Different (phan)

18

Beautiful art by Jeweul :)

Dan pov.

"Dan, are you ok? Dan talk to me! DAN!"

I was sitting on a bench outside the courtroom. My parents are shaking my body and trying to get me to speak to them. What would make them think that I would?

"Mr. And Mrs. Howell please calm down. I know the case is looking tough bu-"

"Looking tough? We can't win! They have the papers showing how Dan truly does belong to them! I can't let my son go back to them!" My dad cut off our lawyer, they continue arguing and my mom keeps shaking my shoulders. I just stare at her with a blank face as tears start to fall down her face. It feels as if everything is on mute and in slow motion as my eyes slowly turn to the right to look at Mr. Allan. He's talking with a smile to one of his people with a chocolate chip cookie in his hand. He lets out as laugh and I notice one of his lawyers looking at me with a smirk. I stare back at him with a monotone face.
My mom finally stops shaking me and is now hugging my small frame and crying. The lawyers smirk slowly falls as I lift up my hand to the side of my face. My fingers form into the shape of a gun and the end is pressed against my head. I stare at the lawyer, who now has a questioning look, and 'shoot' myself. I close my eyes and drop my hand, letting my head fall against the wall behind me. I keep my eyes closed for 10 seconds before I open them and tilt my head to look at the lawyer again. He's now looking at me slightly worried and my lips form into a sad smile, with quickly falls.
I push my mom off of me gently and slowly stand up. Our lawyer is flipping through papers and my dad is walking away while shaking his head. I go to look at Mr. Allan again only to he greeted by his entire side looking at me. Some questioning, some worried, but most in disgust and greed.
My eyes scan each and every one of there faces as I start to walk towards the doors.

Then I see him.

I stop and my eyes go wide. Phil.
He's standing in the middle of the hall with tear stains on his face and a hand covering his mouth. I start shaking and my hands reach out slightly.

"P-phi..."

He starts running towards me and crashes into my body as he wraps his arms around me. He hugs me so close and tightly to his chest.

"Dan! Dan.. I..I didn't know you... I... I was observing the... and-and... you...."

I look up at Phil, not letting go of the hug. I can feel their stares on my back.

"So.. you know..?"

Phil looks down at me and gives a gentle smile, pushing my fringe out of my face.

"Yes Dan."

"A...and you not?.... you're not... mad?" I give him a questioning look. I've kept this a secret from him for so long when we promised to tell each other everything! Everyone I have ever told has had a negative reaction... even my brother at first.

"Dan... I know we promised each other not to keep secrets. But this...." he gestures to my back.

"This isn't the kind of secret I was thinking about... I think I'll let this one slide." We both smile and pull into another hug, even though we never really separated.

I was going to write more but this seems like a nice finish to the chapter. :) ALSO DOES ANYONE GO TO SANDBURG??