A week had passed and Dan and Ethan were still sharing a bed. Dan kind of wished that they weren't because of those butterflies in his stomach and his realisation that he had feelings for a boy that wasn't his boyfriend. They woke up cuddling almost every morning but Dan was always up first to slip out of bed before Ethan could even notice.

-

"Do you want to do something after school?" Phil asked at lunchtime as he was eating his sandwich. Dan shook his head, pulling out a piece of paper and writing his response on it.

You could come to mine? Then you could meet Alice and Ethan and all the others?

"Yeah? That sounds awesome. I'm excited to meet them all!" Dan smiled softly.

-

Dan walked up to Alice who was standing in front of the car, waiting for him. Phil was following and he waved kindly at the woman, assuming it was the person in charge of the house. Dan pointed at Phil, cocking his head to the side to which Alice responded, "Is he coming over for dinner?"

"Is that okay?" Phil asked for Dan who was still quiet.

"Of course. Hop in."

-

"You're the famous Ethan?" Phil questioned as he approached a smallish boy with blue hair. Ethan nodded slightly, not meeting the eyes of the stranger. "I'm Phil, Dan's boyfriend. Nice to meet you." Ethan's response was nothing but a grunt before he turned and walked upstairs. "He seems... friendly?" Dan smiled softly, taking Phil's hand and pulling him upstairs. It was obvious the two weren't going to get on: Phil was very talkative and open whilst Ethan was more quiet and reserved. Their personalities just clashed, despite sharing a few interests.

He guided the boy to his new bedroom and Phil's first reaction was.. shock. "Oh? I didn't expect it to look like this?" Dan raised his eyebrow, watching as Phil glanced around the room. "There's so much... black?"

"It's my favourite colour." Ethan mumbled, looking up from the book he was reading for one second then looking back down at it.

"I couldn't tell." Phil sneered. "I just imagined something a bit more friendly. From Dan's descriptions."

"Does Dan talk to you?" Suddenly Ethan seemed interested. It only made Phil roll his eyes. He felt that Ethan was putting on an act around Dan but he didn't want to jump to conclusions in case he was wrong. Maybe Ethan's personality changed depending on his comfort with the people he was with.

"Once. He just writes stuff down."

"Hmm... Okay."

"What? Do you have a problem with him not talking?" Phil stepped forward, seemingly in a threatening way. He was getting bad vibes and he really didn't want Dan to be around the guy. Something was so... off about him.

"No, I was just asking? Am I not allowed to be curious?"

"Not if it's private? Dan wouldn't want you to be asking questions like that." They were bickering and all Dan could do was watch. He had expected Phil to get along with Ethan but they apparently disliked each other already.

"I just want to help him?"

"Well that's not your job. You've known him for like two days."

"Longer than that."

"You know what I mean. I'm his boyfriend and I've known him longer so I should be the one to help him."

Ethan froze a little, taken aback. "You've never shared a bed with him, have you?" Ethan's lips formed a mischievous smirk as he watched Phil's defence lower slightly.

"Well, no-"

"And we cuddled a little."

Dan's eyes widened: Ethan was awake? Why didn't he say anything? Phil wasn't going to be happy and Dan couldn't even deny it.

"You did? Do you have feelings for each other?" Phil looked at Dan with hurt eyes as if for confirmation that that was true. Dan nodded but before he could explain- either through text or on paper- Phil had stormed out of the room.

"H-He hates me..." Dan mumbled so quietly that Ethan almost missed it. However, he heard the croaky voice and it made his head perk up. He then noticed the tears in Dan's eyes and so he ran forward and hugged his friend tightly.

"I'm so sorry..." He mumbled over and over again, feeling horrible because it was all his fault. But then maybe he felt a bit of relief. If he made them hate each other, he could get to Dan and, well, he had feelings for the boy.

-

"Leaving so soon?" Alice questioned as he saw Phil storm downstairs.

"Yeah. My mum wants me home." Phil replied but the tremor in his voice implied that he wasn't telling the truth. Alice waved goodbye before going upstairs to Ethan and Dan's bedroom. She knocked on the door; deciding against barging in in case a private moment was being shared.

"Come in..." Ethan mumbled, just loud enough for Alice to hear. She pushed open the door to see Ethan hugging a crying Dan close. Both looked distraught- Dan just more so. Alice put the pieces of the puzzle together: Phil storming out and Dan's tears, it could only mean there had been an argument.

"What happened? Was it that Phil boy? Was he causing trouble?"

"No, it was my fault. I'm sorry. There was a bit of an argument..."

"Is it alright? Do I need to have a chat with either of you?"

Dan pulled away from Ethan just to shake his head: he wanted to be alone with Ethan.

"No, it's okay. Dan can talk to me."

"Okay but if this is serious, remember I am always here for both of you."

"We know." Alice smiled softly at the pair before leaving and shutting the door behind her. "Dan, you need to forgive-" Before Ethan could finish Dan was leaning forward and attaching their lips. Ethan's heart was screaming at him: Don't kiss back. He's just upset. But his mind took over and, before he knew it, he was kissing back. The kiss wasn't the sweetest but both boys could feel something deep in their chests. Ethan pulled back and held his hand against Dan's cheek, looking into his hazel eyes. "Dan, we need to pretend that never happened."

Dan shook his head because he didn't want to forget. There was a bump in his and Phil's relationship and he was angry at the boy for not getting along with his best friend. He wasn't thinking straight. (Heh of course he wasn't because he's GA- never mind that joke is overused) "I really like you. I have done since the day I first met you. You've always interested me, you know?" Dan felt himself blushing again, despite the tears still in his eyes. "I suppose I was jealous of Phil; that's why we argued a little-" Ethan stopped talking when he heard Dan's fragile voice.

"I l-like you too." He whispered, looking down at his lap.

"But you and Phil..."

"I'll d-deal with it t-tomorrow."

-

Dan didn't make an effort to move the arm around him, deciding it was comfortable and he had nothing to hide with Ethan anymore. He even moved closer to the other boy, smiling slightly as he listened to Ethan's shallow breaths.

wELL DON'T HATE ME