dirty water : phan

3

enjoy >:}

-

"Ah fuck," I exclaim, burning my finger for the third time trying to straighten my hair.

I feel my phone buzz in my pocket.

From - Phil
I'm on my way. Be ready.

After finally getting my hair to lay down flat, I struggle to get my shaking hands through the sleeves of my favorite sweater. I stand and stare at myself, fully dressed, in the mirror. I poke at my chapped lips and in the hollows of my cheeks, making sure I look decently presentable.

I hear a loud car horn from the street in front of my house and rush to grab my things.

"Where'd the curls go?" Phil whines jokingly as I get into his car, pouting and wiping away fake tears.

I sigh and laugh weakly, wiping my sweaty palms on my dark jeans. "I wanted to look like a normal human in public, Phil."

He starts up his car and clears his throat. "Well, I think you look moo-ey calientee either way."

I roll my eyes and he drives quickly out my neighborhood. "Soooo where are we going exactly?"

"You'll see," Phil says casually, adding, "I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."

-

"Riverside Gallery? What are we doing here, exactly?" I stand confused outside the small building.

Phil smiles proudly and punches my shoulder playfully, making me flinch. "This is where my art is gonna be. In a few months, this is going to be the home for my paintings. It's gonna be brilliant."

My mouth gapes at the sound of his accomplishments. "That is brilliant. That's... w-wow, Phil, I'm impressed."

He swings back and forth on his feet, blushing. "Thanks. Wanna go inside?"

"Sure," I stare at my feet before Phil pushes me toward the entrance, startling me again.

We browse all the art currently hanging in the gallery until we reach a dark, almost haunting painting in the back of the room. It's a girl, in black and white, straddling a man in a bed. The room they're in is messy and unkempt. She seems to be dominating him and it almost looks as if he's.. scared? Surprised? Not in control?

Suddenly my mind is flooded by images of her, all-encompassing and overwhelming like a storm cloud. The cyclone of her memories engulfs me and it's too much. She starts to take over my mind again and I feel myself freezing up and sweating and gasping deeply and I can't breathe and there's no air there's no air there's no air and-

"Dan? Dan, are you okay?" Phil has his arm around me, and he tries to comfort me as I calm down from the panic I was just in.

"Sorry, I-I don't know what happened. I just saw this and it made me think and..," I choke up as I begin to explain.

Phil guides me out of the gallery, gently, his hand still gripping my shoulder with a surprising strength and assurance.

"Let's go get something to eat. Is that okay? Are you okay?"