The Wolf of The Woods

Chapter Twenty Three: Escape

A/N: Oh boy this chapter took ages to write and is actually quite long, well for me anyways. Have fun reading, hope you suffer all the pain I endured writing this for you...
I mean uh... have a great day.

Ps: art by @HannahsaFangirl on twitter :)
-

Monday morning came surprisingly fast. It seemed like it had only been a few hours since the disastrous events that had happened the last time they went to school, and now it was already time to go back.

Dan, naturally, had spent the majority of the weekend panicking and that was exactly what he was doing now. As he sat slouched on the floor, leaning up against the kitchen counter with his shirt half untucked and his tie not yet tied, he mumbled, sulking to himself quietly.
'Are you sure we have to go in today Phil?'

Phil was perched on the bed on the other side of he room; he seemed to have progressed further in the task of getting ready than Dan had.
'Dan' he began 'it was you who said we should go back today you know'
'I know, I know it's just...'
'You're not having second thoughts are you?'
Dan sighed, looking up guiltily.

'I've told you this before and I'll tell you again, you can do this'
'But Phil...'
'No buts, come on we're leaving before you can talk yourself out of it'
Phil yanked on Dan's hand helping him up and began dragging him towards the door.

'Phil I'm not...'
'Not what?' Phil stopped and turned to face him. 'Oh right, let me get that for you'
He reached down to tie Dan's tie as Dan tucked the rest of his shirt in.

'I have faith in you Dan, stay strong' he stated proudly, then proceeded to ruffle up Dan's hair in what seemed to be his own way of removing the slight seriousness in the atmosphere.
'God, you're acting like a dad' Dan snorted. 'Come on'

-

The two hadn't been walking for very long but they'd stayed quiet for the journey so far, just thoughtfully and silently gazing up at the trees and yet still enjoying each other's presence. Phil in particular appeared to have something on his mind. Something seemed to have resonated with him during the last conversation they'd shared.

'Dan?'
'Mm'
'Do you think I'd make a good dad?'
He flinched, expecting Dan to splutter or get embarrassed like he usually did when the topic of anything personal was brought up. Surprisingly though he didn't, he simply turned to face the other boy, looking him softly in the eyes.

'Yeah, I think you would' he smiled 'you're very caring and patient but also fun which I think is a good combination for being a parent, plus you always know how to help and comfort me when there's something wrong, it's like you know what the problem is without me even telling you'
Phil grinned.

'But Phil'
'Yeah?'
'If you ever become a parent, promise me you won't be anything like my parents...'

'I... Dan'
Phil gazed further into the other man's eyes, trying to gauge how he felt on this situation, it didn't take much to see that he felt very strongly about what he'd just said. 'I'll try. With all my heart'

'I know you will'

'Okay now come on we're going to be late, I bet that conversation was secretly just a way of stalling so we don't have to go wasn't it?' Phil laughed.
'Hey, No it wasn't! Anyway, we're nearly there.

-

'Guys!' Cried a voice that they were met with as soon as they entered the building. It was Louise. She could be seen dashing down the corridor, swerving through people and around lockers and causing complete and utter chaos to be quite frank.