The Benefits Project ; phan au

20 ; Will You?

Can I just say this is probably the most adorable and yet destroying chapter ever?

#20

I decided to walk to school by myself on Monday since I doubted Phil's parents would've let him anywhere near my house. It felt kind of strange without the soft, warm feeling of Phil's hand holding mine but I guess I'd have to wait till school. I was worried - no anxious, the butterflies almost made me feel like I was going to throw up. No one in my year had luckily bothered Phil and I about being together apart from Brock who made the snide comment every now and then. Phil seemed to be getting much more comfortable and settled into my group of friends - even Emma began to stop giving him nasty glances. Unfortunately this also meant Phil showing how much things upset him, I didn't realise he was such a sensitive person but just Brock's comments dug deep under his skin. However I was there to comfort him, I wanted to be there no matter how much Phil said he was a burden I hugged him and I was just there, I made sure he never had to deal with the things that upset him alone.

Once I arrived at school I decided to walk straight up to the Sixth Form block, I had to finish some art work anyway so it would be best to do it up there. I walked up the three flights of stairs to get to the Sixth Form area, all air being ejected from my lungs and I almost collapsed - I really did need to work out more often. I grabbed a chair next to Chris and PJ who were usually this early into school, since Chris joined our group they seemed very chummy - as if the rest of us didn't know why - and started hanging out before school while I waited for everyone else to turn up at the school gates.

"Hey Dan, what's up? You don't usually go up this early," Chris asked scratching the back of his neck.

"Phil and I have had a couple of problems via his parents so I decided to wait up here till first class," I explained sitting down next to PJ and pulled out my sketch pad.

"So you finally told them huh?" PJ smiled slightly leaning forward in his plumb, jagged striped jumper. I nodded while looking through my bag thoroughly for my sketching pencils, biting my lip as I remember Phil's parents' reactions to us dating.

"I'm taking it Phil's parents didn't take it well?" Chris pressed. "How did yours take it?"

"Mine were okay with it I guess," I replied blankly, turning to my latest sketch of a red panda chewing on a long piece of half-drawn bamboo. "But Phil's went haywire I think, I wasn't there so I don't know exactly what happened but I know some sort of shit went down."

Chris tapped against the table before making circles with his nail. I looked up from my sketch, and Chris was looking at PJ so I raised my eyebrows as they seemed pretty stiff about things. I sat up and stretched, placing my pencil on top of my pad and turned to them both.

"What's up? You're both... Looking quite sad," I said picking my language well.

They both smiled weakly and then PJ looked to Chris again, who seemed to be in a little trance, his teeth digging deeper into his lip and I was worried that he would draw blood. I then lent forward, my hands balling into fists because they wouldn't speak.

"Guys..." I said sloppily.

"Dan," Chris added in an attempt to be humorous.

"C'mon what's the matter?" I asked in an irritable manner. "Why do you seem really edgy after I spoke about Phil and I? Do you have a problem with us or something because – "

Suddenly my eyes were blinded by blackness and Chris and PJ burst into laughter at my state of shock. My chair wobbled and I almost fell off my chair in surprise as the warm hands blocked my sight.

"Guess who?" A sing-song voice giggled and pressed their lips to mine.

My heart fluttered at the upside-down kiss and I giggled.