The light spreads up his legs and torso making its way to each of his fingertips before engulfing his head and shoulders. Dan feels dizzy, and the look on Phil's face shows a mixture of disbelief and something bordering on fright. His glow is a dark purple edged with a deep red. Dan assumes it means something bad. Fear, perhaps.

"Did I—did I do that?" Phil questions, his voice raw with disbelief.

"I don't know. You had to have—oh, my God," Dan says, his voice coming out as an incredulous whisper. He can't stop looking at his hands splayed out before him. They seem almost iridescent as they catch the light. He looks at Phil. 

"Who—are you? How did this happen?" Phil doesn't meet his eyes for a moment, seemingly preoccupied with knitting his brow at the pavement. After a bit, however, his sky-blue irises meet Dan's brown ones.

"I don't know how it happened. I just bumped into you and there you are, glowing," he responds, eyebrows still furrowed. 

"But what does this mean? Is something going to happen to me now?" Dan's questions flow out of him, and he's surprised at how unafraid he is when he speaks to Phil. With most people, even ones he knows, his social awkwardness is so painful that he can't go beyond eye contact.

"I'm not sure. It has to mean something. You weren't glowing until I touched you," Phil says, going over the facts. He suddenly brightens (both literally and figuratively).

"Hey! Maybe it means we're supposed to be super close! Like best friends! Isn't that cool?" 

Something else flashed through Dan's mind at the words super close, but he mentally tosses that idea. It's just weird. After all, he's only known Phil for five minutes. How could they be destined to be...that? He frowns at his reddening glow. It won't be so easy to hide how he's feeling anymore. Phil seems to be a very decent person, however, and Dan can't help liking his big smile and enthusiastic ways, although he's only just met the boy.

"Yeah, pretty cool," he says, grinning ear to ear for the first time in years.

"Well, potential best friend," Phil says, slinging his arm around Dan, "I think we should talk some more. We've got some things to work out."

Dan stiffens when Phil touches him. It's out of habit. 

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Phil exclaims, quickly extracting his arm. "I guess I'm just always like that."

Dan smiles at his rambling.

"It's all right."

***

Phil leads (okay, drags) Dan to a Starbucks about a block away from the retail store. As he tries to keep up with Phil's enthusiastic pace, he types a text message to his mother with his free hand. 

May be home a little later. I have to tell you something when I get there.

He presses send and hopes for the best.

Text Message from Mum

All right. Be safe.

Thank goodness. He had been hoping she wouldn't ask any questions. As he clicks off his screen, Phil goes on another high-speed ramble about the Starbucks they were going to to talk about "life and other stuff," as he puts it. Dan marvels at Phil's inability to do anything halfway—he's practically running as words spill out his mouth just as fast as his feet move. What a workout.

They approach the door and Phil pumps his fist delightedly. "We're gonna have so much fun!" he cries. Dan smiles despite himself. It's impossible to feel sad when around Phil—he's just so cheery.

A young girl with glasses and brown hair tied into a ponytail waves happily at them.

"Hello! What can I get you guys?" 

"Hi there! I'd like a pumpkin spice latte, please." At Phil's words, Dan just stares at him, disbelief written on his face.

"What?" Phil looks confused.

"Really?"

"What? Pumpkin spice is the best!"

"So basic," Dan tells him, shaking his head. He starts suddenly as the barista clears her throat, reminding him that he still needs to order.

"Oh! Sorry," he says. "I'll just have a black coffee."

"That's so boring!" Phil exclaims. 

"Well, so am I. My taste in coffee reflects my soul." Phil giggles, and his glow brightens significantly. Dan's eyebrows raise. He's never heard an adult man giggle before.

First time for everything.

The café is strangely empty, except for a couple staring into each other's eyes in the back corner. Dan feels uncomfortable, and by the look on Phil's face, he feels the same. By an unspoken mutual agreement, they decide to pick a table as far away from the pair as possible.

It's a nice little table, situated by a window. Dan slides into the seat across from Phil and looks down at his coffee, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. Phil clearly doesn't, however, and begins chatting straight away.

"So, tell me," he says between sips of his latte. "Have any siblings?" Dan's face sours at the question, and his newly created glow shifts with discomfort.

"Oh, sorry! Sensitive subject?" Phil looks genuinely sorry, and a small wisp from his aura drifts out towards Dan. It's a bit creepy, but he assumes it means something along the lines of wanting to help.

"No, it's fine. I have an older brother Adrian. He's seven years older than me. I haven't seen him in more than five years. He never—liked me, really. Thought I was a freak, and I don't blame him, but—" Here he trails off briefly, but he glances at Phil and his blue eyes are so understanding that he continues. "—he ran off with a girl. My parents didn't even know who she was. He just—left. And hasn't come back. He never talks to my parents or anything. We don't know where he is." He finishes speaking and sits back in his chair. Phil is silent for a moment.

"That's so awful, Dan. I'm sorry." 

"It's okay. It's not like you can do anything about it," he answers.

"That's what's so bad! I can't help." Phil looks genuinely distressed.

"You don't have to be this nice to me, you know," Dan says. "We've known each other for literally an hour."

"I know," says Phil, "but I like you."

Dan's never heard that before, and his heart beats proudly, rapidly within him.

"Thanks."

"Of course! Now, to lighten the mood—do you play Mario Kart?"

Dan grins.

Do I ever.

***

"I don't believe you!"

"You should."

"It's impossible!"

"Not if you're a master like I am."

"You have to have done worse than second place at some point!" Phil exclaims.

Dan sits back, a smirk on his face. "Never."

Phil crosses his arms and pouts. "That's not fair."

"I think you're just jealous."

"Oh, whatever."

Dan had been expecting that his time with Phil would just be about things like his favourite colour or where he'd gone last holiday, but instead they've talked for a full hour about the beauties of Mario Kart.

If he's completely honest, he prefers this over any get-to-know-you conversation. They've discussed everything from their favourite character and course to the extremely secret (and obscene) Mario Kart roleplay website they used to be a part of when they were younger. Dan marvels at how easily he's able to open up to Phil. He'd never imagined that he would have revealed his secret online fursona to anyone only two hours after they met.

Phil tries to get the last drops of latte from the bottom of his cup as their conversation wanes off, and Dan smiles at his actions. The droplets are definitely cold by now, and the look of intense concentration on Phil's face sends something warm shooting through him.

This is what it must be like to have a friend.

"Good talk," Dan says as Phil finally gives up on sucking every last bit.

"Yeah, I know! I never thought I'd tell anyone about my spicy browsing habits," Phil answers, giggling again. His eyes crinkle up in the corners. 

Dan checks his phone out of habit and starts. "Oh my god! It can't be seven-thirty!" he exclaims.

"No way!" 

"I've gotta get home," Dan says. "Thanks so much for everything. Are you sure you don't want me to pay you back?"

"No, please don't," Phil says. "You can give me your number, though." 

Dan freezes to his spot. No one's ever cared enough about him to even ask for his name, much less his number. The smile on Phil's face is bright and genuine, and the pure idea that he has a friend makes Dan beam back. His glow flares up around him as he does so, and Phil's brightens in return.

"Of course." 

They exchange numbers as they make their way outside, and Dan smiles at the contact name. 

Amazing Phil 🤗

"Talk to you later?" Phil says hopefully.

"Of course." Dan turns to leave, unsure of what to do. He's shocked when Phil tackles him with a hug.

"Bye! See you soon!" he exclaims as Dan stands there awkwardly with his arms at his sides. After a few long seconds, he releases Dan and waves, his hand moving nearly a hundred times per second. Dan waves back and walks to his car, smiling.

Who would have thought?