P H I L ' S  P O V

He hadn't said it back last night, and I didn't bring it up again.

It was just one time, that couldn't mean anything right? Dan had had a rough night after all. I must admit, however, I was worried about him.

When I woke up he was asleep, thankfully, so I got up and got dressed. When I came back, I tiptoed to him, showering him with kisses. He smiled, groaning tiredly.

"Wake up, baby."

"Mmph, don't wanna," he giggled, scooting away and burying his face in the pillow. I grinned.

"But you have to," I pouted.

"I don't know, I think you have to make me," he teased. I heard the smirk in his voice. I rolled my eyes playfully, walking over to his side of the bed, climbing on top of him. He was on his stomach. I began massaging his shoulders, leaning down to kiss the back of his neck.

"Please?" I spoke seductively, giggling.

"Fine, get off me before I get on top of you if you know what I mean," he replied. We laughed and I climbed off him. He sat up and clambered out of bed, getting dressed. Once the two of us were ready I dialed Bryony's number.

"Hey, so where are we meeting?"

"You're in Liverpool, right?" Bry questioned.

"Yeah."

"Alright. Meet at the coffee shop on Harrington boulevard."

She hung up and I dropped my phone back into my pocket, packing our things. I took Dan's hand and we went down, checking out of the hotel and hopping into my car.

We drove to the cafe and parked, walking until we spotted Bryony. She had tattoos now.

Dan and I greeted her, finding a table to sit at. "Okay so what's the plan?" I asked. She sipped her hot chocolate.

"First of all, we have to stick together. No matter what. Especially if we're outside, because if one of us gets lost out in the open, it's an easier target. Secondly, we need to keep our phones on if something happens. No killing for now, no matter how much somebody pisses you off. Not even getting into a fight."

We nodded.

"Our plan for now is to stay here. No going out unless you have sunglasses or a hoodie over your head, because they know we ran to the UK, there's been too many sudden murders here. We'll stay here, and if they do come up, then we'll fight. But for now we will make no effort to attack."

"What if it's in public? If they find us in public?" Dan asked beside me.

Bryony set her drink drown. "Then you run. You run like hell and you don't stop until you know they've lost you."

He nodded nervously, and we stood from our seats. "Should we get our disguises now?"

"Good idea," Bryony responded. We followed her to the mall and during, I brushed my fingers against Dan's.

He pulled his hand away.

I looked down, then up at him, but he was looking away from me. I ignored the weight in my stomach and put my hands back in my pockets, wondering why he didn't want to hold my hand. It wasn't because we were in public, no. We had held hands thousands of times, no matter how many dirty looks we got. Dan loved holding hands.

It's nothing, I told myself.

But it is, Phil. He's falling for somebody else. He doesn't want you anymore. Dan-

"We're here!" Bryony exclaimed, cutting off my thoughts. I looked up to see we were in front of the hair salon. I gulped, walking in after the other two did.

"Hello, do you guys all want one?" A lady asked.

All three of us nodded. "Alright," she replied, instructing us to different seats and giving us our stylists. I flipped through pages of the style book trying to find the color I wanted.

I grinned when I saw it, tapping the color with my finger. "Highlights or full hair?"

"Highlights, please."

She flashed me a smile and took the book, setting it back down. When it was done, I looked at myself in the mirror. I stood, a smirk on my face.

My once fully black hair was highlighted with a bright ocean blue, streaks littering my hair. "You like it?" She questioned.

"I love it!"

I paid, waiting for Dan and Bryony to come back out. When they did, I took one look at Bryony, who completely dyed her hair purple and cut it short. Then my eyes set on Dan, and I couldn't glance away.

Dan had silver hair, a color similar to a wedding ring or a diamond. It was bright, but it fit his septum piercing perfectly. I grinned at him, and he flashed me a shy smile. "You look great," I murmured to him after standing up, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"Thanks. So do you," he whispered.

"You look different," I told Bryony. She laughed.

"Is that good or bad?"

I chuckled. "It's good."

"Alright so what's next?" Dan cut in, and I furrowed my eyebrows. Why was he so antsy?

"Tattoos now, I guess. But just for you, Bryony and I don't want anymore. After that we'll get a new hotel room for Bryony to fit into."

"Alright," he grinned. "What are we waiting for?"

We followed him back to the car and drove to the nearest tattoo place, walking in and looking over all the art. A man rest on a stool, finishing up someone's tattoo, the customer holding back tears. I looked over at Dan to see him petrified.

A lopsided smile appeared on my face. "It's gonna hurt, you know. It's permanent ink being drilled into your skin."

The person got up, clutching their newly tatted arm as they paid and left, sniffling. Dan's wide eyes met mine. "I'm scared, Phil."

My smile faded upon realizing this wasn't talking about the tattoo. I exhaled. Bryony and I sat in the chairs next to the recliner, watching as Dan told the artist what he wanted. He laid back, rolling up his sleeve.

We stayed silent, keeping our eyes glued to the ink slowly leaving itself on my boyfriend's pale skin. Once done, Dan had watery eyes, again refusing to let himself cry.

The man wiped off the blood, showing Dan how the tattoo looked with a mirror. Dan couldn't help but smile, quietly thanking him and paying. It was what he wanted, the rose with thorns. He hopped off the seat, staying silent.

Bryony furrowed her eyebrows, noticing his odd attitude too.

"Dan, what's wrong?"

He ignored me, hurrying to the car. We drove in silence, the whole time Dan keeping his eyes out the window, not once looking at me.

I looked down at my hands.

"All I want to do is make you happy, so why won't you let me help?" I whispered. He sighed, looking down at his lap. Then he replied, his voice so small only those with outstanding hearing could listen. But somehow, I heard him, and oh how I wish I didn't.

"Because you can't."