Continuation of Boy [I] (Until Dan Howell)
*all the same trigger warnings*
[5.1k words]
//
"So let me get this straight, your date asked you out, cancelled on you, and then decided to go with you again?"
Phil shook his head. "No...I asked them out first."
"But it's a girls ask guys dance?"
"Life isn't all about girls and guys and that's it and that's what works. The dance can't put rules on that."
"Well, geez, alright. If you asked her it's fine."
Phil sighed, he was completely missing the point. But how could he possibly even tell Pj that his date was a he?If things went well, he'd know anyway, and Dan made it clear that until the dance Phil wasn't allowed to tell anybody.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Yeah."
"Why does everyone hate Dan Howell? What did he do to any of...everyone?"
"He's an emo loser, Phil." Pj said, "Does the school need a reason to shoot at a target?"
Phil just stares at him. "So...Dan gets harassed and bullied everyday...because he isn't like everyone else?"
"Him and his whole group." Pj said, "I mean, they choose to be weird like that. I heard that they just like...hurt themselves for attention. They're messed up, dude."
"How do you know any of them if you never talk to them?"
"They're impossible to talk to. You say hi to one and they either look terrified or they tell you to fuck off. Why do you care so much anyway? It's people like them who shoot up schools and shit. They just aren't normal like the rest of us."
"So they don't matter because of stereotypes associated with the way they dress?"
"It's so not this big a deal, Phil. Just chill out."
"Pj, that's discrimination. Prejudice even. How do you think people bullied like Dan feel about that? Do you even think about how they're human, just like you?"
"Okay first of all those are big words to use when talking about a bit of fucking teasing. Most of them are privileged and white anyway, so it's not like they're being stripped of any fucking rights! I've never even touched one of them so if you got a problem with them being bullied you can take it up with Joe and his dick friends! God, why the fuck does it matter to you anyway? It doesn't affect you at all!"
"It affects the whole school! And I'm not just talking about the 'emos' I want to address all issues concerning this because it isn't okay and you're acting just as bad by saying those things! They shouldn't just be targets. People shouldn't just be targets because of individuality. This is supposed to be a safe place for the students and...it's terrible!"
"Well, it isn't a safe place, Phil. It's high school. And don't attack me, like any of this is my fault at all. And if you love the emos so much you might as well just cut yourself with the rest of them!"
Pj stormed off, leaving Phil alone and hurt at the table. He was mad that the school was like this, mad at Pj for being so ignorant and mad that he was alone. He was mad that he was right.
If he cared so much he might as well just give up on fitting in.
//
"So...I pick you up, yeah?" Phil asked.
"Yeah, if that's okay with you. And...I've never been on anything like a date with a guy before so, I'm probably going to do what I usually do and stay really quiet and awkward. I really don't even know why you want to go with someone like me." Dan said.
