Don't let go

Chapter 3

*Phil's POV*

After lunch and all of the wonderful classes that came afterward, I was ready to go home and watch some anime. I had lost Dan is the crowd, but he probably just went home.

A couple minutes after the final bell had rung, I had already said goodbye to Tyler, Troye, and Louise, and I was all alone in the empty hallway, trying to figure out how to transport that many books with the least amount of injuries. I walked out of the school with a very full backpack and already sore shoulders. Why is there so much homework? I just got here!

My thoughts were cut off by a conversation between two jocks, something about a new fitness regimen that their coach made. They were standing right in my way, too.

It's okay, Phil, they probably won't know who you are, so why would they stop you? Just stay calm and it will all be okay. 

I walked forward a couple of steps, trying not to get noticed by the two giant bags of muscle. That plan completely failed, however, when Meat Head #1 turned around and said to Meat Head #2, "Isn't he that fag who held hands with Howell today?"

Nonononono please just let me go home.

Meat Head #2 smirked, and not the way Dan does it, where is all cute and nice. No, this smirk was cold and cruel. "I think it is. What do you have to say on the subject, gaylord?"

I was just about to stutter out a squeak of terror when a comforting voice said, "I'm surprised you even know how to use the word 'subject' in a sentence, Richard, or should I say Dick, because you sure are acting like one."

I sighed in relief.

Dan.

He walked up to us, winking at me once, then shielding me from the other two. The boy, who I now knew as Richard, said," What are you doing here, Howell? Or should I say Gay-ell?" He laughed along with the original Meat Head.

This is when I found the courage to speak,  carefully enunciating every word. "That joke was neither clever nor funny. A better joke would have been perhaps Homo Howell, but you chose to go with the idiotic option instead. Please, don't say anything more, you'll lower the IQ of the whole street."

I could see Dan shaking from trying not to laugh out loud, and I was withholding a smile as well. The two jocks were still processing the words I had just said.

While they were distracted, Dan grabbed my hand and whispered, "Run."

We both sprinted away, I was following Dan because I had no idea where we were going. Once we were far enough away from the school, we slowed. "W-where are we g-going, Dan?" I said, panting.

"My house, of course. Where else?" He winked at me again, and I blushed. We walked up to his front door,  and oh my fudge, his house was big.

It looked like it was smaller than a mansion, but it seemed bigger than what you could classify as a big house. It had a white painted exterior and a teal trim. I'm pretty sure I  had stood there for a complete minute before I noticed Dan was staring at me, probably waiting for me to say something.

Now is your chance, Phil! Say something witty to make him laugh! Or maybe something sophisticated so you look smart.

I ingeniously said, "W-What?"

My inner self cringed a little bit. 

Dan, startled out of a daze, looked flustered and mumbled something I couldn't hear under his breath. Then he spoke. "Do you wanna, I don't know, go inside? I don't think anyone's home, and we have cookies..." He trailed off, his cheeks turning pinkish.

Aww, he's cute when he blushes!

Wait.... Why is he blushing? Did I embarrass him? Oh crap, I embarrass him! That's why he doesn't want me to see his family!

"Um, yeah sure. I can never say no to cookies."

And with that, I followed him into his home, internally screaming the entire time.