pause // dan howell x reader

Chapter 32 - Unsteady

I BEG YOU to read this review of last chapter because it's helpful if you got confused:

Nick didn't really want to date you, he was actually interested in Polly. Polly then asked him to do him a favour which was to date you as a distraction so you don't steal Dan from her (like she has any chance with him anyway).

She asked him to date you for at least three months so that's why he celebrated each milestone (you don't know that though). Nick agreed only because she blackmailed him using his past related to his brother and because Polly offered a lot of money.

After Nick got beat up by you, he went to Polly to get plane tickets and money so he could make amends with his brother. Nick then saw Phil lurking in the lobby but ignored it.

Okay, I hope that helped!

Dan's POV

"Should we start?" I gander at Y/N and gesture to the ice rink. She brushes some hair out of her face and smiles down at the skates I put in front of her.

"Are you any good at ice skating?" She smirks after bending down to pick up the shoes.

"What do you think?" I raise an eyebrow and sit down on the bench slipping off my black zipper shoes.

"Well, you are monstrously tall so I'd expect you to be pretty uncoordinated when put on slippery ground." Y/N sits on the seat next to me.

"True, but saying I'm monstrously tall was uncalled for." I joke, hovering an ice skate in front of my foot and sliding it on. She just softly chuckles in return and starts taking off her shoes.

"I'm sure you'll be the next best figure skater the world has ever seen." She smiles as she ties up a lace.

"You're deadly wrong. I'm going to fall over so many times." I wince and stand up, trying my hardest to keep balance on the thin blades. Y/N finishes tightening up her shoes and gets up as well. She starts walking forward but one of her ice skates hooks onto the carpet and she trips a little, instantly grabbing my hand for support.

"Thanks." She laughs, mildly out of embarrassment.

Her hand stays wrapped in mine as we head over to the rink. I open the waist-high door by flicking the latch and move to the side for her to walk in.

Unsure, she takes a few small steps onto the ice and lets go of my hand, gripping onto the side railing. I follow her, treading on the ice, trying to keep my self steady.

The two of us skated a few laps, improving with each one. I started to not fall over as much and not squeal when I start to wobble.

Even though watching Y/N and I skate is quite entertaining, I have to add something else to spice things up.

"Hey, Y/N!" I yell from across the rink. She slows herself down using the railing and hums for me to continue.

"Want to race?" I grin, beginning to feel competitive.

"I think you're making a mistake Danny, we've been skating for ages yet you're no where near as fast as me." She challenges with a smile as she glides her way over.

"But since you offered, I'm in." She sweeps in next to me and steadies herself in a starting position.

Your POV

Dan counts down from 3 and you begin racing in laps along the rink. It starts off slow, the both of you being uncertain but then you get faster and faster while Dan struggles behind. You're on your last lap, Dan slightly catching up.

"I'm actually getting better!" He cheers and you playfully glare over your shoulder. He's only a small stretch away so you try your hardest to speed up but he manages to catch up as you're about to turn a corner. Dan's too focused on laughing and mocking you that he doesn't turn the corner as strongly as he needs to.

He clashes into you, pushing you against the ice rink wall and then falls down, bringing you with him.

"Ouch." You groan, pressing a hand onto your a sore part of your head. You look at Dan underneath you. You aren't completely flopped on top of him so you don't worry about crushing him.

"Yeah, ow." He agrees. His laughter vibrating from his body and onto the base of your arms. He flits his eyes open and gazes up to you with a stupid smile.

You lean down and connect your lips sweetly. Dan wraps his arms around your back, sending a fluttery feeling to your stomach. His warmth radiates onto you, turning every part of you warm, even your knees touching the cold ice. You pull away smiling, him grinning childishly too.

"Are we calling it a tie?" He asks with a smirk, moving a hand near your hip.

"Who said anything about a making it a tie?" You question.

"You."

"Hell no I didn't. You're just a sore loser." You get up quickly, starting to skate again and slide into the home stretch. You glance over to Dan who's in a tangle as he tries to stand up.

You raise your arms in celebration as you pass the yellow stripe that you guys set as the finish line and cheer loudly.

"Suck shit Danny!" You laugh and he frowns.

"Y/N! No swearing." He cries, finally getting up and skating over to you.

"There's no children here, Danny." You grin mockingly.

"And stop calling me Danny!" He shakes his head and you laugh in delight.

"Why do you get angry at these things?" You ask as he hugs you from behind. He snuffles his face into your shoulder and then lifts it up slightly to speak.

"I like pretending to be mad at you." He says gently, just above a whisper.

-

"You've been trying to rewind? Has it worked yet?" You shift your spot on the blue bench and watch Dan walk back over to you, holding two packets of fairy floss after he snagged them from the snack counter.

"I think it did once, the cars started driving backwards but other than that, I haven't been able to get a grip on it." He chucks you a packet and sits down on the other side of the bench, the candle flame flickering from his movement.

"You've been doing pretty well without my lessons." You open your fairy floss and start eating it.

"What happened to those by the way?" He frowns slightly, placing a cloud of fairy floss on his tongue.

"I guess you got caught up with your life... and I got caught up with Nick." You shrug and Dan frowns a little more.

"If we ever get together, just know I won't be super crazy about 'month anniversaries' like Nick was. I know that made you uncomfortable." He grins weakly.

"Besides, we have all the time in the world, don't we?"

HEy frens!

I wanted to update this chapter earlier but I've been playing Sims 4 non-stop ever since I got it for my birthday. I made Dan, Phil, Dil, Dab- the works.

BESIDES MY BORING SAD LIFE, THERE IS SOMETHING PRETTY AMAZING IN IT, YOU GUYS! Like hoOOOooOOOOoOOooOly crap, all of you are amazing and so encouraging!

Thank you for reading this book and thank you for 160k+! THAT'S TOO MANY, IM NOT THIS SPECIAKLSKJDSNAKKLOOOioOOJOI

AHHHH ALSO, I try writing flashbacks without saying 'Flashback' before the actual flashback because I don't think I like it?

If you want me to write the little 'Flashback'/'Time Skip' thingo so you don't get confused, let me know! I hate confusing people :^o

Alrighty, bye!