Chapter Four

Words: 1867

Phil's POV

I walked quickly to school that day. I wanted to meet up earlier with Chris and PJ to make plans for the party that night. No way was I spending time alone with Anton so early on in our recovery. I had this mingling feeling in the back of my mind that told me not to trust him. How could I when he tortured me for so long? Whilst distracted, I walked so quickly that I accidentally collided into a figure which had turn the same corner as me.

I landed on the ground and grunted in pain as I contacted the concrete pavement. I regained the breath that was knocked out of my lungs and looked at the person I had bumped into and froze. Dan Howell was on his butt across from me groaning a little. He then let out a weak chuckle and got to his feet.

I stayed on the floor and cowered slightly. Old habits caused me to flinch back and wait for him to yell at me for being worthless and a waste of oxygen. Instead of those things he offered me a hand to help me up. I stared at it in shock for a moment and hesitated. He was probably a nice guy but trust issues didn't just disappear overnight.  

"It's just a hand." He laughed. I gave him a small timid smile and accepted his help - allowing him to haul me up. I brushed myself off before looking around awkwardly, I wasn't quite sure what to say. "I guess we're both heading this way to school then." He winked and turned to walk away.

I watched him start to head in the direction of school, not quite sure if I should talk to him or not. However he eventually turned round with a grin and gestured for me to follow. I swallowed anxiously but complied - soon walking in step with him.

"Do you live around here?" I asked, trying to make conversation.

"Yeah that flat up there!" He explained, pointing to one about a block down. He didn't live far from me - something I didn't mention but took a mental note of.

"Cool." I attempted to reply casually.

"You live nearby?" He questioned.

"Um, yeah not too far from you actually." I confirmed - crumpling up that mental note completely and throwing it in the bin.

"Oh cool. So ... are you going to that party tonight?" He asked, glancing sideways at me. My body heated up in response - I still couldn't believe that this gorgeous boy was talking to me. Just being around him made me feel giddy, nervous and not good enough - yet he was still talking to me which didn't understand.

"Yeah ... unfortunately I got a personal invitation." I sighed. If Anton could prove himself better than he was in the past then I'd give him a chance but I was doubtful. "PJ and Chris encouraged me, I wasn't too keen on the idea." I admitted. "What about you?" I asked curiously, gouging his reaction.

He made a face and looked at his shoes before answering. "I don't really do parties." He admitted. I raised an eyebrow - I thought he'd go to every party and chat up girls ... yet again he is the lonely prince. 

"I think you should go, everyone needs to go to at least one party in their lifetime." I shrugged before panicking a little. I was giving advice I wasn't qualified to make - what right had I to encourage him to go to a party when I myself had never been invited to one? He looked at me with a confused expression, which I must admit made him look adorable, but I was scared I'd said the wrong thing. He didn't answer straight away and I feared he wanted to run away from me.

"You know what Phil?" He suddenly said after a moment's thought. I would have shivered at him saying my name if I wasn't terrified of what he was going to say next. "I'll go for you." He smiled sweetly and I looked at him in shock. 

"For me? What does he mean?" I thought in confusion - my brian practically short-circuiting.

"Y-you w-what?" I stuttered - a little flustered.

"I'll go to the party but only for you, since you are able to convince me it can't be that bad can it?" He smiled making a dimple pop out on one cheek. I stared at it for a second, internally screaming at how cute it made him look. Quickly, I looked down with a blush when I started to think about poking said dimple.

"You don't have to go for me, i-it was just a suggestion, I'm not pressuring you or anyth-"

"It's fine Phil, I want to go." He grinned and looked ahead, settling us into a comfortable silence. I smiled quietly to myself as I saw the school gates in view - my day had just gotten 100 times better thanks to Dan.

We made small talk as we neared the front of the school and I didn't notice the shocked looks we got from everyone else. "I'll see you in Geography Phil." He winked then walked off. Only then did I notice the shocked and jealous stares which made me very uncomfortable. I  quickly made my way over to Chris and PJ who had the same perplexed expressions plastered on their face.

"Hey guys." I waved awkwardly.

"HEY GUYS?" Chris burst then slapped his forehead. "YOU JUST ... You walk to school with Dan freakin' Howell  and then you say 'Hey Guys'?" Chris exclaimed. I couldn't help but chuckle at him.

"Yeah ... it was kind of an accident - we sort of collided on the way. My butt is pretty sore now." I admitted in embarrassment. Chris and PJ looked at each other before bursting into laughter. I looked at them in confusion until I said that phrase in my head again and almost face palmed once I realised.

"N-no I d-didn't mean it like th-that!" I said between giggles. "I mean we crashed into each other and we both fell on our arses." I explained with a grin. Chris and PJ were red faced and they both beamed at me.

"Thank you Phil for brightening my day with your remark!" Chris snorted which caused me to giggle again. "So, Philip ... what are you wearing to this party?" Chris asked once he'd recovered.

"I don't know, I didn't really think about it." I shrugged and bit my lip. Was I supposed to?

"Don't worry about it, we'll help you decide." PJ reassured. I smiled my thanks before deciding to let slip the details of the morning.

"Dan will be there too." I added and they both looked at me in surprise for the umpteenth time. 

"But he never goes to parties!" PJ spluttered.

"He said he'd go .. for me." I trailed off, blushing once again.

"OMG DO YOU THINK THE PRINCE HAS A CRUSH ON OUR BABY BOY?" Chris exclaimed to PJ. They were both practically squealing - I eyed them in amusement until I realised what they'd said.

"No way, I'm nobody's crush." I denied.

"Are you sure about that?" Chris muttered and pointed towards a group of girl which were looking in my direction. I hid behind my fringe in embarrassment and focused on the floor. I wasn't great with attention. It's not like they were looking at me because they liked me. They were looking at me because I was a freak, right?

"Hate to break it to you Phil but you are quite popular with the ladies ... and two men I might add." PJ winked. Two? I frowned at him.

"Oh Phil, you're so clueless." Chris sang affectionately.

"Anton's been eyeing you up like candy since he got here and Dan is interacting with you and being all cutesy. You're building a little fan base!" PJ chuckled. I smiled a little but shook my head. As if Dan Howell liked someone like me.

"Don't be ridiculous." I ended up replying but didn't go on - just walked to class with them and enjoyed the rest of the day.

~

Chris, PJ and I chatted away at lunch and I again felt so grateful to gain such amazing friends so early into the school year. Conversation was fun and flowed easily with them - something i hadn't experienced before and was happy to experience now. However, half way through the break Chris suddenly seemed to choke on his sandwich and his eyes went as round as saucers. PJ and I followed his gaze only to stare in disbelief as Dan Howell made his way over to us. I swallowed nervously whilst the others sat quietly and frozen.

"Hey Phil, you dropped this in our little incident earlier." Dan smiled and placed my iPod on the table. "Nice playlist by the way." He added and made a very quick and almost unnoticeable wink. He turned to my friends and nodded in acknowledgement. "Hey guys." He smiled politely before walking away.

All three of us sat there not sure of what to do.

"Okay, where's the Apocalypse?" Chris suddenly exclaimed. I chuckled and he grinned at me. "He really likes you Phil, crush or not, and I cannot believe he just spoke to us PJ!" He cheered and hugged his best friend tightly. I watched him willingly return it and nearly let an 'Aw' slip from their adorable embrace.

After they realised I was still there they pulled back and tried not to blush. I smiled to myself and carried on with my food. "Well, I have Geography next and it starts soon, I'll see you guys later." I grinned and dumped my food in the bin.

I arrived in class on time and took my seat near the back. Dan wasn't there yet which made me feel anxious - what if he didn't want to sit next to me and was repulsed with the idea. I was in a state of self-deprecating panic when a figure took the seat next to me.

"Hey Phil." The angelic voice said, filling my ears like a harmony. I let out a shaky breath and smiled at Dan who had taken his seat. "Glad to see you're not late!" He winked. I grinned shyly before facing the front since the lesson had started. We spent most of the period in comfortable silence since we were learning something important for our assessments. However at every opportunity we'd bring up a small conversation and I felt so happy.

At one point our legs brushed under the table and my face heated up in embarrassment but Dan didn't seem to be affected by it. He went on as if nothing happened whilst I went a little crazy at how close we were.

To my dismay the bell eventually rang for the end of the lesson and Dan collected his books together. "Well I have to go Phil, see you at the party tonight." He winked and left the class room without another word.

I sighed.

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