the city // dan howell

Part 15// Storytime

My legs are positioned on Dans lap as the taxi takes us to his flat from after dinner. We were at some random Chinese place, I actually really enjoyed it.
"Hey, I think we're here." He turns his head to look at me. Perfection, is all I see.
"I'll pay for our ride." I stare into his brown irises. He seems to be nervous, a tad bit awkward and unknowing, but I love it. I love making him flustered. I love him not knowing what to do next.
"No, it's okay." He nudges me out of the car, giving the driver money, and then following me out.
"You've been too nice today, Daniel." I grin mischievously, following him up the agonizingly long staircases.
"It's common courtesy." He puts his hand, slowly and unsurely, on my back, pushing me lightly. I can feel his hand jittering. Holy...
"Hey, walk down this hall.." He speaks up.
I walk a couple of feet until I'm confronted by two extremely close doors forming a triangle type shape.
"Open the one on the right." He leans over me, however, and opens it in my favor.
"Your room." I smile, walking away from his large hand on my back.
It's monochrome- suspiciously gorgeous. "I love it in here." I run my fingers along the wall.
"Oh, piano! Can I play?" My eyes dart to the old instrument shoved into the wall.
"Um, if you'd like." He sounds unsure, but I'm too mesmerized to acknowledge it, and move towards the piano, sitting on the oddly shaped white chair.
My fingers glide over the keys, and I impulsively play 'Can't Help Falling In Love.'
Dan stands leaning against the wall, watching me. I know he is. I can see him out of the corner of my eye.
"Can you sing?" He asks. I stop playing.
"Sing?" I laugh. Not really.
"Yeah." He walks up to me, putting his hands on my shoulders, leaning on me.
"Sing."
"Not really."
"Try?"
"No way, Howell. Fucking hell." I roll my eyes, standing up, brushing his hands off my shoulders.
"No." I smile.
He picks me up and throws me on the bed, then lays down next to me as well.
"Hey." He sighs, bringing his hand around my waist, tugging me closer.
"Hey", I softly reply, curling into his side.
"I'm actually kind of tired after today." I admit. I haven't had a tiring day in a while.
"Me too. Do you wanna.. maybe..." He starts, seemingly not knowing how to continue.
"Sleep over? Dan, don't be so awkward. I can't. I've got a meeting tomorrow morning, and then the next day I've got the actual photoshoot. It seems chance is keeping us apart." I look up at him.
"That's fine." He tries to seem happy, but a light blush dusts his cheeks.
"Can you talk to me about your videos?" I ask, returning to my former position.
"Videos?" He exhales. I feel his heart beat go a little faster.
"Yes. Why, when?" I want the story.
"Really?"
"I'm interested."
"You shouldn't be, but okay. It all started on a faithful day when I saw one of Phil's videos."
I can't help but grin as he tells me his adventure story. How he started out as someone nervous to go into life- no particular hope in his future, no real best friends, nothing and nobody to count on. He had himself.
He turned his life around, and after hearing what he had to say, I couldn't be prouder of the boy I've started to talk to.
He started talking to Phil. Little by little, he found ways to get closer to him. Leading up to college, a YouTube channel inspired by none other, and finally, an apartment with a loving best friend and a channel filled with worshipping fans. More and more came from their friendship- a new apartment, chances to travel the world, radio shows, hosting events on tv- the list goes on for this one extremely lost boy. My admiration for his story cannot be put into words.
"Dan, I... you're inspiring. You should write a book." And I mean it. His story of nothingness to a living dream could inspire so many.
"Book.. book.." he mutters. What?
"I am writing a book. With Phil. We're planning on touring the UK after its release." He admits to me.
"Really?" I gasp, my voice just above a whisper.
"Yeah." His voice is a mixture of so many emotions. I kind of know how he feels, except his adventure is on a much grander scale than mine.
"I'm so happy for you, Dan, I really am. You... your way of living.. I'm astonished at the truth behind the brave boy who made a faithful bump into me." I lay my head on his chest as his grip on me tightens. It feels like his heart is ready to rip out of his chest. I kind of want to cry for some unbeknownst reason.
"You're wonderful." He places his hands on top of my head.
"You've gotta have a story too."
Do I? Not really. I just got lucky.
"I'm nothing more than a lucky 10th grader."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
He's dragging me into a story.
"10th grade. I don't know what that is in your weird... grades system, but I was 14 when my photography story started. I started off 10th grade in a photography class. I was most definitely not willing to give up drawing either, though, so I took 2 art classes and had lunch every other day. That's not the point of the story though. Anyways, I bought a camera, took classes, and then brought photography into my own hands. I started exploring on my own. One finished high school experience later, and I'm working for a small company doing wedding shoots. I took up tattooing for extra income so I could support myself somewhere as wild as-"
"Wait, tattooing? Do you have any tattoos?" Dan interrupts me.
My breathing hitches.
"I, um.. yeah." I have one on my back, a pine tree to the right of my spine, with the word 'invictus' underneath the stump.
"Can I see it?" He asks hopefully.
"I kinda have to take off my shirt." I sit up.
"Oh, sorry." He scratches the back of his neck.
"No, it's fine." I stand up, my back facing him. He's stood behind me.
I have so much thankfulness for the fact that I wore a sports bra today.
I take off my shirt, balling it up in my hands. Now he can see it. It's quite large.
"Woah.. Could I.. um.." He inches closer to me, and I can feel his breathing. I shiver.
"Yes, you can touch it, Dan." I laugh at his total nervousness.
His cold fingers run along my back and it sends chills all around. I honestly just want to hug him and stay in his arms forever. Fucking hell, this boy.
"It's beautiful. Kind of like you."
I take in a deep breath, pull my shirt on quickly, and turn around to see the aghast face of this poor boy.
I practically dive into his arms, taking in his scent and the way his arms feel pressed against my shoulder blades. It feels like pure life and death.
"Dan."
"Tyde." I can feel the smile tugging at his lips, daring to turn into a grin.
"Dan."
I let my mouth curve into a smirk, pushing us onto the bed. I curl back into his side, allowing him to position himself correctly then.
"Continue?" He chuckles, running his fingers through the back of my hair.
"Surely. I quit both jobs and worked for AP magazine for a while. I got noticed by bands that way. Quit that job after I got a couple of deals with bands, seeing as it could take me places. I gradually built up a fan base. I also released a book, called "Talent Neglect." I wrote all about photography and exploring what you admire because you'll never know what talent you have unless you try. I also went on a US and partial Canada tour last year- Warped Tour. I took photos and had my own booth where I did signings. I actually uploaded to a channel over that summer, recording my adventure. I haven't used it since, haha. Anyways, I don't have a best friend cutesy story like you, and I don't think I ever will, but I'm happy with where I am right now. Specifically here with you."
He tilts my head upwards so I face him.
"I can be a start to a new story."
I can feel the heat blasting through my face. It's surely noticeable.
"Dan, I'd love that."
We talk about useless things, like if the colors of walls affect your mood, until I get up. Dan stands with me.
"Are you okay?" He asks, putting a hand on my shoulder.
I take his other arm and place it on my other shoulder, and hug him.
"I've gotta go." I admit, talking into his chest.
"I'll see you when I see you, I guess?" He pulls away, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Yeah."
We quietly walk downstairs, and I wave him off.
'Home' I go.