Bad Words | phan

7-The Project

A/N: I apologize, but I'm going to change updates to Saturday's only. School's been picking up, and I feel a little stressed. I struggle with time management, but I promise I'm trying. Thank you so much for your support! <3, Lily

Phil was full of regret and guilt. He wished he hadn't asked Dan about the tattoo. However, Phil also didn't want to bother Dan with ridiculous, and most likely useless, apologies. Instead, Phil decided to complete the project alone and give Dan his notecards. If he did this, then Dan wouldn't have to talk to Phil, or even look at him, until the project was due. Therefore, Phil spent hours in the library every night that week, working on the project with astounding dedication. On Thursday, the librarian, a lovely, old woman named Mrs. Wintry, brought Phil a burning cup of coffee.

She sat down next to the boy, holding her own cup beneath her chin. "Philip, do you like boys?" she wondered, raising her eyebrows.

Phil was unsure of Mrs. Wintry's opinions towards the LGBTQ+ community, but he gave an unconfident smile and nodded. "Yes, ma'am," he admitted, absentmindedly fiddling with the silver heart on his necklace nervously.

She raised her eyebrows further, though they were so silver that it was difficult to see them. "Are you aware you're wearing a woman's top?" she questioned bluntly. Her face was still void of emotion, and, therefore, unreadable.

Phil glanced at the button-up, black swirls winding across the white abyss like an inky path. Once more, Phil's mind travelled to Dan, but he quickly returned his focus to the conversation. "Yes, ma'am," Phil replied, though he knew clothing had no specific gender.

Her eyebrows settled to their normal position. "Do you dress like this normally, Philip?" she interrogated. "Do people disapprove of your clothing?" Phil's anxiety was growing like a seed in the ground. The librarian didn't seem too excited about Phil's clothes or sexual preference. However, she didn't seem bothered either.

Phil was immensely uncomfortable, but he refused to lie to a respected adult. After all, Mrs. Wintry has done nothing but help him. Nodding slowly, Phil answered, "Yes ma'am." To his disappointment, Mrs. Wintry made no facial expression to explain her emotional response.

She leaned back in her chair, not showing much of a reaction. "I almost can't believe that. When I was your age, that kind of behavior was frowned upon," she responded. Before Phil could inform her that gay cross-dressers were not uncommon, she continued, "I'm so glad the world is waking up and opinions are changing. I wish you the best, Philip." With those comforting and promising words, Phil immediately felt himself relax and smile. So, the strange pair sat next to each other, Mrs. Wintry drinking coffee and reading, and Phil writing information on pink, and newly purchased white, notecards.

On Friday, Phil placed Dan's stack of notecards, evenly divided between the two boys, on his desk in Health class. Dan was thirteen minutes late, which was later than usual. He immediately noticed the notecards on his desk and rolled his eyes. He wasn't surprised that Phil had completed the project. Mainly, he was relieved that Phil had written the notecards because Dan has horrendously ugly handwriting, making it almost impossible to read the illegible gibberish.

When Dan, dressed in all black as per usual, walked in, obnoxiously slamming the door, almost every head jolted upright, watching Dan carefully. "Thank you for joining us, Mr. Howell," Miss Copard sighed. There was a small, uncomfortable silence as Dan stared at the back of Phil's head. "Please take your seat, Daniel." Without making any rude or disrespectful comments, Dan sat down. His lack of sass and unusual silence made everyone confused, including Phil, who was a few rows in front of Dan, but definitely still noticed the brunette.