Set Up •●• phan

VIII

Dan and Phil sat next to each other on the roof. They'd gone up there after going for coffee and sat talking for quite a while. PJ had rung Dan so they could go out for lunch, but when Dan ran into Phil, late that evening at the hotel, Dan had asked if they could go up to the roof again, and Phil was all too taken with the idea.

"I've literally only known you for a day, but you're a better friend than anyone I've ever met," Dan said suddenly.

"Are you okay?"

"It's true! Can't I say that? Is that not what people do?"

"I don't mind," Phil instantly reassured him. "I'm just surprised. No one ever tells me I'm their friend."

"Really? But everyone likes you," Dan said, surprised.

"Yeah, but they all take me for granted. Just because I'm happy all the time means they think I'll always be there whether they care about me or not. It's always been like that. No matter how friendly I am to them, they never care back."

Dan stared at Phil, shocked by his sudden outburst. He saw that Phil had tears in his eyes and his heart melted. He wanted nothing more to wrap his arms around Phil and comfort him-

"Dan?"

A timid voice made him snap out of his reverie.

Oh. Oh no.

"Shit, I'm so sorry Phil, I didn't mean anything by it, I just thought-" Dan stumbled backwards, looking horrified.

Phil's eyes widened. "Dan, it's ok, please don't panic..." His voice cracked as he spoke and a tear ran slowly down his cheek. Once again, like always, he was the one doing the comforting when really all he wanted was to be the one sobbing into someone's shoulder.

Dan's eyes softened and, almost as though he could read Phil's mind, he crossed the distance between them in a few easy strides and hugged him. Phil clung onto him, shoulders shaking. 

"I feel like there's a story behind this, but I'm not going to ask for it now," Dan whispered, lightly kissing the top of Phil's head.
They stayed like that for a while, hugging one another in the darkness, until Phil pulled away and wiped his eyes. "We should really get going now," he said.

"Sure," Dan answered, feigning nonchalance. He wanted to stay up here with Phil all night, just talking, but it was almost midnight and Phil had dark shadows under his eyes. "You need sleep, Phil."

Phil smiled at him. "We should do this again tomorrow," he said.

"Minus the crying."

"If crying means I get to hug you, I'm willing to keep the crying."

Dan raised an eyebrow.

"Ok, let's go," Phil said quickly, starting to walk towards the door. Dan followed.

"Same time tomorrow, then?" He asked.

"Sounds good to me."

"Night, Phil."

"Night."