Oblivious Hearts (Phan)

Chapter Twenty Three

"I told him... Everything. I told him everything." Phil said to Tommy, helping himself to another can of beer from the fridge.

"About time too Phil." Tommy said, tying the bin liner and straightening up. "Clearly he loves you, and he seems very sweet. I think he'll be good for you."

"Yeah, and he hasn't run a mile." Phil said with a half-hearted laugh.

"Of course he hasn't Phil." Tommy lightly rubbed Phil's arm and smiled. He picked up a beer for himself and left Phil alone in the kitchen. Phil leant on the counter top and sighed to himself. He cracked open the beer and took a sip.

"Phil told me you know about Craig now." Tommy said, walking up to Dan who was now stood alone, looking a bit lost in the crowd of strangers now filling Tommy's living room. "I'm glad he finally told someone about everything, now he's not totally alone. I don't know it all of course but I know enough to justify what he's done to all those women." Dan's ears pricked at this. He kept his face composed but inside he was confused. What had Phil done to all of which women? "He's like a child to me, so I feel as though I can sleep better at night knowing someone loves him despite what he's been through and done. You're a good man Dan." Tommy finished. Dan smiled but bit his bottom lip.

"Sorry, what do you mean 'what he's done to all those women?'" Dan asked. He was a bit reluctant to hear the answer, a puddle of dread forming in his stomach.

"Has... Hasn't he told you?" Tommy asked, the smiling dropping from his face to be replaced by guilt.

"Told me what?" Dan asked, stepping closer to Tommy. He knew there was something big he was missing here. But the more he thought about it the clearer his suspicion became, growing stronger with every passing second.

"I- Oh shit. I'm sorry Dan but it shouldn't be me to tell you this. You need to talk to Phil. Shit..."

Dan put his drink down on a nearby coffee table and headed for the kitchen in search of Phil. This was not something that could wait until they left, he already felt dread trickle down his spine. "Phil," Dan said when he found him in the kitchen, fiddling with the music. "We need to talk." Phil's face drained of colour at the expression on Dan's face and the tone of his voice.

"Of course." Phil said, putting his now empty beer can in the bin and walking over to Dan. "What's happened?"
"Tommy, he mentioned something a moment ago about you and what you'd done to numerous women. What did he mean by that?" Dan said, his voice even but firm.

"I-I... It's nothing, I don't know what he's talking about." Phil said, stumbling over his tongue.

"Don't lie to me Phil." Dan said, his eyes growing darker. "You hurt them didn't you? After everything you've been through... How could you do that to someone else?"

"No, Dan it wasn't like that! You've got to believe me! I've only been with women because... No- Well, they weren't innocent like me, they needed to be punished. No wait, that came out wrong. They weren't like me, I-I." Phil said, his words coming out in a rush. "Dan wait, where are you going?" He called after Dan who had turned on his heel and rushed from the room. Phil hurried after him, sidestepping through the crowd of happy people clogging up the hallway, hiding Dan. Phil's stomach had dropped so far it was a wonder he didn't trip over it. Phil finally spotted Dan pushing through the swarm, heading towards the front door and he followed him.

The fresh air hit Phil like a wall, stinging his cheeks with lines of fresh tears gently streaming down them. "Dan! Dan wait, please." Phil called after him.

Dan had reached the car now and opened the driver's door. He threw his coat on the passengers seat and made to get in the car but Phil caught his arm stopping him. Dan span to face Phil with such a cold, disgusted look on his face that Phil swallowed hard in fear and hunched his shoulders over.

"What?" Dan spat at Phil, the repulsion made Phil flinch. "What pathetic lie are you going to spin to cover this up Phil?" Dan glowered at Phil.

"I've been trying to tell you, but I never managed to." Phil sniffed, wiping the tears from his cheeks. "I love you Dan. Please don't go." His voice was barely a whisper. "Please don't leave me."

Dan got in the car and slammed his door shut behind him.

"You said you'd never leave me!" Phil cried out as Dan switched the car on and sped away, his tires squeaking into the silence of the road still echoing with Phil's tortured cry. Dan didn't look back, leaving Phil to become a small figure in the rear view mirror. He was in shock and needed to go somewhere quiet to think.

Surprise! 

What do you think of it? Did you see that coming?

The next chapter's coming in a minute, see you then (hopefully.)

T x