piano man; d.h [discontinued]

eleven o'clock

The clock switched from 10:59 to 11:00 as I picked up my phone and punched in the numbers. Each tap to the tiny screen increased my anxiety. I had no idea what was about to happen. Just the fact that my brother may have had anything to do with Dan in the first place made my stomach turn.

"Hello?" Damon answered. A sweep of relief flushed over me as I heard his voice over the phone.

"Damon. We need to talk-"

"Lia, it's eleven o'clock. What could you possibly need at eleve-"

"It's about Dan Howell," I stated. The line went silent for a moment, leaving me worried Damon wouldn't answer. "Damon," I began again, "I need your help."

The silence was deafening, making me worry he'd hang up. Then he spoke, "Lia, you're not going to drag me into some controversy with Dan are you?"

"No! Of course not, I just need your help," I paused. "Dan... needs your help."

Neither of us spoke for nearly thirty seconds, I was almost sure Damon had hung up. And then he finally answered.

"What do you need?"

"We've got a plan."

---

"Dan?" I said as I opened his door carefully. He was asleep, the first time I'd ever seen him so calm. I sat down on the chair next to the cot in the corner of the room, examining Dan's calm expression as he slept.

His face was so relaxed as though he was off in dream land somewhere. I leant forward, my body hovering over his, and kissed his cheek gently.

His body rolled over in place, now facing me, and his beautiful brown eyes flickered to life as they opened subtly. 

"Good morning," I chirped.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, a smile painted across his lips.

"I came down a little early to say 'hi', and to tell you some news about Damon." As I spoke, Dan's expression shifted from happy to confused, of slightly irritated.

"What about him?" he poked.

"He's agreed to help us... help you, I mean," I stuttered, worried Dan was going to attack by the expression plastered on his face.

"Really?" he questioned, as if he was shocked Damon would agree.

"Yes really. He said he'll help us."

"Wow," Dan replied, his droopy eyelids shielding his chocolate eyes from the blinding light of the large fluorescents hanging above us. He pulled his single, tattered blanket up over his shoulders, snuggling further into his tiny bed.

"Dan, I said I was going to get you out of here."

"I blackmailed you into saying you were going to get me out of here."

He was right. But that was a week ago, before I saw who he really was. Not a psycho, but just a messed up guy who needed a second chance at life.

"I know," I said calmly. "But this time I mean it."

Dan's eyes opened to stare into mine. He pulled a hand back from his sheets to prop himself up as he reached up, putting his other hand on my cheek to lure me in closer to him. And then I felt the rushing sensation of his lips on mine, his hand slowly falling down my face.

I pulled away, knowing that if anyone were to spot us, we'd both be in bigger trouble than usual. Dan stared into my eyes for another moment before opening his mouth.

"Sorry, I just... had to..."

"It's okay, Dan."

"You know," he began, pressing himself up off his bed, "There are very few things I was allowed to bring with me here," he said.