Rules Of Attraction (Phan) (Without Trilogy Part III)

8

Phil hadn't been sleeping.

He didn't want Dan to notice, but it's hard for him not to, when his friend spends hours away, or holed up in his room, from where Dan can't hear a single sound but stressful muttering. It was so different from his Phil, the one who was always playing music or a podcast or a YouTube video in the background, even so early in the night that the whole city was asleep. Phil, the one that was always yammering about something or other in the kitchen, or perched on Dan's constantly unused desk (really only there for aesthetic and sitting purposes), or reading on the couch. 

Dan had never seen Phil like this, with bags so deeply engraved under his eyes that they were more like bruises, stumbling over feet and lines like he was Mowgli, fresh from the jungle. 

He wanted to talk about it, ask what was wrong, maybe fix whatever it was. He wanted to fix everything, for Phil. But there was never a time. Never any time, when Phil seemed to be avoiding him altogether. The only chance he had was when he saw Phil in a coffee shop, only a day or two ago...but he was there with Jade, that stupid, perfect, ever-loved Jade, so Dan just continued walking.

But he knew he'd have to speak up soon, because it didn't seem like either of them could survive this for much longer.