The Wolf of The Woods

Chapter Ten: Teamwork

Dan didn't want to let go.

He wanted to stay there and hug Phil forever as if that would make all of his problems go away. Phil was still sobbing gently against Dan not wanting to speak. It was Dan who spoke first.

'Phil...' he began 'Would you maybe like to stay at mine tonight?'
Phil sniffed and smiled slightly.
'Yeah, we've never had a proper sleepover before, it'd be...'

Phil lifted his head from Dan's shoulder and gazed into his friend's eyes.
'Fun?'
'Amazing!'
Dan stood up and stretched his arm out. Phil took his hand and they started walking in the direction of the treehouse.

Surprisingly, Phil didn't let go of Dan's hand the whole way back. It seemed to comfort him.

And Dan didn't mind, of course, but he couldn't help feeling a little nervous... were his hands sweaty? Was he gripping too tight?

Eventually they reached Dan's home and began climbing up the ladder.
'After you' Dan said.

He looked up at Phil as he was climbing and became lost in thoughts of love and pity for his friend... Wait did he just say love?! No no, it wasn't like that, it was just a strong feeling of friendship not love, of course not.

Dan drew himself away from his mind and clambered up after the darker haired boy. He couldn't help but realise how much less elegantly he climbed up. Phil had made it seem effortless and graceful, he'd never really noticed it before.

-

'Don't you have any food?' Phil asked.
They'd been back at Dan's for a few hours now. It was beginning to get dark and both boys were starving hungry.

'Um, I don't think so' Dan replied looking embarrassed and turning away from Phil slightly as his cheeks flushed red.
'Hey wait didn't you leave your lunch today? After our little, er... argument'

Dan suddenly remembered how Louise and Phil had tried to make him eat and how he'd gotten angry and walked off.
'Oh yeah, you're right! I really am sorry about that' Dan said awkwardly as he rummaged through his bag.

'It's fine, its fine. You know you're quite cute when you're angry'
Dan froze.

'What?'
He had turned an extremely bright shade of red now and Phil had definitely noticed. He didn't reply though, he just giggled mercilessly. Dan wished he wouldn't tease him.

'Here' He threw Phil a cereal bar from his bag as he opened a packet of crisps for himself 'this will have to do, we can find some more food in the morning'

'How are we going to do that?'
'Well, we're going to have to steal it'
Phil paused for a moment and Dan wondered if he'd been a little to honest.

'Ooo that sounds fun!'

Surprisingly, Phil sounded excited. Dan laughed.
'Come on, we should probably get some sleep then, if you want to go around running from the law tomorrow'
Phil smiled and then let out a long yawn.

'Er Dan, where am I supposed to sleep? You only have one bed.'
'Oh uh, well you can sleep at the other end of mine if you like. It's not the biggest bed in the world and it's not very...'

Phil dived onto Dan's bed and clambered under the covers.
'Hey it's comfy!'
Dan chuckled as he climbed into the other side.

'Hey Dan?' Phil said sleepily.
'Yeah, Phil?' Dan yawned.
'Thank you'
'For what?'
'For letting me sleep here of course! I couldn't think of anything worse than going back to my parents house, who knows what's going on there, my dad might even be back. Oh it's all my fault for being stupid'