Secrets to Keep (Phan)

Chapter 17

When I awoke the next morning, it was a pleasant surprise to be met with Dan's already open, chestnut brown eyes. I always woke up first, I'm not a morning person or anything, but more so than Dan at least, which is why it just seemed different for him to be up first.

"Did anyone ever tell you that you drool when you sleep?" the tired boy asked, a small smirk appearing on his lips.

"I do not." I retorted, watching as Dan reached his finger up, and scratched at something dry at the corner of my mouth.

"So I'm guessing you got up for a messy midnight snack then?" Dan asked, and I snuck my tongue between my lips, swiping it across his finger. "Eww, Phil!" he exclaimed, wiping his hand on my pillow while I just grinned at him, our faces a few inches apart.

"I love you." I practically whispered, poking the dimple that stood out more on Dan's left cheek.

"I love you too." he grinned, and I placed my lips affectionately on his. He smiled up at me after I had pulled away, and I ran my fingers lightly over the purple and brown bruise that covered the side of Dan's jaw.

"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked softly, noting the other bruises and cuts that littered the boy's limbs and back; it all seemed oddly familiar.

"I'm fine, it's just a couple of bruises." Dan said, brushing it off quickly, and I frowned a little.

"I know, but do you want to... talk about it... I mean if you don't want to, I'm not going to make you... but I'll listen... if you do." I rambled, watching as Dan broke our gaze and looked down a little sadly.

"Not right now." he mumbled, and I pulled him closer, kissing the top of his curly head.

"I shouldn't have fallen asleep." I mumbled out-loud, though I didn't exactly mean to.

"What?" Dan questioned, the breath from his words blowing across the very small amount of chesthair I had.

"If I wouldn't have fallen asleep on the couch, I could've gotten there a lot earlier than I did. I'm sorry." I added, feeling Dan shift in my arms, so that his slightly watery eyes met mine.

"You know I don't blame you. You shouldn't blame yourself either." he replied.

"You were there for over four hours, hell you were missing for nearly eight... I just feel like if I wasn't sleeping, I could've helped you sooner." I muttered, feeling guilty despite being told not to blame myself.
But how could I not?

Dan had been taken right out from under my nose and I didn't even realize it because I was too busy taking a power nap.

I was so stupid.

"Stop it, it's not your fault. You couldn't have possibly known and I want you to stop thinking like that." Dan mumbled, and I leant over to plant a kiss on his cheek.

"Alright." I answered, though guilt still wavered in my chest.

"You're all stubbly." he complained with a joking smirk, pushing my face away from his.

"And you've got the face of a ten year old." I retorted, rubbing my thumb over his hairless jawline.

"Shut up." he giggled and brushed my hand away, so I moved it to draw carefree shapes along his back.

"You know I think you're beautiful."

"Can you even see me? I thought you took out your contacts."

"I can see you because you're close, but everything further than a foot away is just a bunch of blurry colors and splotches." I responded, watching a smile and faint blush fall over Dan's face.