Dan couldn't believe he agreed to paint a mural for the Halloween dance. Of course he was told that if he did it he wouldn't have to attend gym class because that when he would paint the mural.

But was it worth it?

The answer is yes.

Turns out they were having a number of test in gym class that weak and he got on A+ on all of them just for painting the mural.

The principal and his art teacher, Mr Davis and Mrs Anderson, said he could paint whatever he wanted but it had to be Halloween themed and appropriate for a high school class. He had decided to go with a Nightmare Before Christmas theme of Jack Skellington standing on the little curved perch. He had started drawing the perch first, it would make it much easier instead of just painting it on right away. It would take longer but that means more gym classes to miss. Of course he was still in a gym. His school had two for some reason but they only used one for gym because the one the dance was being held in had no locker rooms. So it was more a multi-purpose room then an extra gym.

As he drew he thought about the dance. Would he go to this one? It's not like he had anyone to go with but maybe he could go to see the mural in all its glory.

He was pulled out of his thoughts as he saw his classmates get up to leave the class. He packed up his pencils and left.
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He had forgotten to tell Phil he was going to miss gym class so when he saw Phil after history (they has separate history classes) he glared at him. Dan chuckled and whispered to Phil. "I'll tell you after class."

Phil scowled but grabbed Dan's hand and dragged him to lunch.
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It was a long day in art knowing he had to wait til after school to tell Phil.

Phil knows he draws and very much appreciates it. Everytime Dan doodles something Phil will always be over his shoulder taking peeks at the drawing before it's finished. Dan can't hear his breathing but he can feel his breath on the back of his neck and its strangely endearing.

When school finally let out Phil suggest they go to a cafe he likes called The Vintage. It's very close to Phil's house so he goes there every day before school to get him morning coffee. When Dan goes with his Phil always begs him to order, telling him he doesn't want to talk to the cashier at the counter. Of course the means memorizing Phil's order which isn't that hard to remember.

He always get a black coffee with milk and when it's delivered to him he pours half the little dish of sugar they have set out at the tables. It gets Phil super hyped, sometimes that's why Phil has such big eyes. He gets high off all the sugar he eats.

Thought Dan isn't really one to talk. He gets black coffee with five pumps of hot chocolate, milk, and vanilla. But at least Dan knows how to handle his sugar.

Dan order Phil's medium and his large (because he knows after Phil finishes his coffee he'll steal his) hands the cashier the money before taking the drinks muttering a thank you over his shoulder.

He went over to their usual spot. A small table with two stools near the back window. Phil always insist they sit there in order for them both to get more sunlight. Even though they both know Phil will always be paler.

Phil gave him a big smile when he handed over the coffee then proceeded to pour a massive amount of sugar into his coffee. Dan smiled endearingly at him before gazing out the window. They usually never talk when they're at the coffee shop. Is hard to text and write each other notes when their trying to enjoy their coffee. So after Phil finished his coffee and took Dan's he explained why he wasn't at gym.

Phil rolled his eyes before taking out a paper from his school bag and wrote a message on it.

Lucky!

Yeah I know

when can I see it?

when it's finished now drink my coffee

I think you mean my coffee danny

Dan laughed sitting back in his seat and staring out the window while Phil downed the coffee.
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Dan began to work on the mural every day during gym, which was only thirty minutes so the mural as a while took longer the intended. But it covered most of the back wall so he was forced to ask the school for a ladder so he could make the drawing bigger.

It took so long in fact by the time his mural was coming to an end there were people in the gym setting up stuff for the dance. They even had the DJ station set up in the corner of the room.

He was almost done with the whole mural. It was definitely his biggest and longest project. Two weeks of absolute misery and fuck ups but he was happy with his final piece.

In the corner of his eye he saw the doors open and Mrs Anderson step into the room. She looked at his mural nodding in approval before walking over to some teachers taping balloons to the walls which would be taken and popped by the end of the dance.

He climbed off the ladder and looked up at his mural. He smiled. It was brilliant. There was one more thing head to do though. He took one of the smaller paint brushes and wrote 'by dan howell' in the moon. He grinned, packed up his supplies and left to history class when the bell rang.
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After school at the mall food court (Louise suggest they go shopping with her for the dance) Dan announced to Louise and Phil that the mural was done. They gave him an applause and whooped though they knew he couldn't hear them.

Phil immediately shot Dan a text asking when they could see it. He promised both of them that they would see it soon enough. He felt more comfortable talking around Louise now, sure he'd known her forever but it was still scaring. She could've changed, but luckily, according to Phil, she was still the girlish goofball she'd always been.

Louise took out her pink notebook a that she used to write notes to him and Phil. He never understood why Louise and Phil wrote notes to each other. Couldn't they just talk to one another? He never questioned it though. She wrote something down and handed it Dan.

what are you wearing to the dance then

Dan realized he hadn't told them both he wasn't going. So he told them now and Louise freaked out. Of course she could hear her which made it a hell lot better but it seemed she was just ranting to Phil and flailing her arms wildly. Phil took the journal away from Dan to tell him something.

She says you're being ridiculous and you should go

Dan shook his head. "No," he said firmly. "I've never gone to one and I'm going just so I can awkwardly stand in a corner."

Louise spoke to Phil and glared at Dan. Phil took out his phone and typed away. Dan's phone vibrated in his pocket so he took the phone out to see what Phil had said.

Turns out his was using their group chat for when all three of them were together or wanted to talk to one another. Which meant Louise got the text too.

She says we should have a threesome

Dan looked up at her with a face of disgust to see her throwing a chilli fry at Phil. He looked down at his phone to see he had gotten another text from Louise.

L: No I didn't I said it could be like a threesome

D: that doesn't make it better

D: it makes it worse and weird

P: she said we could all go with each other like a threesome

D: STILL DOESN'T MAKE IT BETTER

L: shut up and your going to the dance

P: you're*

L: shut up phil

D: fine but I have conditions

P: what

L: okay

D: 1 we all go together no chickening out (Phil!)

P: fuck off

D: (love you too babe) 2 Louise pick out our outfits we'll look like geeks at the damn dance

L: I was going to anyway Phil dresses like a five year old and you dress like a failed rapper

P: your a great friend

D: 3 you can't see the mural until the night of the dance

P: what!

L: but the dance is on Friday that's two days Dan!

D: your fault

D: now let's go shopping I don't want look like a rapper at the dance
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When Dan told his mum he was going to the dance she made a big deal of it. She must've thought he was going with a girl or something but he had to break it to her he was just going with Phil and Louise. Dan's mother loved Phil. Everytime he came over she made him stay for dinner and would hug him when he came and left. Phil seemed to like it. He never talks much about his mother, all he says is that they weren't there most of his childhood so he really didn't have a mum or dad growing up.

Louise did a great job of picking out his outfit. It was all black (he insisted) just a button up and jeans. It was simple, Dan liked it so he told Louise she did a good job. Of course she said she knew, she has such a big ego.

She made Phil look quite dapper. He also had a button up but in white with a little bow tie that made Dan giggle.

Louise said she was picking them up, since neither Dan nor Phil had a car.

He got a text saying they were outside and one from his mum telling him to be safe and no drinking.

Phil was already in shotgun so he was kicked to the back. Phil was also looking very adorable that night in his little bow tie, which Louise must've add glitter to it cause he was sure that wasn't there yesterday.

The car started and they were off to the school. He could see Phil in the car mirror so he winked him. Phil stuck his tongue out and no more was done.
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Finding a parking spot was a hassle. The whole school must've been there, and five hundred kids in one room was a lot of people.

Once they did found a parking spot Dan took them through the back entrance of the gym so they would see the mural right when they walked in. Of course they weren't allowed to go through there so they had to be careful so no chaperones saw them.

Once they were in Dan was immediately hit with the smell of sweat and alcohol. He felt someone squeeze his hand, he looked down to see Phil's hand in his and him looking up at his mural. He turned to Dan and smiled. Louise gave Dan a thumbs up and said something to Phil. She must've said something like 'lets go dance' because Phil was pulling Dan onto the dance floor. Still holding Dan's hand Phil began to awkwardly hop around like all the other teenagers in the room. Even though Dan couldn't hear the music he bounced around with his friends for a while and he had fun. He saw Phil's smile, Louise sparkling blue dress and the flashing lights. He smelt the alcohol, cigarette smoke, and throw up. It was a party if he's ever seen one.

Eventually everyone but the couples left the dance floor. It must've been a couple's slow song. Even though Louise promised they stay together a guy asked her to dance and she went with him. So while everyone else was either dancing, eating, drinking, or talking to their friend Dan and Phil were stood underneath the bleachers.

What nerds.

He felt Phil tap him shoulder and turned around to see him offering Dan his hand. He laughed and grabbed Phil's hand.

Underneath the bleachers was small so they stood close together while the slow song that Dan couldn't even hear played. He had his arms around Phil's waist while they swayed back and forth. He met Phil's eyes for a second before looking down and laughing. He looked up to see Phil smiling at him.

Slowly they moved closer and closer. So close Dan could feel Phil breath on his lips. Quickly and swiftly Phil leaned in and kissed Dan's cheek. He could feel his face heat up and he smiled. It wasn't exactly it but it was enough for now. Somehow he knew Phil was smiling too.