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Dan's POV

"Coffee. Contains caffeine. And caffeine is vital for the human body to function." Louise said knowledgeably, walking confidently into the small coffee shop just across the road from the park.

"Why are we here again?" Dan asked dazedly, wiping his brow. He didn't feel so good, physically or mentally, and it had been getting worse as the day has worn on. But he hadn't wanted to spoil the day, especially not when he and Phil we're finally 'out'.

Louise made a point of rolling her eyes. "Because... we are all here to celebrate!"

"Celebrate?" Phil asked.

"C-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-e. Celebrate. You two. We can't not celebrate." Louise said exhasperatedly. Of course that was why they were here. Louise wanted to make a big deal out of things like she always did.

Tyler nudged Dan with his elbow and muttered "Well isn't this a great place to celebrate." Dan half-smiled at him. He felt clammy all over and his head was beginning to spin slowly, sending the ground sweeping beneath his feet. But he had to keep standing.

"Are we buying drinks or not?" Tyler said, as they loitered in the doorway.

Louise nodded an stepped forward, taking charge. "Sure. Come on then, what do you guys want?"

Dan tried to keep the tremor out of his voice. "Can I just have a water, please?" he said, picking up a bottle.

Phil looked over at him quickly and asked him silently if he was ok. Dan gave him a discreet nod and Phil reached over and gave his hand a sort of, reassuring squeeze.

It couldn't be that bad, not if Phil was here with him.

"I'll just have a cappuccino. I'm not too fussed." Phil said, and Dan rested his head on Phil's shoulder. Phil wrapped his arm around his waist.

"I swear, you two" Tyler said, as he and Louise exchanged a what Dan presumed an excitable conversation just through looks and hand gestures.

"Come on." said Louise. "I can't be bothered to stand around here all day."

Ten minutes later, they were all sat on to squashy sofas either side of a low wooden table.

"So." Louise said, clapping her hands together, "Congratulations officially!" She waited in the expectantly in the silence that followed, then looked around awkwardly.

Dan was leaning his head on Phil's shoulder, and Phil had gladly accepted him. Dan was trying his best not to tremble.

Tyler gazed around the shop for a second then took a sip of his drink. It was some fancy vanilla latte thing. He put it down on the table, and Dan concentrated on the circle of liquid gradually gathering at the bottom of the rim. His heart was pounding faster, and he felt as if he were going to faint any second.

He just hoped he could hold on long enough that he didn't end up getting stuck in his own head.

A conversation had struck up again, but the words were washing over him, and he didn't understand a thing.

Breathe.

Dan reached one of his pale, clammy hands forward to reach for the bottle of water just in front of him. He grabbed it, and with shaking fingers he unscrewed the top.

Phil looked at him with concern, frown lines appearing on his forehead. Dan didn't want Phil to be unhappy or worried about him.

He was fine.

"Dan, are you sure you're ok?" he asked, feeling Dan's forehead with the back of his hand. "You're temperature is... well, not what it should be."

Waiting for You // PhanWhere stories live. Discover now