stars [phan]

five

"The old man sits all by himself and thinks of better years
when he used to believe in stars and would dream away his fears."
-Tyler Joseph, Tonight

That night, Phil lay awake in his bed and stared up at his shabby ceiling.  Moonlight filtered in through blinds, showing dead moths sitting in the bottom of his light.  Cracks and marks that were probably getting out of hand littered the off-white, mold slowly creeping in from one corner.  Light from his laptop charger cast a slight blue glow around the room.  Phil sighed.

"Will I see you tonight?"

"As much as I'd love to, I really have to catch up on sleep.  Elise still needs to run a shop."

"Ah, very well young one.  Thou shalt see you later."

He hadn't realised how much he'd miss Dan's company until he walked away.  Watching the monochrome clothes retreat into the monochrome atmosphere left him with a feeling of abandonment in his chest, but he didn't know why.  Phil supposed it was because he didn't know when he'd next see Dan, although he didn't doubt they'd see each other before the week ended. 

He reached over and hit the home button on his phone.  The time read 11:37.  He had gone to bed early to do as he said he would and catch up on sleep, but all he'd done was think for an hour.  Phil sighed again.  Elise was going to notice that something was up.

He put his phone back down and lay on his side, closing his eyes in another attempt at sleeping.  After a moment of silence, rain started to patter on his roof.  He sighed for the third time that night.  Phil certainly wasn't getting to sleep anytime soon.

As if on cue, his phone lit up.  Deciding that there wasn't much point ignoring it, he picked it up and looked at the message.

Dan 11:42
    are you awake?

Phil smiled to himself. 

Phil 11:42
    yep, unfortunately.  I blame you.

Dan 11:42
    rude

The rain falling on his roof seemed more musical than before.  He stretched out his legs and lay on his back again, assuming a very attractive position that included a lot of chins.  He was glad Dan couldn't see him.

Dan 11:43
    you know that book I got?  Its really good, thanks

Phil 11:43
    no problem, with all your talk about stars I thought you would enjoy it

Dan 11:43
    where would I be without you :P

Where would Phil be without Dan?  Without a reason to get out of bed in the morning on days he had off, without a reason to check his phone more often, without a reason to walk around in the middle of the night?  Phil didn't know.

Phil 11:43
    haha :P
    I never did ask, why is it that you walk around in the early hours of the morning?

Dan 11:43
    idk i just do
    I guess it's better than being inside

The black haired man didn't reply.  He knew how Dan felt, somewhat.  He hated being inside, really.  He only stayed inside because he didn't have anything to go out for.  Maybe seeing the stars and atmosphere and thinking about them was Dan's reason, just as Dan was becoming Phil's.

Dan 11:44
    my life isn't the best life there is
    its more mediocre than extravagant
    im hated by someone for everything i am and sometimes i feel like i cant escape