Boys This Young

7|One Dick 4 Lyfe

"Um, I read your...journal."

Suddenly Arin stopped smiling. "Excuse me?"

Dan bit his bottom lip, "I'm really sorry, Arin. I got curious when you put it in the wrong drawer, and I read some of it. I read your journal, and I violated your privacy, and I am so, so sorry."

Arin was silent, the words seeming to make his skin redder. Dan couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment, or anger. Probably both. Arin was about to go off on him, when Dan looked up at him with those bright eyes.

That changed everything. Arin stared at those eyes, anger leaving his system slowly as he chilled a little, shoulders relaxing and his face following it's example. He couldn't be mad at Dan when he looked at him like that.

"Are you okay?" Dan asked quietly, "It's okay if you're mad, you know. I understand why. I promise I won't ever do it again."

Arin had to look away, clenching his fists at just how sorry and innocent Dan looked. How was he supposed to feel?

Arin took a deep breath, "I...can you answer me one question?"

Dan's head tilted as if confused, "Yeah, anything."

Arin looked down at his desk so he wouldn't have to see his eyes, "Do you...do you feel differently about me after reading it?"

"How do you mean?"

"I'm asking if...if you feel uncomfortable around me now, or...I mean...you know?"

"No, god, no I don't mind at all," Dan assured, "I was distant because I was afraid of hurting you."

"That's...okay," Arin said, "Okay, good."

And for the rest of class, they don't say anything else. Arin didn't look like he wanted to talk anymore.

***

"How's my miserable boy?" Phil chirped over the phone, causing Dan to laugh as he ran his fingers through his hair, "Just fine, Phil."

"Hmmm," Phil hummed, "I called you miserable because I know you're not fine."

Dan shrugged though Phil couldn't see, "I'm fine for a miserable person, I guess."

Phil rolled his eyes, "You don't have to be there, Dan. You could be with me."

"It's not that easy," Dan said, "It just can't be that easy. I'll be even worse off in this world without a college education."

"I didn't need one," Phil said.

"You found a reasonable way out," Dan said, "I have none."

"Daaaaaaaaaan, you could always do YouTube with me! I would love that. You'd probably make the best videos ever."

"That's not possible," Dan said.

"Why not?"

"Because you already make the best videos ever," Dan smiled.

Phil blushed, glad Dan couldn't see, "I don't...shut up."

Dan laughed, "Aw, you're probably blushing."

"Am not," Phil said, "Shhhhh, I am not."

"Do you remember when I was four years old and I told you that I was going to marry you? And then I was six and I did it again with a ring from a little machine?" Dan asked.

"Yeah, actually," Phil said, "I think...I think that you saying that really opened my eyes to who I was."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I was ten years old and was crushing on a boy but I didn't really know it yet. And then you told me that you were going to marry me and it made me feel...confident? I don't know, it just felt less wrong because you just made it seem like it's so perfectly okay for a boy to marry another boy. I even told him I liked him."

Dan smiled, "That's cute. I on the other hand, was completely convinced that there would never be someone I loved more in the universe. And I never lost that feeling with you."

"What are you being all cute for? What is the point?" Phil asked jokingly.

Dan laughed, "I mean that...I've never loved anyone but you. Ever. And...I think I don't know how to do that."

"What...what do you mean?"

"Just...if we ever...broke up...I'd still need you in my life," Dan said.

"That's not going to happen," Phil said, "Unless this is your way of doing it."

"No!" Dan said, "It's just...we're so far apart for so long. Things happen. You've gone through break ups, they can be messy and sad. But if we ever did, for whatever reason, do you promise me that you would stay in my life?"

"Dan...what if in this imaginary situation that would be too hard?"

"Please?" Dan asked, "Can you promise never to leave me?"

Phil sighed, "I don't know where this is going, or why you're suddenly so anxious, but yes, Dan. I don't think I could live without you."

"Remember when we tried to live without each other?" Dan said with a slight smile.

"I'd rather not."

"We really loved each other then," Dan said.

"Well, I still love you now."

"Well, I'll still love you forever."

"To infinity?" Phil asked.

Dan grinned, at his child like ways, "And beyond."

-

AN: I forgot about this. Anyway, what do you think should happen. I am very open to suggestion considering this was not going to be a story.