Adrenaline. Phan AU

Chapter 4

Dan had tossed and turned all night and he still wasn't at all sure why. He had barely slept at all, meaning he had thick black lines under his eyes due to his tiredness. Those were the first things his mum noticed when he walked into the kitchen. "Are you sure you're okay? You look knackered." His mum said, furrowing her eyes at her son, anxiety written in her eyes.

"I'm-" Dan was cut off when he let out a large yawn. "Fine."

"Did you sleep at all last night?" Dan shook his head, ashamed. "Are you ill?" His mum lifted up her hand and pressed it against her son's forehead, her eyes furrowing further when she realised that it wasn't at all hot.

"No, mum. I'm fine."

"Is something going on at school? Have you had an argument with PJ and Chris?"

"No-"

"Are you being bullied?"

"No-"

"Then what's going on? What has made you change so much? You never skip class and you're never rude."

"I've made a new friend." Could he consider Phil his friend? They only ever spoke when Phil wanted to but when they did talk, it was amazing and Phil was really kind. Was that friendship? Dan wasn't really sure if he knew.

"Oh no.. Are they peer pressuring you?"

"No. Mum, stop worrying! He's lovely.. it's just.. he's really rebellious."

"What did I tell you about getting involved in the wrong crowd.. Are they making you do drugs or anything?" Dan couldn't help but smile because that reminded him of when Phil offered him a cigarette, just to say he didn't smoke himself. That was a good memory. "Why are you smiling? Are you doing drugs? Oh my God my son does drugs-" Before Dan's mum could get any more frantic, Dan interrupted her with some reassurance.

"I don't take drugs and he isn't the 'wrong crowd'," Dan made sure to use quotation marks with his hands when he said wrong crowd; it emphasised his point. "He's really lovely but he skips class a lot."

"I want to meet this boy and I will decide whether he is the 'wrong crowd'."

"Fine," Dan picked up his school bag and swung it over his shoulder. "I have to go now or I'll be late."

"Dan, wait-" But Dan had already left.

-

Lunch was full of an awkward silence and, of course, Chris wasn't at all sure why. PJ just seemed extremely irritated, as did Dan, and neither seemed to tell him why. He was left in the dark. "What's going on?" Chris muttered, watching closely as both Dan and PJ went to say something.

"Well-" Dan started.

"Dan-" PJ also started.

When they realised that they were both talking, they both stopped to turn and glare at each other. "Let me talk!" They both yelled at each other, making Chris jump slightly.

"Stop yelling!" Chris yelled before he realised he was being extremely hypocritical because he was actually yelling himself. At least it made them both shut up. "Dan, explain."

"I hung out with Phil again yesterday and PJ doesn't want me to." Dan was then tapped on the shoulder by someone so all three boys turned to look at whoever it was. Phil.

"You!" PJ yelled, abruptly standing up and making half the lunch hall turn to the table. Phil looked slightly taken aback because the whole time he had attended the school, he had not once spoken to PJ.

"Me?" Phil said, narrowing his eyes in confusion.

"Can I speak to you? Away from everyone else." PJ glared at Dan once Phil had nodded.

-

Phil was bored. Most of the popular group had decided to hang out behind the school, smoking, which completely disgusted Phil. The smell of smoke just made him feel ill and the thought of having it in his lungs made him wince. He slipped his hands inside his pockets, wandering mindlessly down the corridor until an idea formed into his head. He could speak to Dan. Dan was most likely not busy; he only had two other friends and Phil was sure they'd be able to cope with one missing from the group. Phil pushed open the door to the cafeteria to find that it was annoyingly loud inside as everyone had their own conversations. He immediately spotted Dan with his friends in the corner of the room and headed towards him. He hoped that their talk would be quick before Phil convinced Dan to leave with him because he wasn't sure how much more of the noise he could manage. He lifted up his hand and poked Dan's shoulder, making the whole group look at him. "You!" The weird curly-haired one yelled, standing up and hitting his hand against the table. He was either PJ or Chris but Phil wasn't entirely sure which he was.

"Me?" Phil responded, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"Can I speak to you? Away from everyone else?" Phil had never once spoken to the boy who seemed a little.. loud.. obnoxious even but he nodded anyway, just wanting to get out of the loud cafeteria. The boy guided him out of the room and to the corridor which was deserted. "Stop hanging out with Dan." The boy just mumbled, folding his arms to try and make himself look intimidating. Phil had to hold back a laugh because, as much as the boy was trying, he looked about as intimidating as a fly. He wasn't even slightly worried that the conversation may lead to a few yells because the boy looked like he wouldn't dare raise his voice the slightest bit too loud.

"Why should I? He's cute." Phil replied and he had no intention to make the boy clench his fists but that was what happened. Phil still didn't even feel the slightest bit annoyed.

"Don't you dare say that about him and stop forcing him to-"

"I'm not forcing him into anything." Phil raised one eyebrow, folding his arms and leaning against the row of lockers which was so perfectly placed behind him.

"I know Dan. He would never even think of skipping class with someone like you."

"You obviously don't know him that well then, do you?" That stunned PJ into silence for a moment before his confidence was back as strong as ever.

"You're lying to me. I know you are. I'll ask Dan later and he'll say-"

"That I didn't force him into skipping class." Phil finished for PJ and he couldn't help but notice that PJ's face was starting to go red in anger.

"Stop interrupting me!"

"I'm just correcting you, that's all." Phil shrugged.

"Just stop talking to Dan! He needs to stop skipping lessons before he gets in trouble!"

"That's his decision, not yours. Maybe he likes talking to me."

"He doesn't."

"How do you know that? Have you asked him? Did he say that?"

"Well.. no."

"Exactly. You don't know that Dan hates me. Are you telling me Dan's opinion or yours?" PJ's jaw dropped at Phil's response and he just couldn't help getting even more angry.

"Shut up!"

"Is that all you have to say about that? I'm going to carry on talking to Dan because I really like him. He's a good friend. Also, maybe you should consider whether you really know him or whether you know what you want to know about him." Perfectly timed, the bell rang and so Phil turned and strided down the corridor, his head held high in sudden confidence. All while PJ just stood there, surprised about what Phil had said and contemplating his and Dan's friendship.

Whoop, another chapter over!

I'm so tired ugh