non-binary → phan (on hold)

10. cardboard boxes

he shook his head, holding the sweatshirt back out to billie. "can't you just...stay?" 

"you know pretty fucking well that i can't stay, tae, and that i might not even be coming back." billie shoved something else into the box that i couldn't quite see. "so if all of you could stop complaining instead of making me feel like shit, that would be great."

"i know, i'm sorry," tae said. he pulled the sweatshirt back to his chest, staying like that for a minute before pulling it over his head. "but hear me out for a second, okay?" 

billie put her chin in her hand, glaring at tae, who shuddered under her stare. i felt bad for him.

"i've heard from one of my old friends that america has this law," tae swallowed, fiddling with the hem of the sweatshirt, "that when you turn sixteen, you can choose where you get to live, as long as it's with an adult unless your parents decide they think you're at risk. well, you're fifteen right now and if i remember correctly your brother is eighteen. by the time you're sixteen, maybe you could get your brother to study college abroad in england and come stay with him here! your parents won't think you're at risk if you're staying with him, right?" 

billie rolled her eyes. "tae, as good an idea as that is, i'd like for you stay off of my ass about this whole moving thing." 

"bils, i understand that you're upset by this, but you're coming off a little harsh. i mean, you were the first person to treat him with honesty and kindness since he-"

billie snapped her head in my direction. "stay out of this dan. this is not about you. not everything is about you, okay? just this once stay out of my damn business. you don't need to be getting involved in every single thing i'm a part of." 

"says the one who is literally always up my ass about what i'm doing," i responded in defense. 

"you're not going to need to worry about that anymore, are you?" billie sneered. "now get out of my room. get out of this house. movie night is over. text phil and connor for me. it's not their fault that all three of us can't seem to stay calm." 

tae looked back and forth between billie and i. his eyes were glistening with unshed tears. i grabbed his hand. "come on, tae. let's leave her alone for now." 

before we left, he turned to face billie, who was staring at her wall. "i'm sorry." 

billie just nodded.

⌲

connor, tae, phil, and i had decided to have our own little movie night at my place. connor had fallen asleep halfway through the first movie, sprawled out across the floor, while tae had fallen asleep halfway through the second. tae and i were both pulled up against phil, his shirt curled up in tae's hand. my nose tickled from both of their faint breaths hitting my face. 

tae's breath smelled like cinnamon and green tea, while phil's breath smelled like the bubble gum toothpaste that kid's used. i decided i wouldn't be surprised if phil actually used that kind of toothpaste.

"dan?" phil asked, whispering as the movie finished. the only light was from the faint glow of the television set. i hummed in response. "okay, good, you're awake. i was hoping at least one of you would be awake. i didn't want to be stuck like this." he shook his right arm as he realized tae was still pressed against him. "but it looks like i'm still going to be stuck anyway. am i going to have to sleep like this?" 

i chuckled. "no. i was planning on waking them up anyway so that connor doesn't have to sleep on the floor."

"okay." phil made a soft noise that sounded like a whistle. "what are the sleeping arrangements? connor shouldn't sleep on the bed, because he kicks."

a groan sounded from the ground. "i don't kick anymore, phil. that was back in our first year of uni when we were still staying in the dorms. i've gotten out of the habit of doing that." connor sat up from the floor, rubbing his eyes. he squinted at the sleeping form of tae, then at phil and i. "oh my-oh, okay, um- that's really adorable. please date." 

i blushed and sat up from phil's side. phil started coughing a lot, choking on his spit. tae jumped away from phil at the sudden convulsing movement, falling off of the couch and smacking his head against the table. he rubbed his head gently. "ow," he whispered.

i laughed nervously. "okay, since everyone is up now. who wants to sleep where?"

tae gasped, forgetting his injured head and raising his hand, but his hand also smacked against the table. he quickly pulled it against his chest. "ow." he laughed a little bit, before looking at me with bright eyes. "i want to sleep on the beanbag!"

connor smirked at phil and i. "i call the couch. looks like it's dan and phil on the bed." 

"cool," i said, shrugging. inside, however, i was screaming at connor and throwing mental furniture. "let's get ready for bed, i guess." tae stood up, mumbling something about his butt being sore. "come on, phil." 

"o-okay," phil stuttered.

this was going to be a long night.

⌲

author's note! this chapter sUCks n was overdramatic but next chapter is fluffy ((;
-di