Ignoring Feelings | Phan

Chapter Nine

It was Monday night, and Dan was pacing around his room, trying to decide what to wear for his date with Phil the following day. Was it a date? Dan liked to think so. After being used to rejecting other people's requests for dates, Dan had not realised that he'd not been on a date for two years. He scratched the back of his head, wondering if he should dress formally or casually. For Christ's sake, it was only a coffee.
He pulled out a black shirt with a white circle in the centre. Simple, but not boring. Next, he found a pair of comfortable, grey sweatpants, trying on the outfit. He narrowed his eyes at the mirror, and decided to change into a pair of black skinny jeans instead. The jeans clung to his ass, accenting the smooth curve of it. Yes, he thought, teasing Phil would be fun.

School on Tuesday dragged out more than Dan had expected it to. He had no classes with Phil, as he did not take the same subjects as him. Dan took subjects such as Extension English Literature, Economics and Business Studies whilst Phil preferred subjects such as Art, Extension Music and Extension Mathematics. In every lesson, the teachers' voices seemed to slow down drastically and all the information went in one ear and out the other. Dan's brain felt like mush by the end of the fifth lesson. One more lesson until his date with Phil...

Throughout the whole day, Phil kept quivering from fear in his seat. Just during that morning, Phil was walking into the school gates when he was pushed to the ground by about four hands. As he rolled over on the asphalt, a pair of gleaming green eyes were glaring intensely into his. As Phil's eyes adjusted to the brightness, the green-eyed boy's friend appeared. Girlfriend.
"Is Howell fucking you, Lester?" the green-eyed boy snarled.
A kick to Phil's stomach almost pushed his breakfast back up.
"Danny would NEVER want someone like you. Have you seen his face? His hotness levels are-" the girl was interrupted by her boyfriend
"He's not your boyfriend, I am your boyfriend."
The girl rolled her eyes, and Phil could see that she had an eyebrow piercing and was chewing gum. She kicked Phil's ribs, sending him crying in pain.
"That's my girl." Green Eyes laughed menacingly.
After a few more painful punches and kicks, the pair seemed to have enough, walking away, but not before the girl spat her gum out onto Phil's now bruised (but clothed) chest. A gentle squeeze on Phil's shoulder sent him screaming in agony, his body aching all over.
"Hey, you seem conscious right now, but your eyes are closed, so if you can hear me, squeeze my hand, okay?"
A warm hand slid into his icy one.
Phil groaned and squeezed the stranger's hand lightly.
"I'm going to get some help for you okay? Stay with me, yeah?"
And that were the last words Phil heard before blackness surrounded his vision.

By the third lesson, Phil was ready to leave the nurse's office. The nurse was a genuinely kind, middle-aged lady, who fussed over sick or injured students as if they were her own children. As Phil sat up, she rushed to his side with yet another ice pack, asking if he was feeling better and suggesting that he lie down again. After calming down, he asked the nurse a few questions which she seemed almost too enthusiastic to answer.
"The young man who brought you back is called PJ."
PJ...the boy he met in the park with Luke and Liv. Phil smiled at the thought of a potential friend and slowly stood up, thanked the nurse, and walked out. He didn't get far before the nurse ran up to him and handed me an extra icepack, again. Phil thanked her for her kindness and walked into English Class.
"Oi Brock, isn't that the faggot we beat up this morning?"
Shit.
"Yeah, babe, he's got an icepack and everything the fucking weakling."
Phil took a seat at the front of the class and hunched over my desk. Even from the front, he could hear Brock's girlfriend chewing her gum and blowing bubbles with it. He sighed and took out his pre-made notes on the text the class was studying.
"Brock, look, the nerdy faggot even made notes and we haven't even started reading the book as a class."
"Who even reads books anymore?"
Phil's body shook in embarrassment and fear. He just wanted to be a good student and make a good first impression at this school.

After the last lesson of the day, Phil was limping towards the school gate, his bruised stomach causing him to hunch over. Dan was already waiting at the gate.
"Hey Phil, you have white stuff in your hair."
Phil attempted to lighten the mood by winking at Dan, but though the boys only knew each other for a few days, Dan saw through that, however, didn't comment on it.
"So Phil, are you still up for the da-I mean, coffee today?"
Crap. Phil had totally forgotten about the coffee already.
"The white stuff in my hair is gum, spat out by this blonde-haired girl who cakes makeup onto her face." Phil uttered.
Dan's brows knit together as he states "That's basically every girl at this school."
Phil chuckled sarcastically and kept walking.
"Hey, wait, you still haven't answered my question." Phil rolled his eyes as he turned to face Dan.
"Yes, alright. Meet me outside my house at 5pm."
Phil could have sworn that Dan did a happy jump and sprinted ahead to get ready.
After Dan had pranced away, a light tap on his shoulder got Phil's attention.
He was met by striking green eyes and slightly curly brown hair.
"Hi PJ!"
PJ smiled and hugged him lightly, asking him about his injuries. Phil told him that he was fine and thanked him excessively for his help.
"My pleasure, Phil." PJ smiled.
"Hey PJ, how about you come and get coffee with me now?"
PJ beamed and nodded his head vigorously before calming his composure and fixing his hair up.
"Alright, meet me outside my house at 5pm, see ya, PJ."

Dan had ran home, puffing and panting as he wasn't used to running 1.5km without a break. He needed this date to be perfect for Phil. He quickly pulled on his outfit he had hung up the night before, straightening his hair and pulling on his cleanest shoes. Glancing at the mirror, a satisfied smirk spread across his face. He then sprayed three puffs of his very manly perfume onto himself.

Phil was in the process of changing clothes, deciding to throw on a different shirt when he heard arguing voices outside.
"Phil didn't tell me that a nerdy loser was going with us to get coffee."
"Yeah? Well Phil didn't tell me that the fuckboy Howell was taking advantage of him like he does to every other-"
"YOU DID NOT JUST FUCKING SAY THA-"
"GUYS, SHUT UP."
Both brown-haired boys turned around simultaneously, which Phil would have laughed at if they weren't in a midst of an argument.
"Chill, guys, it's just coffee. It's not like I asked you both on dates on anything." Phil scratched the back of his head nervously, hoping it wasn't the wrong thing to say.
"Really, Phil? Really?" Dan looked furious.
A confused expression took over Phil's face.
"I'm not in the mood for a coffee anymore."
And with that, Dan stormed off back into his house. PJ looked incredibly embarrassed and apologetic.
"Look Phil, I'll understand if you don't want to get coffee anymore."
"No no, it wasn't your fault, let's go." Phil smiled sweetly, and off they went to the coffee shop, with Dan's eyes burning with envy from the window in his house.