I

759 24 16

by waterprkx

by waterprkx

dan's pov

I was scrolling through Buzzfeed at about 7:30, when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I took it out and checked. 1 new kik notification.

"Philgon: Is this Anais?"

I clicked on the name. This person obviously had the wrong username. I decided to reply. "Nope, Dan." 3 minutes later, he replied.
"Damn it! She gave me the wrong username. I'm sorry, I'll get out of your hair." Well, talking to him wouldn't kill me. "It's fine, but while we're at it, we should start a conversation." I typed back quickly. I thought for a moment.
"I mean, only if you want to. Don't feel pressured because I'm lonely, haha." I added quickly. A self-deprecating jab at myself, but adding a little 'haha' at the end always seemed to lighten the mood.

I went back to my Buzzfeed quiz, "Would You Survive Infinity War?" 5 minutes later, my phone buzzed once more.
"Sure (-:" I smiled.
I heard a loud boom, then my ceiling fan went off. "Bloody hell!" I heard my mum shout from the living room. I sighed, knowing what happened. We were currently experiencing a blizzard, which wasn't exactly odd for London. My mom came into my room with a hand lantern and set it on my dresser.
"Honey, the power's out. It's gonna be out for about an hour, so find something productive to do in your time, since you can't spend it scrolling through the web." She walked out, shutting my door. You see - she was wrong. I had data left on my phone for the month, and since it was the very end of November, and my data reset tomorrow, so why not spend the rest of it?

I set up a WiFi hotspot and connected both my phone and my laptop. I set the name up as "show up 2 howell house w cookie for pass", so I am expecting at least 1 person to show up. I went back on Kik.

sisterdaniel: hello?

5 or so minutes later, he replied.

philgon: oh, hey. sorry about that, my power went out. anyways, my name is phil.

sisterdaniel: wow so did mine lol. and im daniel, you know that already.

philgon: do you live in london?

sisterdaniel: yes, actually. wow we live relatively close, thats awesome.

philgon: haha we should meet up some time

sisterdaniel: phil im getting child molester vibes, you should stop

philgon: ok sorry

sisterdaniel: its fine

Just as I sent that message, the lights popped back on, and I heard my mom clap from downstairs.

sisterdaniel: oh look the power's back ok this is nice

philgon: mine came on too! hey, maybe we live closer than we think

sisterdaniel: london is a big place, dude. probably not.

philgon: i guess you're right, but its a bit odd that our power came back at virtually the same time, right? 8:23?

sisterdaniel: 8:25.

philgon: only a 2 min difference!!!

I mean, guess he had a point.

philgon: hey, wanna 2 truths one lie? ill go first

sisterdaniel: sure, but I have to take a shower soon.

philgon: ok. i have a dog, im bisexual, or i have a brother

sisterdaniel: the lie is that you're bi?

philgon: nope! i don't have any pets, i have a brother called martyn lester, and i am bisexual!

sisterdaniel: oh thats cool im gay

sisterdaniel: god damn it i could have used that.

sisterdaniel: whatever. im gay, i don't have a dad, or my hair is blonde

philgon: the lie is that you don't have a dad?

sisterdaniel: nope, he died in a car accident. my hair is not blonde it is brown

philgon: oh, im sorry.

sisterdaniel: its fine, im over it. he was an asshole anyways. but i have to take a shower now, talk later?

philgon: definitely.

I plugged my phone in and grabbed my pajamas off the foot of my bed. Normally I wouldn't actually take a shower, but lie to get out of a conversation. But something about Phil...it made me feel bad lying to him - something not exactly common when it comes to talking to complete strangers over the internet.

While I was in the shower, my thoughts wandered. Why did I feel like this? Why did I actually like him? This really wasn't normal. Usually I would play the "I have to shower" card and then never talk to a person again, leaving them completely in the dark. But Phil, he was different.
I fully intended on keeping our conversation alive. Maybe I had met him before? What am I thinking? That's ridiculous. Even if he did live in London, the chance we've met is 1 in 8.674 million - a chance close to zero.

I got out of the shower and looked in the mirror. My hair was an absolute mess, but I wasn't going anywhere so who cares. I checked my phone, and there were 3 messages from Phil

philgon: i have a question
philgon: why do you call yourself sister daniel?
philgon: ill explain my name if you explain yours

I laughed.

sisterdaniel: well, this one time I was doing something and i pulled my sweater over my head and my friend took a picture of it and called me sister daniel and it just stuck, i guess

philgon: can i see the picture?

sisterdaniel: sure but tell me why you have that nickname first

philgon: i put a temporary tattoo on my neck of a dragon and then when i was told to come up with a nickname for myself, and boom; philgon was born.

sisterdaniel: why a dragon

philgon: idk it seemed cool

sisterdaniel: ok heres the picture

sisterdaniel: sike

sisterdaniel: i don't have it im sorry

philgon: :(

sisterdaniel: SORRY

philgon: its fine

"Daniel, Stella! Dinner!" My mum yelled to us. My conversation with Phil had almost made me forget about that. My sister, Stella, was already at the table, eagerly awaiting mum to feed us. Stella was 12 but she acted like she was an adult. I know I should love her - she's my only sister, not just that- my only sibling, and my closest surviving relative besides my mom, but it's hard to love a spoiled brat.

"So, Daniel." Stella said, spooning a bit of corn into her mouth. "What did you get on your standardized testing for math? I got 258." She smirked. God, I can't stand her sometimes. "227." I said, barley audible. Sometimes I can't believe how smart she is, yet so cocky and arrogant. "What was that, Daniel?"
"227." I said, slightly louder. I kept my gaze on my food. "I got a whole 31 points more than you! How does that make you feel?" I looked up at her.

"You know what, Stella? ! You're the most arrogant, stuck up tool I've ever had the displeasure of meeting in my entire life! Dear god, I hope someone puts you in your place because lord knows you need it!"
I yelled, getting up from the table and walking to my room. "Dan! Get back here!" I heard my mum call while I was already more than halfway up the stairs. I slammed the door to my room shut and locked it. Before I even made it to my bed, my mum was harping on me from other side of the door.
"Open this god damn door right now, Daniel!" I ignored her. After a minute, she walked away. A minute later, she came back, and I heard the jingle of keys, then my door unlocked. My mum stormed in. I sat on my bed, my arms crossed.

"Daniel, you have no right to have said what you said to your sister. She's literally 12!" She said. "Tell her not to be such a bitch, then!" "Daniel! Watch your language, especially in regards to your sister!"
I glared at her. "Tell her to watch the things she says to me, or the answer's no." I said, putting a pair of socks on. "I know why you're mad. You're mad because you aren't smart and your sister is gifted and you're angry about it. Just because, you don't have any right to be an asshole to her like you are. Suck it up and if you want to be smart, actually try."

"I do try!" I yelled. The fact my mother just said I wasn't smart made me want to cry. "No, Daniel, you don't! If you did, would you be failing?" She shot back. "And I refuse to argue with you, a 16 year old boy, about something as stupid, immature and petty as this." She yelled, marching out of my room.

I slid my shoes on and grabbed my coat. I wasn't going to apologize to Stella. She deserved every single thing I said to her, and she knew it. I've had to take her criticisms for as long as she could talk. I've had to take my mom quite obviously favoring her over me since she was in second grade. I was done with it.
I slipped my phone into my pocket. My mom was sitting with Stella on the couch.
"Daniel James Howell, get over here and apologize to your sister this instant." Stella grinned, crossing her arms.
"Too bad." I opened the door, and left.

Simple as that.

//

1,540 words. xx