Confronting Phan

Chapter 2:

School.
Something dreaded by most students, but once Dan gets into his work, only the chime of a bell can get him out.
Just another way to get his anger out.

That is, when his girlfriend Amanda isn't clinging to his side.

Twirling strands of hair in her shiny plastic fingers.
Dan just hoping that her fake tan won't make his hair have an orange glow.
He finally snaps when she extends out her arm, taking a picture, with her lips on his cheek.

And by snap I mean: the shrug of a shoulder- dismissing her.

A lot of days Dan just wonders why in the world he is dating her. Its tying him down. A positive is that there's no way he'll get an STD with Amanda unless she cheats on him.

Getting back to his textbook, Dan begin's to answer another question, when the final bell dismisses the school.

"Finally." He groans.

His girlfriend stops by his locker as Dan spins in the combination.
Again, touching his hair, causing Dan to cringe slightly, she asks if he's free this fine- Friday night.

Dan looks her over to please the girl, "Keep your books open." He whispers and she giggles an annoying laugh before Dan swipes a kiss on her lips.

It feels like an obligation in any relationship: to kiss your partner. Though, Dan does not fully enjoy this act.

•••

At home, Dan waits. He waits and waits and waits. Until its almost eight.
Why hadn't the boy with many problems called, texted, or anything?

After accidentally breaking a plate, earning Dan a couple hits from his father, all Dan needed was one thing to go right.

He checks his phone.

*No Messages*
*No Missed Calls*

Anger is starting to build up again. That boy responding could resolve the issue.

*No Messages*
*No Missed Calls*

He clenched his fist, bit his lip, and instead of doing things to distract him, Dan just thought of the many things that have gone wrong in his life.

'Mom leaving. Dad beating. No response. Rejection. Not being able to be who-' His list was interrupted by the only thing that can take him off his train.

A ring.

Bounding over, tears dissolving, Dan snatched up the cellular device.

*(1) New Text Message*

He clicked it open, hope building.
It fell.

*Amanda- Hey bae! Still free ;)*

Dan felt a little ill.

He wanted the boy to call him like he said to do but Dan needed to get the anger out.

*Dan- Meet me?*

He saw his intoxicated father, passed out on the recliner.

*Amanda- My place or yours*

*Dan- yours*

Without even waiting for a reply, Dan left.

•••

"I'M SORRY DAD!" A panicked Dan screamed as his father threw a shoe at him.

His obviously mad father threw the other, "GET OVER HERE YOU WORTHLESS PEICE OF SHIT!"

Dan locked the door to his room, crying against the frame, waiting for his father to go to sleep again.