Lost Boy//Phan

1

Dan

I slam my fingers down on the keys for the last time, sending one last note ringing into the air. Applause follows soon after as I scan the faces to pick out my parents in the front row. My mom is cheering the loudest, like always. I've been preparing for this recital all summer with the rest of the studio, but I was the last to play. I push the bench away, praying for it not to screech, and stand up. As I take a bow a bead of sweat drips from my forehead onto the slick black floor of the stage.

I pause for a moment, fearful that someone might have caught it, but rise fully anyway. I turn on my heel and walk backstage where I know Chris and PJ are waiting for me. Immediately they are each clapping my shoulders and shoving me through the back hallways, yelling the entire time.

"You were amazing!" Chris shouts next to my head, causing me to shrink away from the noise.

"Seriously! Did you see them cheering for you? You fucking rocked it!" PJ adds, earning a glare from a crew member.

"Uh, thanks a lot guys, but I really wasn't that good. I should've practiced more..." I mumble, my face a bright red. I don't really take compliments well.

"No, stop being modest! You were good and you know it!" I'm about to respond to Chris when my dad pulls me away, pride on his face.

"Oh, you were so great! Better keep it up!" He cheers, steering me towards the exit by my shoulders. I shrug his hands off me with a sigh as we walk to the car. He always insists on driving me to these performances instead of letting me go with Chris and PJ. My mum is already in the passenger's seat when I pull open the door to the car.

"Why can't I go celebrate with the rest of the studio?" I ask. There's an after party that he knows about and one he doesn't know about, but I'm kidding myself thinking that I'll ever get there the easy way.

"Don't be smart with me son, you have your first day back at school tomorrow and you don't get to skip out on it."

"What if I only stay for-"

"End of discussion Daniel. Don't think that just because you're some hit in your little music studio means that you can talk back to me. I'm the adult, I'm the smart one, I know what's best." With that he starts the car, my mom glancing back and casting me a sympathetic look. I grit my teeth, partially out of anger, partially because he's right. No matter what I do I will never win against him.

When we finally get home after a silent car ride I immediately go upstairs into my bedroom. Luckily, I get the whole top floor to myself so I don't have to worry about any interruptions of tonight's plans. I'm about to switch out of my uncomfortable pressed outfit when my dad opens my door with no warning.

"Oh, uh, hi dad..." I mutter, glancing nervously out my window. Chris and PJ will be here any minute...

"Dan, want to tell me about what was going on in the car?"

"What do you mean?" I ask and instantly regret it, this isn't the way to get him out quickly.

"You were being disrespectful to both me and your mum."

"I know, I'm really sorry dad, but I'm really tired and I have school tomorrow and everything can I please go to bed?" I say it all in one breath, attempting to get him out. I spotted the guys walking down the street.

"Don't you just dismiss this! I am your father and you are to listen to me!" He takes a step closer to me, his face getting madder and madder. Thankfully he's too worked up to notice the sound of pebbles hitting my window.

"I know dad, I'm really sorry. I promise it won't happen again." I'm doing my best to calm him as quickly as I can before he notices, but it isn't fast enough. In an instant he is to the window, yanking it open and shouting at the hooded figures lurking beside our house. They instantly take off down the street.

"You better keep running!" My dad shouts at them, slamming his fist on the window frame. Angrily he storms out of my room, muttering something about a next time. As soon as I hear him thudding down the stairs I'm slipping out of my dress clothes and into my dark ensemble. Minutes later I'm crawling through the narrow space available through my window navigating the winding limbs of a tree, being careful to stay hidden from view. Once I reach the ground I run along the edge of the yard and to the park down the street where I know Chris and PJ will be waiting.

"Good going shitheads, you almost got us caught," I say to them once I finally reach their hiding spot.

"You could've warned us that your dad was there you ass," Pj retorts, rolling his eyes.

"Whatever, let's just go." Quietly we navigate the streets until we reach our destination.

"Okay guys don't get too fucked up tonight we have school tomorrow," Chris reminds us with a sigh.

"Yeah Dan," Pj says with a laugh.

"Do you not remember last time Peej? Well, of course, you don't, you blacked out, but before that, I remember very clearly you got fucking hammered and tried to sell a homeless man your shoes." PJ casts his glance to the ground wearing an embarrassed look. So what I like to get a little high sometimes? At least I'm not stupid about it.

We walk into the towering house in front of us, instantly greeted by the scent of sweat and alcohol. Together we walk into the kitchen, a line of people forming in front of a keg.

"Listen I'm not going to be the twat that gets drunk so if one of you two idiots do I'm going to have a very low tolerance for your bullshit," I say pointing my finger at them.

"You're one to talk, do you not remember the time you got so stoned you forgot how old you were?"

"One time! That was one time!" I put my hands up in a surrender, laughing along with them. Once we approach the front of the line Chris and PJ hand in their few pounds, but when it finally get's to me a hand pushes away my money.

"Oh don't worry about it Daniel," Cat says with a seductive smile. "This one's on me."

"No thank you, Catherine," I say shortly and shove the crumpled up bills into her hand. Before she can say anything else I'm grabbing my cup and walking away. Cat's nice enough and all but she comes on way too strong. She's not really my type anyway.

I spend the night taking slow sips from my cup, trying to make it last, and dodging Cat. I have fun with the boys too, of course, but this party is a bit much for my taste. At exactly 11:30 the alarm on my phone signals it's time to leave.

"C'mon can't we stay for a while longer?" Chris whines as I pull him off the couch.

"We have school tomorrow and I really would like to start off this school year without a hangover." He rolls his eyes and follows me outside where PJ is waiting. We say a quick goodbye and split up, Chris and PJ going down one street and me down another. They're lucky that they're neighbors, it's so easy for them to sneak out and use each other as a cover. I, on the other hand, live in a stupid rich subdivision, my neighbor is an elderly lady with 7 cats and counting.

Sure, I'm rather fortunate, my parents have good jobs and make enough money to support us, but working in the government has kind of turned my dad into a dick. That's mostly why I sneak out and go to parties I don't particularly like, out of spite. It's not my fault he is the way he is, I can never win his stupid games. Not by playing by the rules, anyway.

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Aye, it's chapter 1! I hate author's notes so I'm gonna keep this short. I hope you enjoy and there will be more soon. (By the way, I don't hate Cat this is just what I'm doing with her character)

~M