~2nd September~

Dan's POV

"So you're having a good time in LA?" Tess asks yet another question.

"Yes! I love it there. It's warm, it's by a beach. It's beautiful."

It hurts to hear her say that. I remember when she used to say there was no place better than here because here is where I am.

But now she prefers LA with Mr Perfect.

"You guys never told me about moving," Y/N confronts Phil.

"Sorry about that. I'm sure you'll love it though. I can't wait for you to see it!"

"Yeah." She takes another awkward glance at me, and I suddenly can't take it.

"Do you guys think Y/N and I can have some alone time?" I finally ask. Phil and Tess exchange looks and nod, standing up.

"We'll be in my room," Tess says as Phil gives me a good luck pat on the shoulder.

Y/N and I are left alone with an awkward tension in the room. I stare at her, wanting to look in those beautiful E/C eyes, but she averts eyes contact.

I switch my gaze to her hand snapping a rubber band against her wrist. Each time the band makes contact with her skin, it makes a sickening crack and I'm surprised she doesn't whimper in pain.

I let out a sigh and decide to speak first.

"I'm really glad you're happy." She just nods and looks at the wooden floor. "Y/N, can we please just talk?"

She finally looks up, her eyes meeting mine and the sound of the rubber band smacking against her red skin coming to a halt. "About what?"

"I know why you left." The colour drains from her face and her eyes quickly drift back to the floor. "And I want to tell you that it's fine. I forgive you."

"I'm so sorry, Dan, I really am. I never wanted any of this to happen... but it was for the best. I'm a better person now, and I'm sure you are too."

Yeah, right.

"And don't lie and say it's fine. I can hear it in your voice that it's not. That you're not."

"What do you want me to do, then? Put on a smile like I have done for the past ten months? It doesn't exactly work like that, Y/N."

"I'm not saying that... I'm saying you should move on and we can just go back to being friends." Silence. "I miss you, Dan."

I feel my eyes begin to water. Every night I've dreamed of her saying those three words, but never believed I'd hear them. And here she is now, sitting right in front of me after ten months, saying those three words - I miss you.

"I-I miss you, too."

Our eyes meet and her lips form a soft smile.

"Are we cool?" I nod. "Would it be cheesy to hug?" I nod again, cracking a smile.

We both rise from our seats and dive into each other's arms.

"I know we hugged at the airport, but I've been craving a proper Dan Howell hug for too long." She giggles.

"Yeah," I grin.

It feels so good to have her back in my arms.

~Time skip~

Your POV

"So what did he get arrested for?" I ask with a mouth full of pizza.

Phil drops his fork and Tess looks as if she's almost chokes on her food. Dan just looks at me, eyes full of sorrow.

"He, uh, h-he... shot someone," Tess eventually stutters.

"Who?" I ask, panic rising inside me.

"You see, after he came to talk to us and we told him we didn't really know where you went, which was a lie of course, he got really pissed and went looking for more answers and he went to the 'second best' option-"

"Tess, just tell me who!" I snap.

The three exchange looks before turning back to me, looking as if I'm a thin piece of glass and whatever I'm told now will make me shatter.

After a long silence, I speak again, softly this time.

"Please, just tell me who it is..."