just a school project || a hs phan au

Chapter 10

Dan has come to terms with the fact that Phil won't be getting any less confusing anytime.

It seems Phil is changing too often. One second, he's trying to get Dan in bed. The moment Dan finally lets him, he declines.

Phil's an unpredictable person, and before this whole incident, Dan had never noticed. He'd figured Phil was a shallow person, exactly what he seemed like. And sometimes Dan feels as though he's only telling himself this because he subconsciously wants Phil to love him, but he thinks there's another side to Phil. There's just an ego and a reputation he's obsessed with keeping up in the way.

This time, it feels as though it's Phil who's avoiding him, even if only for two days. Dan figures it's probably just because Phil's afraid Dan's going to ask questions. Dan does have questions, but he feels as though asking would be getting himself stuck deeper into this mess.

And even where he's already at, he can't seem to manage to get himself out.

-

Dan's always been used to rushing through the hallways, getting to his class before most other kids do. Unless he's talking to Pj for a moment, he usually has no delays in getting to his next classes.

Apparently, now other people have noticed Phil's interest in him.

Dan's headed to second period, and of course, he doesn't expect anything strange to happen. He hasn't talked to Phil since the incident, and all he expects at most would be Phil coming up to him in the hallways again to attempt getting into Dan's pants.

However, right before reaching the class, he feels someone tug him back on his bookbag.

At first, he figures it's probably Phil. He expects to see Phil, smirking and muttering something along the lines of 'hey, baby boy,' or some other flirty line like that.

Instead, it's Ty. And Dan knows he's no good. It's one of Phil's friends, and as far as Dan has heard, Ty is even worse. Phil is known as bad because he fucks as many people as possibly. Ty has been known to get into fights with whoever he can.

"Howell, hey," Ty smirks. It isn't a flirty smirk like Phil's, it's mischievous and worrying Dan. People like Ty don't talk to people like Dan without a good reason to.

Dan stays quiet, but Ty nudges his shoulder a little too roughly. "Hey, Howell," he repeats.

"What do you want?" Dan asks. He wonders if Ty is here because he knows about the dare, because that's the only thing that seems reasonable.

"Aren't you the little boy that's into Lester?" Ty asks. Dan can feel himself backing up a bit, subconsciously trying to leave. It's fight or flight, and Dan isn't one to fight.

And for once, Dan decides it's better to lie. "No."

"No? I've heard you're after him, aren't you?"

By this point, a few more people are watching, trying to be discreet. It's school, of course everyone is going to crowd around when they think there's going to be a fight.

"No, Ty," Dan insists. "He has this bet, that's all."

"I know all about the bet. Phil says you kissed him, didn't you?"

Dan bites the inside of his cheek. If he says yes, everyone's going to end up knowing. Word spreads like wildfire when it has to do with Phil Lester.

"Why the hell do you care?" Dan says, trying to maintain confidence, but at the same time, not wanting to go too far.

"You didn't fuck him either, we all know. He would have won the bet, then," Ty shrugs. "Aw, does Pretty Boy want a relationship with Phil?"

Dan doesn't understand what's happening. Popular people don't just pick on people for no reason. This wasn't a high school movie. He gets that what's going on between Phil and himself may be bigger than just them alone, because apparently a lot more people care what Phil does.