You're Special To Me

Phil's POV- 4

Dan loved my room. Or at least, he loved what was in my room. Every five seconds he would compliment my music taste, or suggest that we play a certain game one time, or even play one of the Muse ablums. I was happy to see him enjoying himself, but when he had arrived twenty minutes earlier he had looked terrible: despite his golden skin he was pale, going a little green in the cheeks, and there were two large shadows under his sunken eyes. And the worst part was the hidden bruise that I had spotted under his jacket, on his arm. He had moved to take it off, and then thought better and decided to keep it on. Of course Dan would try to hide a bruise that was a large purple splodge. But who had done it? When had they done it? I was usually a non-violent person, but if I find out who had done it, I will beat them up. I don't care if it goes against who I am. They would not bully my friend.

"Phil, you watch Anime?" Dan gasped, his eyes widening. "You read Death Note?" His grin spread wider. "You are literally the best person in the world."

I giggled. "I love the way you say literally. Say it again."

Dan frowned in confusion, but then repeated it. "Literally. Literally. Literally."

I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing. "Could you get any better?" As soon as I had said it, I realised how creepy and gay it sounded. I instantly stuttered, trying to apoligize, but Dan had gone from shocked to over-joyed and silenced me by wrapping me in a hug.

"I'm glad I met you, Phil. You are literally the best friend I have ever had; the only friend to be honest."

I froze in his arms, unsure of what to do, until he began to pull away and I returned his embrace. I could've cried at that moment, but my mum called us down for tea. Like a proper pair of boys, we bounded down the stairs like elephants, starving.

***

The tacos were deilicious, as always, and after a nice chat with my family Dan and I decided to play Crash Bandicoot in the living room, as my parents were busy in the kitchen. I handed Dan the second controller and I set up a two-player game.

We played for hours, until the clock in the hall struck 9:00pm. I paused the game, realising that Dan probably had to leave, but he just remained on the couch, staring at his trembling hands. Worried, I dropped down next to him.

"Are you ok? Dan?" I asked him, but he jut shook his head, tears running down his cheeks. My heart ached to see him like this, so I took his hand and held it firmly, letting him know I'm there for him. "Dan, do you want me to take you home?"

Again, he shook his head. "I don't want to go home. I hate it there. They understand nothing." He cried into the crook of my shoulder, his sobs racking his tall frame. "I can't go home, Phil. Not now. Please."

The way he said 'please' made me make up my mind. I helped him up, switched off the game and led him up to my room. "We will have to share a bed. I don't have anything else."

"It's fine. I used to share a bed with Adrian."

"Who?"

"My brother." He cleared his throat. "Yeah... we don't get on very well now. Sibling drama, nothing more."

I was tempted to ask more, but Dan had already climbed into the bed and was huddling against the wall. "Shouldn't you phone your parents?" I asked, searching for some jammies Dan's size. I found some and tossed them to him.

"No. They can do the worrying for once." He grumbled, pulling off his shirt. Underneath, he was frail but cinnamon-coloured and beautiful. How could he not like the way he looked?

"Please, Dan, it's not nice to have your parents worry about you. Just ring them." I held out his phone to him.

"They don't care about me anyway." He scowled, but snatched the phone from me despite his complaints.

***

I didn't sleep that night, but Dan did. In fact, he passed out as soon as I put American Horror Story on. I sat watching it all night, my mind far from sleep, but when it finished I lay down and watched Dan sleep. He was so vunerable and cute, unlike when he's awake and his expression is guarded or sad. His chest rose and fell in a rhythm almost lulling me to sleep, until he started twitching, his mouth opening in horror. I shot up and stared at him as he rolled around, crying out. After gathering my thoughts together, I grabbed his shoulders and shook him. He gasped and launched straight into my arms, sobbing. I held him tightly, not letting him go, until the crying decreased and his breathing became heavy. He had fallen asleep again.

I lay back down, my head next to his, and told myself I would make sure he wasn't alone the next time he had a nightmare. In the space of two hours he had three more nightmares, each one with a more worse reaction, and I eventually fell asleep, consumed by exhastion and worry, worry for Dan.