phil's face was expressionless at dan's sudden outburst. "what more do you want okay? i mean... i give you a place to stay, i give you food-"

"yea food that i cook phil! are you even listening to me?"

"no one told you to cook! you did that on your own so why are you complaining?"

dan's breath was getting shorter as he took a small step towards him. "i took up cooking because there were some nights where you would be to 'lazy' to cook and you can't just DO that when a KID is in the house!"

"you know what?" phil gives him the coldest stare he's ever seen. "you're pathetic, you always want people to feel sorry for you, to care for you. i always have to do stuff to comfort you. it makes me sick that you think you can always get your way."

dan keeps his mouth shut but his lip trembles, phil notices.

"oh are you going to cry now?"

dan wipes a tears from his cheek quickly and sniffs. "that hurt you son of a bitch."

phil shrugs. "you said you wanted more."

"more effort! not arguments!"

"dan you are a grown ass man okay? i'm sorry if you forgot that in the past, but you're in your late 20s. it's time to take a reality check and grow a pair."

dan's throat felt dry and raw as he stares into his darkened blue eyes. "the man i'm looking at now, is not the man i remember flying across the world for."

phil stays silent. dan continues.

"is that really how low you think of me?"

when phil doesn't answer. dan laughs harshly.

"so the truth is out. i'm going to sleep downstairs tonight and i'll be gone by morning."

phil doesn't stop dan as he opens the door to see the door across from him close quickly. he pays no mind to it, making his way down the steps.

the argument stays fresh in his head as he pulls extra pillows and blankets from the hall closet. he looks a little to the left and he sees phil holding crumpled mistletoe above a younger him's head. he sees them laugh and then kiss passionately.

he turns away from the past image and closes the door. it was nothing but a high school relationship.

sorry to hit you with this but arguments give me the opportunity to actually branch my writing skills.

~alivia