The next morning after his breakfast, Dan decided to introduce himself to his target. He stood in front of apartment 12 on the ninth floor, feeling confident as usual. He knocked promptly.

An older boy opened up. His hair was in a fringe like Dan's, but flipped to the opposite side. Crystal blue eyes stared straight at him through a pair of glasses, a look of happiness on them. “Hello!” piped a cute, unexpected voice from him.

Dan's eyes went wide at how attractive he was. His heart pounded strangely and he instantly felt scared. For the first time in 15 years, Dan was nervous for some reason. He lost his words. “Um, hey. I, uh, just moved in here and was going to introduce myself to the new neighbors. So... hi.”

“Oh, hi! I'm Phil.”

“I'm... I'm Dan,” he said, smiling like a dumbass. What is wrong with me? Dan screamed in his head.

“It's nice to meet you Dan. Would, um, would you like to come in? I've got some coffee, if you want.”

“I'd love to.”

Dan let himself in and sat on his sofa. Phil brought out two mugs of coffee and sat by him. “So Dan, tell me about yourself.”

Dan didn't know what to say. He always had something for his targets to fall for, but something was so different here that it drew him silent. Something about... him. He was perfect.

“Aren't you quiet,” Phil commented and giggled.

Dan noticed he'd just been staring at him. His cheeks flushed.

“Are you alright?”

“I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be fine? I'm fine, everything's great! I'm fine!” Why am I acting so weird? What's happening?

“Do you want to do something? I've got games! Do you like Scrabble, or maybe video games?”

“What?”

Phil clenched his teeth together and sighed sadly. “I'm sorry. Nobody really visits me anymore. Its pretty lonely around here. When someone comes over, I can't help but being... weird.”

“I don't think you're weird.”

“Really?”

“Of course not, and I'd love to play something with you.”

“You would?”

“Sure, but I've never played before.” The agency never let him play games. Everything was about becoming who he was.

“You haven't? I'll teach you!”

Instantly, Dan admired everything about Phil. He was childlike, but sweet and adorable. He was so loving towards him, even after knowing him for only a few minutes. Minutes turned to hours, and by then they had gotten through several conversations and several games of Scrabble. Dan's knowledge helped him.

“Wow, you're really good,” Phil commented.

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Um, I'm going to the restroom real quick. I'll be back,” he said, picking himself up from the spot they'd been playing in. “Make yourself at home.”

“Ok.” Dan let out a quiet sigh as he watched Phil turn the corner. His heart beat was terribly off, concerning Dan. Was he ill? Would he be ok? What was wrong with him?

Dan took the opportunity to investigate, remembering finally that he was on a mission, after all. Everything was clean – no sign of any drugs or hidden money anywhere. Phil's things were all set out in the open, no locks on the cabinets or doors of any kind. Phil himself appeared too kind to do any kind of drug-lording anyway. Was he innocent?

“Back!” he called. “How about another game?”

“Actually, Phil, I sorta need to head out. I have a lot of stuff I need to do.”

His face sank. “Oh, ok. Come back tomorrow if you can. We could play some more or do something else, if you'd like.”

“Yeah, sounds like fun.”

“Hey Dan, are we... friends?”

Dan thought about the question. He had never had someone consider him their 'friend' before. But Phil... he was so beautiful to look at and even better to talk to. Something about him made his heart jump stupidly. Did he want him as his friend? For now, it would be best. “Um, yes. W-we're friends.”

Phil smiled. “I like you, Dan. See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, bye,” he said leaving. The second the door closed, Dan clasped a hand over his chest. “What was that?” he whispered to himself. Something about those words – I like you – they hurt him. He craved to hear them again. Did this boy – this absolutely amazing boy – like him? “No, no he doesn't,” Dan told himself. “He couldn't. There's nothing to like about me. I'm a tool, not a person.”