You're The Straw To My Berry (Phan)

Part four 1/2

Dan P.O.V.

Sunlight poured through the window and the gap between the curtains that I hadn't bothered to shut last night. Adjusting my eyes to light, I could hear the faint sound of the kettle boiling, telling me Phil wasn't long up and he was starting his daily routine.

I tried to sit up but was met with a strong throbbing in my head. I groaned and immediately lay back down. I would never learn to control how much alcohol I would drink in one night.

I heard a soft knocking on the door.

"Dan?" It was Phil. But then again, who else would it be?

"Mmm," I groaned, signalling he could come in. I felt so dreadful I didn't even want to talk. I heard the door open and I opened an eye to see Phil putting bottles of water on the bedside table.

"Morning sleepyhead," he chuckled.

"I'm never drinking again," my stomach squirmed and something warm was travelling up my throat. "Oh god!" I ran the bathroom, the speed of getting up making me dizzy. I leant over the toilet just in time as I began throwing up my gut contents. Phil had caught up and was now rubbing my back. He became my carer when I had a hangover; he had taken that role up enough times now to know what to do.

When I was done, I stood up shakily, feeling disorientated, the vomit still burning the back of my throat.

"Brush your teeth and go back to bed, I'll bring you paracetamol," Phil ordered. I felt too tired and ill to argue and I knew that he knew what was best for me. I felt a thousand times better when I did what I was instructed, and got out of my jeans and shirt from last night and changed into a baggy t-shirt and shorts.

I snuggled under the bed covers and Phil came in with the medicine, dry toast and my laptop. I grinned at him.

"Phil, you're a star!"

"I know," he plugged in the charger for me and looked at me awkwardly.

"Are you okay Phil?"

"Yeah!" but he answered too quickly for his response to be genuine. I narrowed my eyes accusingly.

"What is it?"

"Nothing! I'll be in the living room if you need me," he quickly left and I wondered if I said anything, but all the memories from last night were a blur.

After an hour of my own on the internet I began to get bored on my own. Wrapping my duvet over my shoulders, I left my room and poked my head through the living room door to see what Phil was doing. He had his knees drawn up to his chest and was chewing his lip again - something he did when he was nervous and was thinking about something. How long had he been doing that?

"Phil?" He jumped and turned to look at me.

"You're supposed to be in bed."

"I'm feeling better," I said shrugging. I sat down next to him on the sofa and he gave me a weary smile. "Phil, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

"What is it? Is it me? Did I say something last night?" But he ignored all my questions.

"What do you remember from last night?"

Phil P.O.V.

"Nothing," Dan answered me. Did he really not remember anything? Confusion and worry crossed his face and I knew that I would have to tell him sometime, so it would be better to get it over and done with now.

"Well... you... uh..."

"Yes?"

"You told me you liked me and then you kissed me," I licked my lips, reliving the memory. The taste of alcohol still lingered on them, adamant to leave.

"Oh. Oh," Dan looked into my eyes as if to find something to tell him that I was lying, but when they showed nothing, his face went blank and he looked away nervously. I wish I could read minds so I knew what he thinking, but from his face I bet he regretting it now. "I... I'm sorry."

"What for?" I asked.

"Well... You probably didn't want me to kiss you... And... You probably don't feel the same. I didn't mean to tell you, I've probably made things between us awkward now, I'm sorry," he mumbled, looking down at the floor.

"So... You do like me?" I edged nearer to him and used my fingers to lift his chin up so I could meet his eyes. For the first time, the emotion he was feeling was obvious: fear.

"Y- Yes," the person I was in love with liked me too? I was so stunned and lost for words that he interpreted my silence the wrong way and started to get up. "It's fine, I'm sorry."

"Dan, wait!" I grabbed his wrist and pulled him slightly towards me so that he facing me. His eyes were now shining with tears and I felt my heart break in chest. If there was nothing I hated more it was seeing Dan cry. He yanked his arm out of my grip and almost ran to his room, closing the door.

I knocked on his door frantically and put my ear against it to only hear soft sobs coming from inside.

"Dan! Please! I..." I didn't plan to tell him like this but I had to, it was the only way to stop him hurting. "I'm in love with you Dan, I always have been," I put my ear against the door again. Silence. I sighed. I had really messed things up with us now.

A few seconds later I heard the creaking of the door handle and I jumped back in surprise after being suffocated with silence. Dan appeared in the doorway, the light showing me what paths the tears had taken down his cheeks.

"What?" He questioned me, with an expression I couldn't translate.

"I'm in love with you," now that I had all my emotions on show, I don't think I could've felt any more vulnerable.