irl

Chapter 49

It was a warm evening, but strangely quiet. No cars, no other people, just Dan walking along the pavement, his footsteps loud and clear.

He wanted to cry, but he didn't. It was like the time he had first heard about George. When Phil had first met what would become his boyfriend. He wanted to cry, but he just didn't. He didn't quite know why, he has every right to cry and had no reason not to, but as he swiftly made his way to the park close to the flat, his eyes remained dry.

He found himself right at the bridge where he had nearly decided to attempt a jump. He almost laughed, which was dark in itself. He knew he ought to not be laughing that he could've possibly existed one moment and then not existed the next. He spotted something on the riverbank, it reflected the light that shone from a street lamp. He went down and over the fence and discovered something unbelievable.

In the mud sat his broken iPhone, screen in disarray. He knew that it wouldn't work, especially after all of that time, but he picked it up and stared anyway. It was like Phil had said that night they went out to dinner, it was memoribillia. His old phone where he had texted Phil in the early hours of the morning. He held it in his hand and smiled, deciding that fate had led him to discover it again on that night.

He carefully made his way back up the slope and over the fence he had hopped to get to the riverbank. His still wet, muddy, and unrepairible phone had been pocketed, despite it's condition.

Dan decided to lay on his back and stare up at the stars, just because he could. It would put his thoughts at ease. His peaceful state of mind didn't last long, though, because he heard footsteps approaching him.

"Hey," a familiar voice said, and Dan tensed up.
"Fuck off, George," Dan seethed, not even bothering to look at him.
"Can I just speak to you? Just for a moment?" George said, sincereness evident in his voice. Dan sat up and looked at him, his expression was pleading.
"Fine," Dan obliged begrudgingly. George sat down next to Dan.

"I never meant to hurt him."
"Well you did."
"He wasn't supposed to know. I had broken up with Jeremy because I loved Phil."
"That doesn't make it any more right, though!" Dan raised his voice. "You should've waited until you broke it off with the other guy to start dating Phil."
"I just couldn't wait, though. I had to tell him how I felt," George tried to defend. Dan felt a pang of familiarity, because he had felt the exact same way when he confessed to Phil. He just had to say it right then and there.
"I... understand," Dan said quietly. George didn't say anything else, he just turned and looked at Dan with a confused look, and then his eyes filled with realization.
"You...?"
"Yeah."
"So are you...?"
"Hell no. He doesn't... he doesn't feel the same. He did love you, you know. He's not completely over it." George looked down at the ground, obviously ashamed.
"I should get going," he said, standing up. "And I'm truly sorry," George said one last time.
"I... don't forgive you, but I accept your apology."

That was the last time Dan ever saw George.

He laid back down, his back on the ground. He looked up to the starlit sky, the moon standing out, a white, glowing crescent.

Phil isn't in love with me, and that's completely okay. That's how he feels and I can't control that. I'll get over it, now that I feel closure. Now that we've talked.

Is this story over?

Fast footsteps approached, and Dan knew it wasn't George, the soles of the shoes on this person's feet were different. They made a different sound on the pavement.

Maybe this isn't the end of the story quite yet.

Phil stood in front of Dan as he sat up.

"Hey," he said simply, slightly panting from running.
"Hey," Dan said, giving Phil a tight smile.
"I-I lied," Phil said vaguely.
"What?" Dan furrowed his eyebrows, standing up to face Phil.
"I... I do love you, Dan," Phil said, smiling a small smile.

Phil grabbed Dan by the shoulders and kissed him, smashing their lips together.

And both of their hearts were full.

1 chapter left.
I cried reading this.
Also, there ya go, fangirls. They finally kissed with each of them in love with the other.

I never planned for it to end without Phan, but knowing that it was very fun to watch you guys slowly lose your minds with George, and Dan's crippling depression.

The next chapter is the epilogue.