Show Me {Phan}

Chapter 16

"So?" Dan asked.

Phil sat still, silent and gaping at the ring inside the box. Slowly, he stood and buried his face in his hands. He rushed off to the bathroom to hide.

Dan hung his head and put his hands on the back of his neck. What was the point in trying?

Fifteen minutes later, the food arrived. The waiter left and Phil returned moments later. He sat down and began to eat.

"Phil?" Dan asked quietly.

Phil looked up at Dan with a glare, "Patience, Daniel. Use it."

Dan squirmed in his seat. This was torture, his heart thumping in his chest. He picked up his fork and began to push around his salad.

They both finished the food, whether the plates were clear or not. Phil was still silent, staring at the box on the table.

"Dan," Phil said.

"Yes, Phil?" Asked Dan a little too anxiously.

Phil squirmed a bit, "Dan... I love you. But what if... What if we don't see each other again?"

Dan swallowed, "That's what the ring is for. It's an engagement, but it's a huge promise. A promise that says we'll remember."

Phil nodded, "I just don't know, love."

Dan pushed the box toward him, "If you agree... When I see you next we can just pick up where we left off. But until then we'll have to come up with a way to communicate in case one of us loses a number..."

Phil sighed, "Okay." He took the box, breathing heavily. Slowly, the ring found its way onto Phil's finger and he smiled lightly. "It's quite beautiful."

"Beautiful ring for a beautiful young man," Dan said, putting his hand on Phil's.

Dan paid the bill and they went home hand-in-hand. Phil kept rubbing his thumb over the ring on his finger.

At home, they climbed into bed and Dan couldn't wait to sleep. Phil tossed and turned the whole night, hardly sleeping at all.

How do I keep Dan and I in contact if one of us loses a number? Phil thought.

When school ended the next day, Phil found Dan and buried his face into his chest, "I don't want to go, Dan. I don't want to go."

"Phil, calm down," Dan instructed. "If we both go and get an education, we can make a life for ourselves after. We'll be okay, right?"

Phil nodded and whimpered a bit before grabbing Dan, "Let's just go home. We've got just a few weeks and then we're out."

Dan frowned, leading Phil out on his arm. The bus ride was silent. At home, they made dinner and sat down at the small table in the dining room. After dining, Phil went into the bedroom and laid down on top of the covers.

Dan followed after washing the dishes and wrapped an arm over him. He pulled Phil's back to his chest by his hip and snuggled into him. Even if it was only a few weeks away, Dan hoped it would last forever.

Every day that passed became unbearable. It was agonizing to watch their life crumble before them.

The day came on which they finished their exams and school itself. They had graduated, and now they went home to celebrate.

The summer was all they had left together, and they intended to make sure it was used wisely.

While tidying the bedroom, Dan came across his old sketchbook. Flipping through it, he found that it was full and neglected for some time. He had not drawn in it since Christmas, and suddenly it hit him. Dan had given up drawing when Phil officially moved in. What was the point if all of the inspiration was always right in front of him? No inspiration was awful, but too much can kill a dream, as well.

Carefully, Dan opened the cover and wrote a note on the inside cover. He placed it in Phil's going-away box and closed the top, smiling lightly to himself.

"Dan?" Phil called.

"Yeah, Phil?" Dan called back.

He appeared in the doorway, "Will you show me that sketchbook before I leave?"

Dan shrugged, turning away to smile to himself, "I don't know."

"Ugh, you've been saying that since September. I really want to see what my lovely boyfriend has drawn. The only one I saw was of me," Phil groaned.

Dan tensed and continued tidying. Groaning again, Phil wrapped his arms around Dan's waist. He kissed the back of Dan's neck and smiled to himself.

June reached a close and Phil was paranoid now, frantically packing away everything he would need.

"Phil, chill out a bit, babe," Dan said, placing a hand on Phil's shoulder. He had turned eighteen as well, now.

"I can't!" Phil screamed, stressed out and twirling around to shove Dan's hand off.

Dan recoiled and stepped back, "Woah, woah... Phil, just calm down."

"I hate packing, and I don't want to leave at all! I hate it all!" Phil screamed, bursting into tears. Dan picked up a box out of the floor and set it on top of others on the desk.

Looking around, Dan noticed that everything they owned was packed away, "Phil, is it okay if-

"What? What could possibly make this any better?" Phil cried.

"I just wanted to know if you wanted to see, but I guess not. You can wait then. I try to help and you push me away," Dan muttered, walking into the living room.

"No, Dan... That's not what I mean-"

Dan sat down on the couch and put his head in his hands. It was throbbing and the only thing that could possibly help was ibuprofen, which they had packed away.

"I love you," Dan said quietly, sensing Phil in the doorway.

"I love you, too. You ready to go?" Phil asked, sitting next to him.

"I guess. When will the truck be here?" Dan asked.

As if on cue, the bell rang and they stood to open the door. All of their things were loaded onto a truck, and they got in the truck.

It was time to go away to become an adult.