The Boy in the Garden (Phan)

Chapter 4- Wilted Flower Crowns

The instant the bell at the end of the day rang, Phil dashed out of the room like a bat out of hell, his backpack still open and overflowing with assorted papers. He hurried down the hall, swerving out of people's way last-minute to avoid hitting them. He repeated this routine every single day at the end of last period, eager to escape the crowded, loud, environment of school and return to the garden, where he could go back to his own little world, where he wouldn't be constantly badgered and bullied by the other students. Phil tried not to let the student's comments about being "that one weird kid" get to him, but sometimes he just couldn't help but feel hurt- any rational person would feel that way, at least a little bit. Being outside, completely apart from the other students (apart from the occasional football player who passed by on their way to practice) gave him a chance to relax and just forget the day's events.

Opening the back door of the school, Phil stepped out onto the grass, which was still slightly wet from the morning's rain. It was still slightly cloudy, the sun shining out from behind the clouds the slightest bit. Smiling a bit, Phil dropped his bag on the ground and spun around in a small circle, looking up at the half-visible sun before dashing over to the garden, opening the gate and walking in. As he bent down to pick a fluffy white dandelion, he heard the back door of the school open and slam shut loudly. Looking over his shoulder, he was surprised to see Dan standing there with his arms crossed. Phil eagerly hopped up and walked over to him. "Hey, Dan-"

"So I'm stuck with you for another two hours," Dan snapped, looking down at the ground. "Apparently being twenty minutes late to class is cause enough for detention."

"Oh..." Phil sighed quietly. "Well, I guess it's a good thing we get along then, huh?" He managed a small laugh but stopped when he noticed Dan didn't seem amused. "I'm sorry."

"Can you believe it? I had a legitimate excuse for being late!" Dan blurted, stomping his foot like a little kid having a temper tantrum. 

"What was it?" Phil asked tentatively. 

After a short pause, Dan mumbled, "I was with the nurse. I didn't feel well..."

"But doesn't the nurse give you a pass if you miss class while you're with her?" Phil asked, slightly confused.

"Look, it doesn't matter, okay?" Dan snapped, clearly pissed off. "Let's just get this over with..."

"Okay," Phil whispered. He decided not to push Dan any further- the boy looked as though he would explode if he uttered another word. He slowly walked back towards the gate, Dan shuffling along after him. 

"So, what are you having me do today?" Dan sighed, crossing his arms.

"Well, some of the plants are dying. So we have to dig them up so that they don't affect the other plants," Phil replied. 

"Alright. That doesn't sound too boring," Dan grumbled.

"Yeah..." Phil sighed softly. Dan wasn't as fun to talk to when he was angry. He knelt down and pointed towards some tulips, which were clearly wilted and dried up. "We can start with these." He looked at them sadly. "I have no idea why they're all dying... they were fine two days ago..."

"Plants are like that. They all die eventually," Dan said, picking up one of the Hello Kitty trowels and jamming it in the dirt near the tulips' roots. 

"Yeah, but they were perfectly fine just a few days ago. I have no idea why they're dying all of a sudden." Phil shrugged. 

"Meh... I don't know." Dan dug up one of the wilted tulips, chucking it into the nearby bucket. For a while, neither of them spoke, the awkward silence being occasionally broken by the dull thump of the flowers landing in the plastic bucket.  Eventually, Phil decided to speak, choosing his words carefully so as not to further upset Dan. "So, um... what are you gonna do after this?"