Relapse (Phan)

TWENTY ONE

I pulled Dan as close to me as possible. I didn't want to let go of him—I didn't want to let go of him ever. I took his bottom lip gently between my teeth and bit playfully, making him grin into the kiss. He slowly slid his tongue into my mouth as I slipped my hands around his waist: one on his back, the other just under the line of his belt. His hands were in my hair, tugging playfully as The Smiths played on and on in the background. I took a step towards him, then another, forcing him to back into the bed. His knees buckled and he fell back, giggling as I crawled on top of him.

"Phil!" he laughed as I kissed his neck, "Phil, cut it out!"

"But why?" I asked, burying my face in the crook of his neck, "Don't you like it?"

"We still have people here," he reminded me sweetly.

"Ugh," I rolled my eyes, "but I want you."

"I know," Dan giggled, poking me in the ribs, "But later."

"Promise?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Promise," he giggled. I heaved a sigh and pecked him one more time quickly on the mouth before standing and offering my hand to pull him up.

"Where've you two been?" PJ teased with a wink as we entered the kitchen, straightening our fringes.

"Oh erm—"

"They can't keep their hands off each other," Di teased, interrupting Dan.

"Not much has changed then," Sophie said, making everyone laugh, including Dan and I.

"So, looks like you two are gonna get your happily ever after all," PJ smirked.

"Guess you're right," Dan grinned, jumping up onto the counter near the food. I propped myself up between his legs and he wrapped his arms around my shoulders lovingly.

"You two gonna get a place?" Di asked, "When Dan goes up after Christmas?"

Dan and I exchanged sideways glances.

I felt an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. "Well—"

"We haven't really talked about it," Dan interrupted, saving the say. "But maybe," he added, giving me a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

"Yeah," I agreed, "I mean, it's all happened so fast, you know?"

"As long as you two are happy," Andrea said, catching me a little off guard. "I mean, I don't know you two that well I guess, but you just seem so—perfect."

Perfect.

As if on cue, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I ignored it, thinking it was probably Mum texted me goodnight. But it buzzed again, and then again. I pulled it out of my pocket, still ringing.

Incoming call from: Jason (:

"What is it?" Dan asked, still smiling, though he must have noticed something was wrong.

"Nothing," I said, though I felt like my head was spinning. Dan must've caught a glimpse at the caller ID though, because when I turned my head to give him a reassuring smile, his expression had changed. I gulped: my body suddenly seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. "I think I'm gonna be sick," I mumbled, rushing out of the room and down the hall.

I threw open Dan's door and crumpled onto his bed, clutching my phone to my chest. The Smiths' record was still playing but I didn't bother to shut it off. I just laid there, trying desperately not to think; telling myself everything was going to be okay as the images flashing threw my mind reminded me that nothing actually was. Eventually the record ran out, but as the room grew silent my thoughts only got louder. A few minutes later I heard the door creak open. The bed sank slightly and then Dan's arms were around me, his lips gently kissing my shoulder. He didn't say anything, only scratched my back tenderly.