dirty water : phan

2

;)

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"excuse me?"

"I said strip."

"I'm sorry, you must be misunderstood. I'm Dan Howell, here for an interview? I don't believe-"

"Daniel," the tall man scoffs at my flustered expression, "I am an artist. My gallery opens in 2 months, and I am in need of a muse. I really don't have time for trivial matters, so if you're uninterested in the work I'm doing, I sincerely suggest you go."

I feel the color drain from my face and I desperately wish for a cigarette. "No, I-I'll do it. I just didn't know I'd be starting so soon," I lie.

Phil lets out a long sigh. "I'm glad you've reconsidered. I mean, I didn't really want to rush you or anything, but I am on an unforgiving schedule."

"Of course, of course, I totally understand. I just haven't prepared.."

"There's not much you can do beforehand if you're modeling with just your body and, like, a stool." He snorts, and I blush into a pleasant shade of cerise.

We both settle into a certain uneasy calm until Phil sighs quickly and walks past me and into an unnamed room. "Take off your clothes and get comfortable, I'll just be a minute!" He shouts to me as he crosses the apartment.

I look around at the mostly minimalistic space surrounding me. A beat-up couch, a coffee table covered in sketch pads and crumpled pieces of paper, and an empty corner. Shakily taking a breath, I slowly pull off my shirt and fold it neatly before setting it on the couch next to me.

My contemplative silence is suddenly shattered by Phil's re-entrance into his living room. I jump at his footsteps erupting from the room he was just in. "Shirtless should be fine, Daniel, this is more of a facial piece anyway."

My fading color on my cheeks goes from a light pink to a deep scarlet as he scans his eyes over my chest. He seems to be inspecting me, lifting my arms and spinning me around to look at my bony shoulders and back, twisting my chocolate curls in his fingers. He touches my neck, raising goosebumps on my arms, and I smack him immediately. "Watch it," I mumble a warning, and it's Phil's turn to retreat.

He opens up a large, battered brown box, revealing paints, brushes, spare small canvases, and a miniature bottle of vodka. Handy.

As well as this, he places a medium-sized easel to his right and opens up a tray table to place his palette on to his left.

"Now just.. um.. take a seat on that stool. Yeah, just push it onto the X on the floor and sit," Phil ordered me around as I awkwardly maneuvered the tall chair around the empty corner.

"Now show me your eyelids.. close your eyes, I mean-"

"I've got it," I surprise myself with my confidence as I interrupt his nervous blabber and flutter my eyes shut—not gracefully, but certainly not uncomfortably.

Play the game, Dan. Play the game.

"Alright, now just hold still. I'll let you know when I'm done."

I fight the urge to fidget as Phil begins to paint. I feel his eyes on me, like lasers, and my skin begins to crawl. I'm set on edge with every sigh that escapes his lips. Does he see me the way I see me?

An hour passes.

"Okay, Dan, I'm done with the basic framework and features, so you can open your eyes. I'll just add some details and color and I'll be finished."

I open my eyes and roll my shoulders around after being stiff for so long. It feels good to relax, but the feeling of his eyes on me.. that exhilaration was a different kind of good. Could it be called good?

What is good anymore?

"You are a wonderful muse, Daniel," Phil basically breathes his compliment as he paints, interrupting my thoughts, and I go red again.

"Thanks," I reply, timid and weak again.

"You can take a look around my flat if you care, I'll be a little bit, and there's a lot of my art in those two rooms over there," he lifts his head momentarily to gesture to the doors behind me.

I nod gratefully and run to escape his magnetic gaze in the first room. I'm greeted with easels, easels, and more easels, colorfully stacked and leaned against the wall and strewn across the floor. It's overwhelming, his art surrounding me, and I almost break into a nervous sweat. In the midst of everything, one piece catches my eye, stopping me in my tracks- a boy with bleached blonde hair and turquoise eyes, standing in front of a beautiful night sky. Another muse?

Phil's voice derails my train of thought and calls me back into his front room. I shove my shaking hands into my pockets.

As I shut the door behind me, he turns the easel to me and smiles weakly. His hands are noticeably steady, practiced, strong."Here's the finished piece."

My jaw nearly hits the floor and at this point, my bashful blush is out of control. "Phil, that's, I-I mean.. I've never-"

"I know, it needs some perfecting and I don't think I got your nose right. I.. I'll fix it," Phil rotates the canvas back to him and begins to dip his brush in a new color.

I struggle to get words out, choking and sputtering for a few seconds before I finally say, "Oh my god, stop painting. That is fucking incredible."

Phil looks up, tilting his head and grinning sheepishly. "You really think so?"

"I know so," I smile gently.

He sighs and wipes his hands on his paint-stained jeans. "I was hoping you'd say that. I don't make mistakes, after all," he says with a smirk.

I begin to pull my shirt over my head when I hear Phil's low whisper, saying, "Must be why I chose you."

"You know, I've never been a muse. Like, ever."

"That's actually surprising, considering the skill level you portrayed and your... satisfying figure."

Once again my face beams brighter than a tomato and I chuckle lightly, nervously. "You don't have to flatter me, Phil."

"I mean it," he looks at me straight(hehe) in the eyes and I feel a bead of sweat fall down the side of my face.

I swallow hard and wipe the droplets off my brow bone while Phil begins packing up his paints and easel. "Dan, would you like to have dinner with me?"

"T-tonight? Well, I'm meant to have dinner with my family and-"

"No, no, no, tomorrow night. I'll pick you up at 6?"

"Sure. I mean, yes. Yeah, I'll send you my address," I respond shortly to avoid embarrassing myself any further.

"I'm already looking forward to it, Daniel."

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happy demi pride day!! hope you all like this chapter :)