When Dan awakes the next morning to use the bathroom, he does a double take when passing the mirror. Oh, right. He sighs and rubs his head. This is going to take some getting used to.
He goes back into his room, rummaging through his messy closet for something to put on his head. In the very back corner, his hand clasps around something. Dan pulls a black beanie from the depths of his closet. Good enough. He places it on his head and goes into the kitchen where Phil is already awake and making a bowl of cereal.
Dan mumbles a half-hearted, "G'morning," before getting a glass from the cupboard. He fills it with water and sits down in front of the television.
"Don't you want something to eat, Dan?" Phil questions, a hint of worry in his voice.
"No," he says. "Not hungry."
"But you're always hungry in the mornings," Phil mumbles to himself, as he sits next to Dan on the sofa. They put on the anime and Phil can't help but be thrown off by the fact that Dan has said three words to him all morning. "Do you want me to get you anything?" Phil asks quietly when they're about ten minutes into the show.
"I told you, I'm not hungry," Dan says, a bit frustrated now.
"But you haven't eaten since--"
"I'll eat later, Phil, okay?"
"Then let's go out for lunch," Phil suggests. "It can just be to Starbucks, but Dan, you've barely been anywhere except the flat all week."
"Maybe I like it that way."
Phil gapes at Dan a moment. "Please?"
And Dan has no idea what possesses him to say, "Okay." Perhaps it's the adorable, hopeful look in Phil's eyes. "But later," he says. It does nothing to abate the smile Phil gives him.
_____________________________
Phil looks up from his computer when his phone dings. He looks at the lock screen. It's from Dan.
Dan: Phil
Phil: What
Dan: Do you think
Dan: That i should have waited to shave my head
Phil: I think that now you'll have to explain yourself
Phil: But i'm proud of you for deciding to do it so early
Dan: It feels weird
Dan: My head
Phil: You'll get used to it
Dan: Maybe
Dan: Everything is terrible
Phil: Not everything
Dan: It seems that way
Phil: I know
Dan is typing...
Dan: I need you
Dan: I can't do any of this without you
Dan: Sometimes I wonder why you put up with me
The answer to this comes to Phil instantly, naturally. Because I love you.
Phil: You're my best friend
____________________________________
About an hour later, Phil knocks on Dan's door. Dan groans in response. "What is it?" he questions. "I was sleeping."
YOU ARE READING
I'm Still Here
FanfictionDan's life is going pretty well. Great, actually. He's never been happier. What happens when things take a turn for the worst? Dan is diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. What will happen to him? What will happen to his relationship with his famil...
