Friends...Or More?

1: Christmas

My family has always been pretty crazy, especially at Christmastime. So when I woke up this morning with my brother jumping on top of me it wasn't much of a surprise.

"DAN WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"

Charlie has always been a bother. He's 9, and STILL believes in Santa! He probably got a lump of coal this year seeing as he knocked over mum's whole Chanel perfume collection.

"SANTA LEFT ME A MOUNTAIN BIKE!" He shouted down my ear. Better than I thought... but not as good as the iPad Air that I managed to find in mum's closet (it's where she stores everything).

I told Charlie to get lost so I could get out of my pyjamas- llama pyjamas. Don't diss.

I decided to be a little more festive this Christmas and wear a snowman jumper. I usually wear black. Black t-shirt, black jeans, black shoes, black socks. And if I am extra cautious and see that it is frosty outside, I will wear a black vest under my t-shirt. But no, today I am wearing a blue knitted snowman jumper. And - guess what - black jeans. I didn't say I wasn't going to wear black did I? There you go. I'm not an Emo or Goth though - I prefer artists like Ed Sheeran to hardcore rock and death metal.

Anyhow, the Lester family - Phil's family - are coming over today for Christmas dinner and present exchanging. So you know... gotta look my best for Phil. And what's more, I'm going to ask him the question today!

Now, where are my hair straighteners...?

*****

Phil's family should arrive any minute and I'm really... excited. I haven't been excited about Christmas for ages but I guess Phil makes Christmas for me. Today I think is the best day to tell Phil my secret... about being gay. Actually no. His family will be here. They might spy on us (his family are like eagles - always watching). But I will ask him if he likes me the way I like him.

They're here. I can see their minivan parked outside on the driveway. Oh s**t. I'm scared now. What if I blush when I see him? What if I just sweat and don't speak? Sure I've known Phil for over 10 years now but his mum still REALLY scares me. The doorbell just rang. Mum's cooking, dad's cleaning, Charlie is trying to ride his new bike in the garden, Kayleigh (my sister) is in her bedroom with her boyfriend (trust teenagers). I'm the only person who can answer. F**k.

*****

I turned open the doorknob and there his family was. All 8 of them including Phil.
"Hey Mr and Mrs Lester. And Tom, Annie, Jade, Christine and Mickey." Okay so far, I thought. "Hey Phil." I muffled. I swear I was blushing. Damn.

"Hey Dan. You've gone bright red! Sweater boiling you?" Phil said politely. What did I tell you?!

"Yeah its a sweat bomb," I lied,"come in everyone."

Phil looked SO hot in a cute knit santa jumper and light up reindeer ears. He was wearing a plaid shirt underneath and it hadn't been tucked in as you could see the hem popping out from the sweater. His eyes were a crystal shade of blue but all the Christmas lights had seemed to dazzle him. He'd had a haircut and had dyed his hair black. Phil had styled it into a side fringe that mirrored mine. I could feel my butterflies beating their wings so fast that they could have flew out my chest.

I escorted the whole of the Lester family into the lounge and I went and grabbed several chairs from the garage. We were going to need them. There are 13 of us in total. 14 if you count my sister's boyfriend, who I was going to kick out when it was time for dinner.

"Does anyone want a drink while we wait for the rest of the madhouse?" I asked.

"Yes please Daniel. Can I have a darjeeling please?" Mrs Lester said.

"I'll have a hot chocolate Dan." Phil said.

"Okay. I'll go to the kitchen now. Are the rest of you sure you don't want water or juice or something?" I said.

"We're sure Daniel. The children aren't big drinkers really. Thanks for the offer though mate." Mr Lester replied.

I went into the kitchen and found mum had had a turkey disaster.

"Bo*****s." Mum said aggravatedly. Her language choices really do 'enlighten' our family. I ignored mum and started up the kettle. But then I felt really...strange. Unsettled in a way. Was it the 2 week old Quavers I had ate? Or was it lack of fluids? Or was it the fact that I hadn't realised Phil was right behind me?

"Hello." Phil said.

"Um...hey." I replied.

"I.. umm.. have something I need to express. But I can't tell you - I have to show you."

He leant in... and he kissed me. I wasn't exactly going to back off. Our lips were locked. It was a shock at first but then I got used to it. We must have been kissing for a while because it was so passionate and beautiful and time was going so slowly. It felt like I was immortal. Kissing Phil was my utopia. But, then he detained. I felt so disappointed.

"I'm sorry. I've wanted to do that for ages and I thought today would be the best day." Phil said, embarrassed and ashamed.

"Don't be sorry. I've been the same since I was 14." I replied softly.

He smiled one of his warming smiles at me and before we knew it we were kissing again. This time he made it more fancy and floral - turning it from an ordinary make-out session into a full-on French kiss. His warm breath made the hairs on my neck stand on end. I knew that after tonight I'd have a purple mark where he'd been.

He hugged me and I hugged him. My life was complete. I didn't need anyone else or ANYTHING else. I was ready to ask him.

"Phil... will you be my boyfriend?" I asked.

"Yes. Yes Dan." He replied. And then he gave me another one of his charming smiles and a kiss.

God, I'm so in love guys.

But there was a nonchalant vibe in the air... if my parents found out inadvertently. I knew already that Phil's parents were happy about gays and lesbians, but my parents.. not so much.

We decided at dinner we would raise the subject so that prevented my mother or father bursting in on us in the middle of tonsil tennis.