phil could drive.

this wasn't that incredible; most teens phil's age could drive and dan knew that, even he could drive (although he hated it; it was so tempting to just swerve into the traffic). but it was something about him, and dan clung to every fact he could get.

even though he could technically drive, his car was shitty, and his driving kind of matched it. he owned a black jeep, which dan would usually think was cool, but it was so old and beat up that any points it had earned were immediately lost again.

when they pulled out of the parking lot dan had reached for the button that would roll the windows down, but phil had given him a look, his hand shooting out to stop him.

"don't," he muttered. "last time i rolled the windows down i couldn't get them back up again."

dan nodded slowly, his hand falling away.

phil drove kind of like a racer or a getaway driver, like he was absolutely desperate to get away from wherever he was. he also didn't have seat belts. it looked like they had been ripped out.

dan was getting increasingly worried about this situation.

they drove in silence, and dan kicked his feet up on the dash despite the nasty look phil gave him. his car was already shitty, what would some slightly dusty footprints change?

"loosen up," dan muttered, reaching over to swat his arm. phil looked like he wanted to snap his neck. luckily that was what dan wanted as well.

the drive felt like way too long even though it was probably only fifteen minutes, and they stopped in front of a tall house. the paint was presumably supposed to be white but it looked incredibly yellow in the sun, and broken toys were scattered in the dead grass of the front yard. dan made a face.

he heard phil snort, opening the car door. "too much for you, rich boy?"

dan glared at him, climbing out. "no. fuck off."

phil chuckled, coming around to dan's side of the car, facing the house. "it's fucking disgusting, i know."

dan shrugged, distracted. the house was tall... was it tall enough to jump off of? he knew phil would know but he was too stubborn to ask, so he kept his mouth shut.

phil started up the walkway and as soon as dan realized he had he followed, hugging himself. phil kicked a doll car out of the path and dan watched it roll into the grass, a piece of the bright pink hood falling off.

he followed phil up the steps, his heart beat increasing in speed with every step. he opened the door, holding it for dan and slamming it behind them.

a small child immediately ran up to them, grabbing onto phil's leg. the little boy looked up at dan and promptly spit on his shoes. dan flinched.

"god damn it, christopher, i told you to stop fucking spitting!"

phil grabbed the boy by his shirt, prying him away. dan wasn't sure he agreed with cursing at children but the little boy didn't even seem to notice. he just laughed, spitting at phil before running off. dan heard a crashing noise as christopher presumably fell to the ground before the scampering continued.

"is that your little brother?" dan asked, rubbing his sneakers against phil's carpet, trying to keep the disgust out of his voice. phil scoffed.

"one of five." he ground his teeth. "six girls."

dan nodded, not saying anything else. it seemed like a sensitive topic. phil looked like he really wanted a smoke.

a lady came out from the hall after a moment. she looked as if she was in her late thirties, but her face was pale and covered in frown lines, streaks of grey in her hair. dan felt bad for her, fostering twelve kids.

she was clutching a laundry basket in her arms, and she seemed to be in a hurry, but she stopped when she saw them.

her dark brown eyes traveled over them in surprise, then confusion, then... disgust?

"phil..." she said slowly, her voice gravelly. "who's this?"

it was like dan wasn't even standing there. he wondered how phil would introduce him, but more than that, he felt pissed off. suddenly he felt affectionate.

he threw his arms around phil's waist, clinging to him and pressing against him completely. "take me to your room, phil," he said, less than softly. "i'll let you fuck me 'till i cry..."

his voice lacked any actual personality, he sounded almost dumb. he glanced at the lady, who's disgust had increased incredibly.

"god, phil, i don't know what to do with you," she muttered in that gravely tone, pushing past them, but that was all that she said. when dan looked back he found that phil was smirking.

"you're obnoxious."

dan shrugged, letting go of him. "then don't fucking kiss me and bring me to your shitty house." his will to be nice was suddenly nonexistent, but phil didn't seem to be offended.

"whatever," he muttered, grabbing dan's hand. "she's a bitch anyways."