Meeting Him

Anyone but me

I looked behind me. I looked to my left. I looked to my right. Yeah. He was looking straight at me.

"Mr. Lester, could you be a dear and show Daniel around the school. I'll write you a pass for your next class."

"Yes, ma'am I'd be glad too." I regretted my answer as soon as I said it.

The bell suddenly rang and I jumped. Dan smirked.

"After you sir," Dan said cheekily. I knew at that moment that I would not like showing him around, no matter how much I would like missing maths.

I picked up my bag and led him out of the room.

"So the school is divided into 4 wings one for each house, we're in wing 2 which is house 2. The houses don't really matter that much except for your homeroom class. Who's your homeroom teacher?"

"You don't have to show me around if you don't want to." Dan made it evident that he hadn't listened to a word I said.

"Yes, I do."

"Because Ms. Jackson told you to?" Dan let out a low chuckle.

"Yes, because Ms. Jackson told me too."

"Do you listen to all of your teachers?"

"Do you?"

"What do you think?" He gave me a testing look.

Now, it is worth noting, post story, that I didn't actually pay attention to the rumors about Dan Howell. Whether or not I should have is up to debate but I do know that my answer to Dan's question proved to him that I didn't care about rumors. Whether or not that should have, well, is up to debate.

I looked at him straight in the eye and I told him, "I don't care if you did at your old school but you should now. It'd be in your best interest to stay out of trouble so you can stay in school."

Dan smirked. He had the kind of face that could make or break your heart, I saw that in his eyes. And his smirk, Jesus Christ, his smirk was terrifying. He smirked like he knew all my secrets and all of my fears. He smirked like he was ready to give me new ones.

Then he grew into a friendly grin, "Maybe you're right. But I guess you'll have to see if I listen now won't you?"

Then he let me finish showing him around.

By the time we were done the period had ended and I said a short goodbye and scurried on to my next class.

At lunch, Chris, PJ and I sat at our table together, immediately launching into a conversation about Dan.

"I looked him up online, he was involved in that bomb threat to the state house a few years ago," Chris said.

PJ did math in his head for a moment,"When he was 12?"

Well, 13, he was a suspect," Chris corrected, "they suspected him because of his ties to gang violence."

"That was online?" I asked.

"Yeah."

Our conversation was cut short when PJ spotted Dan walked straight towards us.

"Speak of the devil," Chris said under his breath.

Dan smiled at me, "hey tour guide, could you tell me where the gym is again."

"Down the hall, to the left. There's a big sign that says gym."

"Thanks, mate." Dan walked off.

Chris looked at me mischievously, "thanks, mate."

"We're not mates, Chris," I looked back down at my food.

"Whatever you say, Mate."

"Fuck off, Chris."

PJ suddenly turned his head towards me, "Was that a curse word, Phillip?"

"I think it was," said Chris.

"I'm going to the bathroom."

After lunch was homeroom. Which was *usually* a class where Chris, PJ, and I continued our lunch conversation and chilled. Lucky us though, because Mr. Way was standing the front of the classroom with his "I have an announcement" face and I didn't like it. I didn't like it a bit.

I didn't like it, and I liked it even less when I saw Dan standing next to his desk. Must he soil every room?

When the bell had rung and everyone had shuffled in, Mr. Way beckoned dan to the front of the classroom.

"Hey everyone, I'd like to introduce you to your newest classmate, Daniel!"

The students who hadn't already met him stared with wide eyes. The students who had, looked at Mr. Way if not only to avoid the gaze of Dan.

"Would you like to say anything to the class about yourself, Daniel?" Mr. Way asked him.

"I go by Dan."

"Okay, well, why don't you just sit where ever you'd like."

Dan sat down at the back of the class and I didn't care enough to dwell on it.