Bad Boys (A Dan and Phil story)

Four

The next day, I woke up to a knock on my door.

"Emma, you need to get up!" I heard my mom exclaim. "Avery is down here waiting for you."

I immediately sat up and looked at the time. It was 7am. I only had 45 minutes to change, eat breakfast and walk to school. I don't know how I ended up oversleeping, but all I could remember from last night was unpacking until almost midnight. That and overhearing the conversation between Dan and Phil outside of my house.

I couldn't wait to tell Avery.

I quickly threw on a t-shirt and sweatpants, packed up my backpack, ran downstairs, grabbed a granola bar and headed out the door, Avery following right behind me.

"Hey, wait up!" Avery said. "You're awfully giddy today."
"Well, I just had to rush to get ready for school since I overslept." I responded. "Plus, I need to tell you something."
"What is it?" Avery asked.
"Last night, I overheard Dan and Phil outside of my house while I was unpacking more of my stuff." I explained to her. "And apparently, they weren't responsible for the graffiti at the antique shop, and several other crimes people claimed they committed."
"What? That's impossible!" Avery responded.
"What do you mean it's impossible?" I asked.
"Well, we know everyone in this town and the only troublemakers in this town are Dan and Phil." Avery responded.
"How do you know people from outside of this town aren't coming in and doing these crimes?" I asked.
"Well, those people would have to walk pretty far to get to this town!" Avery explained. "Any town closest to here is still miles away from here. I thought you would know that since you had to drive here."
"Excuse me..." I mumbled. "Well, what about security cameras?"
"What about them?" Avery asked.
"Well, having originally been a city girl, surveillance cameras are everywhere." I explained. "People use that stuff all the time to catch criminals in the act."
"No need to explain, I know what they are!" Avery exclaimed.

I gave her a confused and angry look.

"What the hell is your problem?" I asked.
"I just don't like the fact that you're trying to help those guys." Avery stated.
"Well, if they're actually being wrongly accused, then somebody needs to help them!" I responded.
"Well, whatever you're planning on doing, I don't want any part of it." Avery stated.
"That's fine." I simply said.

I didn't want you to be part of it anyways... I really wanted to say to her, but I kept my mouth shut.

By the time our conversation ended, we were at the school. As I looked over to the side, I noticed Dan and Phil both riding towards the school on their bikes and parking them to lock them.
---
As I entered the classroom for Chemistry, I already noticed Phil sitting at the table. I hesitated, but then finally entered the room and sat down next to him.

"Hey." I said.
"Hi." He responded back, sounded a little angry.
I sighed and then finally spoke. "Listen, I know this is none of my business, but I kinda overheard you two talking about how you were falsely accused last night."
"What?" Phil asked. "Where?"
"You both were right outside my house." I responded.
"Oh..." Phil said.
"And, I know it's not smart of me, according to some people, well, everyone..." I continued. "But I want to help you guys with this situation."

Phil went wide-eyed, as he had probably never heard of this before.

"Y-You really want to help us?" Phil asked. I nodded. "Wow, thank you... that means a lot."
"Anytime." I responded.
---
Later on that day during English, Dan came in right after I did and immediately looked at me.

"Were you serious when Phil said you would help us?" Dan asked in a whisper. I nodded.
Dan smiled. "You have no idea how much we need this right now."
"Well, somebody has to help you." I explained. Since the help you guys need either doesn't believe you or threatens to throw you in jail."
"That's so accurate." Dan responded.

A few moments later, Dan spoke again.

"How are you going to help us though?" Dan asked.
"Well... maybe if you guys feel comfortable, I can go over to your place and we can talk about it in farther detail?" I asked.
Dan suddenly grew nervous. "I-I dunno... w-what about your place?"
"I'm still moving in." I responded. "Besides, my friend will freak if she sees you both there."
"Oh god." Dan said, immediately recognizing who I was talking about. "I can't stand her."
"Neither can I, but don't tell her I said that." I responded.

Dan was silent for a moment, but finally sighed.

"I'll talk to Phil about it, and then we can take it from there." Dan responded.
I nodded. "Sounds good."
"Thank you." Dan said again.

I smiled and only nodded.
---
Throughout lunch, neither Avery nor I spoke about Dan or Phil. I was done talking about them to her for the time being. I didn't want her freaking out over me possibly going to their place.

Something seemed different, however. Dan and Phil didn't go and talk to the guys at the other lunch table. It kind of left me suspicious and wondering...

Could they be the ones responsible?