Speak [ phan ]

chapter twenty

"Dan I- I ruined everything," Phil says, tears in his eyes, "I put myself before you when you needed me most. I don't expect you to forgive me straight away but I can prove to you how much you mean to me."

Dan just stares at Phil, his words sinking in, and Dan wants to forgive him right then and there. He really needs his best friend right now.

"Dan, please do something, I don't-" Phil starts, but Dan cuts him off by attacking Phil in another hug, and Phil finally understands, wrapping his own arms around Dan.

"I'm here for you Dan - I mean it," Phil says.

And Dan believes it, because right here, right now, Phil is here for him. Not just with his words, but with his actions too.

"We'd better get to school," Phil says, pulling away from the hug, "but if you need another day I'll stay off with you."

Dan shakes his head. He needs to go back today, or else he will just keep putting it off.

"I um, that note, I kept it," Phil says quietly, "I spent a while taping it back together, I'm rubbish at puzzles, but..."

Dan looks at Phil, unable to believe he kept the many tiny pieces Dan ripped his feelings into and even managed to tape them all back together. Dan doesn't know what to do, whether I feel embarrassed, annoyed, happy or upset.

"I'm here for you Dan, always," Phil says, holding out his hand.

Dan takes it as they walk through the school gates. And with Phil beside him, their hands intertwined, Dan feels safe again.

"Dan!" a loud voice yells, and Dan turns to see Caspar, Joe and Louise running towards him.

Phil steps back as they all attack Dan in a hug. Louise has tears in her eyes as she steps back. Dan smiles softly at his friends. Although he still feels a huge weight tugging his heart downwards, he knows his friends will be there for him, and they will lighten the weight.

Despite all the words said to Dan after his mother's death, he found that hugs helped the most - or just the act of being with another person.

And here, with his friends, he can finally see that maybe hope does lie in the future for him.

***

As Dan and Phil are walking home, Dan is texting Phil.

Dan: Phil, I'm scared.

Phil: Dan I won't let you down ever again, I mean it.

Dan: not about that...

Phil: what is it then?

Dan: what happens when my Aunty leaves?

Phil: oh.

Dan: we have no where to go Phil, no where to stay. My Aunty lives far away, I can't leave you guys, and my father is hopeless.

Phil: could you stay with me?

Dan: no, it's too much work for your mum.

Phil: it's seriously not Dan.

Dan: I don't want to intrude, we'll figure something out.

"No Dan, you're going to come and stay with me. We have two spare rooms, you and Quinn could stay in them," Phil says insistently.

Dan sighs.

Dan: only if your mother agrees. I don't want to be a burden.

Dan: also, there is legal boundaries Phil, and they will probably be a lot of work as well, and background checks...

"They'll be fine Dan. My mum won't mind, either will my Dad," Phil says, stopping as they reach Dan's house, "now go in and I'll text you later."

Phil gives Dan another quick hug before walking over to his own house. When Dan walks inside, he can see some strangers gathered around the table with his Aunty, and Dan is shocked to see Phil's mother there as well.

They cease talking when they notice Dan.

"Dan, hi," Phil's mother says when she sees him, "would you mind coming to take a seat?"

Dan nods stiffly, walking over and sliding into an empty chair at the table - between his Aunty and Phil's mother - he can feel the tension in the air. He doesn't know what is going on, so he just waits for someone to tell him.

"Now, Dan, as you may be aware of, despite that you and Quinn legally own this house, you cannot live alone until you are eighteen," one of the strangers says, "I'm a lawyer, Jenny by the way, I'm here to help you figure out what to do next."

Dan nods, still not entirely sure why Phil's mother is here.

"Now, your Aunty and Mrs Lester have both offered for you both to live with them until you turn eighteen," Jenny explains.

"They should live with me, I am their family after all," Dan's Aunty cuts in, looking annoyed by the whole situation.

"No, it makes more sense for them to live with me, there is no reason to tear them away from their lives, and we have enough rooms - and finance won't be an issue," Mrs Lester says calmly, "but in the end, it should be their decision."

Dan smiles gratefully at Mrs Lester, and she smiles back at him, reaching over and rubbing Dan's shoulder comfortingly.

"Dan, you don't have to chose right away, but we've done checks, and it can be possible for you to live with either one," Jenny says, "let me know which you'd prefer when you decide."

Dan already knows his choice. He pulls out his phone, opening notes and typing one simple sentence which would not offend his Aunty but verify his answer.

All my friends are here, and I don't want to leave them.

"I see," Jenny says, "well, Mrs Lester and I will start to organise everything, in the mean time, you should figure out what you're going to do with this house Dan."

Dan's Aunty is sitting there, and smiles softly at Dan. "If you want to be with your friends I understand. I'll head home once you're settled with Mrs Lester, and you can call me if you ever change your mind."

Dan smiles at her, nodding and she pulls him into a hug. There's suddenly a knock on the door, and Dan rises, frowning with confusion. Who would be at the door? Phil? He walks over, pulling the door open to see Connor.

"Dan," Connor says, pulling him into a hug, "Dan I'm so sorry."

Dan hugs him back, and for the second time that day, he bursts into tears.

************

an// hey guys hope you liked it! please remember to vote, comment and share! sorry it's been a little while, I got new books (TABINOF, username Evie and girl online on tour) and I've been busy reading them all.

TABINOF IS SO AMAZING OMG IM SO PROUD AHHHHHHHH. Also, I've had assignments and have tests coming up for the end of the year (ugh). Anyway, hope you enjoyed! Update within a week hopefully :D