untitled // phan

mellifluous

mellifluous // chapter seven

The next morning, it had been easier for Dan to get out of bed. He had almost felt energised, even. But only almost. However, he didn't feel like staring at the ceiling for the rest of the day, so that was something.

Margaret was standing behind the counter while Dan was filling the shelves with some new books that had just arrived. It wasn't Dan's favourite work because the boxes were quite heavy and he always had to figure out the books' genres, but it was a good way to waste time.

The little bell above the door rang, however, Dan didn't turn his head. Today it was Margaret's turn to take care of costumers, not his.

"Hello, sir," he heard her say.

"Good afternoon," another, politely-toned voice said, and Dan recognised it immediately.

Phil smiled when he sighted Dan and walked over to him immediately. "Hey," Dan mumbled and blushed a little when he thought of the well-visible dark red love bites on his neck. The last time he'd seen Phil was only yesterday, and when Dan stood in front of him now, he suddenly felt insecure.

"Hello," Phil said quietly, "I was hoping to meet you here."

"You were?"

"Mh-hm."

"And what do you want, then?" Dan smiled a bit and tried to ignore Margaret's eyes that seemed to follow every single movement he made right now.

"Hm, a coffee, maybe?"

"I'd like that," Dan said, "But I have to finish work first."

Phil opened his mouth to reply, but Margaret was faster. "Dan, why don't you take a break now and I take care of this?"

"Huh?"
Yeah, he was rather confused.

"You've been working quite a lot today, so... come back in like, an hour maybe? I'll be alright."

Dan furrowed his eyebrows a little. Of course he knew why she did this, and actually, he'd only come here half an hour ago. "How convenient," he said and smiled at Phil. "So, uh, I guess we can have coffee now?"

"Oh, are you a friend of Dan's?" Margaret asked and Dan rolled his eyes. She knew he wasn't gonna tell her anything about Phil, so she had apparently just decided to ask Phil himself.

"Yeah, I guess one could say so," Phil said, smiling at Dan, who was blushing the tiniest bit. But of course, Margaret noticed anyway.

"Oh, how nice," she just stated, and Dan got up.

"So, uh, we'll go then," he said directed at Margaret. Then he looked at Phil. "Just let me get my coat, alright?"

Phil nodded and Dan quickly walked into the staff room to get his coat. Just as quick, he came back, took Phil's hand, and without more than a simple "Goodbye" directed at Margaret, they left the shop.

As soon as they got outside, Dan let go of Phil's hand. It was cold, so he pulled his coat tighter around him.

"Starbucks? Like last time?"