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Phil was newish to the school. He has only been there for about a week, and he was liked by everybody. Phil was a very nice and bright student, so what was there to not like?
However, the person Phil wanted to befriend the most, did not agree. Dan Howell, the loner, thought that his optimism was annoying, and no matter how hard Phil tried, Dan would barely talk to him.
To be fair though, Dan didn't talk a lot to begin with. He would say what he needed to say to teachers, and the occasional remarks. But when he did speak, he was rather witty, or at least, that's what Phil thought.
The whole "loner who doesn't speak much" deal didn't appeal to most people. People saw Dan as weaker because of it, and they bullied him.
Most of it was just verbal, but Phil knew that words can at times, have a larger impact than physical injury.
In the end, Phil just wanted to help him, but Dan wouldn't let him.
Why should Dan let him, when every single person Dan cared for had betrayed him?
Phil quickly became aware of the situation. It was something that Dan's bullies taunted him about often.
Dan's ex-friend was the person who started the bullying. He would talk about Dan behind his back, and the others joined the bandwagon, hating on Dan at every chance they could.
But Phil decided to speak up.
It was a normal day, and it was between classes when it happened.
Dan was at his locker, getting his books for class, when John came around, John being one of the people who bullied Dan.
John knocked Dan's books out of his hands and snickered. "You gonna pick that up?"
Dan sighed and picked them up. John stayed silent as he did, but when Dan continued to get his stuff, ignoring his presence, he questioned, "Are you really not going to say anything?"
Dan stared blankly at him. John sneered, "Come on freak, defend yourself."
It was at that time that Phil decided to speak up. "Hey, John! How about you pick on someone your own size?"
It was ironic. John and Dan were pretty much the same size. It was just a metaphor anyways. John laughed anyway. "Wow Howell, you're that much of a fucking loser!"
Phil growled. "I said to shut up."
John tilted his head, "That's not what you said."
"It's the rude way," Phil pointed out. "Now, leave before I tell a teacher."
John didn't move.
"I'll tell your girlfriend," Phil threatened.
John was gone about five seconds later.
Dan got all of his stuff for class, and as he was passing by Phil, he said, "Don't waste your time. He'll just come back."
Phil didn't see him the rest of the day.
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Phil really wanted to try again.
At lunch, he sat down next to Dan, a table by a window that was always empty except for Dan. It was quite a shame. The window was a nice view.
Dan looked at him for a moment, then went back to reading his book.
Phil, seeing the opportunity for a conversation, asked, "What book is that?"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," Dan said without looking up.
