Together is enough // phanfiction

Part 31

Dan

Dan parked his car on a big parking lot next to some department store. It seemed to closed or something because his car was the only one there. Tears still in his eyes he grabbed his phone and called Spencer. After a few seconds he answered the phone.

"And?" Spencer asked. He sounded curious and... excited even.

"I did it." Dan said, just loud enough for Spencer to hear. He refused to let Spencer know he had been crying, he didn't want to give him the satisfaction.

"What did you say to him?" Dan could hear him smile, he sounded pleased with himself. "I said I didn't like him and..." Dan closed his eyes and put his head back against the seat sighing. "And that I just used him."

Spencer now let out a small laugh. "That's creative Howell, I didn't picture you to be such a talented actor."

"Now you'll leave him alone yes?" Dan decided to ignore Spencer's comment, knowing that getting mad wouldn't help him. "You won't talk to his dad or bully him anymore?"

"Hey I am a man of my word!" Spencer said. "No you're not." Dan mumbled, trying not to get annoyed, which was really, really hard.

"Okay maybe I'm not, but I won't go to his dad, I won't beat you up anymore..." 

"I don't care about me." Dan interrupted him, "I care about Phil."

For a few seconds Spencer was silent. "Fine... we'll leave Phil alone. As long as you keep your mouth shut yes?" he now sounded annoyed. Why the hell was he annoyed? He was getting what he wanted right?

"Yeah I won't say anything." Dan sighed. He had never felt so powerless. "You know you're a fucking hypocrite right?" Dan blurted out before he knew it.

He could hear Spencer snort. "Now why would you say that Danny?"

"You realize I have the same power over you that you have over Phil? I could go to your dad anytime and you'll be fucked." Dan shouldn't have brought it up, talking about it made him fucking pissed and he felt like punching Spencer in the face.

Another silence. Then laughing. "Yes... Yes I know that." Spencer said still laughing. "Only difference is that you would never do that and I would." Dan could feel the arrogance in his voice through the phone.

"And that's the difference between us Dan, I get things done and you're weak." Dan opened his mouth but Spencer hung up before he had a chance.

Dan took his phone away from his ear and stared at it for a second, anger raising inside him. "FUCK!" he yelled when he threw his phone to the side. It bounced off of the window onto the passenger seat next to him.

He slammed his fists on the steering wheel and rested his forehead in between them. When he closed his eyes he saw Phil's face as he broke his heart. He could see the pain in his eyes, he saw that Phil believed him, that he actually thought Dan used him.

Every muscle in Dan's body wanted to hold him, wanted to hug and kiss him, tell him how special he was, how much he meant to Dan. But because he meant so much to him he couldn't. He knew Spencer wasn't bluffing and if he wasn't pleased he'd go to Phil's father in an instant.

It killed Dan knowing that he had hurt Phil, but he knew his dad could hurt him even more. Spencer said if he saw them even talking together he'd go and tell his dad, and the only way Dan could think of to make Phil stay away was to hurt him.

His heart was aching and all he wanted to do was lie in Phil's arms. But he had to realize this was for the best, not just because of Spencer but Dan was also thinking about what his mom had told him in the morning.

They were obviously not meant to be together.

Phil

With dread Phil walked through the school doors the next morning. He felt exhausted. He had barely slept, he just cried, all night long. He looking like shit, and felt like it too. He almost didn't go to school today but he knew his dad would find out if he skipped and he didn't need more issues.

He turned back into his invisible self, slipping through the crowd. Nobody noticed he was there, nobody was bothered by him, nobody bullied him. Just like two weeks ago. It was better this way. It had been this way all during high school so why should that change now in his senior year?

He was good at hiding, he was good at being alone. He could go back to that, nothing had to change if he didn't want it to. Only... things did change. He had his first crush, his first kiss, and that person was still walking around in these halls.

Just the thought of running into Dan made Phil's stomach shrink. Dan had been very clear, he wanted nothing to do with Phil, so Phil was gonna give him that.

Phil actually thought he could live with all of this, if only he had a reason why. But it didn't make sense, nothing made sense. Dan told him personal stuff, he called him when he needed someone and he was there when Phil needed him. 

They kissed and it felt magical, it felt real. And now he says it was all a big lie? Phil couldn't wrap his head around it. He tried, all night, just trying to make sense of it. But he couldn't. He wasn't gonna ask Dan, he had too much pride for that. Dan hurt him, he used him, he said it himself.

Phil put his hood up, trying to hide himself even more. He walked like that through the halls until he arrived at his locker. His heart dropped. Against his locker Spencer was leaning, alone, looking around the hallway as he was looking for someone.

In one swift motion Phil turned around and started walking the other way. Fuck his books, who needs books? But he was too late.

"Phil!" he heard Spencer yell. Pretend you don't hear him, pretend you're not Phil. Get. out. now.

"Phil dude!" he felt a hand on his shoulder that turned him around. His entire body was trembling now. The last thing he wanted was a beat-up right now. "What do you want?" Phil tried to sound self-assured, didn't really work though.

"Dude I'm sorry how things went down." Phil looked up to see Spencer with an almost... kind expression? He didn't look angry or agitated, he looked friendly. "Please just let me explain." Spencer almost begged. "You got caught in a mess where you totally didn't belong."

Phil frowned. This was a trick. It had to be right? "I'm late for class." he mumbled and tried to turn around again, but Spencer held his shoulder again. "Class doesn't start for like ten minutes." he pouted slightly, "Please give me a chance?"

Phil looked around but there was no way he was gonna get out of this. Maybe Spencer deserved to give his side of the story? After all, Dan proved that he wasn't a lot better than Spencer.

Phil nodded, "Alright."