The Soulmate Theory (Phan AU)

Chapter 8

  I woke up the next morning on the floor with a comforter pulled over me. I looked around in confusion, but then I saw Dan laying on the floor next to me and remembered the previous day. My back was a bit sore, from a combination of Martyn throwing me against the wall, and from laying on the hardwood floor of Dan's room.

I got up slowly so that I wouldn't wake Dan, and went to the bathroom. When I got back, Dan was sitting up, his hair a curly mess. "Good morning," I said, to which I got a groan in response.

"I always took you for a morning person, Dan."

"I've been awake for one minute. I'm not fully human yet."

I went and sat down next to Dan, and we sat in comfortable silence.

"So," Dan said after a couple minutes. "Are you going back home? Like, is it safe for you to go home yet?"

I shrugged. "Depends on who's home." I went over to the window in Dan's room and saw only my dad's care and Martyn's car in the driveway. "It should be."

"I'm not trying to make you leave, you can stay longer if you want, of course."

"Yeah," I said, returning to my spot on the floor. "I might, if your mum's okay with it."

Dan smiled. "She will be. Phil, if I may ask, what happened last night?"

I looked down and traced the black and grey squares in the comforter. "My brother was high. I didn't know he did drugs, and I assume he had some fellow drug using friends over, a dealer maybe? I don't really know. But he got really angry and threw me against a wall when I wouldn't go upstairs."

"Where was your dad?"

"Probably a bar or something, I don't really know."

"I'm really sorry, Phil."

I leaned back against Dan's bed. "It's okay."

"No, Phil." Dan said, the seriousness in his voice surprising me. "No, it's not okay. It's not okay and it's not fair that you have to go through the bullshit you do. You've done nothing to deserve this, and I'm sorry that the world is so cruel to inflict this upon an innocent victim."

I shrugged. "Thanks, I guess. But it's not your fault, it wasn't anyone's fault, except the drunk driver's."

Dan came and sat close to me. "You're an amazing person, Phil. AmazingPhil," Dan chuckled a bit. "And you deserve better. And you know that myself and the rest of the Brit Clique are here for you, always. We want to do what we can to make your life better."

"Does everyone else know about my mum or anything?"

Dan shook his head. "No, I didn't see it as my place to tell them. They can just tell that something's wrong, and they want to help. Peej, Chris, and Louise, they're good people."

I nodded, and Dan stood up, and grabbed my hand, pulling me up. "Come on, let's go get breakfast."

We went downstairs, and was greeted by Dan's little brother, Adrain, watching Pokemon. "Morning, dork," Dan greeted his brother affectionately.

Adrian rolled his eyes. "Mum told me to tell you that she went to the store, and Phil can stay as long as needs to."

We went into the kitchen and had cereal, and we then joined Adrian in watching Pokemon for the rest of the morning. When Dan's mum came home, she joined us, as well, asking questions about what was going on, which we all laughed at in a completely friendly way. That afternoon I thanked them, and went home, not ready for what I would find.

Dad was sitting in the living room. "Hey, Phil."

"Hey, Dad."

"Where were you?"

"Friend's house," I muttered, walking upstairs.

"I'm glad that you're making friends, Phil!"

"Yeah."

I went to my room and closed the door, and lied on my bed, the happiness I felt staying with Dan already fading. And then I heard a knock on my door. "Phil? Can I come in?" Martyn.

"Go away."

"Phil."

"I said go away."

The door opened and Martyn walked in. I glared at him. "What part of 'go away' do you not understand?"

"I just wanted to apologize, I-"

"Get out, Martyn."

"Phil, why are you being like this? I'm your brother."

"I don't know who you are, but you are not my brother. Get out."

Martyn held up his hand in surrender and left.

"And close the goddamn door!" I yelled.

He ignored me, so I got up and closed it myself, before screaming into a pillow.

What had my family become?