The next day, Dan wasn't so mad that he had to wake up extremely early, because it just meant that he would get to see Phil.

  He hurried through the process of getting ready, barely looking at the clothes he threw on and halfway flat ironing his hair. After sliding his trainers on, he grabbed his phone, wallet and keys, then left.

  He was a mess. He'd never been so eager to actually get up and go somewhere, especially not for a person. It was 6:30 in the morning, for god's sake! No one would be at the school, maybe some teachers, but not Phil.

  Oh well, I'll just wait. And wait he did. School didn't start till 8 am, but the doors opened at 7. Dan rushed out of his car and into the building as soon as he saw that the doors were open. It was fucking freezing outside, and he'd forgotten his jacket at home like the twat he was.

  The halls were empty, except for some teachers and the janitors. It was actually quite nice, when it was quiet. No teenagers running around, making noise and pissing him off.

  Dan made his way down the hall, to his locker, his footsteps echoing loudly against the walls. He was looking forward to today, but he also was hateful towards it. He was sure to get into some kind of drama, he just couldn't avoid it.

  After grabbing books from his locker, Dan just sat in the hall, nothing else that he could do. There were a few more students that had shown up now, milling around. He paid them no attention.

  God, he was tired. He thought about his bed, back at home, his warm covers that he just wanted to crawl back into. His eyes started to drift shut, and right in the hallway, Dan fell asleep.

                 **************

  "DAN!" someone shouted, right in his ear.

  "What the fuck?!" he yelled, jumping and landing on his back. He heard giggling from beside him, and looked over to see Phil, his tongue sticking out as he laughed.

  "Sorry." Phil said, holding his stomach. "I couldn't resist, you just looked so peaceful." 

  "Jesus Christ, you scared me." Dan said, his heart racing a mile a minute. "Help me up, you prick." he held out his hand, which Phil grabbed, pulling him up.

  "Why are you sleeping on the floor?" Phil asked, his face a bit flushed from laughing so hard.

  "Just, woke up early. What time is it?"

  "Almost 8."

  Dan stretched his arms, yawning widely. His black shirt rode up as he did, and he could have sworn he saw Phil's eyes glance at the strip of tanned skin between his shirt and low slung jeans.

  "See something you like?" Dan asked, winking at him. Phil instantly turned red, looking at the floor.

  "N-no, I was just... I just happened to.... never mind." he stuttered, and Dan smiled at the fact he could make him so nervous.

  "I won't judge you, Philly, I am extremely good looking." Dan smirked, and Phil laughed, shoving him playfully.

  "You're not, really."

  "You've wounded me, Phil. My pride, it's in flames." Dan fake swooned, sending Phil into a fit of giggles. He was so cute, and Dan couldn't help but stare at him.

  "Who's staring now?" Phil said, bringing Dan back into the present.

  "Hey, I'll admit that you're cute enough for me to stare at." Dan replied. Phil just looked at the floor, shuffling his feet.

  "Do you really mean that?" he asked quietly. "I mean, you said it yesterday too, but I don't know if you were just being nice."

  Dan smiled at his awkwardness, and said, "Phil, you've got to be the cutest, most adorable person I've ever seen." He leaned in closer, breathing into Phil's ear. "And yesterday, when you were changing in the locker room, it took everything I had not to jump you."

  Phil blushed violently, picking at the hem of his shirt and smiling. "Stop it, Dan. You're embarrassing me."

  "Hey, that's nothing to be embarrassed about."

  Phil slapped his chest, still smiling. They both laughed, but the bell rang loudly, interrupting them.

  Dan and Phil started making their way to English class, still laughing and shoving each other, and Dan thought that maybe, just maybe, he was getting somewhere with Phil.

                   *************

  It was halfway through World Studies when Dan was told to come to the main office.

  He stood up slowly, not sure if he was in trouble or not. Phil gave him a worried look, but he smiled reassuringly at him.

  What on earth did they want him for? The only thing even remotely serious enough that had happened with him was the almost fight he'd gotten into yesterday. He really hoped he wasn't getting into trouble for that, it was petty.

  He was surprised when he walked into the mainly empty office to see the Reaper that had been posing as his 'mom' waiting for him.

  "Daniel." she said, smiling warmly at him, even though he could tell it was fake. "Go and get your things from your locker, we have to hurry."

  Go? He was confused, and it must have shown in his face, because his 'mom' rolled her eyes jokingly and laughed.

  "For your doctors appointment?" She was obviously implying some bigger reason for his leaving, so he just nodded.

  After grabbing his bag from his locker, he met back up with his 'mom' at the front doors.

  "So, what's the real reason you pulled me out of class?" Dan asked, as he walked out of the building next to the other Reaper.

  "The Highers want to see you." she said. Why did the Highers want to see him, and why right now? They couldn't have just waited until later?

  They reached the house, and as they walked through the door, the women handed Dan a large bronze key. "This is a Portal Key. I assume you know how to use it?" Dan nodded. Portal Keys were only given to higher ranked Reapers, but Dan hadn't reached that level of importance yet. A Portal Key was exactly  what was implied by the name; a key that was used to create portals. You would stick it into any door with a lock, and it would open to whatever place you had in mind. Great for quick transportation.

  "Do you have any idea why they want to see me?" Dan asked, but the Reaper shook her head.

  "Sorry, but they didn't give me any details. They just contacted me and said they requested your presence immediately. You should hurry, they don't like to be kept waiting."

  They couldn't have at least given some detail about what he was in for? They were always just so damn mysterious. He hoped they wouldn't keep him too long, he wanted to get back to school and, admittedly, Phil.

  Turning back to the front door, Dan pushed the heavy key into the lock, twisting it, and with a deep breath, pulled the door open.

  It was completely different than the interior of the house he'd been standing in. The white walls and bland furniture had been replaced by a giant room that was dark, except for a dew candles scattered around. The Highers chambers.  

  Dan stepped inside, shivering as the temperature dropped noticeably. The Highers themselves are standing on the opposite side of the huge room, their every present cloaks drawn up around their faces. Dan was already annoyed by them, but he still dropped his gaze, staring at the floor respectfully.

  "You wanted to see me, Highers?" he said.

  "Daniel. Yes, we wanted to see how your subject was coming along. Wet didn't receive a report yesterday."

  Shit, the report. He knew he had been forgetting something.

  During an extended job, Reapers were supposed to submit a report recording everything that was going on every other day, so that the Highers could keep up with the case. He was suppose to submit one on the first day, but he had completely forgotten in all the excitement.

  "I apologize." Dan said. "I was a bit, uh... caught up yesterday. I'll submit one tonight." He was gonna be up all night just to finish it, he knew. And he had school the next day?  

  "Very well, Daniel. We were just worried that maybe this case was a bit too much for you to handle." Something in the tone of that booming voice had Dan thinking that they knew something he didn't, but he refrained from asking.

  "I've got it under control." Dan said, and he did. He was turning to leave, but was stopped as the Higher called his name again.

  "Daniel. I just wanted to remind you that any emotional bonds with your subject are not to be made. You know the consequences of doing so."

  They knew. They knew about Phil, they had to, there was no there reason for them to remind him of this.

  "Yes, Higher." he said through clenched teeth, his hands balled into fists. And with that, he left. He didn't want to face those stupid cloaks any longer than he had to. And besides...

...Phil was waiting for him.

                   ************

  When Dan stepped back into the living room, he saw that it was already growing dark outside. How had that happened, he'd only been gone for a total of ten minutes.

  And then he remembered, those Portal Keys always mixed up the time. In the real world, it had probably been at least four hours since he had left. Goddammit.

  The house was empty, which meant that the other Reapers were most likely on a case.

  There was nothing else to do but go ahead and get started on that report. He was already behind and he didn't want to get in trouble with the Highers.

  Dan sighed, but headed up to his room, flicking the lights on as he went. He dropped heavily on to the bed, pulled out the file and a pen, and started writing down all the happenings of yesterday. It was gonna be an all nighter.