Never Let Go - Danisnotonfire x Reader

Bonus Chapter - Minty's Real Name

a/n: this is all from phil's point of view, so if you're not into that don't read this chapter! also this is really really short sorrysorrysorry

Phil's POV:

Minty and I sit down on the comfy seats in our favourite café. She pokes her tongue slightly out of the side of her mouth in concentration as she lowers her filled-to-the-brim hot chocolate to the table, making me smile at her.

She catches me looking at her and her cheeks turn red, going similar in colour to her red woolly jumper she has on.

I chuckle to myself and look away from her to my drink, taking a sip.

The sprig of mint in it catches my eye and plants a question in my mind. "Are you ever going to tell me your real name?" I ask.

She looks startled at first, then calms down a bit. She leans back in her chair and starts fiddling with the ends her brown hair, a nervous habit of hers I've picked up on. "I don't know..." she says hesitantly.

"Why don't you tell people your name? Do you not like it or something?" I blurt out before I can stop myself, only realising afterwards I might offend her with my tone of voice. "Sorry, you don't have to answer that."

"No, it's okay," Minty replies with a small sigh. "It's kind of stupid, really..." She seems to have a debate with herself on what to say, then continues to speak. "When I was at primary school, we did a stupid online test. For this test, we had to type in our first names at the start. There was only space for seven characters, and my name didn't fit. Everyone made fun of me for it, and even the teachers laughed at me. Even after that, everybody in my class made fun of me for it. Not only did they make fun of that, they also kept taunting me for how 'posh' it was. I tried to laugh along to their jokes, but it really hurt... I've been ashamed of my name ever since."

"Kids are cruel," I say, meaning to be comforting but probably not achieving it. "What is your name, then?"

Minty sighs again. "It's... it's Araminta." She lowers her gaze to the table, then looks up at me, apprehensively waiting for a reaction.

"I love it!" I exclaim. "It's so pretty."

"Really? You're not going to make fun of me for it?" she asks in surprise, a look of disbelief painted on her pretty face.

"No, of course not! Don't be self conscious about it, it's one of the loveliest names I've ever heard. Those people in your school shouldn't have made fun of it," I reassure her.

Minty blushes, smiling broadly. "Thank you," she says softly.

"Which name would you prefer me to use?" I ask.

"I think... I think I should start using Araminta again. I should probably stop being scared of using it," she replies, laughing.

I smile at her. "Okay, well Araminta it is."