The Stars In The Sky

Dan

Dan stepped out into the chilly night weather of London, England, turning around to lock the large brown door to his flat behind him. He shoved his keys in his pocket, hugging his jacket to himself to retain some warmth and started down the pavement.

The only light to be seen for miles were the street lamps that gave an eerie yellow glow to the street, and the occasional taxi driving past, reminding Dan that he wasn't completely alone.

Dan walked on for what seemed like hours yet was only minutes, probably getting lost but he couldn't seem to care at the moment. At one point it started to rain, the cold droplets of water falling onto Dan's face. They soaked his clothes, bringing him down even farther than he already felt. He could feel the fabric sticking to his skin, and his hair was plastered against his forehead.

Dan stared off into the distance, getting lost in his thoughts. The clouds of his mind swirled around, his thoughts lost in the storm. Everything around him seemed so colorless, like he was living in a monotone world. This monotone world seemed to have no end, like all the colors everywhere had vanished. Everyone he knew found so much color everywhere, and he always wondered how they do that. Everyone found so much happiness in their everyday lives, yet he couldn't even experience a glimpse.

As he was lost in his thoughts Dan missed the edge of the pavement, his eyes going wide as he tumbled forward with his hands flying and grabbing at nothing. He felt an arm wrap around his shoulders, and another grip his arm to hold him up. Dan instinctively threw his hands up and gripped the neck of whoever had caught him.

Dan's breath was heavy, and he realised he couldn't see as his soaked hair was covering his eyes. He tried to take an arm off the stranger's neck to fix it, immediately feeling like he was going to fall and gripped back on. The stranger let out a small laugh, fixing the arm around Dan's shoulders to support him better.

Dan felt the arm that was gripping his arm come off, lifting up to wipe the hair from his eyes so he could see clearly. Dan blinked his eyes a couple times, the person in front of him starting to come into focus. He was met with the most beautiful eyes had ever seen, a kaleidoscope of blue, green and yellow mixed into the most beautiful thing Dan had ever seen in his life. His hair was as black as the night around them, his pale skin contrasting perfectly. Dan would be lying if he said that this wasn't the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

The man put his hand back on Dan's arm to steady him, Dan's breath hitching. The man's lips turned into a smirk, and one of his eyebrows were raised amusedly.

"Watch where you're going, you almost fell right into a puddle." Dan looked next to him, blushing when he realised the pool of water that he almost faceplanted into. The stranger chuckled, the low sound tumbling from his lips, seemingly swirling around Dan until he was dizzy.

Dan opened his mouth to say something, but found nothing, snapping his mouth shut. The beautiful stranger chuckled again, releasing his hand from Dan's arm to help him stand.

Once Dan was standing he released his grip on the stranger's neck, awkwardly sticking them in his pockets. Dan kept his gaze on the ground, an awkward silence rising between them.

The stranger extended his hand, confusing Dan until he realised he wanted Dan to shake it. Dan hesitantly grabbed his hand and shook it, a smile spreading on the stranger's face.

"The name's Phil. Might as well let you know you saved you." Phil giggled when Dan gave an unimpressed face. Phil let go of Dan's hand, dropping it back to his side as he smiled again. Dan in the back of his mind wondered how someone could smile so much in such a short period of time, yet him smiling made Dan want to smile too.

"I'm Dan," Dan shyly mumbled, dropping his gaze to floor but still smiling politely at Phil. He knew if he looked at those eyes again he would be lost forever, so he decided it was smart to keep his gaze on the ground, intensely studying the moonlight reflecting off the wet pavement.

"While I'd best be going." Dan's head shot upright so fast it could have given him whiplash. "Try not to fall into any more puddles, okay?"

Phil was about to turn around when Dan grabbed his arm, wanting to make him stay but not having a reason that would make sense to Phil.

Yes, I want you to stay because I think you're the most beautiful person on the earth.

No. Dan couldn't say that. It would weird him out. He's probably not even gay. Then again Dan had to remind himself that he wasn't either, being bisexual and all.

Dan, being so caught up in thoughts about Phil, completely forgot that he had a death grip on his arm until Phil spoke up, concern slightly flooding into his voice.

"Dan?" Dan's eyes widened to the size of the sun, his hand immediately flying off, trying to stutter out an excuse with much difficulty.

"Oh! Sorry. Um. I-I just wanted to say thank you. F-for catching me, and everything." His voice was barely above a whisper by the end, mentally smacking himself for stuttering. Dan twiddled his fingers in front of him, his gaze yet again on the ground.

Dan felt two fingers go under his chin, gently lifting his head so Dan was forced to stare into the blue pools he oh-so-desperately just wanted to get lost in forever.

Phil's comforting smile was as bright as the sun, practically blinding Dan but he couldn't ask for anything more. Dan wondered over and over why he was getting so flustered over someone he didn't know. Why looking at Phil's mesmerizing blue eyes sent him into a frenzy of pink cheeks and stuttering words. Why he didn't want Phil to leave. Why he felt like them meeting was fate.

Dan was certain if any other person had caught him it would be completely different.

Dan had completely forgotten Phil was still staring at him with a mixture of confusion and concern until Phil spoke up, his voice soft yet filled with concern.

"Dan? Are you okay?"

Dan immediately stepped back, cheeks aflame as he spitted out that he was fine and that he should be going. Phil slowly nodded, starting to step back.

"I'll see you around, yeah?"

Dan smiled, nodding slightly before breathing out a small agreement. Phil turned around to walk away, waving at Dan before setting off to wherever he was going.

He watched as Phil disappeared in the distance, looking up and suddenly realising just how many stars there were in the sky.