he'd grown to love the sound of that high-pitched bell; whenever he heard it, he knew he was about to see her.
she was sitting in their booth waiting for him, her notebook splayed open on the table, pen flying across the paper. she turned at the sound of that bell, her face lighting up.
"dan! you came back!"
his heart was in his throat as he offered her a hand. "of course i did."
she wrapped her fingers around his and slid the journal into her bag. "i was afraid you'd... you know." grey didn't want to say what dan was; she knew something had happened to make him that way, that it wasn't his fault. but a dark corner of her mind had feared that he'd run off again, and that this time he wouldn't come back.
if he was hurt by her subtle accusation, his face didn't show it. his pink lips seemed to be permanently curved into a sideways smirk.
"not this time," he said, shaking his head. "i'm tired of running."
-
walking down the street with grey was very different than walking down the street by himself. dan didn't "see everything in a whole new light" like some banal romance novel might say, but he did feel different. the sky was more blue, the sun warmer. or maybe it was just him trying to see things through her eyes; today she was acting even more amazed than usual.
"why do you do that?" he finally asked.
she swung their hands back and forth as they crossed the street. "do what?"
"look at things like that, like their very existence is a miracle."
she pursed her lips. "but, dan, it is a miracle. do you realize how many things had to happen for this day to be like this? the fact that either of us were ever even born is crazy enough, but for us to be here, in this exact city, together, at this exact moment?" she shook her head at him. "when you think about how many variables and outcomes there are out there, this whole scenario is nearly impossible."
"how did you afford your first video camera?"
phil chuckled. "i won it, actually. got a voucher in a cereal box."
"whoa," dan said. "imagine if you'd grabbed a different box that day..."
phil's eyes sparkled as he thought. "things would be very different, then." he smiled at dan from the other end of the couch.
they were quiet after that, focused on reading the subtitles of the anime they were watching.
"hey, phil?"
"yeah, dan?"
"i'm really glad you picked up that box of cereal."
dan turned his gaze to the pavement beneath them. "you're right. i guess i just don't see the beauty in it. sure, life can give you wonderful things."
she was watching him carefully, sensing the change in his attitude.
his voice was small as he finished his thought.
"but it can also take them away."
a/n: finally, another new chapter. if you would like to see my new updating schedule for my stories, check out my profile 'about' area. sorry this is rather short but i have a new danfic idea i'd like to get started on tonight, so look forward to seeing that soon! please please please vote/comment/share and check out the other projects i have going :))
