24 Hours - Phan

3:00pm

Phil wanders around the market with a basket in one hand and his crumpled list in the other. He grabs a bag of sugar off of the shelf and adds it to the already heavy basket. He spots bags of marshmallows and throws one in as well. He consults the list one final time when he notices that Dan had added 'cereal that Phil won't eat'.

"That doesn't cover much," he says to himself as he heads to the cereal aisle. After much contemplation, he grabs a box of plain Rice Crispies for Dan and a box of Frosted Flakes for himself. He balances the bulky basket and dodges a few of the small children darting through the aisle.

He really wishes Dan would have wanted to go with him today. There is something about the two of them doing something so domestic together that makes him happy. Sure, the public appearances and traveling together to promote their YouTube channel are fun, but it's the day to day normal living activities that Phil loves so much. Maybe it was such a guilty pleasure because he knew that's as close to being a regular couple as they would ever be.

He gets in line and when it's his turn, starts taking things out of his basket. He sighs sadly as he watches all of his purchases get rung up: the ingredients for the stir fry Dan likes for Phil to cook for him, Ribena, Dan's favorite cookies and crisps.

As he's waiting for the checker to finish, his thoughts wander back to what Dan said earlier. Phil's just not buying his 'I need to get a few things done' excuse. Dan's ability to procrastinate is matched by no one, so Phil starts wondering why he really didn't want to come along. Maybe he didn't like running errands together for the exact same reasons Phil did like doing them together. The platonic branding is so important to Dan, maybe he doesn't want to be seen doing such domestic activities in public?

He pays for his things and lugs the bags out of the market and walks next door to the coffee shop. He glances around as he waits in the queue for his turn. Why does it always seem like everyone is part of a couple? Surely that wasn't the case, he thinks, but his surroundings seem to be proving him wrong today.

There is an older couple at the front of the line debating if the pastries in the case are fresh. A husband and wife are at a nearby table trying to drink their coffees while keeping them out of the reach of a frantic toddler. The men in front of him have their arms linked together while they trade knowing looks at each other.

Could we ever be like that?

Phil sighs somberly and focuses on the menu board even though he always gets the same thing. As the men in front pay for their coffee and move aside, he steps up and orders a Venti iced caramel macchiato.

Waiting for the drink, he tries to give himself a pep talk. He has a wonderful life, a great job, and fantastic supportive family. And most of all, he has his best friend Dan. Wanting more would put the best parts of his life at risk. No, this is enough.