"No it's 'I know you need me, I know you want me' that's the only part you have to get right Phil." Dan sighs for the fifth time that evening.

Phil wasn't really even trying, they were sitting in the living room of the 7th hall, but Phil was sitting upside down on the couch and his face was spotting red as he held his feet straight up in the air, enjoying the fact that he now only had a knee brace on and smiled at Dan.

"You should loosen up, the tryouts are not until 2 days." He scoffs.

"Phil thats bad!" Dan looks up from the paper, "and sit up or all the blood will rush to your head."

Phil laughs but sits up anyway, "I can't focus Dan! I need motivation!"

Phil turns his body so he's now sitting the right way on the couch and pats his lap. "Can you come motivate me?"

Dan scowls at him, his eyes flicking back to his paper. "Phil we're not doing this."

"I'm just saying that it may help me focus! You know like if we acted out the part."

Dan looks at him shocked. "That's actually a good idea Phil, but the tone here says 'alluring and sexy' and I don't know if-"

"Oh don't worry you'll be fine!" Phil popped up with a giant grin in his face, he rubs his hands together, "let's get started."

Dan bites his lip slightly as he looks down at the paper blankly. This was a bad idea but yet if Phil gets it right he could recommend him for his own main part. He stands up hesitantly.

"Yes! That's what I'm talking about." Phil motions for him to come closer.

Dan takes a tiny step forward.
Phil brushes it off. "Whatever that's fine, read the other part Dan."

Dan looks down at the unhighlighted words and speaks in a monotone voice.

"I told you to stay away from me."

"Cut!" Phil yells shaking his head. "Dan be more dramatic! How do expect to get a main part with that attitude?"

Dan blushes "I'm sorry it's just really weird."

"Dan you didn't think it was weird when you were kissing me at the-"

"Okay I'll try harder this time!" Dan raises his voice slightly, trying to keep Phil from bringing up one two many of his mistakes.

Phil grins, "Good."

Dan shakes out his shoulders and looks down at the paper. "I told you to stay away from me." He says in a more forceful tone.

"You know I can't do that, I need you." Phil takes on a lower tone that makes Dan's stomach flutter.

"You should just do what you were planning on doing and stay with your family." Dan bargains.

"They don't need my support, but I know you do." Phil takes a step forward.

Dan gulps as he looks back down at the paper. "You don't know what I want."

"Yes I do." Phil says more forcefully, "just admit it, you're lost without me."

Dan's stomach was turning into knots every time Phil spoke. Neither of them notices that James had entered the room laughing and talking with Shane as they ate candy bars. James stopped Shane with his hand and pointed excitedly at the two boys.

"What is it- oh my.."
"Shh! sit on the floor!"

They sit down quietly and Shane snatches James half eaten chocolate bar away.
"Hey!"
"It's not like you were going to finish it now hush!"

"I can handle myself just fine thank you." Dan huffs as he looks anywhere but at Phil's eyes.

"Stop lying to me!" Phil grabs his arm exactly like how the script says. "I know you you still care, remember all those fun times we had?"

"Take your hands off me!" Dan rips his arm away from his grip. It was a very Dan move anyway.

"Oh shit. Now I wish I was in theater." James sighs, watching Dan.
"Shut up!" Shane hisses.

"Please." Phil smirks a little and comes closer, This was the line that he now remembers, "I know you need me, I know you want me."

"We are not turning this conversation that way." Dan's voice was a little shaky, "Please leave." He finally looks into his eyes.

"Let me just... persuade you that I belong with you..." Phil grabs his hip and pulls him close, "honey."

Dan's breath rattles as he looks down at the paper for the next line, this felt way to real, and he didn't even think Phil knew this much of the script.

"I left that nickname behind years ago." Dan places a shaking hand on his chest and pushes him back slightly. "Go." He says.

Phil captures his hand before he can pull away and raises it his lips. "No." Phil kisses his hand and Dan felt like he was going to pass out.

He looks down at the paper once more and gulps. "Phil..."

"That's not the line." Phil was still speaking in the low voice.
"I-I know but look-" Dan turns the paper around for him to look at it.

Phil chuckles as he takes his hand off his hip and grabbing the paper, throwing it to the ground, he brushes the side of his face. "Well what are you waiting for? Do what the script says."

"Phil! I can't, This was just rehearsal, and you did beautifully I'm really surprised." Dan says loudly, slipping his hand from his and stepping back.

Phil looks almost disappointed as he backs away to and rubs his neck. "Yeah.. um its best if we stop."

Dan smiles softly. "You did a good job Phil. I felt like I was actually there."

Phil brightens. "Really? I'm hoping I can get the part now."

"Well I was hoping I could see the rest of that scene." Shane speaks loudly from his spot on the floor.

The boys both turn to look at James and Shane staring at them with amazement in their eyes.

"Sorry guys, the curtain has closed." Dan backs away, "I'm going to go take a shower, it's getting late."

James hops up and goes to the fallen paper on the floor, his eyes search for a minute before he gasps and slaps Phil on the shoulder.

"No way!"

"What is it?" Shane scrambles up.

James starts reading the description. "The two lovers then share a passionate kiss with each other before making sweet long overdue love?"

"Hey give that back to Phil!" Dan yells from beside the steps, "he needs to study more!"

"I pretty much got it down." Phil sticks his hands in his jacket pockets. "Unless you want to go over it again?"

"No!" Dan states firmly.

Just then the door to the 7th hall opens and Felix, Mark, and Chris come in smiling. "Guys get dressed we're going to the movies."

"Really!" James says excitedly.

Mark fans out all seven tickets. "Got the proof right here."

"What are we watching, because I will not sit through another romance movie when I have nothing to relate back to it." Shane argues.

James nods in agreement.

"No it's a horror movie." Felix says.

"What?" Dan exclaims. "I can't go with you guys."

Phil laughs. "Why not Dan? horror movies aren't even that scary."

Dan takes a step backwards unto the steps. "I was already on planning taking a shower and going to bed."

"Dan if you're scared just admit it." Phil laughs, "we're all going."

"I don't care! and I'm not scared,"
"You can sit beside me, and I'll protect you." Phil says.

Dan looks around the room at everybody's faces. "Well.."

"That means yes, let's go everyone." Shane confirms.

Chris nods like 'he's right' and goes back to the door. "We'll go wait in the car."

"Who's car?" James asks.
"Jeffree's , he's coming with Nate."

James rolls his eyes. "I'm not going then."

"What happened with you guys?" Mark asks, "weren't you like best friends?"

"Not since he got a boyfriend, he's totally forgotten about me."

"We'll be your friends." Dan smiles. "but you should at least talk to him."

"I'll be a petty bitch until he notices." James shrugs, "come on lets go."

James walks out with Mark, Felix, and Chris. Dan reluctantly puts his shoes on his feet and steps down back to the door.

Phil pats his back. "Don't worry, you can hold on to me if you get to scared."

"I will not get scared!" Dan moves away from his hand, "I'm just going because everyone would get upset if I didn't."

"I wouldn't." Shane says eating the rest of the chocolate bar, "but since you are you have to pay for my food."

"Where's your money?" Phil asks as they make their way down the steps.

"I spent it all on snacks, I have to wait until next month to get more."

Kingston's Academy fact # I don't remember: parents are allowed to send their children money every month to help them buy things since students themselves aren't allowed to have a job.

"Well okay." Dan sighs, "I'm probably not going to eat anything anyway."

"Because you're going to be scared?" Phil laughs.

"I am not scared!!"

—-

Dan had a death grip on Phil's arm as he hides his face in his jacket.

"Dan you're not even watching the movie." Phil whispers.

"Yes I am." Dan cracks open his eyes and when he sees Slenderman pop out and the girls scream. He screams himself and hides back in Phil's jacket.

"Shane no one can hear the movie over your loud ass chewing!" Mark whisper yells over to him.

"Then you can move closer to the front where Slenderman is most likely to get you! Would you be able to hear better then?" Shane was surrounded by chips and nachos.

"Shh!" A random guy hushed from behind them.

"Stick a cork in it." Shane throws popcorn behind his his shoulder at him.

Phil pries his arm from Dan and massages it. "Jesus you're almost cutting my circulation off."

"Phil please!" Dan tries to re grab his arm again.
"Relax relax, let's do it this way." Phil wraps his arm around Dan's shaking shoulders and pulls him close.

Dan does as he says and relaxes against him, breathing in his scent and this time actually watching the movie. It actually had a good plot with it. He looks up at Phil and he shakes him hurriedly.

"Phil wake up! Why are you sleeping?"
"I'm sorry this movie sucks."

"I know right." Nate leans over and yawns loudly. "Can we go?"

Jeffree pulls him back towards him, "No we can't I want to see how it ends."

"It ends like how every horror movie ends, in a stupid way." Chris' feet were propped up on the seat in front of him.

Felix was already asleep so his snores filled in the now quiet theater. Dan kept having shaking Phil every time he dozed, he didn't want to be the only one awake.

He looks over at James who was sharing a small bucket of popcorn with Jeffree. He thinks that they had made up because in the car they both laughed at how Phil joked that he was going to dye his hair green, that was enough to make them be friends again.

"Look how cute we look Dan, it would be better if we were a couple." Phil whispers into his curls and places his cheek on his head.

Dan resisted the urge to pull away since he heard the ominous music and new that a jumpscare was about to approach him.

"Phil for the last time I am not going to be in a relationship with you." He whispers back.

"Yea but you will,you just won't accept it." Phil rubs his arm and goosebumps prick at his skin.

Dan just left his comment in the air, not in the mood to argue with him right now.

—

After screaming about five more times, the boys were walking out the theater into the fresh night air.

"Dan I didn't know you could scream that loud." Mark says twisting his finger in his ear.

He blushes, "Sorry guys, I haven't seen a scary movie in a while."

"We can see why." James laughs.

"And you were practically hugging me." Phil speaks up.

"No I wasn't!" Dan yells as the boys start making kissing noises.

Shane bursts out laughing. "Wait guys stop."

All of them do.

"You guys are so awesome, I couldn't ask for a better group of friends."

"Aww!" James hugs him.

"Me to!" Jeffree says dragging Nate into the hug.
"Don't leave me out!" Chris comes and hugs them to.
"Hell I have nothing to lose." Mark shrugs, getting in.

"Dan come join the hug fest!" Shane calls from the middle of it.

Dan hesitates but then smiles and walks over, wrapping his arms around Mark and James. Phil stands awkwardly behind them until Chris pulls him over to him so they were all hugging.

"I love you guys." Shane sighs.
"We all deserve some shots!" Jeffree states.
"No we are not drinking!"

"Dan!"

"It's a school night!"

oof hope y'all liked this!!! it was based off my experience of seeing Slenderman with my dad, i never did scream though i just jumped at the dumbest parts like when the door creaked open i'm weird i know 😂

HOE OUT✌🏼