Ocean Avenue

"Friendship" Hurts

By the time Phil left for school, Dan had left. Everday, Phil had waited until he would be late so Dan would be forced to not walk with Phil. He knew it was a cheap move, but he couldn't see that boy's face anymore. He wouldn't be able to handle it.

During lunch, Phil hid in the library. He would eat his lunch and do homework. Sometimes, he'd simply read. He wondered why Dan assumed he was gay. Was it not okay to hang out with a guy in this town? Is that why Dan's friends were all girls? But Dan always hung out with him.

Phil shook the thought away. Was Todd gay? He made a mental note to ask him later.

Did Phil look gay? Well, how does someone look gay? He sighed. Asking Dan would be easier, but that would mean he would see him and talk to him. Phil couldn't do that.

Besides, did Dan even want to speak to him? He always waited for Phil, though Phil assumed Dan knew by mow that he wasn't coming. Yet, Dan was the one who told him to leave. So, was Dan okay with him or not?

Phil shook the thought away and crossed the street onto school grounds. He didn't see Dan outside that morning, so he just assumed that Dan left earlier. But now, he saw Lily and Cat talking and no Dan anywhere to be found.

He walked up to the girls and asked, "Where's Dan?"

"More like, where have you been?" Cat asked.

"Yeah. I don't know what you did, but Dan won't stop flashing fake smiles. And it all started after you stopped hanging out with him," Lily added.

"I didn't stop hanging out with anybody. Dan has been ignoring me. He shooed me out of his house!" Phil defended.

Both girls pouted and turned away, walking into the school. Phil sighed. He sat down on the bench and waited for the bell to ring.

~~~

"Mr. Lester, how do you say grape in Italian?" the teacher asked.

"Umm...can you repeat that, Miss?" he asked.

The teacher rolled her eyes and looked over to a boy who had his hand up. "Yes, Marcus?"

"Uvo!"

"Correct, Marcus. Maybe you have to tutor Philip."

Phil slumped down in his chair. Get me out of here. Anybody. Anything.

As if an answer to his prayers, rhe door slammed open and Dan appeared. He was sweating, covered in dirt, and gasping for air. Phil stared at him, open-eyed in shock.

"Phil, let's go."