~Dan~
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"I have to take Phil home." I told my AP Calculus teacher, making sure that I looked as convincing as possible.
"And why exactly do you have to take him home?"
"He threw up all over himself."
"Get home home immediately!"
"I'm actually feeling a little sick too..."
"Both of you go home!"
I quickly grabbed mine and Phil's stuff and ran out the door to make it seem like I was running to the bathroom to throw up.

I knew that I would convince him because my teacher really didn't like vomit all too much. Rumor has it that he once had a panic attack when a student threw up in class.
"You did the vomit thing, didn't you?"
"You bet I did." I smiled as we began walking. Thankfully, all of the staff was either teaching a class or too busy doing other things to walk around the hall and catch us in our lie.
"Now, you go to the bathroom and make it look like you were cleaning up vomit from yourself. I'll get us signed out."
"I still don't think that this is a good idea Dan."
"Aw, come on Phil!" I cried in response. "We already made it this far. There's no way that you can back on me now. Besides, what are you going to do? There's no way you'll be allowed to go back to class after you threw up."
"What if we get in trouble?"
I stopped in my tracks and turned to him. My sudden stop almost caused Phil to run into me. "Then I'll take all the blame. This was my idea after all."
"You don't have to do that." He insisted.
"Yes, I do." I smiled at him. "I'll do whatever it takes for the good boy to skip school for the first time in his life."
"How do you know this will be my first time skipping?"
"Because someone who's skipped before wouldn't be all nervous about it." I told him as I resumed walking.
"Okay. It is my first time." He followed up the statement with a sigh.
"It'll be okay. Besides, what could go wrong?"
"Oh God, don't say that!" Phil cried. "Haven't you seen enough movies to know that the moment that someone says that is the moment that everything goes wrong?"
I couldn't help but laugh. "Will you relax? Now, go in the bathroom and pretend to clean up puke while I get us signed out. And don't make it look fake."

"I'm taking Phil home." I didn't want for a response from the office secretary and began writing Phil's name on the sign out sheet. Normally you would have to have a parent sign you out if you were under eighteen (Which included pretty much everyone except for the seniors) but I have special permission to be allowed to take Phil home whenever he didn't feel well since I was his aid. But I of course couldn't abuse this rule and I didn't plan on doing so anyway.
"I hope he feels better." The secretary said as I signed my name right under Phil's.
"Me too." I replied, putting the pen down. "I also won't be returning. I feel nauseous."
"I hope you both feel better then."
"Thank you."

"Phil, we're free to go." I said as I walked into the bathroom. He was just staring into the mirror.
"Phil?"
He was startled upon hearing my voice. "Oh, hi Dan. I didn't know you were there."
"Ready to go?"
"Yeah." He smiled. I couldn't tell if his nerves had faded away or not or if the smile was forced. I was never one who was good at reading people. "What are we going to do?"
"We'll figure it out as we go. Let's get our stuff and get the hell out of here."

We walked out of the school and started heading in a random direction. I didn't know where it would lead us to and I figured that it would be a good adventure. It would be pretty cool (and honestly pretty convenient) if I could drive right about now. I love joyrides but no one I know love them. It's one of my guilty pleasures.
"Dan, do you ever just walk around and just admire things?" Phil asked, taking me away from my thoughts.
I shrugged. "Sometimes. But I usually have music blasting in my ears."
"Do you know where that long path is behind our school?"
"Yeah, it's the one right next to the stadium. Why?"
"I used to walk along there all the time." I could tell that his arms were getting tired so I started pushing the wheelchair. A smile crossed his features. "I even skipped class once because I just needed to clear my head."
"Oh, so you have skipped before?" I teased, smiling.
"Only one class. I went back as soon as next period started."
I rolled my eyes. "So hardcore."
He laughed. "I am very hardcore."
"Oh, we'll just see about that." I started to head to the skate park, suddenly wanting to skateboard and practice a few tricks despite it was in the middle of fucking winter in Ohio. I sped up how fast I was pushing Phil and he gripped his arm rests tightly.
"Dan! Slow down!" He cried, the fear in his voice very obvious. "This wind is super cold!"
"We're almost there!" I replied, slowing down as I came to a turn.

"Dan, can you please tell me why we're at the skate park when it's the middle of winter?"
I shrugged as I got my skate board from my backpack. "Why not? I mean, this is one of the only days where there isn't snow on the ground. That's going to change tomorrow and probably for the rest of winter afterwards."
"I guess you make a good point." He said this as I made my way to the top of the ramp. "Show me what you got in the middle of this hellish winter."

I started off with building up speed. If there's anything I learned from the countless times of falling down on my ass, speed is key. As you get better and better, you can get faster and faster. The many years of skating with the band after practice in the summer enabled me to, and I don't mean to toot my own horn when I say this, do some pretty cool shit. The trick I showed Phil was the one (Because I am oh so great at names and remembering them) where you flip the skateboard and then land on it while it's still moving. I took many falls learning that one, that's for sure.

"Wow." Phil smiled and nodded in approval after I had performed the trick. "I'm impressed Dan."
I shrugged like it was nothing. "Aren't you glad that I came up with the idea of skipping today?"
Phil gave me another smile and nod. "Yeah, actually. This is fun. But let's not screw up our attendance too much. It matters in high school. It matters especially to me since I'm a senior and I plan on going to college next year."
I couldn't help but shaking my head and rolling my eyes. "You little goody two-shoes."
"Whatever." He rolled his eyes as well. "Show me more of your tricks while I play some Muse skater boy."
"God I love Muse." I smiled. "But I also love sk8ter boi."
"Avril Lavigne fan huh?" He was looking at his phone and scrolling through his music.
I felt hot with embarrassment. "No! O-of course not!"
A moment later, he had put on Girlfriend. "You really do have good taste."
"Ditto." I was off skating afterwards and singing Avril loud and proud.
God, Phil and I are such dorks.
But there's nothing wrong with it. You should be proud of who you are.
Right?