Ocean Avenue

Todd

"Phil, let's go."

That was it. He said it calmly but sternly. Phil didn't know what to do. The whole class was just staring at the boy, whispering. The teacher looked around for an explanation.

Phil didn't know what to do. Did he go? Did he ignore Dan as usual? Why was he sweaty? Why was he dirty? Why was he panting? How did he know Phil was in this room? Why is here for him?

Phil couldn't ruin his perfect record, but he could see the begging in his eyes. Phil knew Dan needed him, but for what? And why Phil?

He didn't want to get close. Not again. He didn't want anyone getting hurt. Uncontrollably, Phil felt his body getting up and walking across the room to the door. He could feel all eyes on him. He heard the teacher say something but tuned it out.

He reached the door and Dan grabbed his wrist, breaking into a full on run. Phil didn't say anything. He waited for Dan to stop running. They ran until the boardwalk, that Dan took him to, was under their feet.

They both stopped and leaned against the railing as they caught their breaths. Phil looked at Dan and waited for him to say something.

"Umm...heh, Phil?"

Phil said nothing. He just stared. "Umm...I guess you're wondering what's going on?" Dan asked.

He nodded. "Right. Well, it all started while I was waiting for you this morning. By the way, I know you're ignoring me I see you peeking through the window every two minutes."

~~~
*Earlier that day*
Dan decided that he wasn't going to wait for Phil today. He was tired of looking like a fool for someone who wanted nothing to do with him. Sighing, he turned to his right and began walking to school.

He passed all the familiar houses on his street that he has passed thousands of times so far in his lifetime.

Before Phil, Dan always walked to school alone. In 8th grade, Cat moved here and they walked together, but then she moved further away to a different house, so she now takes the bus, which is where she met Lily. They've all been friends since the end of middle school, and they were now halfway through high school.

Dan remembered that Lily was just as stubborn as Phil. She wouldn't even talk to Dan for a solid two months. But for some reason, Dan was a boy with social magic. Anyone he wanted to get to know, he would. And Lily was no exception.

And yet, here he was, having known Phil for almost three months, and nothing. It was as if Phil had magic too. Only, to Dan, a bad, hidden kind.

Dan reached the crosswalk and saw that the crossing signal was off. Strange, he thought. He shrugged and looked both ways, making sure no cars were coming. When he looked left again, he saw a disgusting view.

It was Todd and his possy leaving school grounds so they could skip. Dan wondered if Phil ever hung out with Todd and his possy, or if it was just Todd who came over to Phil's house. For some odd reason, Dan had a bad feeling in his stomach as he watched the gang walk away behind a tall house.

Without thinking, he ran after them. He slowed down as he reached the corner, taking lighter steps. He turned and saw the boys hudled up, around some kid. The child looked like he was in middle school.

"You got it?" one of Todd's goons asked.

"Umm...." the kid replied.

"Where is it, twerp?" the guy said, taking a step foward. The boy flinched and continued to stall his unavoidable fate.

"I-It's, umm...r-r-right he-here!" Dan couldn't see what the kid did, but he heard a loud snap and heard the gang laugh as a cry echoed the street. Again, since Dan's brain wasn't functioning today, he ran without thinking up to the boys.

"Leave him alone!" he yelled, his hands balled into fists.

The guys looked at one eachother and broke into hysteric laughter. They even befan mocking Dan. The boy had gotten up and ran ti Dan, standing behind him and holding his nose with a bloddy hand.

"Hey, Todd! You're beating up kids for fun now?" Dan asked, faking confidence.

Suddenly, Todd stepped out from hiding and stood in front if his "friends".

"I know you. You're Phil's neighbor! What was it? Annoying and homo, no?"

Dan was shocked. How did he kniw that? Were he and Phil really that loud? Dan could hear Todd's maniac laughter. "Shut up, Todd!"

Todd quickly stopped and began taking slow steps foward, his possy smirking behind him. "Never tell me to shut up, faggot. You are bo hero, so quit this Superman act. I'll give you some mercy."

At this point, Todd was inches from Dan. Dan stared him in the eyes coldly. "I ain't actin'."

Suddenlt, Dan felt a sharp pain un his abdomen and abruptly fell ti the ground, moaning in pain. He heard the boys running footsteps and wished him the best of luck. "Let this be Strike 1. Now, I'll let my boys rake care of you. Reach Strike 3, and I'll take care of you personally."

Dan watched as Todd began walking away, the others walking towards him. "C-Coward!" he yelled. He heard Todd laugh before the pain took over.

~~~

Next thing he knew, Dan awoke un a ditch. He was by the school. In fact, in school. It was the dutch that seperated the road from the dead end at the end if the street. Dan got up, his muddy clothes sticking to his tan skin. "Yuck.. "

He stepped out of the ditch and realized he still needed to go to school. He began running to the large building. He made a sharp turn and ran through the front doors. As he looked into the classrooms, he saw Phil. He stopped running and checked what the class was. Italian 1.

Why was Phil taking Italian? Then again, he was taking French. That's when an idea popped into Dan's head: he was gonna show Phil how bad Todd really was. He opened the door and said, "Phil, let's go."

~~~
*Now*
"And that's pretty much it," Dan said.

Phil couldn't believe what he had just heard. Or the fact that he was skipping school. Or the fact that he was with Dan. Wait, did this mean Dan wasn't mad at him anymore?

Then Phil realized it. Dan was still mad. That's why he'st trying to make Phil believe Todd is a bad guy. He was trying to make Phil alone.

"You're lying."

Dan stared at him in shock. "W-What?"

"Todd wouldn't do that."

Dan scoffed. "You're kidding, right!?" When he didn't answer, Dan said, "Do you think I just rolled around in mud and appeared in you classroom to frame that asshole?"

"How did you know I was even in there?" Phil asked.

"Well, I saw you through the window. I was gonna tell you later, but I thought, 'Why not now?' so I did."

Phil sighed and began walking in the direction of his house. He was already skipping. No point in going back. At least he could tell him mom it was his neighbor's fault.

"Phil?"

Phil stopped, not wanting anything to do with the boy behind him. "What?" he said rudely.

"I'm not lying. Todd's crew beat me up!"

Phil turned around. "Exactly! His crew. Not him!"

"Who do you think told them to that!?"

"They didn't have to obey."

"He threatened me that he would be the one to beat me up next time!"

"Just leave me alone, Howell. I finally made a friend and you have to try and ruin it. Go be a jerk to Cat or Lily. And please exllain to them the truth, liar."

And with that, Phil left. He didn't look back, just went straight for his home.

Dan leaned on the railing and looked at the sea. I guess I was never a friend...