Paper Hearts (Phan)

90 days

December 21st was the day PJ packed up and left to go back home for the few weeks and 4 days of Winter break. It was also the day Dan barged into my room, holding a piece of paper scribbled with pen down to the middle-ish line. I was right in the middle of packing up my laptop into one of my boxes marked 'Christmas break things' that would be carried back home to my parents while I spent the break to catch up with them.

"Here," he said, slightly out of breath "it's for you."

I took the piece of paper from him and read the top line out loud.

"Reasons why Phil Lester should stay at Seacoast for Winter break?"

I glanced back up at him with a laugh over the top of the paper and he nodded proudly, crossed his arms, and told me to keep reading. He grinned as I continued.

"Reason 1 - if Phil doesn't stay he will be denied the well-deserved and much anticipated experience of running around campus with me at like 3 am because

A- the teachers stop caring

B- there's literally like 3 kids on campus during Winter break

Also I can guarantee it's more fun than it sounds."

"Reason 2 - my English teacher makes really good pudding for Christmas dinner that would be a cruel deprivation of the best food in the world if Phil didn't stay to have the other half of the bowl. It goes bad after a couple days so I couldn't save any for him, so if he's not there it's his own fault."

"Reason 3 - there's like nobody else here over break and I don't want to be alone."

"Reason 4 - I'm running out of reasons but the first 3 were awfully good."

Dan smiled cheekily, stuffing his hands in his jacket pockets and slightly wincing when his left hand settled down.

"Can I call my parents first and tell them I'll stay?"

I never would've thought his smile could've grown anymore but it did, and he nodded, leaving the room and heading back to his.

The only working phone to use on campus was the red and green rusty pay phone next to the front dorm building. I would've called my mum or dad on my own phone, but the other day PJ and I were seeing how far we could toss a water balloon full of 3 day old flat Dr Pepper across the room, and it missed my hands and exploded over my phone in my front pocket. There was nothing I could've done to save it. According to PJ, I was lucky i hadn't gotten electrocuted. Although the internet said it was near impossible to have gotten electrocuted. I couldn't trust anyone anymore, not even google.

I took the walk of shame down to the pay phone, squeezing myself inside the booth that was a couple inches too short for me, but somehow I fit inside and dialed home. The phone vibrated worryingly like if it moved at all it would disintegrate in my hands. Although the booth could've done that first, seeing as the countless designs etched into the sides seemed like they'd thinned the walls out so much it would collapse in on itself at any moment.

On the third ring, my mum picked up.

"Is this Phil!" She cheered happily in the other end. She sounded so excited I hoped the news that I was staying wouldn't disappoint her.

"Yeah, it's me."

"How are you! How's Seacoast! Did you make any friends! Why didn't you call us yesterday!" She shot rapid fire questions, and I heard my dad in the background scrambling to put their phone on speaker. As soon as he did, we said hello and waited until my mum stopped speaking nonstop.

"Did you call because you need us to come pick you up? Did you miss the bus?" My dad asked, his voice warped through the shitty line. I shook my head no and had to tell them I hadn't missed the bus out loud once I realised they couldn't see me. But if I had missed the bus, if they'd just give in and get me a car I wouldn't have to call them if I was planning to take it and go home.