Trapped//Phan

Chapter Thirty-Two

Okay so I thought I published this but I didn't...... how many times have I apologized? Idk. But again: I'm sorry.

Dan followed the girl across the room, while Phil made small talk with her.

"So what's your name." She asked turning her head to face him.

"Phil. What about you?"

"Emma." She responded. Dan grinded his teeth at the name.

One more thing to hate about her.

He thought bitterly.

"HEY GUYS!" Emma screamed at the rest of the group, they all enthusiastically turned around. "This is Phil and...." she trailed off looking at me.

I brought my hand up and gave a small wave. "Dan." I finished.

"And they're going to be joining us today!!" Clapping erupted from them. "Sit down now and we'll start." Everyone started to pair up with their friends and sit next to each tiger, Phil sat next to Emma, Dan sat next to Phil. The chairs were all pointed in a circle, and everyone's eyes were on Dan and Phil. They were all smiling, which made Dan very uncomfortable.

"Okay. So, Dan and Phil, we just started to try something this morning. Every other week we'll all smile and be as enthusiastic as you can. After the session starts, You can stop, and we'll talk about it." Emma explained. "But we'll talk about you guys and your stories first and then get into that."

"Okay," Phil spoke, volunteering to go first. " I'm Phil. My best friend recently passed away, I was very close to her." Phil ended.

"Phil." Emma rose her voice sympathetically. "We don't keep any secrets in this group." She told him.

Phil exhaled. "I've been.... harsher, on myself a lot more recently. I kinda act happy to feel happy, that doesn't work, and I feel like life in the end has no meaning." Phil summarized. Emma nodded and looked at Dan. "Oh and I'm gay." Phil added calmly.

Dan turned his head to look at Phil. "Y-You're gay?" Dan asked shocked. Phil nodded his head. "Why didn't you tell me before?!" Dan asked again.

"Only just figured it ou." Phil replied staring at Dan. DNA didn't feel uncomfortable, instead he also stared at Phil, willing for that moment to never end.

He's staring at me.
Shit I look ugly today too.
Oh my god oh my god oh my god
His eyes are beautiful.
Why is he staring at me?

"Dan. Why don't you go." Emma spoke.

"Oh-uh-right-um. Hello, my name is Dan. My girlfriend died. Depression, fun stuff." Dan shrugged.

"Dan, don't keep any secrets. You can trust us."

"Doesn't matter if I trust you or not, something's I can't talk about." Dan snapped. It was true though, something's he could just never seem to talk about, to anyone.

Emma moved on, having everyone else say their names and why they're there. "Okay, everyone, not stop smiling." Everyone's faces fell. "How did you guys feel doing the exercise?" She asked.

"It hurt, I felt like I was dying on the inside, like how it was b-b-back with h-him." A girl named Ali responded. Tears started to fall down her face. Dan stood up, and walked across the room.

He was surprised with his own actions. He want impulsive or seize the day, but he wanted to do this. He walked across the circle, to Ali, whose face was buried in her hands. And Dan hugged her, and he didn't give a shit for the first time about people watching him. He wanted them to watch him, because when someone's crying, you comfort them, you don't just stare.

Some fucking group therapy you all are.