The Wolf of The Woods

Chapter Fourteen: Lovely sunset isn't it?

There was silence then.

No sound at all could but heard with the exception of the flowing water coming from a nearby stream and a gentle chorus of birdsong.

The sun had began to sink into the horizon, projecting light onto the trees. Not that Dan noticed any of this at all. He was much to busy panicking about what he'd just done. Or rather, said.

'I'm in love with you Phil' he replayed the phrase in his mind repeatedly, completely forgetting about the man stood gawping in disbelief next to him.

How had he just outright said something like that? Was he insane? Now he was going to get rejected and probably lose the only friendship he'd ever had.

Phil's face of shock quickly turned into a look of sincerity.
'Dan...' he muttered breathlessly.
Dan cut him off mid sentence.
'Are we er... carrying on with the game?'

Dan felt like slapping himself, of all the things he had to blurt out. Of course he didn't want to carry on with that stupid game, not after... that.

Phil chuckled, seeming as annoyingly unphased by anything as ever.
'We could just do one more... but I say it's your turn again'

'What!' Dan spluttered 'but I just...'
'Shhh' Phil pressed his index finger against Dan's lip.
'Now' he began 'Dare or dare'

'What?'
Dan was thoroughly confused.
'Answer the question'
Dan looked up at him. He had that god awful smirk on his face again.
'Dare...' he said curiously.

'I dare you to let me kiss you'

'Wait, w,w what? I...' Dan spluttered. And then he just said...

'Okay'

He stood stiff and motionless. Why did he answer so fast? Perhaps he had misheard. Phil surely couldn't have just said that. Maybe if he just stood there and did nothing Phil would repeat the question.

But Phil didn't appear to be repeating anything. He was leaning closer towards him and Dan's mind was racing. With every moment he was becoming more and more sure that he hadn't misheard Phil... that Phil actually wanted to...

Dan's flurry of thoughts came to a halt. He felt a sudden warmth press against his lips making them tingle. His eyes fluttered shut.

Phil was kissing him and it was. Amazing. Dan wrapped his arms around Phil, mainly because he thought he was actually going to fall over because he felt so dizzy. And Phil's fingers traced through his hair and down his back.

Dan had always thought he didn't know how to kiss. His lack of romantic relationships really leaving him clueless about the whole thing.

But for some reason it was working. He was kissing Phil back, returning the motion and the heat of the other man's lips was spreading all over his body, making him feel warm inside.

The light all around them was glowing in the setting sunlight which was fading away through the trees almost like it was trying to give them some privacy.

It couldn't have been more perfect. Moments like this were only supposed to happen in movies.

Phil pulled away after a little while and looked longingly into Dan's eyes. Dan hadn't wanted the moment to end but as his brain seemingly switched back on, he thought of something.

What if they could have more moments like that? Surely Phil hadn't just kissed him for the hell of it, surely this meant...

Phil, for once, seemed just as lost for words as Dan. Both boys had their eyes locked on each other, their lips both curled up into a smiles. Dan's mind was still trying to process what had just happened.

'Dan I...'
Phil looked timidly at the floor and Dan felt a strange surge of confidence that he'd never felt before

'I think I love you too' Phil said. Then he looked up again and blushed. Dan tried not to laugh at how adorable and scared he looked.

'There's no need to be embarrassed you know, I was so scared that you'd judge me when I told you and the whole time you were actually in the same boat as me' He chuckled.
'I'm sorry' Phil replied, smiling up at the the brown haired boy.

With that, Dan threw his arms around Phil again, squeezing him tight and resting his head on the boy's shoulder. Neither of them spoke for at least a few minutes.

'Look at us, we're such dorks' Dan whispered. 'If we would have just told each other from the start neither of us would have had to be stuck with hiding the secret'

Phil chuckled and then shivered.
'I hate to ruin the moment Dan, but it's getting dark, I'm freezing and we both look like prunes we've been in the water so long.

Dan looked down at his body and then Phil's, Phil was right they were both wrinkled from the water. However, Dan didn't seem to process this due to something else that had just occurred to him. They were both still naked.

'Oh... er yeah you're right! Come on let's go!' he stuttered and started running back to dry land, hardly containing his blush.

He clambered out of the water and began drying himself off with a towel, trying desperately not to look up at Phil as he did the same. He really didn't know why he expected Phil not to notice.

'What's so interesting about that floor that you gotta stare at then huh?'
'Um, nothing'
'You're cute when you're embarrassed you know'

'Is that so?' Dan smirked looking up for the first time only to bury his head in his hands shyly after seeing Phil still naked.

'I don't bite Dan' Phil stepped towards Dan and lifted his head by the chin 'unless you want me to' he said in a seductive voice. Dan snorted and pushed him away.
'Get dressed you nerd and then we'll talk'

Dan felt much more comfortable when they both had their clothes on. Though his brain couldn't help but think back to seeing Phil's body. He was so pretty. Of all the people he could have fallen in love with, what did Phil see in him?

'Are we going back home then?' Asked Phil smiling fondly.
'What? Oh yeah' Said Dan, smiling back.

-

After walking for a little, while the two seemed to have taken hold of each other's hands. It was almost effortlessly, as if by instinct. It really didn't feel as if they'd only just started, well... whatever this was.

'So are we... you know, a thing now?' Dan asked, carelessly voicing his question. He didn't really feel embarrassed about what he said to Phil as much now but was still kind of scared for the answer. Phil laughed.

Dan loved Phil's laugh, the way his tongue poked out and his eyes lit up... he was getting distracted again wasn't he?

'Well unless you hated that kiss, I think it safe to say yes' Phil answered jokingly. Dan rested his head in Phil's shoulder for a moment and sighed in contentment.

The sun was well and truly hidden now. And the moon was rising, a great glistening sphere that shined like a disco ball. Dan looked up at it thoughtfully.

It was strange. He'd always hated the moon (for obvious reasons), but now he couldn't help but notice it's beauty, the way it's silver glow lit up the slowly darkening sky. He didn't even notice that they'd reached the treehouse, stopping next to Phil and continuing to gaze up at it.

'Pretty isn't it?' Phil exclaimed.
Dan turned and looked at him, the reflection of the moon sparking in his eyes.
'Beautiful'