Bloom >> phan

Ashes, Ashes, Dan Always Falls Down

Phil was shocked to his core. His heart was pounding in his chest as he held the other man in his arms under the amber lit street lamp.
"Phil?!?"  The boy screeched.
"Daniel?!" Phil stood the taller man up straight and let go of him. "Wait... You're the awkward guy from my work! No wonder you fell on me, mate, you can't even stand up straight." Phil saw a pang of hurt go through Dan's face, so he quickly apologized. Phil may be a rebel by societal standards, but he was no jerk.
"I'msosorryIdidn'tmeantorunintoyouIhopeIdidn'truinyoureveningandI-"
Phil put his hand over Daniel's mouth to shut him up. He's such a mess... I can't help but be sorry for him. Once Phil was sure that Daniel was done freaking out, he took his hand off of the other boy's face, and used the other to fix his long, flat-ironed, black fringe, and he rested it back on his side.
"Hey," Phil started, "you look a bit flustered. Do you need any help getting home?"
"I think I'm okay, thanksbutIcAN'TBREATHE!" Daniel was running his fingers through his long, brown hair in a frantic attempt to try and calm himself.
Daniel, what the hell? "I'll take you home, Daniel, you don't have to worry.  Just tell me what direction it's in.  Everythin'll be ace."
     Phil noticed Daniel was shivering.  He wasn't sure if it was the weather or if the other man really was as panicked as his coworkers are when he comes in late, but Phil slipped off his black plaid flannel shirt and draped it over taller boy's shoulders.  Still darting his eyes to and from Phil cautiously, the pastel boy pointed to the right and stayed where he was standing, indicating that Phil should make the first move forward.  This is going to be harder than I thought.  Phil started on his left foot and looked behind him to make sure Daniel was following.  They then slowly made their way towards Daniel's apartment in the moonlight, decorated with a thousand shining stars.
     "You can just call me Dan if you'd like," Daniel spoke as he slowed down in front of a medium sized building, which Phil took to be the boy's home.  Dan...   Nice..
     "Well, if you freak out again, you know where to find me," Phil sweetly said.  "I'll just go now-"
     "Wait... Um.. Sorry.. I'm so awkward.  You need to get out more, Dan," he mumbled to himself. "Just...  Thank you for the help.  I appreciate it."
     "It's no problem at all," Phil stated in his genuinely polite way.  He started left to his own apartment, Dan still looking on from the apartment building door.  Phil turned his head around for a second, still walking.  "And thanks for the coffee this morning."
     Phil began the hike back to "The Place," which he had named the flat he shared with his best friends, "The" and "Ace" (the P and L belonging to him), with his flannel still draped over Dan's shoulders.  He didn't look back, but Phil was sure that the boy was still standing there.  That was different... But I can't help but wonder when I'll be able to see him again.