Dan has been talking to Mrs. Simmons a lot after class lately, the two had become best friends and shared their secrets and fantasies with each other. Dan had never had a friend that he could talk to like this. And she was only 28.
"I'm struggling." Dan admits as he fiddled with his fingers.
"With schoolwork?" Samantha asks as she looks at him with concern.
Dan laughs harshly. "Well no, with Phil actually."
"I thought you guys made up?"
"I'm falling for him harder than expected, and he's straight."
He watches as she thinks for a minute. "Well how about you two go on a date."
"He's straight." Dan points out again.
She laughs, "I know that, but ask if you guys can hang out like at the movies or the park it will be like a cute little date."
Dan thinks on the matter. If he tells Phil that he just wants to 'hang out' maybe his feelings will progress towards him.
"I like that idea." He smiles.
___
It was a relief that Dan didn't have to worry about Stephanie when he walks with Phil down the halls to lunch but that doesn't mean that he still hadn't forgotten about her warning. He hates going through each day thinking she's going to pop out and scare him but she stayed away.
When he sits down beside Phil, that's when his heart starts racing, just like the first day of school when he asked if he could stay the night.
He rolls his green apple between his fingers. "So um.. are you busy this weekend?"
Phil shakes his head. "I'm never busy, I don't do anything."
Dan laughs a little and some of the tension eases. "Well I heard that there's a park near here and well since I'm new here I was wondering if you could show me around?"
Nailed it
"So you want me to go with you to the park? Like a date?"
Failed it
"No! No! Not at all! It's just I like parks and...scenery." He cringes as he falters in his lie.
Phil looks as if he doesn't believe him and that's when Dan could feel the heat in his ears. He had forgotten that Phil knew about that! But weirdly enough, Phil just shrugs and smiles.
"I would be glad to show you around the park for scenery."
Dan relaxes. "Thanks, so I'll see you Saturday?"
The bell rings overhead signaling the end of lunch.
"Yea sure and we'll go on foot since it's a short walk."
Dan gulped, he hated any form of exercise. "Great."
Then they get up and walk together to their next class.
___
Dan's mom came home blonde.
He didn't notice it at first since she was wearing a hat but then a long curl fell and he almost choked on his potatoes.
"Mom!"
"I know I know! Before you say anything let me explain!" She sighs and takes off the hat and the hair that was once beautiful and brown was the color of Phil's ex's hair.
"So George mentioned to me that he liked blonde girls so..."
"You didn't." Dan says shocked.
"I did. I'm so sorry Dan, but I need to keep George."
Dan drops his fork. "Keep him? Mom, he's clearly trying to make you someone you're not, you don't need him."
"Dan there's a side to the story that hasn't been completely uncovered." She says worriedly.
Dan gets up from his chair. "What do you mean?"
"We're....we're losing money Dan."
His face goes red with anger. "You told me in the car that you weren't that type of lady!"
"And I'm not! I promise! George is a sweet guy and I really like him, but I- we just can't afford to lose him right now, this job I have pays a lot so I'm trying to please him so he'll have a higher chance of staying with me."
That's when Dan realizes that this George guy doesn't even really like his mom, it sounds like he was really taking advantage of her and it made him furious.
"Bear, you have to understand where I'm coming from,please don't be mad."
Dan goes around the table and embraces his mother. She visibly relaxes in his arms.
"I could never be mad at you but please.... don't come home with anything else crazy done to your body."
She laughs. "I promise."
oof hope you liked this and happy thanksgiving!!!
~alivia