Waiting for You // Phan

--- 19 ---

Dan's POV

"I'm going in."

"No you're not."

"Yes I am."

"You're still ill."

"No, I'm not, so stop using that as an excuse, PJ." Dan said, crossing his arms. It was about seven in the morning, and Dan had gone and told PJ he was going into sixth form today.

Ok, so he only wanted to go so he could talk to Phil, but that still counted as him wanting to, right?

"Dan, I still don't think you should go-" PJ said, reaching out to touch Dan's shoulder, but Dan backed away, and shook his head.

"Don't pretend, PJ." He whispered, looking at the floor.

"Pretend?" PJ asked, and Dan looked him right in the eye.

"Don't pretend you don't want me to go in because you're concerned about my health. You don't want me to go in because you want me to stay away from Phil, don't you?" Dan said, and watched PJ's face redden, confirming what he had just said.

"But Dan, even you said you didn't-" PJ spluttered, but Dan wasn't hearing it.

"No PJ! You don't get to decide what I can and can't do, who I can and can't like..." Dan said angrily, as he ticked the list off on his fingers. "...who I can and can't be with, when or when I can't go places, you don't control me!" He finished, his breathing heavy. This was the first time he had taken a proper stand for himself, for anything.

PJ looked stunned, confused and hurt. "Dan, I didn't mean to-"

"I'm going in and you can't stop me. Bye." Dan said, and stormed away to his room to get dressed and pack his bag.

Dan hated that he couldn't be friends with PJ and Phil at the same time. If he was friends with PJ, he would have to shut Phil out completely. If he was friends with Phil, PJ would shut both he and Phil out completely.

Dan continued to rage inside his head as he picked up whichever clothes were on top of his drawers like he usually did and threw together a few things he needed in his bag. There.

Determined not to look at PJ, Dan walked briskly past the kitchen and living room toward the door. He was about to turn the handle when PJ put his hand on Dan's shoulder.

Dan shook it off quickly and didn't say anything.

"Don't be stupid." PJ said quietly, no trace of anger in his voice.

Dan turned around and fixed him with a cold stare. "I'm not the one who's being stupid."

PJ sighed. "I'm gonna go get ready. Wait here." Dan was about to protest, but PJ had already gone. He might as well wait then, but he wasn't going to speak to PJ if he could help it.

A few minutes later, PJ came back, fully dressed and ready. Dan ignored him, opened the door and stepped outside. PJ followed him.

They sat in dead silence on the train, PJ not even attempting to start a conversation. Dan stared fixedly out the window, not really focusing on what he was seeing, but on what he was going to say.

"Come on." PJ said, as the train slowed to a stop. Dan got up, but still didn't look at PJ. He just walked past him and off the train, and continued to walk away.

PJ caught up with him and shook his head. "Dan, I know you're angry with me, but can you please start acting as if I exist?"

Dan was still too annoyed with PJ to act friendly with him though, so he just reached into his bag, pulled out his earphones and stuck them in his ears.