Let me save you

MIKE IS A HOE

I woke up to the sound of yelling. It was Dan's boyfriend, I could tell, I've heard it plenty before but that wasn't really what woke me up. What woke me up was the sound of Dan sobbing. It was loud and desperate. I listened in and, though I missed most of the dialogue, I could make out most of what was happening. His boyfriend was breaking up with him, because he was "too depressed." I was mad. Why on earth would you break up with someone just because they are depressed? I wanted to go out and tell him off but, before I could, I heard "Goodbye, Daniel." And his car driving away.
I walked outside and immediately regretted not bringing a jacket out. It was at least 10 degrees celsius. My thin pajama bottoms and tank top were not enough to keep me warm but I still crossed my road to Dan's house and saw him sitting in the grass staring into space. I approached him slowly. He stared at me and then back into space. I understood.
I hoisted Dan up and carried him inside. He was very malnourished so this was easy, but I hated that he didn't weigh more. Dan has never told me directly but I know his parents abuse him. He never looks like he's had enough to eat, and I know they are why. When he is at my house he is a bottomless pit. There are dark circles under his eyes that are more than likely from crying for hours at night. On more than one occasion he has shown up at my house with a bloody lip or bruises forming on his face and arms. He says it's just from falling down stairs or running into things but I know better.
When we get inside I put Dan on the couch and went into the kitchen to make him some tea. They don't ever keep things around for Dan to have so we have a stash of food for him under a loose floor board. While the kettle was boiling, I went in and checked on Dan. He was crying. It was a very silent cry, almost as if he was trying to hide it, but when I went up to him and hugged him, he started sobbing. The sound of his screams filled the empty house and chilled me to the bone, regardless I hugged him tighter and stayed with him. We sat like this for roughly 10 minutes. The kettle shrieked and I got up to check on it. I put the tea in a to-go cup and went up to Dan's room to get him a change of clothes. When I got back downstairs he looked at me then at the clothes and smiled. It was only a little one but it was a big accomplishment for me, considering he never smiles.
"Ready to go?" I asked reaching out my hand and comically bowing.
"More than ever." He stated. His voice was so raw and raspy. It broke my heart.
    We got to my house and I look at the clock on the wall. It's 4:15 am. Luckily, it's Saturday. I go up to my bathroom and start to run Dan a shower. As I'm leaving the bathroom, Dan comes up to me and hugs me tightly.
    "Thank you so much, Phil," he whispered. "If I was there alone I don't even want to think of what could have happened..."
    I stopped him. "Dan, you are my best friend. I care about you more than I care about most people. If you ever think of doing anything to hurt yourself, call me. Or heck, even show up at my house. I don't want you to get hurt."
    He looked up at me. His eyes were filled with tears and he was smiling. Gosh, his smile, it lights up a room. If only he could see it. Of course this is platonically said. I don't have feelings for my best friend. I can't have feelings for my best friend. That would be totally ridiculous. He doesn't even like me that way. I need to push these thoughts out of my head...
    I didn't have much longer to dwell on those thoughts, because my mum showed up next to us.
"Dan honey, are you okay? I heard a bunch of yelling earlier." Her voice was soft. My mother is probably the sweetest person ever. She takes in all the stray animals on the streets and, up until recently, she was a foster mother. She looked at Dan like a son and would love for him to move in with us. Unfortunately, his parents want to keep him around to make their family look better. On the outside you couldn't tell his family was abusive. They kept their house clean, didn't have any beer in the fridge, they have a dog and one son. It's like the perfect family. It took me almost a year of being friends with Dan to realize what was going on.
Dan nodded and smiled shyly. She pulled Dan into a hug. I heard her whisper, "Dan, I love you like you were my own son. I don't know what happened tonight but you can stay here as long as you need."
"Th-thank you," Dan stammered.
"Well," she said clearing her throat, still grinning from ear to ear, "I think that since we are all up and it's almost 5, I'll make breakfast. How does pancakes and eggs sound?"
My mom makes amazing pancakes and when she offered them, my stomach growled loudly.
"Hungry Phil?" She giggled.
"A little," I admitted. I earned a giggle from Dan. It was silent but with his body so close to mine I could feel his shoulders shake slightly.
After Dan had his shower, we went downstairs to eat breakfast. He sat as close to me as possible without sitting on my lap, my mom found this hilarious. Him and I collectively ate at least 25 pancakes. We have huge appetites. As I was clearing my plate I yawned and realized, I haven't slept more than two hours last night and, I'm pretty sure Dan didn't sleep at all. I turn to Dan, "Hey wanna go upstairs and nap? I'm exhausted and I'm sure you are too." He nodded shyly. We headed upstairs, my mom raised one eyebrow as if to question my intentions, and I shot a playful glare right back.
"We are gonna go catch up on some much needed sleep, Mum. If we sleep past 1 please wake us up."
"Sweet dreams," She said sweetly and winked. I rolled my eyes. Once we got in my room, I looked to Dan, "So how do you wanna do the sleeping arrangements? I could sleep on the floor and you take the bed?" I questioned. He frowned at this.
"I was wondering if we could sleep in the bed together. It's okay if you don't want to but I just think I will feel better having someone I trust next to me." He blushed furiously.
Dan is gay. He came out to me in fifth grade and I accepted it right from the start. It never changed our friendship. We still had sleep overs and hung out like normal but he seemed to be able to be more himself around me after that. I'm not completely sure of my sexuality. I thought I was straight for the longest time but recently I've been questioning it.
I'm pretty sure the reason he blushed was because he didn't want me to think he was into me because he most definitely is not. Nobody could like someone like me. I'm sad, I'm chubby, I'm just not at all desirable. Especially not to someone like Dan. Not like I like him, I don't, I can't. I can't take advantage of my best friend like that. I really should distance myself from him, but he's so addicting!
I blushed a little as well. "Of course we can, if it will make you feel better," I could hear the awkwardness in my voice.
"It would, a lot," he smiled. I love being the cause of that smile, it's so pure and sweet. We laid down on the bed with about a foot of space between us. He fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow but I just couldn't turn off my brain. I kept thinking about what happened last night, how much I wanted to punch his ex. He even has a jerky name, Mike.
He never treated Dan with respect. He cheated on him twice, once with an ex and once with a guy he met online. He was always out doing drugs with his friends and whenever Dan would say he wanted to spend time with him or say that one of his friends made him uncomfortable he would get angry. Like I mean throwing things around the room angry. It was awful seeing Dan in that position but now he's free. Free from that horrible relationship, and free to put himself first.
I felt my eyes get heavy. The room had a certain calmness around it that I've never felt before. As the sun rose, it's light was shining into my room from the window at the foot of my bed; and a cool breeze was coming in, rustling my curtains. My sheets were pleasantly cool from not having anyone in them most of the night, but they weren't too cool, since I had another person in the bed with me.
I looked over at Dan, sleeping peacefully. He looked so innocent and his hair was slightly curly since he hasn't been able to straighten it in a while. The blanket was half off his torso and he was snoring a little. I've never noticed before now how child-like Dan really is. He had to grow up too fast, with abusive parents. They wanted too much from him and it stresses him out constantly. All he really wants is someone to care for him without bad intentions. I thought of this as my eyes drooped and, finally, I drifted off to sleep.

~Author's note~
Hi! My name is Hannah! I haven't ever really written fan fictions before so I'm a little rusty. This originally was an English assignment so in this story there will be no smut or harsh language. The story is complete and I will try to update weekly! Thank you for reading lovelies!