Phil wouldn't say that him and Dan had a 'relationship', technically, but they had definitely surpassed the status of friends. They hadn't really discussed the idea of dating, at least not directly, so he wasn't sure if they were a thing, or if it was just a friends with benefits sort of deal. Either way, Phil was okay with it, because at least he had gotten what he wanted. Not that he didn't crave anything more serious. He wouldn't mind if they went on to the official boyfriend stage, but he didn't want to push his luck.

  He didn't really think that anybody else would care, or even notice, if he was spending a lot of time with Dan. He wasn't one to draw any attention to himself. But it seemed people had noticed, the girls in particular. And they didn't seem too happy.

  More than once had Phil caught a group of them glaring at him when he walked by, or when he had a class with them. He wasn't too sure what their problem was at first, had just thought they were targeting someone else close by. He'd caught on soon enough, though, and it was really unnerving, having so much hostility being directed towards him.

  He didn't know if they were jealous, or if they just didn't like seeing him with Dan, but it didn't really matter the reason. He just wished they'd get over it.

  He honestly wasn't too surprised when one of them eventually confronted him.

  It was just after his first lesson, and he was on his way to his only class with Dan when he was stopped by one of them. She was a small thing, barely reaching up to his chest, but the way she was glaring at him showed she was nothing less than dangerous. If she didn't seem so angry, Phil would have been amused by the way she was standing, with her hands on her hips and her legs spread.

  "You're Phil Lester, right?" She said, crossing her arms tightly.

  "Er, yeah..." Phil answered hesitantly. He knew damn well not to take her for granted, just because she was a girl. She could rip him to shreds, he'd seen it happen before.

  "Can I talk to you for a second?" She asked.

  "Oh, I don't know if that's such a good idea, I'm already a bit late for-"

  "It'll only be a second." She insisted, and before he could protest, she grabbed his arm and dragged him away.

  This is it, I'm done for, Phil thought miserably. They're gonna disembowel me in the girls toilet, all because of some stupid guy. Oh sweet Jesus, let my mum know I love her.

  But instead of the girls bathroom, the girl pulled him into an empty classroom, which wasn't that much better, in his mind. He was certain that a whole group of them would climb out from the closet and proceed to rip him limb from limb.

  "So, what's up with you and the new kid?" The girl asked casually, sitting on top of one of the desks with her legs crossed.

  "Uh... don't you think he's been going here long enough to be known as something other than 'the new kid'?" Phil replied, and from the glare he received, it was definitely the wrong answer.

  "Just answer the question."

  Phil sighed. "Look, whatever happens between me and Dan, stays between me and Dan, alright? And, honestly, there's nothing happening, so you're gonna have to go and satisfy your jealous fangirl needs somewhere else. We're just friends."

  "Jealous?" She scoffed. "We're not jealous of you and that wannabe bad boy. We're worried about you."

  Phil stared at her in obvious confusion. "What do you mean?"

  She jumped down from her perch on the desk and moved so that she was standing in front of him. "We don't think he's any good."

  "Not any good?" He repeated. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

  "Look, it might seem kind of stupid," she said. "But we just think he's dangerous. Or, at least, not someone you should be associating yourself with."

  Phil scoffed. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. He's completely fine."

  "Just think about it." She insisted. "What all do you know about him? He's been here for a month, so tell me, what's his favorite color? When's his birthday?"

  Phil paused, actually thinking about it. He didn't know those things. As completely simple and mundane as it was, it did make a point. Those were the sort of detail he should know by now, especially with how close they were. But he didn't, and that bothered him. He shrugged, trying to play it off.

  "It's not like we're supposed to know everything about each other."

  "Well, what does he know about you?"

  "He certainly doesn't know my favorite color." That was a lie, Phil had told him it was green just three days ago.

  "All I'm saying is that he doesn't seem too trustworthy to me." She said. "And the only person he seems to talk to is you."

  That was something Phil didn't believe. There was no way that Dan only wasted his time on Phil, he was too laid back for that. He must have all kinds of people that he hung out with.

  But the more he thought about it, the more he thought that it might not be true. Phil had been so caught up in his own time with Dan, he hadn't even realised that Dan wasn't exactly social. And he actually felt kind of selfish for keeping him away from everyone else.

  "Look, I appreciate it for.... 'warning' me, or whatever." Phil said. "But I'm already late for class, and I don't feel like dealing with detention." Before she could protest, he'd already pushed past her and out of the classroom.

Instead of going to his own class, he made his way to his lunch spot behind the school. This lesson was half finished anyway, he didn't really feel the need to back. And it was some much needed thinking time.

  He'd never thought of Dan as someone potentially dangerous to him, never questioned the lack of information about his personal life. He'd always just taken what was given to him. He was much more concerned with what Dan thought about him, to really care about what Dan told him, or didn't, really.

  He wasn't even too bothered about it now, really. Sure, it would have been nice if Dan opened up a bit, but Phil actually liked the whole mysterious Dan Howell thing. It was invigorating, to say the least, it kept him up at night. In different ways.

  "You skipped class without me."

  Phil jumped at the sound of Dan's voice. He hadn't even realised that lunch had started, he'd been in his own world.

  Dan was standing in front of him, his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. This was the first time Phil had seen him today, and his stomach twisted at the sight of him as it always did.

  "I didn't really plan on it." Phil said, moving over so that Dan could sit next to him. "I just, got caught up with something."

  "Might I ask what that something was?" Dan asked teasingly.

  It probably would have made sense to tell Dan that pretty much all the girls didn't trust him. But Phil felt that maybe he'd be better off not knowing. If that girl really was concerned, she'd probably tell Dan herself. "No. It's personal." He answered, staring at the ground.

  "Aw, c'mon." Dan persisted. "What, were you hooking up with some guy in a classroom?"

  Phil spluttered. "What? No! Why would you even think that?"

  Dan shrugged. He folded his hands in his lap, twisting his fingers together. Phil stared at him for a minute, before smiling widely.

  "Why? Would you be jealous if I had?"

  Dan laughed, shaking his head, but Phil could tell he was trying to act casual. "Yeah right." He said.

  "Bitch, please." Phil said gleefully. "You totally would."

  "I really wouldn't." Dan said insistently. "You do what you want, I don't have any control over you."

  Phil laughed, patting Dan's shoulder affectionately. "It's alright, Dan. I know I'm impossibly attractive, and it's okay that you want me all to yourself."

  Dan scoffed and shrugged his hand away, which only made Phil laugh harder. He was really enjoying this, the guarded look on Dan's face and the tense of his shoulders. And the way he was trying to play it all off. It was undeniably cute.

  He spent the rest of lunch relentlessly teasing Dan, who's face was steadily getting red.

                               ***********************************************

  a/n: #courtneyfinallyupdatesherstory

  Yo guys, it's been too long, I know. I actually just moved to Florida, so it's been a busy few weeks. Sorry for the short hiatus.

  That's, that's all really. Peace :3