Pretty Boy

3

"Daniel James Howell! Where have you been? Why are you home so late?"
"I was at school..."
"Why?"
"I joined a club..."
"What club?"
"Gardening club," I mumbled.
"Speak up Daniel! You know how I feel about mumbling!"
"Gardening club!"
"Why on earth would you join that?"
"It seemed cool..."
"You hate going outside," Adrian laughed.
"Shut up Ade!"
"Don't yell at your brother!"
"Everyone, please be quite," dad sighed. He dragged his feet into the house, set his brief case down, and took his place on the couch.
"How was your day?" mum calmly asked.
"Fine. Boys, how was your first day of school?"
"It was good," Adrian shrugged.
"I made a friend," I mumbled.
"Daniel! Enunciate!" Mum scolded.
"I made a friend! God," I rolled my eyes.
"What's their name?" Dad asked.
"Phil,"
"Is he nice?"
"He's very nice..."
"Do you know if he's-"
"Dad...stop..."
"Just trying to show my support,"
"I appreciate that dad, but-"
"But what? Do you like this boy?"
"I don't know yet...I'll stick with being friends for now," I smiled.
"Invite him over sometime,"
"Will do...thanks dad..."
"No problem,"
"Did you hear what he did today?" Mum intruded.
"Made a friend?" dad laughed.
"No! He joined a gardening club!"
"But you hate going outside," dad laughed. "Is it because if this boy?" he teased.
"Why are you not mad!"
"Why would I be? He made a friend, he's spending time outside. Why are you complaining?"
"It's odd...h-he should be playing sports or joining a club that does anything other than gardening!"
"Jen, why are you making a fuss out of this?"
"Yeah mum!"
"Daniel, do not talk to me like that!"
"Whatever," I mumbled. "I have homework to do." I grabbed my backpack and ran upstairs to my room. I threw my bag onto my desk chair and fell onto my bed. "God I hate her..." I sighed and took out my phone.

Should I text him? I'm gonna do it...

Me: Hi

I set my phone down and waited for it to buzz. After a few minutes, my phone remained still. I let out a sigh and started working on my chemistry homework.

I hate this. Why would I ever have to know what number Boron is on the periodic table?

As I wrote down the last few answers on my homework, my phone buzzed.

Phil: Hi...who is this?
Me: It's Dan
Phil: Oh hi! lol what's up?
Me: Just doing my chem hw...it's really boring lol. Hbu?
Phil: Just finished an English essay, about to head to Starbucks. Care to join?
Me: I'd love to, but I have a lot of homework
Phil: Bring it with you!
Me: I don't wanna bother you
Phil: Just bring it you spork
Me: lol I have no way of getting there Philip
Phil: I can pick you up. Come on, what do have to lose?
Me: You could be a serial killer for all I know!
Phil: lol what's your address?
Me: 87 Cherry Street
Phil: That's 30 minutes away...I'll be there in 10
Me: Funny. See you soon.

I continued doing my work for a few minutes before I got another text from Phil.

Phil: Hey, I'm outside

I cracked a smile and quickly shoved everything into my bag. I swung the bag over my shoulders and ran down the stairs.

"Bye," I mumbled.
"Where are you going?" Mum asked.
"Getting coffee with a friend. Bye,"
"Have fun kiddo," dad waved. I waved back and headed to Phil's car.
"Hey Phil," I mumbled.
"Hi," he smiled as he pulled out of the driveway. "So how much homework do you have left?"
"A lot. Pre-Calc, history, astronomy, and English,"
"You're taking astronomy?"
"Yeah...why?"
"Isn't that an advanced course?"
"Yeah," I chuckled.
"You're taking AP Astronomy? That's amazing! You must be crazy smart!"
"Not really," I shrugged. "Are you taking any AP classes?"
"Nope. So how do you like Manchester so far?"
"It's really nice," I mumbled.

We were silent for a few more minutes, then Phil handed me his phone and asked me to turn on a song. My eyes were immediately drawn to Fall Out Boy; I clicked the first song I saw.

I can move mountains
I can work a miracle, work a miracle, ah ah
Keep you like an oath
Nothin' but death, do, us, part

"You like Fall Out Boy?" Phil chuckled.
"Yeah, one of my favourite bands,"
"Mine too," he smiled.

I began tapping my fingers along to the beat while Phil hummed the words. Around the two minute mark, we were both frantically tapping and singing at the top of our lungs. Unfortunately, as the song ended, Phil pulled into Starbucks.

"Come on," he smiled. He put his car in park and headed in. "Hey Zoe," he cheered.
"Hi Philly. Let me guess, you want to usual?"
"Yes please,"
"What about him?"
"Um...I'll have a venti vanilla bean frappucinno,"
"Will do darling. What's your name?"
"Dan,"
"It'll be ready in a minute,"
"Thanks,"
"No problem,"
"Come on Dan." Phil motioned towards an empty table with a dandelion sitting in a vase at the end of the table.
"Is she one of your friends?"
"Yeah, she's really nice. She's part of the club...maybe you'll properly meet her one of these days," he smiled.
"Her name is Zoe? Right?"
"Well...Zoella, but everyone calls her Zoe,"
"Venti vanilla bean fappuccino for Dan!"
"I'm sure yours is done...want me to grab it?" I offered.
"Sure...thanks," he blushed.

I smiled and got up from the table. I slowly walked over to Zoe to grab our drinks.

"Here honey," she winked.
"Thanks," I mumbled as I took the cups from her hand. "Here," I gave him another smile while I set down his coffee.
"I think someone likes you," Phil teased.
"What?"
"Look." He spun my cup around.

Call me pretty boy xoxo was written under my name.

Shit.