Figure It Out [Phan]

[4]

Dan's next day at school was hell.

Everyone made fun of him for cussing out one of the most popular boys at school, and then he had detention for a week starting today.

The bully that made fun of Dan was constantly yelling things through the hall at him.

"Hey faggot why aren't you dead already!" Was one of the ones that really struck a chord with Dan. But Dan couldn't say anything. He didn't want to say anything. In fact, he didn't want to be living anymore.

His parents didn't really like the fact he had detention for a week. They yelled at him for his lack of self control when he yelled at the bully. Then, on top of that, they grounded him for a week.

So Dan really wanted to be dead right now.

***

Phil's parents didn't mind that he had detention. It wasn't a huge deal, one day of detention. In their eyes, he got detention for an arbitrary reason, because Phil was doing what would make him happy.

Phil kept hanging out around his group and the bully who yelled at Dan, Clarke was his name, without even looking twice at Dan.

But still, Phil couldn't help but feel bad for all that was happening to Dan. And Dan looked sadder than normal. Dan looked worse then he ever had.

Dan's hood was always up and his earbuds never left their spot locked in his ears. Dan's head was down at the floor and a frown was constantly plastered on his face.

Phil felt bad for this sadness that washed over Dan. And Phil couldn't help but feel like it was his fault.

***

The last bell rang, but that didn't mean that Dan could go home. After a miserable day, he gets to stay another hour in a miserable school.

Dan grabbed his backpack and went to his locker to grab the rest of his stuff. Then he headed back to the classroom where he was condemned for the next hour.

Phil was already there. Dan took a spot as far away as possible from Phil.

The teacher got there and lectured them on proper behavior and consequences of their actions. But neither Dan nor Phil were listening at all.

"I have to go do something. I'll be leaving you two here. No talking, no phones, no whatever." The teacher said, and then left the room.

Dan and Phil sat there and said nothing for a while. Dan had his head absorbed in his thoughts, but Phil was debating whether to talk to Dan.

"Uh... hey Dan." Phil said.

Dan turned his head slowly to look at Phil. "Why are you talking to me?" Dan said harshly.

"Just trying to be friendly." Phil's said.

"No one's ever friendly to me." Dan said. "What do you want?"

"Nothing." Phil mumbled. Dan turned his head away.

"No wonder he doesn't have any friends." Phil thought. "But... then again... I did the exact same thing last year. He pushes everyone away to avoid getting hurt."

Phil decided to try and talk to Dan again.

"Listen, Dan." Phil said. Dan turned his head back to Phil, eyebrows raised. "Clarke, is kind of a mean guy."

"Is Clarke the guy who yelled at me yesterday?" Dan asked. Phil nodded. "He's more than a mean guy, Phil. He's a fucking monster!"

"Well, he just has a lot of stuff going on at home." Phil said.

"That doesn't give him the excuse to yell at people. He should deal with his problems without having to take them out on other fucking people." Dan said.

"Okay, that's true." Phil said. "What I'm really trying to say is... I'm sorry."

"What?" Dan said softly.

"I'm sorry about Clarke, about me, about everything anyone has ever done to you." Phil said. "You seem like you're a good person. You don't deserve this treatment."

"Oh, thank you, Phil." Dan said, and turned his head away quickly.

Dan didn't want Phil to see him blushing.