ACQUAINTANCE (Book #3 - EMAILS TO DAN)

22 December 2022

/death; mention of alcohol/

I looked over at Phil as we were in the shop buying gifts for others. He kept looking up and down from items to his phone, giggling.

Why is he on his phone so much? I thought. It seemed annoying, really, though I liked when he giggled. But when he did it again, I couldn't help but glare at his presence now. "If you're not going to pick out gifts, then why are you here?" I almost spat.

"Oh, sorry," he spoke, only glancing up at me and back down at his phone. I sighed, shaking my head, and grabbing a present for Chris - which was a shirt that said 'I'm here, where's the beer?' And to be honest, I was thinking that when I looked over at Phil. He was completely oblivious of me being next to him and too caught up on his phone with whatever he was doing. I could just get a beer and forget about him here if I wanted to like him at the moment, but I didn't and that never worked out in the past.

Phil giggling again, I turned away from the shirt to him. "What do you keep laughing at?"

"Charlie." He didn't look away for a second.

"What?" I spoke with slight disbelief, because I wasn't all surprised about him mentioning Charlie again. "Why are you talking to that twat?"

"Oh, come on, Dan. He's not much of a 'twat' anymore." I rolled my eyes and angrily stuffed the shirt into the basket.

"Yeah, he is," I muttered under my breath. I sighed again, purchased the items, having Phil and I split the cost as we had done in the past.

After doing so, we walked out of the shop. It was cold, of course, with snow, but London some how made it not a pleasant sight to see. Though I looked at Phil, and my point of view on everything changed.

He - no matter how cliché - was a sight for sore eyes. And having to cry continuously for leaving Phil, my eyes were awfully sore.

Then I remembered what he said when he came over to my flat. I told him I didn't mean to hurt him and he said, 'We'll make new memories.'

Well, I was trying, but none of it was working since he stared down at his phone most of the time today.

"Phil," I spoke, blocking my hand in front of his screen, "can you please make conversation with me?"

"Why, are you jealous?" Phil shrugged, moving my hand way from his phone and continuing the conversation he was having with Charlie.

"No," I partially lied. "It's just. . . you've been on your phone the whole time during lunch and when we bought gifts. What is Charlie saying that is making you giggle so much?"

"Jokes. Nothing special."

"Then if it's not special, can you stop for a bit?" I asked, stopping my tracks as he did the same. Phil looked up at me and I saw his bright blue eyes I've been wanting to see throughout the whole day. He gave a slight smile, putting away his phone in his back pocket, and turning back to me as small particles of snow landed on his face. You're so fucking beautiful, I thought.

"What?"

"What?" I asked confused.

"You said I was beautiful."

"I did?" He nodded. I didn't know what to reply back, so I just continued to walk as he followed along.

"Do you really think that?" Phil asked, catching up with me since I was a few steps ahead of him. I opened my mouth, but didn't say anything. "Just say if I am, don't make it awkward."

I shrugged like a child and nodded. "I mean," I started, "people have their nice features. I think a lot of people are beautiful."

Phil's face almost saddened, but I didn't question it. "Oh."