It was no surprise that Dan and Phil ruled their Manchester High School. The two most popular pair of best friends. Dan on the rugby team, Phil playing basketball. Dan wildly charismatic with a smile to light up nations, Phil with his stellar grades and nerdy, yet charming, personality. The two were kings and the school was their oyster.
"Hey," Phil said. "I have a game tomorrow night, you better make it, asshole." Dan looked up from Trisha, his girlfriend, who was sitting on his lap, seemingly eating his face for lunch. He gave Phil an easy grin.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he replied. Phil chuckled, threading his fingers through Dan's hair before getting up.
"Gotta go, extra practice. Bye Dan, bye, Trisha. See ya tonight Dan." Dan nodded, then (after making sure Trisha wasn't looking) he winked at Phil.
Love, passion, and lust. Every emotion Phil felt for Dan was pouring out of his body like sticky golden syrup.
Shirtless, laying on Dan's bed, their long legs tangled together, Phil felt content. Happy, even. He listened to Dan's steady heartbeat as he laid his head against Dan's warm chest, the rise and fall of his even breathing. Dan, eyes closed but still awake, pushed Phil's fringe out of his forehead.
"I love your company," Dan whispered, his voice husky. "You're gonna give 'em hell tomorrow, at the game, okay?"
"Mmm," Phil said, face still burrowed into Dan's bare chest. "Okay."
"You cold?" Dan asked, his hands still carding through Phil's black hair. Phil gave a nod and Dan chuckled, throwing his black duvet over the two of them. Only Phil knew Dan's secret. His parents left him alone, months at a time. No hint as to when they were leaving or when they'd return. It killed Dan on the inside and only confided in his best friend. He knew Dan got lonely every so often, so Phil came to keep him company. Not only for pleasure but because Phil was hiding a secret, too.
He was in love with his best friend.
Dan and Phil had agreed to keep their little flings completely platonic. No outside feelings, sex only. Sleeping together for the night, for convenience (and, Phil knew Dan would never admit it, but for the company).
Phil tried, so hard and so long, he tried to fight his feelings. But they pulled him in, forcing him to accept it. He wasn't bi like he told Dan, he was gay. And he loved Dan, with all his heart, he loved Dan Howell. He wanted Dan to be happy, he wanted to see Dan smile. He yearned to hear his soft laugh and craved Dan's warm lips to be pressed against his own.
"Goodnight," Dan whispered, pressing a long kiss to Phil's forehead.
"LET'S GO PHIL!" Dan cheered, one hand cupping his mouth, the other balled into a fist and pumped in the air. He knew Phil could hear his cheers above everyone else, so he screamed encouragement as Phil ran around the court.
He's a star, Dan thinks (proudly, though he was scared to admit it), he's gonna get scouted for sure.
Phil looked up at Dan, ball in his sweaty hands. Dan gave him a huge smile and whooped as loud as he could.
Then, Dan's excited face quickly morphed into one of horror as he watched the scene playing out. Phil put his left foot out to shoot the ball when he slipped on something that had spilled from the edge of the court. His knee twisted as he fell to the ground.
Dan's heart stopped beating at that moment. He didn't care, an impulse washed over his body, grabbing him. He jumped off of the stands, legs pumping. He didn't care who was watching, what anyone was thinking. Phil was hurt. He wasn't getting up. Dan had to do something.
