Dan was in the band room continually for the next week as he struggled to learn his part in the concert. He hated playing pieces someone gave to him, he'd rather play his own or choose for himself.

Most of the hall has already gotten their costumes to, Phil even had gotten his, he was going as a biker.

"Of course he is." Shane rolls his eyes as Phil turns around dramatically to show off his leather jacket and black boots, and his snake bites that he had returned to his lips.

"Hey don't hate the player and the game." Phil pops up his collar.

Jeffree was also up there, Nate for once was not at his side. Phil comes over to him.

"How much did you pay for those?" He points to Jefree's neck tattoos.

He laughs, "More than you know."

That's when Dan stands up. "He is not getting a tattoo so don't even bother with him."

Jeffree laughs at his protective tone. "Relax Dan, Phil's old enough to make his own choices."

Phil looks at all of the ink marks with eager eyes before looking back at Dan. "I want one."

"No!"

"I'm getting one."

"Phil!"

"Just get married already." Mark sighs flopping down on the couch and taking off his ski mask, "you sound like a old couple."

"And what are you supposed to be?" Shane speaks from where James is, they were making decorations.

"I went to the mall with Nate, Chris and Felix, I'm going to be Jason."

"Basic." He snorts

"Felix is Freddy! Nate is going to be Scream, and Chris is going to be Batman."

"Why Batman?"
"Its not my costume how about you ask him when he gets up here."

James blinks, "Next time with less attitude."

Mark stares him down. "Next time with less sass."

"Okay-"

Dan was watching them argue but not really hearing them, he had to still think about what he was going to be for the party and his concert was way to close to comfort.

"Hey where are you going?" Phil asks as Dan was halfway to the door.

"To the band room, I have to practice."
"I'll come with."

A smile, "Okay."

James turns around from eating a package of candy corn, "Dan get back quickly because we have to go shopping for your costume."

"James I don't want to wear anything bad-"
"Relax relax, just go practice."

Dan looks as he's about to stay and argue but Phil comes up to him and puts his hand on the small of his back. "Don't argue with him you'll lose, let's just go."

He allows Phil to lead him out into the stairwell and down the steps. They make light conversation as the descend.
"So a biker huh? Makes perfect sense."

"I didn't feel like trying really, what do you think you should be?"

"I don't know honestly." Dan thinks, "you decide."

Phil gives him a look. "You want me to decide?"
He shrugs, "Sure."

Phil plays with his lip ring for a while, getting the feel of it being back in his lip after having it out for a long time. He thought for so long that Dan wonders if he had forgotten the question.

Phil snaps. "I got it!"

Dan jumps and almost falls down the last step. Phil catches him just in time.
"Sorry." Phil holds him as Dan stares up into his eyes.

"It's fine," Dan laughs lightly, "you caught me so it's all good."

Phil stands him up, "You're surprisingly light, like I could carry you on my back."

Dan blushes, "I highly doubt-"

Phil picks him up. In one flourish, Dan is on Phil's back and Phil is walking with ease to the outside doors. Dan was already pretty tall but he felt taller as He looks down at the far away ground.

"Phil you might drop me." Dan says shakily. This only makes Phil squeeze his legs tighter.
"I wouldn't dare drop you."

Dan still wraps his arms around his neck tightly until Phil coughs and he lessens up. "Anyway, like I was saying, I think you should go as a cat."

The brunette thinks for a moment, that wasn't a bad idea. "Yea, I like that, a cat."

A few students here and there were walking past them in the yard and giving them weird looks which Phil quickly dissolved by looking back at them. When they got to the band room,  Dan reaches down and pulls open the door for Phil and he steps into the dark room.

"You can put me down now Phil." Dan laughs.
"Hmm? Oh yeah." Phil bends down and Dan slides off his back carefully back onto the floor.

It was extremely cold in the band room, it always was, but for some reason the side door was left cracked open so the October breeze flowed in from the outside. Dan shivers, but walks over to the lights and flicks them on before walking over to the pure white piano.

"Okay, I have to get this piece down before the concert." Dan's voice was laced with worry as he sits and puts his hands on the keys.

Phil leans against the piano, Dan doesn't complain. "Just center yourself, think of  something calming while you play."

"You're on a role with inspirational speeches."

"Play Dan."

Dan closes his eyes and starts playing, a beautiful melody rings out and he tries to think about what the song means to him, what vision he could create.
Phil watches Dan. He wasn't concentrating, if fact, it looked like he was concentrating to much. His eyes were scrunched up and his shoulders were up at his neck.

"Dan stop." He takes his hands off the keys and holds them in his warm hands. "Yea you're freezing, why didn't you bring a jacket?"

"I forgot." Dan says bashfully, "c-can I borrow yours?"

"Of course, you didn't even have to ask, you could've just took it." Phil quickly takes off his jacket and gives it to him.

Sticking his arms in the long sleeves, Dan relaxes at the sudden warmth and body heat that radiates his body. Phil goes over to shut the side door while Dan warms up his hands.

"Now try again."

——

Phil was sitting in the back row nervously tapping his foot and craning his neck to find Dan. They hadn't let him backstage to talk to him.

"Relax Phil, your  boyfriend will be out in a minute."
"He's not my boyfriend yet."

Felix just smirks and leans back in the auditorium chair. Most of the students were playing and throwing things at each other and not paying attention to the principal trying to get their attention at the podium.

A loud ringing sounds out and people bring their hands up to their ears as she presses a red button on the megaphone. When everything goes silent she stops and smiles softly.

"Nice to see all of you this evening, today we have a wonderful night full of music and fun from our band...."

She keeps talking but Phil had blocked her out. He had seen a brown curl stick out from the red curtain before retreating back behind it. He hopes Dan isn't nervous, after all the practice they did, he couldn't be.

"So now, please welcome, Kingston's Academy professional band!"

Everyone claps loudly as the orchestra raises their instruments. When they begin to play Phil is still searching for the white pristine piano that was not there.
"Wait,where's Dan?"

Felix shrugs as he watches the band lazily, not wanting to pay attention or stay awake anymore. Chris nudges Phil from his other side he was smiling brightly.

"Phil, this means that Dan has a solo!"

He shakes his head in disbelief, "No way, Dan didn't tell me about a solo."
"Maybe he just wanted to surprise you."

Phil looks at the second red curtain that was tightly closed behind the orchestra, Dan was probably behind there, taking deep breaths and trying not to be nervous. He really wanted to get up, but he didn't want to get in trouble, so for Dan's sake, he stayed put and watched the band.

Finally, the band stopped their final piece and everyone had quickly picked up their chairs and stands, moving them off the stage.

"And now with his solo piece," the principal calls out, "Daniel Howell will play Love: Agape."

Phil can only stare wide eyes as the final curtain opens and Dan has a matching white tux to the piano,that Phil didn't know he owned. His hands were already positioned to play and he takes deep breaths before looking out into the crowd.

Dan catches Phil's eye and he smiles slightly. Phil gives him a thumbs up and mouths the words 'concentrate.' Dan nods and closes his eyes as he thinks back to what happened when he was practicing with Phil. The first note of the melody rings out and the rest of the notes follow.

"What mood does this song create when you play it?" Phil asked as he sat beside Dan on the piano bench.

"A happy one I guess, but the song is about love." There was heat rising in his cheeks.

The room was deadly silent as everyone watches Dan. Phil had leaned forward subconsciously and was drinking in Dan, his expression, how delicately his hands moved on the keys, he was mesmerizing.

"Okay then think of someone who makes you happy and how much you love them, put that into the song, I guarantee that it would make things better." Phil smiles at him softly.

Dan looks at the cute lopsided smile. "Will it?"

"Of course! My mom used to tell me that all great people that did great things had something something in common with what they did so it made it easier."

Dan smiles as Phil openly speaks about his mother, "You think I can do great things?"

Phil takes his hands and places them on the piano. "I know you can."

Dan has a small smile on his lips as the memories of that day circle his mind as his fingers lightly press the keys. His hands moved quickly up and down the piano. It was Phil that has helped overcome his fear. He was always there for him.

He opens his eyes and watches the keys as he listens to the melody that was almost finished. Love: Agape

In Love
Love
Love...

The crowd was clapping. Giving him a standing ovation. Dan hadn't even realized that he had stopped playing. He quickly stands up and bows. Phil was standing on his chair and whistling loudly. Shane was trying to pull him down before he got caught.

Dan straightens up and laughs lightly at the situation, eyes trained on Phil.

"I love you." He whispers before he even notices.

Phil stops whistling and yells at him. "What did you say? I couldn't hear you!"

Dan quickly covers his mouth whith his hand and shakes his head. But still a small smile was playing on his lips.

the halloween party is tomorrow... i will also answer your questions !!!

HOE OUT✌🏼