Fine Line Between Love and Hate | Dan x Reader High School

Masquerade

Hey.

mmhmm.

okay.

Enjoy~

(y/n)'s POV

A few weeks had flown by without any disturbances. Phil and Hazel were no longer, very badly, hiding their relationship and Alfie and Zoe were having their one month tonight. I would've thought they were dating for longer, but either time flies or it's only been official for that long. PJ and Chris were the same as always, always messing with each other and cracking jokes, but they no longer sat with us at lunch. They had found a group of comedians as well, but they always remained a part of the group. Grace had eventually broken up with Caspar on the grounds of his confession to me. He of course denied it, but Grace, believing me and not him ended that relationship faster than I thought it would go down. She went off to sit with some friends from her German club and he sat towards the back where the rowdy, obnoxious boys sat. Next to Austin's old table, which was now relatively vacant. I didn't really see anyone of my past anymore.

Grace stayed near during classes and in the halls and was now a trusted friend, but Caspar, Brad, Austin, and all the rest of my past's mistakes slowly disappeared, letting me start a new chapter in my life. One without drama and hate. I was friends with my old bully. I had a fresh start and everything was quiet and serene. Of course not everything can be perfect. And little did I know how quickly those delicate walls I built back up would fall.

"Never have I ever...skinny dipped." Chris said, wriggling his eyebrows. It was just Dan, Phil, Chris, Peej, Hazel and I. We were back in my living room, reliving our old sleepover, minus a few people of course. Zoe was out with Alfie on a date. We all had 5 fingers up, waiting to see who was the most active and daring in the group. Everyone glanced around the circle, searching for the person who would be the topic of conversation this round.

Unfortunately this round it was me.

I silently put my finger down, but Hazel immediately noticed. She snickered, bringing the attention to us. She pointed, her wide and devilish grin making me roll my eyes.

"You've skinny dipped?" Chris asked. "Saucy."

"Pff yeah sure."

"With who?" Chris probed and everyone waited, practically on the edge of their seats for me to answer.

"My friend Skylar and I were at camp and 2 guys asked if we wanted to. We didn't do anything anyway." I said, feeling my cheeks flush from embarrassment.

"Scandalous." Chris commented and I scowled, chucking a pillow at him.

"Shut up hoe. Someone go next." I said.

The game dragged on until only Dan and I had one finger left, everyone ranging from 2 to 4. Dan and I waited for the next question to see who would 'lose'.

"Never have I ever...had a crush on one of my close friends." Peej said. I suppose his crush on Sophie didn't count as a 'close' friend so it was valid. Dan and I put our fingers down and we looked at each other expectantly.

"Who?" I asked.

"I could ask you the same question." he said.

"Okay...so neither of us say anything." I said. He agreed and practically the entire circle relaxed with disappointment. Had they expected drama? Exactly how many people had I told and how many have they told? Do they all know?

Of course, little to my knowledge these exact thoughts were running through Dan's mind as well. Such an innocent question can really hold a lot of consequesnces on it's back with ease, but as soo as they dumo them on you, it's much heavier than it seemed.

There was a lot going through my mind already, stressing me out, as everyone remained silent. I watched everyone's different expressions, each and every though different from mine and even then who knows what they're thinking.

Life's a Masquerade and we're all wearing masks.

"So we're both losers huh?" I broke the silence.

"Yup." he replied, almost as awkward as I was. Why? I had no possible idea. My phone let out a notification sound, a soft ping against the muteness. I picked it up and smiled as it was a photo of Zoe and Alfie she had posted. Moments later everyone else's phone went off, and we all shared a moment, examining the picture.

"They're cute aren't they?" PJ commented, and with that we all launched into a conversation, quickly forgetting the odd moment and focusing in on the current topic at hand. It switched over from them to dating in general and then to my love life. Sadly.

"I mean, he wasn't that nice in the first place right?" Peej said, now talking about Austin.

"No he was, but he was only doing it to set up his opportunity for points." I said, propping my feel up.

"How are you stuck with such bad guys?" Hazel asked.

"I don't know, I should really just let Phil make all my decisions. He hated practically all of them as soon as I introduced them." I said.

"It's a best friend instinct." he said.

"So can you use your radar to keep the baddies away?"

"If you maybe listen to me for once." he sassed.

"Wow, that's way too far." I joked, resting in Dan's shoulder. He wrapped an arm around me involuntarily, hesitantly placing it on my upper arm. I wasn't comfortable enough so I sprawled out, resting my head on his legs instead. "I'm really not sure about it. This is why I should just not try." I said.

"You could date me." Chris suggested and I chuckled.

"Thanks, but no thanks." I replied. He gave a fake pout follwed by a laugh. Dan rest a hand on the curve of my waist, gripping it slightly. Conversation changed and I looked up at Dan, smiling. He smiled back, but I could tell it was something. I gave him a questioning look and he shook his head no back at me. I looked back at the group who was already now transitioning to film. Everyone was calm an serene, no noise whatsoever. It was almost too perfect.

Life's a Masquerade and we're all wearing masks.

ugh.

Stay awesome!

~Calymari