The Road to Happiness is Full of Potholes

Chapter Four

Four months passed, and Phil and Adam were closer than ever. Dan had met Adam, and he had to admit that the guy was nice. He was attractive too, and Dan couldn't help but feel a bit threatened.

Dan and Phil had definitely grown a bit apart over the past four months. How couldn't you, when you were used to spending every waking moment together, and now one had a boyfriend? Dan tried to tell himself this, that it was all normal and to be expected, but he still found himself angry and resentful.

Dan had begun to spend more time with Louise, hanging out with her and Darcy. Today he was there, trying to ignore the fact that Phil had spent the night at Adam's, and Dan hadn't seen him in over 24 hours, with not even a text to show.

"Dan..." Louise started, after he checked his phone for probably the fifth time in one minute.

"What?" He asked, feigning innocence.

"Has he still not texted?" Dan sighed, giving up the pretense that he was checking for anything other than a text from Phil.

"They've started saying the 'L' word." Dan said lowly, still looking at his dark screen. Louise took a few moments before responding.

"Is that such a bad thing?" She asked, craning her neck down so Dan was forced to look up and meet her gaze. He threw his hands up in frustration.

"I don't know, Louise! I don't know! We barely even talk anymore. He's always out, and when he's home he's texting Adam! The fans have even started to notice, Phil's distant and he... I don't know. He's changed." Dan mumbled, looking down again.

"Dan... I know Phil told you about how he felt..." Dan's eyes snapped up to meet Louise's in surprise. "Do you think you're feeling this way... well, because he's treating you as a friend now?" Dan scowled. No, that wasn't it... was it? Had Dan subconsciously enjoyed being pined after? Having Phil tend to his every wish and constantly be looking for Dan's approval, since he wanted more? When Dan thought about it, they did have a more 'normal' friendship now.

He hated that. He hated normal. He had always prided himself on how close he and Phil were, and he didn't want them to be 'normal'. Dan shook his head at the ground, slumping his shoulders.

"I don't know, Lou. Maybe."

"Do you think... and tell me if I'm out of line... but do you think maybe you miss that feeling because deep down, you like him too?" Dan looked back up at her, eyes cold.

"You are out of line." He confirmed, and Louise nodded slightly, pressing her lips together in a line. "And no, I don't like him like that! I never have, we're just..." Dan trailed off, because what were they? They weren't just friends. Best friends had seemed to encompass what they were well enough before, but now that they were at a more standard place for normal best friends, Dan realized they had been something different. He didn't know what to call it.

"We were just... I don't know. I don't know, Lou. All I know is that I hate Adam, and I hate that I hate him, because he's nice and he makes Phil happy, but I just can't stand seeing them together, and I miss Phil, and..."

"Dan..." Louise's tone was soft, and a bit condescending, but when Dan looked up and met her eyes, he knew she wasn't trying to be malicious.

"What?" He asked quietly.

"I think you need to talk to Phil. Tell him how you've been feeling. Even if you don't understand it, at least it'll help Phil know that you've been feeling neglected." Dan thought on this. His immediate response was to say no, but the more he thought of it the more it seemed like maybe it was the right idea.

"Okay... yeah I'll talk to him. I'm gonna go... see if he's back at the flat." Dan mumbled, getting up and shoving his phone in his pocket.

"Good luck." Louise whispered as she pulled him into a hug. "If you need somewhere to stay tonight, my door is always open." Dan nodded in appreciation, and made his way to the tube, where he rode back to he and Phil's flat.