Flashbacks [Phan]

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Dan was twenty four.

The bright light coming from his computer screen was practically blinding in the darkness of the room around him. His cursor hovered over the icon for his emails, almost scared to open it.

He clicked.

The screen changed to the login page of the messaging site. With shaking hands, he typed in his address and password. He considered calling PJ in, but it was late, and if there was no email, he didn't want to have to disappoint the two of them at once.

He pressed enter.

The screen changed yet again to show Dan's inbox. Above the small column of saved emails read, in small letters, "two new messages".

He moved the mouse and clicked on the first one. It opened to show a simple page of coupons for some random store. Unimportant.

Once he had closed the first one, he almost didn't want to open the next. This was his only chance. Whether this email was what he hoped it was or not would most likely determine his entire future.

He clicked.

It opened.

"Dear Dan..."

He didn't want to keep reading.

"We are sorry to inform you..."

He hadn't got in.

"... that your submission..."

But wouldn't that mean he wouldn't have been sent an email?

"...did not win you a scholarship. However..."

However?

"...if you are still willing to attend..."

Yes yes yes.

"...a large portion of your fees could be paid for by..."

He didn't even bother finishing reading. Dan jumped up and ran out of his room, down to hall and out to the living room, where PJ was watching a movie.

"I got in!"

"What?"

"The college! I won a discount!"

"Seriously?"

Dan nodded his head frantically, struggling to contain his excitement.

"How much do you still need to pay?" PJ asked. "Whatever it is, I'll help you cover it."

"You really don't have to-"

He was cut off by his friend wrapping his arms tightly around him in a bone crushing hug. Slightly awkwardly, he put an arm around the smiling PJ, but soon properly hugged him back.

"Thank you so much. I don't know what I did to deserve you as a friend."