Static | Sequel to Fine Line Dan x Reader

Should've Answered

"You're on YouTube now?"

"Yeah, so is Alfie and Zoe, Hazel, Chris, PJ, Dan and Phil," he listed off all my high school friends.

"Oh my God," I said, placing a hand over my mouth. I felt light headed. I had forgotten about everyone.

"You all started YouTube?" I asked. I guess I really wasn't meant to be part of that group.

"Yeah, we joined right when it was getting popular and lucked out," he said. "How are you?"

"Good?"

"How was school? I never talked to you after you left," he said. "You look really nice by the way."

"Oh, uh, you too, and it was good, I'm writing for a movie," I said, smiling. It was true. Joe had already been attractive when he was young and he seemed to keep that same boyish look. Still, I had to admit he had grown up quite a bit.

"That's so cool!! Why don't I take you to Zoe, she'd be ecstatic to see you!" My face went pale.

"Oh, I don't know about that, I kind of slacked off on my end of the long distance." I was starting to panic and my body was warm. Then something clicked. "Wait, are Dan and Phil here?!"

"Yeah, they're always a duo now a days. Well, they're coming rather, they haven't arrived yet." It was getting rather hard to breathe now. They probably hated me.

Dan hated me even before I left and Phil seemed rather annoyed with my lack of effort towards communicating with him. I thought I lost my friends forever. I did.

I had no idea how anyone would react to such a thing but Joe was already dragging me to a set of tables. Hazel were sat there and I tugged back on Joe's arm.

"I can't," I said.

"Sure you can," he insisted. "It's only Hazel, Zoe will be here later."

"Joe, no." By that time Hazel had already noticed me and her face lit up, hurrying to hug me. Now I certainly cared about making a commotion, but Hazel hugged me and started her pleasantries which I answered quickly, glancing around. I wasn't in the mood for confronting my three old best friends who probably hated me for drifting away so easily. "I'm so sorry, I have to go."

I pushed away from the two of them and headed out of the building. Joe called after me, but I just ran. Ran away from the confrontation I do desperately didn't want. I burst out into the open air and my breath way heavy, near to having a panic attack. A car pulled up and I ducked into the shadows.

Of course to my luck, two men stepped out, talking heavily.

"Phil, it's just friends, who cares what's on your shirt?"

"But it had anchors on it, I'm not a seaman."

"No, because you'd probably kill the crew by accident."

"This is serious Dan."

"Is it though?"

My heart was beating frantically against my rib cage and I glanced up. Phil looked much older in a really good way, his hair pushed back instead of the black fringe I remembered. He seemed to walk with a bit more confidence than he used to, probably more comfortable in his skin. Everything about him changed so much.

Dan was considerably paler than he used to be and his hair was much shorter and curlier. He said he'd never loose his hobbit hair. He seemed to look healthier than he used to and he was smiling like crazy. He was completely different from when he was younger and still, I could see that he was Dan.

I want to say hello.

My heart stopped as they passed and headed into the building. I wish I had a better look. I hailed a cab and went home, letting Emma know that I felt sick.

What was I doing?

I could've talked to Phil again.

I could've talked to Dan again.

I could've talked to Zoe again.

I was too chicken to. I knew they hated me. Who would want to reconnect with someone who didn't put in enough effort to keep in touch? It could've been nice to say hi for one evening, but I knew that was only a dream, so much more would've gone on if I had said hello.

I arrived home and changed out of the clothes I had been wearing for less than an hour. I climbed into bed and I felt tears sting at my face.

I'm such an idiot.

I pulled out my laptop and pulled up YouTube. I hadn't touched it in so many years. A tab popped up and I searched Zoe Sugg. Man, she looked gorgeous now. I mean, she always was. Her recent video was about her make up looks through out time. The oldest one was the one I remembered.

I looked up Alfie and he looked even better. They were still dating? I wonder what happened to Phil and Hazel. I looked through Phil and Hazels channels but there was nothing about a relationship. Maybe they're just friends now.

I stopped at Phil's channel and clicked on the most recent video.

"Hey guys!" I paused almost immediately. He looked so good. He looked so happy. More energetic and lively. He seemed to have gotten along without me. I felt my eyes water and I typed 'danisnotonfire' into the bar. A channel, with Daniel Howell written on it came across.

Had it been so long he changed his name? I clicked on the most recent video and paused. He looked good too. He looked so much happier than he used to be. I wiped a small tear off my cheek and let the video play. His voice was different now, oddly comforting.

It seems like an odd dream seeing them again, looking and acting so different. I had completely forgotten about them, but seeing each of their faces brought back so many memories from when I was young.

I want to relive those memories.

I must seem crazy to be crying over a video like this, but seeing Dan, even over a screen made my heart ache. I wanted to reach out and touch him. This was the guy that was in the play with me. This was the guy that used to bully me, only to admit he always wanted to be my friend. This was the guy I fell madly in love with in high school. Now he had a huge following and looked so much happier without me.

I felt like I was living in a bubble. As if I died and they all moved on without me and I could only watch from afar because I was so stupid.

I shut my laptop and let tears spill onto my cheeks. I shouldn't feel pity on myself, as this was my fault. I was the one who screwed it up and didn't answer those few calls here and there because, 'it wouldn't hurt to call later'.

I put away my laptop and sobbed. I didn't want them to know I was around. They didn't need that in their lives. I messed it up and they shouldn't want me around anymore. They shouldn't have to be around me.

It was all my fault.

I should've answered.

Yeet.

Stay awesome!

~Calymari