Hunger Point | Phan

Chapter Five: Progress

[ Phil ]

Dan hit the floor with a loud thump, making my heart sink to my feet. "Phil, don't just stand there, let's get him to the nurse!" Chris shrieked, panicking. All it took was one glance at him to know he couldn't handle situations like these. "Chris..just, I'm going to take him round to mine, okay? I know why he fainted..I know how to help him. Cover for me? Tell Ms. Reynolds I got sick?" I asked, kneeling next to Dan to gather him and his bag up in my arms. He was super light and I knew it'd be no problem carrying him out to my car. "Will do." PJ responded, patting a still freaked-out Chris on the back. "Come on, buddy." He muttered, leading our friend from the scene.

"Dan, you idiot." I mumbled to his unconscious figure, struggling to get the bathroom door open with no free hands. I finally managed, after having to balance the chocolate-haired boy on my knee, before I darted straight for the exit. I'd take him to my place, wait for him to wake up, then force him to eat. Maybe even force him to nap if he was still visibly sleepy. But I didn't want to force him to eat too much...I knew how it felt when food was forced on you. It sucked.

Reaching my car, I had to drop Dan's bag to dig my keys from my own, quickly unlocking my car. Laying Dan across the back seat, I put both our rucksacks on the floorboard proceeding to shut the door quietly and get in the driver's seat. Sticking the keys in the ignition, I began driving, probably much too fast. I just wanted to reach my house; the quicker the better.

When I arrived, I emitted a sigh of relief to see that no one was home. Shutting off the car and stashing my keys in my pocket, I decided to leave our bags in my car since it was simpler than struggling. Dan was much more important than stuff from that retched school.

Gathering Dan in my arms once again, I headed to the front door, pulling my keys from my front pocket quickly in attempt to not drop the idiot. He had to be more careful..he had to. Shuffling inside, I close the door and lock it, starting to walk the long expanse of house until I reach the spiral staircase leading to the bedrooms. It was extremely hard not to get Dan's feet caught on the stair railing and honestly, I would laugh at the whole situation if it wasn't so serious.

Reaching my room, I set Dan on my bed and sigh, running my fingers through my fringe. What an eventful day so far and it was only nine a.m.

- - -

I sat comfortably in my window seat, rereading the first manga in the Death Note series, about thirty minutes later when Dan began to stir.

"What the.." he mumbled, looking around the room in a daze. "Phil?"

"Guilty is charged." I mumbled, bookmarking my page. "I brought you to my house when you passed out...I'm sure you'd appreciate it better than the nurse's office.." I said, arching a brow for confirmation. Dan just shrugged. "Fuck, I'm exhausted. And you're so nice Phil, you barely know me yet here I am. Phil Lester...what a nice guy!" He exclaimed, obviously delirious. It was quite hilarious, though.

I giggled, rolling my eyes slightly. "Yeah, yeah. Go back to sleep, okay?" Dan obliged as I instructed and I smiled, his compliment making my heart swell. I wasn't used to them...compliments...they were foreign. And even if he was only saying I was nice out of delirium, I knew he believed it on some conscious level. So I chose to believe it, too.

- - -

When Dan woke up for the last time, I had made quite a dent in Death Note and I didn't realize he was awake until he called my name. "Phil?" He murmured, still sounding slightly sleepy. But when I shot a glance at him, the bags under his eyes were fading, which made me instantly happy. "Dan." I responded, setting my book down. "Thank you for bringing me here." He said, rolling out of my bed. He paused, though, and blinked a few times. Ah...seeing stars, he is. I know the sensation very well. When you get up too fast times hardly eating the stars sensation is an absolute nightmare.

"No problem." I responded when he seemed to recover. "Now I strongly suggest you eat some-" Dan cut me off immediately, growling out a "No!"

"Please, Dan...just..even if it's only an apple, just please.." I pleaded, my lower lip jutting out in a pout. Dan sighed, running his fingers sloppily through his fringe with a roll of his eyes. "Only if you eat something, too." He muttered bitterly and I couldn't help but cheer out a "yay!" It was progress...for both of us.

"I'll show you around this enormous monster referred to as home before that, though." I suggested, knowing he would feel weird and out of place having never been here before and having to follow me everywhere. "Yes please." Dan nodded, pulling off his hoodie, and I found myself entranced as one corner of his shirt peeled up and I caught a glimpse of pale skin, to reveal a short sleeve uniform shirt much like my own. Phil, I chided once yanked from my trance. You barely know the kid, much less your own sexuality. And you didn't bring him here to hook up, you brought him here to help him. Helping him is more important than getting close to him!

I sighed, standing, and walking from the room hearing Dan follow. Once we were outside my door, I gestured down the hall. "There's my little brother's room and my father's study, plus a spare bedroom. My parent's actual room is downstairs.." I began the tour, concluding with the kitchen, where Dan and I decided to heat up a can of Spaghetti Hoops.

I fetched two spoons, our can, and then led Dan to the den. We settled down on the couch, our food on the coffee table, and I reached for the remote. "Do you like Doctor Who?" Dan asked, the hint of a smile in his voice. "Yes! Duh! Do you?" I asked, my eyes lighting up. I knew I looked like a little kid on Christmas morning but I get all worked up and excited over my passions. "Of course! Can we watch some?"

"Yeah, we've Netflix." I said, pulling it up and putting on Doctor Who. Dan was the first one to take a bite of our food after some pointed looks from me. "I'll eat half the can if you eat half..." Dan said after a minute of silence. "Okay." I negotiated, smiling. This was progress... I actually felt as if I could help him...help us.

"Phil, it's your turn to take a bite," Dan noted, shoving his full spoon in my face. I smirked slightly before opening my mouth, allowing him to spoon feed me. "Good little Philly," he uttered and I laughed, face-palming myself. I was really starting to like Dan...maybe we could be friends after all..

As if reading my thoughts, Dan asked, sounding extremely nervous and bashful and awkward, "Would you mind...if maybe I did hang out with you..and your friends?"

He was too cute, I couldn't turn him down if I tried. "I'd love that." I said honestly, the biggest grin on my face. And I knew if I snuck a glance in his direction, I'd see him grinning too.