The First Time (Phan)

Chapter 20 - See You Soon

It was two nights after the first 'real' kiss I shared with Phil. The boys were all squeezed on the two man sofa and Mrs. Lester had cooked us a bowl of popcorn to share.

We started with fairly normal conversation topics, the usual of the weather, how expensive food is now. How crap Gordon Brown is as a Prime Minister, it was because of him I was paying far too much money for university (which I was still determined to be Manchester might I add). But then the conversation of Phil and I occurred. She started off with asking if I was ok sharing a room with him to which I simply swatted away the question saying it was perfectly fine.

Then it went on.

Asking what we did when we first met. How we met. His mood improving since he met me online. How much appear Phil's become over the last few months. Telling me how he use to be so lonely when he returned home from the holidays, locking himself away in the comfort of his old room, only really leaving for the toilet or for food. Occasionally he'd head into town but he only be gone an hour or two and often return with a new book or video game. She told me how he use to sigh at making videos, as though it was a chore almost. Firstly i was surprised she knew about the videos. But the thought of Phil not wanting to do videos but still doing them to please people made my heat ache a little. He would rather make other people happy then focus on himself and I couldn't help but admire him for it.

"But then you came along." Mrs. Lester stated, "You appeared out of nowhere like happy pixie and suddenly Phil came to life. He started to go out more, he joined us downstairs rather then locked in his room. He became so much happier. All because of you Dan. And the reason I know that is; he wouldn't stop talking about you. I'll admit I was cautious at first, what with all the stories online and warnings you get told to not talk to people online. But I quickly accepted the idea of your existence being in Phil's life because I saw how much greater good you were doing for him" Slowly she reached out and placed her hand on top of mine. My head was spinning, how do you reply to that? I'm pretty sure I was blushing but to be honest I had no idea what was happening with my facial expressions. "Thank you Dan. Thank you for bringing Phil back down to earth. Thank you for bringing him to life again. We were starting to worry a little. Considering seeing a therapist almost. You helped us all so much, and there's nothing I could ever do to make it up to you."

I blinked several times, feeling my jaw hang open suddenly. Just... what? I mean... huh? I didn't do anything, I don't think anyway. I just wanted to become Phil's friend because he seemed really nice and interesting. I didn't do anything special.

Shaking my head I gently placed my free hand over Mrs. Lester's. "I can assure you Mrs. Lester. I didn't do anything special. I just did what any person would do if they met Phil. I just decided to become his friend. If anything, he helped me. He made me become so much more confident, whilst my friends went out and made new ones, leaving me behind almost. I knew Phil would be there to help guide me in the right direction. I told him about my old bullies and he just told me to 'shake it off and move on!" They weren't gonna hurt me anymore. Phil came into my life like a happy pixie. No, more like a star. He appeared one night like a glowing beam exploding out of my laptop and guided me through the darkness to help me find my paradise. I guess my Neverland if we're talking in the metaphorical sense of stars." I smiled up at Mrs. Lester again, "There's no need to repay me for anything. The fact you let me stay here and gave me the opportunity to meet my best friend is more than enough."

And at that she quickly stood and ran round the table to seise me in a bone crushing hug. I couldn't breathe properly but it didn't matter. The warmth of her body and the sound of her beating heart was enough to make me feel the same love I got from my own mother. She really did see me as another son.

She pulled away and wiped away run away tears that had managed to run down both of our cheeks. She smiled down at me and placed a hand on my shoulder, looking at me with the similar colour blue eyes to Phil. "You're more than a best friend to him Dan."