Summoning Love

Chapter Eight: Different

A/N: since you liked the 'spot the reference game' let's all play spot the reference to the famous phanfic
-

Phil awoke with a start, his breathes heavy and sudden. Images still flickering through his head of what had happened two nights ago.

It was stupid really, that he'd had a nightmare about it. Sure he'd been chased and threatened with knives that night, and that was obviously what his dream had been about. But that night had also probably been one of the best nights of his life for another reason.

Shaking his head thoroughly, Phil tried to get rid of the thoughts, not only about his nightmare but also about the boy he'd found himself constantly thinking about over the last couple of days.

It was as Phil concentrated and woke up properly that he noticed what he was surrounded by. A strange abundance of objects appeared to have found their way onto his bed. Including some dvds and books, some socks, and a pair of underwear (probably his, though possibly not).

Sleep summoning.

That was the only explanation. It had happened to Phil before, though albeit it hadn't in a while. It only seemed to occur when there was something in particular troubling him.

Rubbing his eyes and pushing the duvet off himself slightly, knocking a book off his bed in the process, Phil took a rather puzzled stretch.

He got up and began returning the things to their rightful place, when he heard his phone buzz.

Diving to grab for it, he turned it on. Who on earth would be texting him at 7am...

From: Dan
Today 07:03am

'Hey, do you wanna walk to a school together?'

Phil froze, rereading the message multiple times before even thinking about a response.

Did Dan consider the two of them to be friends now? Was that a thing, they were gonna just hang out from now on? Phil didn't mind at all, he almost anything but minded actually. It just seemed a bit strange to actually have someone to call his friend. Other than Pj of course, who Phil really wished he got to see more.

Composing himself, Phil began to type out a response.

From: Phil
Today 07:04am

'Sure, where do you wanna meet? xx'

After arranging a meeting place and placing his phone down, Phil frantically began rummaging through his wardrobe to decide on what to wear.

His hands momentarily settled on the leather jacket he'd worn the day Dan had saved him, that was a definite no. NASA shirt, no. Plaid shirt, no. Phil sighed. Was it just him or did it seem like he was getting ready for a date?

He finally settled on a denim jacket, with a white shirt and skinny jeans.

After eating breakfast, brushing his teeth and making his hair look moderately presentable, Phil decided he was ready to head out.

-

Checking his phone every two seconds, Dan was waiting.

He wasn't the most patient person in the world admittedly but Phil was ten minutes late for gods sake!

It didn't help that it was pouring with rain either, causing Dan to look more like a drowned hamster than a human.
He'd taken refuge under a tree about five minutes ago, giving up on pacing up and down.

He scrolled though his texts to Phil over and over, cringing at how needy and clingy he sounded now that he looked back at them.

His gaze fell upon the kisses Phil had sent to him in some of the messages. Dan wouldn't have dared to send kisses to Phil, but when Phil did it to him Dan couldn't help but like his heart was being tied up in knots.

As much he loved the idea of him and Phil hanging out from now on, he couldn't help but be a little afraid that he was gonna accidentally blurt out his undying love to the man at any moment. He couldn't help it, Phil was just so damn...

Beautiful. Holy shit, there he was (and about time). Dan eyed him in curious awe as he walked down the street towards him, giving Dan a goofy wave.

'Hello there Howell' Phil beamed.

Dan almost felt himself wince at being called Howell, that was what all the bullies called him. He didn't wince however, since he felt as though his surname sounded quite nice when it rolled off Phil's tongue.

'H h hello' Dan greeted.

He watched as Phil's eyes looked him up and down curiously, before he decided to step under the tree that Dan was using for shelter.

'Your hair isn't so curly when it's wet huh?' He said thoughtfully.
'Well no, obviously not' Dan chuckled. 'Why, don't you like my hair straight?'
'No, I just... curly hair suits you'
'Thanks, I'll bear that in mind'

'Do you wanna start walking?' Phil asked, grabbing Dan's wrist. Dan felt his body tense, Phil was so nearly holding his hand. All he could do in response was give a weak nod and try not to freak out as they began walking.

'You know' Dan began, trying to rapidly distract himself from thoughts of hand holding 'I used to hate my hair being curly'
'Really, how come?'

'I don't know I guess I just thought it was different to everyone else's, no one else I knew had naturally curly hair. And well I didn't like being different, so I straightened it every day so no one would ever see'

'It's good to be different though' Phil exclaimed. 'No one should wanna be like everybody else'
Dan paused. Somehow Phil's very cliche statement got him thinking.

'Yeah, but you know, I was already pretty different in another way...'
'I guess so' Phil said thoughtfully 'I suppose we're both not the most normal of people'

Dan scoffed.
'Oh come on, I'm more different than you. There's being a nerd different, and then there's having actual wings different'

'Hey shut up the wings are cool!' Phil found himself defending. 'When did this become an outcast competition anyways?'

'I don't actually know' Dan giggled.
'And anyways did you call me a nerd?'
'Yes I did'
Phil let out an offended gasp.

'A cool nerd, though' Dan added, turning to look at Phil at just the right moment to catch his lips upturn into a smile. Realising he probably shouldn't be looking at Phil's lips, Dan quickly turned his gaze up to Phil's eyes.

'It's weird, don't you think' Phil stated, catching Dan, who was distracted and not expecting the boy he was gazing at to suddenly speak, by surprise.

'What is?'
'How we get along so well after having only just become friends'

Dan nodded thoughtfully.
'Yeah, it is, I feel like we've been friends for ages' He agreed, blinking and pausing as if he was deciding whether or not to add something to the statement.

'You know, I'm not usually one for sentiment' he spoke up 'but I like you Phil, I hope we can remain with each other'
'That's a strange thing to say' Phil commented.

Dan thought for a minute. Thought about all the people who had come and gone in his life, all the people who had left him. He hadn't even considered he fact that that might be classed as a weird thing to say.

'Well I guess I just mean that you make me feel less like I'm so different to everyone else'
Phil nodded, seemingly in understanding.

He began to think about his powers, how Dan was the only other person he'd ever met before with a power. Phil knew he'd have to tell him, but not right now. Soon.

'I like you too Dan, and you know, you may be different, but you and me aren't as dissimilar as you might think'