Ocean Avenue

Prologue

"You're coming with us!" PJ exclaimed. Chris grabbed the scrawny man and dragged him outside. The man hissed at the sunlight as it hit his pale skin.

"Peej, I really don't want to," Phil pouted.

"Aww, Phil, come on! How long has it been since we properly went out?" PJ pointed out.

"Long enough, I'll tell ya that!" Chris answered. Phil sighed, knowing his friends were right.

"Okay. So, where are we going?" Phil asked. The boys smirked. Phil gulped. He knew that smirk meant he was going to do something he regretted.

~~~

"No way," Phil protested.

"Why not?" PJ asked.

"You know why. There's a reason I left and moved in with you guys!" Phil knew they planned something mischiovus, but not something this bad. To go back there would mean he'd see him again, and that was something he wouldn't be able to do.

"Please, Phil! You know they have that boardwalk by the beach. I swear that's the only place we'll go!" PJ begged.

"Plus, it's been 11 years. I mean, seriously Phil. Get it together!" Chris added.

"Okay. I get your points. But why there? Out of all the places in the world. Why there?" Phil asked.

"Well, you already know the place. So it'll be easier to find things to do!" PJ told him.

After a long argument, Phil gave in. Honestly, the chances of seeing him were so slim! What did he have to worry about?

PJ bought the tickets. In 2 days, they would be going to Ocean Avenue for a week.

~~~

Phil wasn't really sure what to think about this. He didn't really have a problem with the place, but there was one person he didn't want to run into. It wasn't because he hated him, it was just sheer fear of what to do if he ran into him. Like Chris said, it's been 11 years. 11 years since Phil walked out and left him there, standing alone, tears in his eyes.

Phil shook the thought away. They were just kids back then. Surely they could be friends again, as adults, without being so reckless. Phil decided that if they ran into eachother, it would be a brand new start for their friendship. But would he be okay with that? Or would he be too heartbroken to accept Phil's apology?

It was only 5 in the afternoon. Going out with Chris and PJ made Phil realize how bored of being at home he had become. For so long, he had isolated himself. He stood up from his bed and went over to his dresser.

Ever since he moved out of PJ's house, everything was much more organized. It wasn't much to do with PJ, but Chris. Chris was a total mess when it came to tidiness.

Phil opened the bottom drawer and pulled out something he never thought he would open again. It was a scrapbook from his teenage years. He ran his hands over the cover, stopping on the bulky pink letters that made the title: Dan's Life With Phil.

Before Dan knew Phil was leaving, he had given him a gift on the day they met. It was a scrapbook filled with all the pictures he could scavage of him and his best friend.

Phil could feel his eyes water up. Everytime he thought of the sweet boy, he remembered his caramel eyes, red and puffy from tears, on that boardwalk. Their boardwalk.

Phil passed his hand down to the giant glitter cat whiskers on the front of the cover. The man couldn't help but smile at the sloppy lines.

With a big breath, Phil opened the book to the first page.

Dear Phil,
I've known you for a full year now! Isn't that crazy? Who would've thought that the guy who wanted nothing to do with me became my best friend!? I hope you can remember all these moments as vividly as I can. Don't feel like you need to get me a gift. This isn't Christmas or anything. It's just the day where, a year ago, I finally could say I have a best friend. You mean the world to me and I don't know where I'd be now without you. Thank you for letting me into your life.
Love,
Dan ^.^

That was it. Phil began to sob. He had hurt the innocent boy so deeply. He didn't deserve it. He was everything to this boy and he just left him alone, forever.

No. Not forever. Now, since he was going back, he would heal this boy. He would go back and fix his wrongs. He would be the Phil Lester that Dan Howell loved. The one that wouldn't leave him. Ever.