The Soulmate Theory (Phan AU)

Chapter 9

  Fall faded into winter, and despite the debatable coldness of the Florida weather, I became happier. Things at home got no better, they got worse. Martyn was rarely home, and when he was, he was high or having terrible mood swings. Dad was either drunk or hungover. I spent the least amount of time I could at home, and when I wasn't at school, I was hanging out with the Brit Clique, and if we weren't all together, I was at Dan's house.

Dan's mum became like my own, and it was nice to almost have a mum again. I learned that Dan's dad had left when Dan was a baby. When I asked how he felt about it, he just shrugged and told me, "I don't remember him, obviously, so it doesn't really affect me. Adrian wasn't even born, so it doesn't affect him much, either. I think he would like to have a dad, though. I think Mum misses him sometimes, though."

Our town was fairly small, but PJ, Chris, Dan and I made the most of it. They showed me all the little places they had discovered. The little shops that no one ever went to, but was full of treasures. The European bakery that made the best pastries. And we went to the lake every weekend until the weather got too cold for us to swim anymore.

That's when they showed me another one of their secret spots: an abandoned drive-in theater. I remember the first time we went was on a chilly Friday night in October. That morning, we had all met up in the courtyard outside of the cafeteria. PJ, Chris, and Louise all rode the same bus.

When we got there, only Chris and PJ were there.Chris waved up over. "Hey, Chris" I called coming over. "Where's Louise?"

He shrugged. "I haven't seen her. She could be sick."

At that moment, all of our phones buzzed from our Brit Clique group text; it was from Louise. Come out to the parking lot!!! it read. So we all walked out to see Louise standing proudly next to a very old, beat up car that looked like it barely run.

"Hey, guys!" She said happily. We all stood in silence, trying to figure what to say about the car she was standing next to. PJ spoke first.

"Louise, what the hell is that?"

Louise looked offended. "It's my new car! I got it yesterday after school!"

I looked at the fading blue paint. "It, uh, it's a nice color...?" It came out more as a question than a compliment.

"It's, uhm, it's..." Chris said hesitantly.

PJ said what we were all thinking. "Louise, it's a piece of junk."

Louise got all flustered. "It is not!" She insisted. "It may not look pretty, but it's runs great! As a celebration, I'm going to take you all home and then take everyone to the drive-in!"

Dan smiled, trying to cover up the awkwardness. "Sounds great, Louise! We'll see you after school!"

We all went about out days, and got in Louise's car. When she went to start it, it wouldn't start. "Must just be having a little issue..." She muttered, trying to start it a second, then third time before it started.

"Runs great, huh?" PJ said.

"Shut up, Peej."

I went over to Dan's house as was my usual after school, and we gathered blanket and snacks then Louise picked us up. "So, where are we going exactly?" I asked.

Everyone gave me a knowing smile. "You'll see. It'll be fun, it's our replacement spot for the lake during cold weather." Dan told me.

When we arrived, all I saw was an old drive-in screen. "Uh, are we even allowed to be here?"

Louise got out of the car. "Of course! We asked permission from the owners, so don't worry. We don't do illegal things."

We all grabbed our blankets and snacks, and PJ grabbed a big bag out of the trunk. He proceeded to set up a projector, a DVD player, and speakers, then put on Back to the Future.

Dan sat next to me. "We always watch Back to the Future on our first and last night at the drive-in before we switch back over to the lake."

The screen was huge, so the projector obviously didn't cover the entire thing, but we sat outside in the dark, and watched the movie, laughing together. It was another perfect night, and every Friday we did this.

The day before Thanksgiving, we came out here and had our own Thanksgiving dinner. I spent my Thanksgiving at Dan's house with his family.

The Brit Clique slowly became my family, the people I cared about the most. They protected me, they were fiercely loyal, and were always there for me. They were more of a family than my own family was.

But the times when it was just me and Dan, those were the best. When we sit on the dock at the lake, legs swinging. When we would explore the woods surrounding our neighborhood. 

Whispered I love you's and gentle kisses. 

Hands held and feelings we could not explain.

Those were the best of times.