[ON HOLD] One Last Chance - Phan

Chapter 5

Dan's POV

Me, Phil and Waverly walk into school happily talking about the most random of topics (blame Phil). Waverly goes straight to tutor with Emma to hopefully get some last minute revision for their maths test, so it's just me and Phil. I ask to go to my locker, which Phil replies with "You don't need to ask!", so we wander into the English block, where my locker is. I open it and get what I need, but as soon as I close it and stuff the key into my bag, I hear something fall to the ground.

Well, someone.

Before I know it, I'm being pinned up against my locker by Charlie; Alfie and Joe surround him, and Phil is on the floor, clutching his stomach.

"Thought you could get away last time?" Charlie sneers in my face as I keep my gaze to the floor. "Looks like you haven't got your boyfriend to protect you this time."

"Leave m-me a-alone." I stutter weakly, even though I know it's useless.

"Leave m-me a-alone!" Charlie mimics. "You're not going anywhere, Howell." I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for impact, but it doesn't come.

Joe and Alfie have let go me, and I can no longer feel Charlie's presence loom over me. From the sudden release, I fall to my knees and open my eyes again.

Alfie is on the floor next to PJ, Joe is being held by the wrist by Chris - I'm guessing he tried to run away - and Charlie is being pinned to the wall by Phil, who still looks quite winded and beaten. I stand up just as Charlie twists away from Phil, who loosens his grip from shock, and comes charging towards me. He swings a punch at me, which I duck at the last second and grab Charlie's wrist while it's still over my head. I manage to twist his arm around so it's behind him. He winces in pain and struggles to get out. I knee him in the chest and let go of his arm at the same time, so he goes hurtling backwards, crashing into Joe.

"He asked you to leave him alone," Phil speaks, his voice filled with anger. "So why don't you listen to him and get lost?"

Charlie, gives in, storming off down the corridor. Joe and Alfie scramble around, trying their best to keep up with Charlie.

I hear Phil ask me something, but I don't hear him. I've already run off in the opposite direction.

* * *

Phil's POV

"You ok Dan?" I ask, turning around to where Dan was stood, but he's gone.

I look down the hall and see him running, quickly disappearing round the corner.

"Dan!" I yell out, running after him. I can hear PJ and Chris' footsteps behind me, which is comforting.

We follow Dan until we reach the toilets.

I look back at PJ and Chris, signalling for them to wait there. They give me a reassuring nod and back up slightly. I turn to the door and take a deep breath before pushing it open and walking inside.

"Dan?" I call out once the door has closed behind me.

I can hear Dan's muffled cries coming from behind the only closed stall door and walk up to it. Softly, I knock on it, hoping for some sort of response.

"Dan, please come out." I make my voice as soft as possible.

After a few seconds of silence, I hear his footsteps come towards the door and it unlocks.

The Dan I see isn't the Dan I know. This Dan looks more broken than ever, and I hate it.

I suddenly embrace him in a hug, which he slowly returns, wrapping his arms around me and sobbing into my shoulder.

We stand there for a few seconds until I pull away slightly, moving to his side and slowly leading him away from the doorway, to the tucked away bit behind the sinks, crouching down so we're out of sight of anyone if they were to walk in.

"I-I'm s-sorry." Dan stutters out, voice barely audible.

"Don't be sorry," I tell him, pulling him in tighter. "Do you wanna talk about any of it?"

Dan hurredly shakes his head, tears still streaming out his eyes.

"Ok," I say, not wanting to force him to say anything. "But just remember, I'm always here if you need to talk."

Dan nods his head again, and we stay there for a little while, Dan crying into my shoulder.

* * One week later * *

Waverly's POV

We all sit down at our table at lunch, just like normal. Somehow, we manage to get onto the topic of the lines on the underside of out left wrist. PJ regalls us with the tale of his previous life while Emma listens in with curiousity, asking a million questions every minute, not knowing what having a 'previous life' is like, as she's still on her first one.

"What life are you on, Dan?" Tyler asks, reminding the whole group that Dan hadn't spoken up through-out the entire duration of our conversation.

"Um, m-my last o-one." Dan stutters, clearly uncomfortable with the subject. I look to my left to see Dan's nervous expression. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him pull his black sleeve higher over his hand. It looks like a very subconsious movement. My own expression changes from one of boredom to one of concern and worry.

"How'd you loose you first two?" Phil asks. I know instantly that this has distressed Dan, because tears prik at his eyes and his hands clench into fists around the cuffs of his sleeves.

I place a hand on Dan's shoulder. "You ok Dan?"

Suddenly he stands up and grabs his bag, swinging it on his left shoulder.

"I-I have t-to g-go." He mutters quietly before darting off.

I look over at Phil, who looks confused at to what just happened, but I know exactly what happened.

"I'll go after Dan." Tyler says, getting up with his bag and going in the direction Dan went in.

"Oh for god sake Phil!" I suddenly snap. Everyone turns to look at me, including Phil.

"What? What did I do?" Phil asks, shock filling his voice.

"What do you mean 'what did you do'?" My voice raises higher as I become angrier. "You should know that that's a really sensitive topic! Not everyone's comfortable with sharing that information, god knows what shit happened in his previous lives!" I end up shouting. I take a big gulp. "I should know, I feel the same way."

"I'm sorry Wave, it's just-"

"You know what, forget it." I practically spit. "I need to get out of here." I get up, walking in the opposite direction that Tyler and Dan went in after grabbing my bag.

"Wave, come back!" Emma shouts, her footsteps quickly following me, but I don't stop. I don't stop walking until I reach the back of the Creative Arts block, where there aren't any other people, and lean against the wall as I break down. Tears come flooding out and all I can do is bury my face in my hands as I slide down the wall, sitting on the concrete.

I hear Emma's voice, and soon feel her cradling me, comforting me as I cry uncontrollably into her shoulder, memories haunting me.

I'm unable to understand what Emma's saying, the memories playing on loop in my head are too loud, but she's here, and that all that I really care about right now.