How Did We Get This Far? (Dan and Phil Fanfiction)

Chapter 20

Eliza's POV

I sprinted out of Starbucks and into the night. Most of the shops were closed now and the street lamps flickered, as the bulbs began to die out.

I was crying as I ran. Screaming Dan's name out whenever I had enough breath for it. How could I have done that? What was I going to tell Phil? I stopped in my tracks and shook my head. I closed my eyes. "Take a deep breath, Eliza." I told myself. "Dan is a big boy, he can look after himself. He lives on his own, for goodness sake." I exhaled, releasing some of the tension which I inhaled again, almost instantly. "But that's why Phil was staying there - because Dan isn't in the head space to look after himself. He is not thinking straight." With that I sprinted off again. Screaming his name with such desperation.

As the darkness of the night started to swallow me whole, I heard a loud shout from further ahead. Fear sizzled through me, slowing my sprint. I cautiously kept walking forward, until there was another shout - closer this time, down one of the streets on my left. I swallowed all my fear and tried to make the bravery shine through. I took a few more slow steps and then, when I heard the cry of "ELIZA", I sprinted, glancing down every street shouting in return to Dan:

"I'M HERE. DON'T WORRY, I'M HERE." I finally stopped at the narrowest, dirtiest and longest street. It took me a minute for my eyes to adjust, and try and see through the darkness which was blinding me.

A strong shiver suddenly electrified my spine and I ran down the street. Tears glistening on my cheeks. I punched the bald guy right in the jaw, as he had his arm around Dan's neck - strangling him. Dan fell straight to the floor, but I didn't have time to l check he was okay - the bald guy was already gathering himself together for a proper fight - but I wasn't going to give it to him. I kicked him in the crotch and then took out his legs from underneath him, he fell heavily to the floor, screeching in pain and clenching his jaw shut, in clear agony. "GET OUT OF HERE NOW, BEFORE I BRAKE YOUR NOSE TOO." I screamed at him. He slowly got to his feet, and stumbled out of sight.

I watched him leave, and then slowly turned back to see Dan. I crouched down, next to the whimpering ball on the floor. I took his hand and, together, we managed to return him to a shaky seated position. I sat opposite him, carefully studying his bruised face. "What happened?" I squeaked. He just shook his head over and over again, and then started banging it against the wall behind him.

He was muttering, "You're so stupid, Dan. You idiot. You fucked it up again." I took his head quickly in my hands. He looked at me and sighed, tears were still rolling down my cheeks. "He was waiting for some guy to give him money - when he asked, I said I didn't have any money for him, then, when I didn't hand over my wallet he started hitting me and strangling me, in the hope that i'd shout for mercy and give it up. I didn't." I shook my head.

"Clearly he gave drugs to someone and was waiting for the money. How did you end up down here?"

"He was reflecting the street lamp light off of this small mirror - I guess it was a subtle way of showing the druggie where he was. I was just curious as to what was flashing." He hung his head. There was a huge cut on the edge of his hairline, which was dripping with blood and sliding down the side of his face. I let out a loud sob, as I came to the realisation: I couldn't live without this guy.

"Dan, please, promise me, you'll never get into this kind of situation again?" I let out another sob. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Howell. Please, promise me." He looked quite taken aback by the sudden outburst of my sadness. "Promise me, Dan." I prompted - still sobbing.

"I promise." He whispered.

"Dan, I love you. I love you, I love you so so much." My hands cupped his head and I kissed him. Our tongues danced together and our breaths became one. As soon as he realised that it was real. That I wasn't just saying it because I felt sorry for him, he brought down his knees, so that I could sit on his lap, and he brought his hands to my back, bringing me closer to him.

I finally broke away and, out of breath, we rested our foreheads against each other. I clasped my lips together and let a few more tears slip away. "I love you." I said again. He smiled and let out a short laugh. As if he were blown away, with me saying such beautiful words.

Our foreheads parted and we looked into each others eyes. He suddenly looked more alive - more awake, and I could see that he was back. That whatever I needed to do, I had done. I knew that it wasn't that simple. That it was going to take a few weeks, maybe even months, to get him back to his usual self, but we were one step closer than we were before.

He exhaled, smiling and shaking his head. "I love you too."