I awoke the next morning but it was still dark. I felt something move beneath me and lifted my face up to see that, it wasn't dark for one, and also I was snuggled up against Phil. My head pressed into his shoulder, my arms fitting perfectly around his waist.
I breathed out happily and cuddled him closer. He mumbled in his sleep in a cute way and turned over so his face was pressed into my chest. I cuddled him more and relished in the heat he gave me.

After a moment he stirred and lifted his head up to face me.
"Good morning" I smiled and kissed the top of his nose. He blushed vibrantly and hid his face in my chest again.
"Morning" he mumbled tiredly. I felt his body lift up underneath me as he yawned. I looked at the time and realised I had art soon.
"I need to leave" I stated, a little sad that I was to leave Phil. Then I got a great idea "you should come to"
Phil shot up like a flash "no. No." He shook his head rapidly and climbed off me. He sat on his own bed and pulled the covers over his face. I giggled at him.
"Come on Philly" I pleaded, he pulled the cover down a bit so he was just a head and stared up at me with watering eyes.
"They'll hate me. They'll stare at me" he went back under "I can't" I walked over to him and pulled the cover away, I knelt down so I could look into his eyes and whispered
"No one could ever hate you Phil"
"My dad-"
"He's not here and I won't let anyone like him to come back into your life." He still seemed unsure so I pushed on "be a brave little lion" he smiled at that, his eyes brightening up.
"You won't leave me?" He questioned shaking.
"I'll never leave you" I replied

~

As we left the I noticed doctors and nurses were staring at Phil and then me. This was obviously the first time Phil had left the room with someone and it seemed to shock everyone.

I could see how anxious Phil was, he was shaking and messing with his hands. I reached out and grabbed one, his head flicked quickly to look at me. I smiled and he seemed to calm down enough to return it, though I could still see his uncertainess.

We made it to art and we both sat down together. Here I had to let go of his hand so we could draw and I all too quickly missed the feeling of his skin pressed against mine.
"Okay guys!" The 'teacher' said too enthusiasticly "today we're going to be drawing each other! Pick a partner and get to it" she clapped her hands. Phil looked around anxiously as if he thought I wouldn't pick him.
"Hold still so I can get a good angle would you" I laughed and he looked straight at me shocked "although any angle from you a good one" I winked.
"I can't draw" he told me anxiously as he picked up the pencil.
"Well you can pick up a pencil and that's all you really need." I smiled at him and we started drawing. I didn't really need to glance up too much. I did Phils black fringe from memory and his eyes (although I wished we could colour them in because they were a beautiful colour that I couldn't capture with a boring old HB pencil).

"Okay is everyone done?" The teacher asked and we all nodded. "Time to show your partner the drawing"

Me and Phil looked at each other. "Okay. Three" I began to count "two. One" we both flipped our papers over and I was slightly concerned about Phils. He really couldn't draw.
"Who did you even draw?" I questioned in between laughs, luckily he laughed too.
"You" he said "it's like a photograph" he laughed and his to tongue stuck out. He put the picture up close to my face to compare it which made us laugh even harder.
"A* for effort" I laughed some more when Phil mock pouted. My stomach chose that time to rumble. "Time for dinner me thinks" I saw Phils face automatically drop "don't worry. My friends are really nice" I assured him "you'll fit right in" he half heartedly smiled and nodded.

"It's nice to be involved right?" I asked as we began to put the art stuff back and carried our pictures out of the room.
"It... It feels weird" he told me, biting his lip.
"Good weird?"
"I'm not quite sure" he shrugged and I decided not to push it. We stayed in silence as we walked to the cafeteria, in hindsight I probably shouldn't have left Phil alone with his thoughts because when we got there he seemed even more anxious than I had ever seen before.
"Don't worry" I whispered and grabbed his hand once again as we made our way to the table where I could already see PJ and the gang.

"Hey guys!" I chirped as I got to the table.
"Hi" Phil mumbled from behind me.
"Is that the infamous Phil I see behind you Daniel?" PJ questioned as he stood up to get a closer look.
"Don't scare the poor lad" cook interjected as he saw Phil back away slightly from PJs gaze. PJ put his hands up in defeat and sat back down.
"it's nice to meet you" PJ finally greeted him normally "glad I could be here, I had to fight the vicious sun demon in order to get here today. She wouldn't stop zapping me"
"Schiz?" Phil whispered in my ear, I shook my head.
"Nah, he's just creatively weird" I replied with a smile "so guys this is Phil and Phil this is cook, Pete and PJ" I addressed the table.
"Nice to meet you" Phil said politely.
"And you too, come sit next to uncle Cooky." Cook called over and patted the seat next to him
"Don't talk about cookies. I'm dying for one" PJ moaned.
I looked around the table and narrowed my eyebrows.
"Hey Pete where's Carrie?" I asked him, he looked up at me sadly and sighed. He rubbed his eyes which I just noticed were red, probably from crying.
"She's leaving tonight" he whispered "she got... better"
"Wow that's great news!" I looked at him again and cocked my head to one side "isn't it?"
"Yes" he nodded his head but it quickly turned into a shake "I'm going to miss her so much Dan. She was the only thing getting me through all of this" he explained. I sat down next to him and began to rub his back.
"It's going to be okay" I told him "you'll get through this and if you do you'll be out of this place and be with Carrie in the real world" he smiled a little at that.
"I guess you're right" he mumbled "I just need to be happy for her, show her I'm there for her no matter what" I nodded and continued to rub his back.
"You're at great friend Dan"
"Ditto my good man" I replied making him chuckle at little. He sniffed and straightened up.
"So you and Phil are okay?" He asked me and indicated towards him. I nodded and bit my lip "never thought I would ever see his face in here"
"It wasn't the easiest task believe me" I told him, I looked at Phil who was currently in a full flowing conversation with PJ and Cook. I didn't know what about but I didn't have to, he was happy and that was all that mattered.
"He was so lonely before, never did anything" Pete commented and I nodded "now he's going to make friends Dan... and it's all thanks to you"

An: I had so much fun writing this one! :D
- rach ♥