Death Of A Bachelor (Phan)

20. Impossible year 2

"There's no you and me
This impossible year
Only heartache and heartbreak
And gin made of tears
The bitter pill I swallow
The scars souvenir
That tattoo, your last bruise
This impossible year" - Impossible Year

Phils POV

Everything was quiet throughout my mums house, when i heard my phone ring loudly from the kitchen bench. I had been laying face down on the couch, trying my hardest to avoid watching the final episode of the Bachelorette that was live tonight. Although i didn't watch the show, my mind was consumed by Dan anyway. The slightest thought of him having a future with Zoe brought tears to my eyes, i can't bear it. I don't like to think of his dimple-popping smile being directed at her and the fond emotion, his eyes would hold, as he gazed into hers.

I had been spending the last few days in this almost exact same position, but only now i have remnants of popcorn and cereal that have accumulated on the floor around the couch. My mum sort of looks at me with sympathy or pity in her eyes, as she talks to me or asks me if i want anything. I ignore that look she has, and occasionally grunt in response, not bothering to be completely coherent. She knows that this isn't my first 'heartbreak' but i think she also knows that this one is Real, although she may not realise I'm not pining over Zoe. I don't have the heart to tell her now, but I'm sure she will figure it out soon enough.

I roll off the couch, my only intention at the moment is landing on the floor, which i do, with a THUD, listening to the ambience of continuous Toxic by Britney Spears coming from the next room. I pick myself up from the popcorn covered floor and drag myself into the kitchen, to the bench where my phone lay. I pick up the device and hold it to my ear, voice cracking at "hello?"

"Did you watch the show?!" The unmistakable voice of Megan filters through the phone and into my ears. "Hello to you too" I roll my eyes. "Phil this is important. Did. You. Watch. The. Show?" she tries again. Still confused as to why she called me in the first place i reply, "No i haven't, and i don't want to. Im trying to forget the show rather than bask in my depressing fantasies that are never going to happen." "fantasies? ok ew, but seriously you're in for a surprise" She says, once again confusing my already muddle ming. "What do you mean?" I ask. "-Uh, sorry Phillip but i have to go, BYE" She hangs up. Okay that was strange, maybe i should've gone back to the house for the final round, or at least watched it. But then again Megan is quite strange anyway, so i don't try to question it.

I turn and start to drag my way back to my hibernation spot on the couch. I get about halfway there when my phone vibrates twice in my hand, signalling that i have received two new messages. I check the screen, squinting behind my glasses at the brightness.

1 new message: Ellie :)

1 new message: Zoe :*

I open Ellies first because it was the one that i had gotten first.

Ellie :) : Be prepared ;)

Prepared for what? I think to myself. this is just getting weirder, i continue to walk back into the lounge room as i open Zoes next.

Zoe :* : Congratulations ;)

Okay now I'm confused, congratulations on what? and whats with the winky faces? I plonk down onto the couch again and cover myself with the blanket, this time grabbing the TV and putting on Buffy which was already in the DVD player. I make sure the volume is on low, as not to wake up mum who was sleeping upstairs. I get about three minutes into the next episode, when i hear a very loud, rapid knocking come from the front door.

I groan in annoyance. I just want to watch buffy and theres always something that has to bother me. I grab the remote and pause the show, before getting up and trudging down the hallway to the front door. I compose myself when i get to the door, not knowing who could possibly be behind it, then i yank open the door, preparing to sass the person behind it, if need be. But when i open it, its not who i was expecting at all.

Standing in front of me is a very exhausted-looking Dan, who seemed to be puffing after... running? Although i hated to admit to myself, Dan looked very attractive, with his usually straight hair, somewhat curly and messy from the exercise and his already pretty face, having a little more pink in his cheeks. Phil now is not the time. Realising there was a strange awkward silence, i clear my throat. "Dan what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Zoe?" He then looks up to catch my eye, holding a twinkle of something in his brown irises.

I quickly gave him another once over, realising he was still in his suit from the show, even though it had unbuttoned and messed up from the running he apparently did. I bring my eyes up to find him mouth agape, attempting to word what he was gonna say next. I tried to hide my amusement as he instead blurted it out. "I left the show." My slight smile dropped, leaving me thinking I misheard him. "Pardon?" Dan took a deep breath as if he had a lot of explaining to do, which he had.

"I ended up winning the show because Zoe chose me in the end, I couldn't bring myself to accept, because of Alfie's true love for her, and the slight fact that I couldn't let whatever we had between us go" he said without taking a breath. So many thoughts were running through my mind from what he had just told me. But one word definitely stuck. Relationship. What we had together was never official but he thought of it as something real. I look down to my shoes trying to hide the fact that I was happy. I then put in a blank face and looked at dan again. "Is that all that's happened?"

It was his turn to look down now, scratching the back of his head. "Um well, because I didn't win the show and instead come second, I still managed to get enough money to pay off the apartment for the next year or so." He then cleared his throat, turning his glassy eyes up to meet mine. "And if it's okay with you, I was wondering if you would like to, um, maybe move in with us?"

I held his gaze as a happy tear dropped from my eye, dan looking slightly worried that I was crying. Then a huge smile spread across my face. "Of course I will, you absolute spork."

I grabbed him by the collar of his suit and sealed our lips together in a kiss. Gentle, loving, caring. Not small enough to be a peck but not big enough to withhold meaning. I pull back and glance into his beautiful brown eyes. I open my mouth to say something, when I hear someone clear their throat behind me. I spin around quickly to find my mum, with her hands on her hips, giving me a very disappointed stare. My whole expression crumbled, as I mentally prepared myself for the worst.

"Phillip Michael Lester, how many times have I told you-" I hold my breath, waiting for the lecture "-not to leave our guests on the porch" I look at her surprised, dan standing next to me equally astonished. Mum just rolls her eyes, with a knowing smile before walking away and calling over her shoulder. "We'll invite him in, I'll put some tea on." I turn to face dan, giggling with him at the situation. Then he seems to remember something. He reaches inside his suit jacket to the inside pocket, and pulls out a very crumpled white rose. He looks at it with slight embarrassment, before timidly offering it to me. "Um Phil... will you accept this rose?" I grab it from him looking at it tenderly, before deciding to have some fun. "Ugh" I say. Turning away from him once again. "...what?" Dan asks with worry in his voice. I turn to look at him over my shoulder with a cheeky smile on my face.  "That was waaaaaaaay too cheesy" I now turn to face him fully, waiting for his reaction "you know I don't like cheese" he stops for a moment, before relief took over his emotions, making him roll his eyes.
"You goofball" Dan says before grabbing me and kissing me once again.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••A/N: Hey guys! Happy holidays and happy new year and all that stuff! So this was the last chapter before the epilogue and I'm so happy I got it finished. This story spent a lot of time making, mainly because I have little time to work on it (except when I'm binge watching stuff) but it's great to have finally completed this chapter, because I got writers block like halfway through it. But anywhale, I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year and maybe some of us will stick to our resolutions this time. ;)

Lots o love,
Elisaveth ❤️