im here // phan

twenty three

Beads of rain were falling from the sky as Chris and I walked to school, side by side. The hood of my jacket was resting on the top of my head, keeping my curly hair dry. It just got worse when it was wet, so at all costs I kept it dry. We stayed on the pavement, and walk-ran to school.

We walked through the arched doors, and right inside were Dan and Phil. Their backs were facing us, so I gently tapped Dan's back, and he turned around, Phil doing the same.

"Oh, hey hey, PJ!" Dan exclaimed, Phil smiled and nodded beside him.

"Hey! Alright, this is where I can meet you guys for the rest of the week so I can help you and guide you around the school, does that work?" I inquired, they looked at each other and nodded.

"That's good. Considering if you asked us to meet you anywhere else, we would totally get lost." Phil joked. Dan laughed quietly, and I saw Chris smile out of the corner of my eye.

"So, that desk lady put us in all the same classes along with you?" Dan asked, pointing at Phil, then me.

"Yeah, and Chris too. We applied together as well. Basically, everyone you see in your first class will most likely be in all of your other classes, too." I said, nodding. Chris stood like a tree next to me, waving awkwardly and smiling very cheesy. Chris, always the awkward one of the two.

"So should we go? When does class start?" Phil asked frantically, and Dan slid his hand down to his side. He reached for Phil's hand, and he gripped Dan's hand tightly.

"Actually, we have a bit of free time at the beginning of the day. A half hour where students who didn't do their homework from last night can catch up, you could read a book, anything. The time is yours to use." Chris actually stepped in and explained. "For me, I'll prrobably sleep. Considering I never really sleep because of all the homework I'm doing."

Dan and Phil shared a moment, you could tell. They kinda glared at each other; eyebrows furrowed, eyes peeled, hands locked together. "Sounds...wonderful." They spoke in unison. 

Chris sighed. "I wish this place was wonderful. It's far from it. Ask PJ." Chris implied, and then pointed at me.

"I, uh, well...Chris!" I mumbled between my teeth. I scrunched up my nose and glared at him. Why would he put me on the spot like that? He knows I don't go yelling out that I am constantly bullied!

"They will find out following you anyways. Just tell them." Chris pried, and I fake-coughed.

"Tell us what?" Dan furrowed his eyebrows, and looked at me, then Chris. Phil just stood looking sweet and innocent next to Dan, his gaze all over the place. His eyes were pretty; mainly blue, but also hints of green and yellow throughout. I hadn't noticed that yet. They were very contradictive to Dan's brown eyes, with different shade throughout.

"I get bullied every day by a group of goths." I admitted, and I swear, Dan's cheeks puffed up like he was going to laugh.

"I know, it's funny. Of all the groups, goths. PJ, you need to man up and just stand up to them. Don't take it any more." Chris said confidently.

"I don't see you helping." I shot back at him, and Dan and Phil ooo-ed.

"They aren't my problem!" He rebounded, and Dan and Phil ooo-ed again.

"You are supposed to be my friend and help!" I shouted at him, and Dan and Phil kept their ooo's silent this time. Chris didn't seem to have a back-fire for that one. There was a silence amongst us four; Dan and Phil shared some suspicious looks, and Chris looked at the ground. I was staring at Chris, waiting for him to respond. I was oddly emotional, because we never normally fought. Even if we did, immediately after we would laugh it off. He wasn't laughing, and I wasn't either.

"I'm sorry, I, I should go, go to class." He muttered, and kept his head down. He walked down the hall towards chem class. I saw the goths point at him and laugh, but they didn't hurt him. They let him pass. They don't normally pick on him; they leave him alone. It's very rare that they pick on anyone other than me, to be honest.

The three of us stayed where we were, staying stiff like wood. I was really waiting for Dan and Phil to speak up, but they didn't. I guess I had to take this one. "I'm sorry that happened. We don't normally fight, but I guess all friends do at some point." I assured, and they nodded.

"Seriously, don't sweat it. We understand. We had a major falling out, and we didn't even want to live together anymore. But it all worked out. Trust me." Dan explained, and Phil looked at him intently.

"I guess so. But, I guess you guys need to know where to go. I normally head to the library and read, or cram some studying in if I have to. Follow me, I'll show you where it is." I gestured them to follow me, and I started walking through the halls. I realized we would have to pass the goths on the way to the library. So I hoped for the best. We got to them, and they still decided to attack.

"PJ." The main girl drawled, and her clique came up behind her.

"Here we go." I mumbled.

"Looks like you got yourself some backup considering what happened last time." She snickered, her eyes crinkling. She fake laughed, and everyone surrounding her laughed along.

"Are these the goths?" Dan whispered, his hands fidgeting.

"Yes, now I want you to keep walking down this hall. The first left you can take, go that way. You will see this beautiful arched doorway, and a glass front wall. You will be able to see the books inside. Go there. I'll meet you there." I pleaded.

"Are you crazy? We aren't going to leave you here by yourself." Phil demanded.

"I always like to, uhm, think I'm good with my words." Dan said proudly, his chest puffing out a little.

"Wow, uh, thanks guys." I mumbled.

"Are you just going to stand there, punk?" She threatened.

"You don't seem to be moving, miss. You also seem to be standing there, doing absolutely nothing." Dan shot back, and I was very impressed.

"Well, I am, uhm, just getting warmed up." She stammered. I could see her cracking.

"You happen to do this every day. You have your friends beat me up. You do nothing." I announced.

"Well, I, I just, I..." She stuttered.

"What's wrong? Can't think of any more insults?" Phil asked, fake sympathetically.

"Just go on." She said, and turned away with her group of friends.

"Wow. Thanks guys, I, I would never be able to do that by myself!" I revealed, and they smiled cheekily.

"Of course. What are friends for?" Dan claimed, and Phil nodded.

"Exactly that, I guess." I said.

"Seriously, I'm a book nerd. I wanna read; lets go to the library!"