I have a business exam today and I don't feel good so yayyy (sarcasm)

"Can we talk?" Phil asked at lunch the next day. Dan's eyes widened and he swallowed, expecting something along the lines of 'I've realised what you're really like and I don't want to hang out with you anymore'. Phil reached into his backpack and pulled out a little notebook and pen before sliding it across the table to Dan. "Is there a reason why you don't talk? I'm sorry if that sounds mean but I promise you can trust me. Oh, and you never need to tell me anything. It's okay if you don't want me to know."

Talking starts arguments, lies and everything bad. I don't talk so I don't start anything.

Phil read what Dan had written and creased his eyebrows slightly. "But words can start good things too... like love, friendship, happiness..."

Dan shook his head, not wanting to say anymore.

He felt like he could trust Phil but he was just so afraid that he would end up being betrayed. That would probably make him feel so much worse; it might even lead to him giving up completely.

-

They had a supply teacher in Business. Dan absolutely hated supply teachers because they didn't understand him. So, when the supply teacher started to call out the register, he felt panic begin to arise. Maybe it would be okay if Phil was there but it was one of the only classes they didn't share. Everyone who was there responded to their names but then it came to Dan's.

"Dan?" The teacher called out. His heart was beating fast and he suddenly couldn't breathe. He desperately looked around, hoping someone would respond to his name for him but no one did. "Is Dan here?"

"Miss, he can't speak. He's a mute." Someone then yelled out, making the whole class laugh.

Dan then stood up, running out of the class before anyone could stop him. He locked himself in one of the stalls of the bathroom before beginning to cry to himself silently. His makeup was going to run and reveal his injury but at that point he didn't care. He just wanted it all to be over.

No one even came to get him until lunch time. Phil had sat down in the library, waiting for about ten minutes before realising Dan wasn't coming. He finished eating before getting up and deciding to go to the toilet. It was merely a coincidence that he happened to run into Dan but he was very glad it had happened.

He walked into the bathrooms before stopping when he heard a quiet cry. "Are you alright in there?" He asked, not knowing it was Dan. He just wanted to help someone who was in need of a friend. "Do you need to talk? I could get you a teacher?"

Dan didn't want to talk. He was stuck in a state of panic, struggling with his breathing as his thoughts were running so fast in his head.

"Hello?"

Dan stood up, his legs shaking so much as they felt like jelly. He unlocked the door and opened it before looking at Phil with the most depressed eyes. Phil finally understood the saying eyes were the window to the soul because he could see how broken the brown-haired boy really was. "Oh, Dan..." Phil wrapped his arms around his friend, making sure he knew that Phil would always protect him through everything. They hadn't even known each other that long but Dan really did mean a lot to him. "Do you want to talk about it?" Dan shook his head before choking out another sob. Phil rubbed his back as he whispered, "I'm here for you now. You're not alone."

When they pulled away from the hug, Phil finally noticed he black around Dan's eye. "Dan?" Phil reached out and brushed his thumb over the darker colour before Dan could flinch away. "Who did this?"

Dan went silent before pulling his phone out of his pocket. He opened up the notes app and typed something before showing it to Phil.

I fell and hit my eye, nothing too bad.

"That's a lie and we both know it. Someone hurt you. Was it at school?" Dan looked down at the floor and didn't make any effort to deny it. "Yes?" Dan bit his lip before quickly shaking his head. If Phil had looked away for even a second, he would have missed it. "Oh.. At home?" Phil must have finally put the pieces of the puzzle together because his mouth formed the shape of an 'o'. He would have looked quite funny if it weren't for the context: he looked like a goldfish. "You need to tell someone so they move you to somewhere safe."

Dan shook his head.

"Dan, they don't love you..."

Dan then stormed out of the bathroom because they did love him... They had to... He was their son.

How are you?