food samples and marvelled at the more outrageous flavour combinations. With Dan, the city life didn’t feel that bad. I was still nervous of the loud noises and the mass of people, but my sub-conscious made me focus more on Dan, not letting me scare at everything. It was a relief and it truly let me enjoy my time there. I was grateful for that.

By four o’clock that afternoon, the two of us headed back to my hotel together with the aid of a map app on Dan’s phone. The autumn months were slowly turning to winter as the sun dipped in the sky at this hour, elongating the shadows which Dan and I cast across the ground which looked like two Slender Men were stuck to our feet, holding hands. The day had become warm and sweet with a breeze which tossed old leaves, dust and dirt along the ground in an over romanticised manner. Dan and I talked contently to each other as we walked back to my hotel, to where I’d collect my things and then go to the BBC radio station with him and Phil. It was insane to believe.

My hotel seemed to climb up out of the ground unexpectedly when I finally saw it. The grand building was exactly the same as it had been when I’d left it this morning, but now, Mathew and Chris were waiting outside of it. Mathew was leaning up against the brick wall which was built against the front of the hotel with his arms and legs crossed in a defensive posture. He was definitely taking his ‘protective older brother’ role all too seriously. Chris, on the other hand, was kicking at the gravel on the welcome path with the worn toe of his trainer. He looked bored out of his mind.

At the sound of Dan and I’s footsteps, Mathew looked up. He stood up straight and maintained a heavy gaze with Dan as they greeted each other. Chris looked up excitedly, smiling broadly as he gave me a one armed hug in greeting.

“I’ll organise a taxi to take us to the studio,” Dan told me as Mathew left to enter the hotel by himself. Dan had tried to talk with Mathew before Mathew had left, but had been unsuccessful. I smiled apologetically at Dan before thanking him and dashing after Mathew, leaving Dan and Chris outside whilst I tried to talk to my best friend.

I found Mathew loitering outside my hotel door. His face was stony and he wouldn’t look at me directly.

“You can relax now, you know,” I suggested mildly as I attempted to open up the door with the stupid key card. Mathew shrugged at me from the corner of my eye.

With a sense of satisfaction that I’d actually managed to open the door, I stepped into the room and made for my bed, where I dumped my shopping bags onto the messy covers and proceeded to hoist my suitcase onto the bed to pack it up. I heard Mathew shut the door with a click, before he moved to sit on Nic’s bed as I gathered my belongings.

“So, how was the film?” I asked him as I folded up my pyjamas from the night before and tucked them into my case. Hopefully I could use a washing machine or something so that I could have clean clothes…but then again, I had bought some new fandom tees today.

“Good. Funny,” Mathew responded almost formally. “How was your day long date?”

“Good. Funny,” I mimicked him.

Mathew groaned in exasperation as I smiled to myself. “Are you mocking me?” he asked.

“Of course,” I said lightly. “How else am I meant to respond to you when you’re going all ‘big brother’ on me?”

“Point taken,” Mathew sighed in defeat. “I just…I don’t want to you to rush into things.”

I looked over my shoulder at him, surprised to find that he was resting his elbows on his knees and looking at the floor as he spoke. “Rush? Mathew, it was one date. I am staying over at their house on a sofa bed. Nothing will happen.”