dan had never felt so bored and conflicted in his life. he sat at phil's house all day either watching tv or eating the sandwhich he had made for himself at lunch. he had took a shower just recently and was now wearing another one of phil's shirts with his sweatpants this time. he only had few clothes and planned on going shpping one day with the rest of his money.

alex still hasn't returned at all either. when she told dan she might like him if he kept her leaving a secret he felt confused. why couldn't she leave? it was summer break. why does she not want phil to know? and why is he set on not telling phil where she went?

dan looks over at the digital clock. it was 4:30. he didn't know anyone around here, the kids probably all moved away. he just wanted to talk to someone. his mom was definitely busy writing her scripts so he couldn't call. he looks around and his eyes lock on the house phone that was sitting beside a piece of paper.

his feet had already carried him over to it and his eyes searched the paper frantically until it hit phil's work number.

dan picked up the phone and was dialing carefully, making sure not to miss any numbers and he waits while it rings. he new it was selfish but being away from phil after they had just met after years of being apart was getting to him.

"you have reached the real estate's office we got the perfect house for you."

dan thought she had more to say but when the line went quiet he cleared his throat quickly. "oh um.. is phil lester there or is he showing houses or?..."
he wishes he wasn't so awkward.

"oh no! he's in since it's almost closing time. i've never heard this voice before, are you a relative of his?"

he hopes not, "no i'm....i'm a friend of his."

"okay, hold for just a second."

and it was a second too. he hears the click of someone answering the phone and phil's voice emerges.

"hello?"

"hi phil, it's dan."

"oh hey! is everything good?"

dan felt bad that phil thought the only reason he was calling was because something went wrong.

"no it's all good! i just got...bored."

"is alex not there?"

dan pauses and bites at his lip.

"she's just in her room. we haven't really talked much today."

phil sighs happily. "well that's good. i'll talk to you more when i get home which is in 5 minutes."

"okay."

when he hangs up. dan starts panicking. alex wasn't home yet and phil was going to be home very soon. what was he going to do? he starts pacing the floor and mutters to himself. if they ran into each other getting home it woud be hard to explain why he said she was in her room.

the door handle jiggles just then and dan holds his breath.

it was alex.

"jesus you scared me."

"dads not home yet." she states as he takes off her sandals and passes him to run up the stairs.

"no but you were very close to getting caught."

she squints at him with those blue eyes.  "it's fine don't worry about it."

she looks behind him and then runs up the stairs. dan turns around to see the door open again to a smiling phil.

"i'm home!"

dan laughs. "i see."

phil's eyes rake his body again and he shivers. "my clothes?"

dan goes red. "i took a shower and just thought i put them on."

"dont worry, i'm not complaining." he puts down his briefcase and opens his arms. "can i get a hug?"

dan's heart was racing as he walks over to him. phil was very happy today. phil pulls him in first, wrapping his arms around his waist. dan follows, putting his arms around his neck and looking up at him.

"you smell really good." phil comments as he looks into his eyes.
dan's brain stopped working and his mouth only made weird sounds. phil laughed at his bashfulness.

footsteps sounded from the stairs and dan quickly pulled away from him, not wanting to make alex feel uncomfortable. but phil unexpectedly wrapped his arm around his shoulders and pulled him back to his side.

she was now dressed in black sweatpants and a grey shirt, and her hair was in a messy bun. "welcome home dad."

"hello princess. come here and give me a hug."

dan steps away as alex walks toward him and hugs him tightly. he sighs and looks back and forth between them. "i've missed both of you. did you guys have fun here?"

"yes! we talked some today."

phil turns to dan for confirmation and over his shoulder alex gives dan a pointed look. he glances at her then back at phil and smiles.

"we had the best time together."

i'm off to watch some anime now

~alivia