The Wolf of The Woods

Chapter Eighteen: School Sucks

'Psst, Dan' Phil whispered in the other boy's ear 'wake up'.

It was a week later now, early morning and the two were laying side by side in bed as usual. What wasn't the usual though, was the time at which Phil was waking Dan up. Sure, Dan's opinion of Phil had always been that he woke up much to early but this was ridiculous. What time was it anyway, like seven?!

'Hmm' Dan mumbled in an annoyed, half conscious reply.
'We have to get ready' Phil laughed as he patiently tried to make the other boy comply.
'For what you maniac it's so early?'
'Don't tell me you've forgotten already?' Phil sighed.
'Forgotten what?'
'That we have school today sleepyhead'
'What!?'
Dan's eyes snapped open at that point.

He rose to sit up next to Phil like a ghost rising from its grave. Now that he was slightly more awake it came back to him. How could he have forgotten that today was that day? He'd been dreading it for the whole week for crying out loud.

As Dan got ready that morning he kept up the same undead like trance that he'd had when he'd first awoken, treading round the place like a hopeless zombie. He could have partially envied a zombie at that moment in time. At least zombies didn't have to go to school.

'Dan come on it's not that bad' Phil piped up after seeing that Dan was nearly ready. This was probably his third or forth time trying to coax his boyfriend back to the world of the living that morning. 'Besides you get to spend break and lunch with me, it's not like you won't see me all day'

'I know Phil but it's not who I won't get to see that's bothering me, it's who I will... I don't think I can take another confrontation with Seamus and his idiot associates, I feel like over the last month or so I've really grown more confident you know? But now I have to go back to that place and take shit from those mindless bullies'

'Dan I know what you're saying but...'
'I don't think I can take being called a fag one more time and having my head shoved down a toilet Phil, time after time it happens and I haven't even told them anything, what if... what if they did find out anything about me... about us. Phil I don't know what i'd do'
Phil looked over at him with a weak smile.

'I don't know Dan but I'll tell you something. You're right, you have grown, you've grown so so much, as a person and as my boyfriend so I'll tell you what you're gonna do now, you're gonna walk into school with your head held high okay? And if anyone says anything to you I'll give them a piece of my mind and you can count in that!'

Dan didn't know how to respond to that. Heck he didn't even realize that he'd ended up spilling all of his worries about returning to school until he was half way through talking.

The main reason he didn't know how to respond though, was because he'd never seen Phil act so protective and assertive. He wasn't sure exactly what he thought about it, he knew he liked it however. He liked knowing that he was Phil's number one priority, that Phil would be there to protect him no matter what.

It was also at this moment that Dan realized that he'd yet to respond to Phil's proud speech, drawing his thoughts away from the man and looking up to gaze at the real thing instead.

'Thank you Phil' he said simply because It was the first thing that came to him. He meant it though, meant it with all his heart.

'Come on then tough guy, let's get going' Phil smirked as he handed Dan his bag that he'd taken the time to pack for him the previous night. The two walked out of the door then, Dan's head now filled with confidence from Phil's words instead of the opposing. It was funny how Phil's words could comfort him so easily.

-

They arrived at school with little time to spare, just having time to walk through the gates and get inside before the bell sounded around the area.