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“We’re going to sit down,” Phil announces both to the group and to no one in particular. Josh raises his eyebrows, unsure why they would disappear.
“Don’t you want to dance? Get another drink?” Phil shakes his head, sending a knowing look to Josh, can he not see what Phil is trying to do here? Phil doesn't need anymore to drink, he hasn't been this tipsy in a long time.
“No, we’re fine, we just want to sit down,” another knowing look, did Josh forget the plan tonight? Before anyone can protest again Phil grabs Dan’s wrist, pivots and pulls him away from their friends.
Through the crowd they go, pushing outside past the smokers and laughs, past the bar and back inside. Phil spots the area he’s been thinking about. Right around the back corner, just past the security guards, between the wall and the back of the couch. Ducking around the corner, Dan in tow, Phil flops down on the couch, pulling a nervous Dan down next to him. Now they are secluded from the clubbers, or anyone that might glance over at them and realise who they are. There’s still a group of drunk people on the couch across from them, drinking, talking. But here is perfect, no one will be able to find them or reach them here, no one on the couches will care, it is a club after all. Phil sighs and directs his attention to Dan, who looks almost flustered from the short walk they took through all the people.
“Just us now,” Phil says shyly, giving what he hopes is his best smile in Dan’s direction. He's been waiting for this moment, a chance for them to be alone, away from their friends, hidden away from the rest of the club, he knows Dan wouldn't want to be seen. This is not a problem for Phil, he's made out with boys here before, this exact spot even, but none like this, not with this feeling, this ache in his chest, not with the pull he feels toward Dan that’s grown stronger every day since they met a year ago. It feels like it's all been building to now.
Dan’s holding his crown in his hand like he’s not really sure what to do with it, Phil gently takes it out of his hands, their fingers brushing and places it on the table then turns his full attention to him, twisting his body so he takes up Dan’s full vision. He can’t tell what thoughts are going through Dan’s head; he's very good at hiding what he’s thinking, but here’s hoping they're on the same path. Phil’s eyes look across Dan’s face. He’s beautiful. Phil can’t resist a burst of confidence as he puts his hand on Dan’s, looking down at their hands, fingers brushing.
Dan’s brown eyes dart down to his phone, in that moment it lights up, a message from his brother asking where he is.
“I wonder what my brother would think if he knew I was in a gay club right now,” he says diffidently.
“Isn’t he here right now?”
“Yeah but it’s full of straight people right,” the club started as a gay club but was so good all the straight people took over. Phil shrugs and moves his hand so their hands are connected, fingers intertwined, he can tell Dan’s nervous, his eyes dart down to his phone and he types out a response to his brother, Phil would let go if he knew Dan wasn’t interested, but his body language confused, like he’s trying to move away from Phil. When Phil moves back to give him space, Dan's fingers grip around tighter. He's unsure of what he wants, or what he's doing, or what his hands are doing.
“Ew, my hands are so sweaty,” he pulls his hand away to wipe it on his jeans but he leans closer to Phil, a forehead pressed against his shoulder, hiding his face and emotions. Mixed signals but Phil's pretty sure they’re on the right path here.
“I don’t mind,” Phil says softly, his voice steady despite the nerves. He gently takes Dan’s hand again, wanting to calm him, but unsure of the next step himself. Dan's breath catches. Running a hand up his arm, feeling, trying to calm him, or maybe the opposite, he can’t control all of his choices when he’s this drunk, especially not when he's been waiting for so long.
“Your skin is so soft,” The words spill out before he can stop them. Dan shifts, looking up at him with eyes wide as he notices how close they’ve gotten. His phone flashes again, the glow lighting up his face, another text from his brother but his eyes stay glued to Phil.
“I’ve got to go soon, he’s waiting for me and hey, they’ve stolen your crown ” his eyes drifted away from Phil as he rambles on, Phil's not quite listening, he’s just mesmerised by how close he is to Dan and how nice it is to hold his hand. But he looks across, sure enough the drunk people across from them are passing the crown around, trying it on and laughing. Phil can’t bring himself to care. He goes to say this to Dan but he’s started rambling again, mumbling about something Phil can’t quite hear, maybe it’s the noise of the club, or the view of Dan’s eyes this close to his own.
“Shh, you don’t have to worry, it’s fine,” Dan goes silent, but only for a second before he’s filling the quiet gap again, the words tumbling past Phil's ears.
“I have a question to ask you,” Phil, avoiding looking at Dan’s eyes too close or he’s afraid he will lean in without asking, puts his mouth right next to Dan’s ear saying what he’s been thinking all night.
Dan goes still, no more words are coming out of his mouth, it’s almost like he’s holding his breath.
“Yeah?”
“Can I kiss you?”
“Yes,” Dan's yes is all the confirmation he needs, Phil doesn’t wait a second before attaching his lips to Dan’s. There’s a burst of happiness in his chest, finally it’s happening.
It’s slow, neither of them are quite sure what to do with their hands, or their tongues but one thing’s for sure Phil has never been happier to kiss someone in all his life. He smiles into the kiss, which he knows is ruining the kiss for Dan, but he can’t help it. There’s a smile across Dan’s lips, no longer kissing just smiling, lips pressed together.
“I’ve really got to go,” Dan mumbles into the kiss, but Phil just puts his hand into Dan’s hair, ignoring the words, enjoying the moment, Dan kisses back with slow gentle reluctance. Dan’s phone rings. They break away and Dan answers the phone, trying to hear over the drum of the music. Phil can’t keep his hand off Dan, he’s kissing his shoulder, one hand drawing circles on his arm, the other looping around his waist. Dan makes no move to get him off, his own hand gently on Phils thigh. He quickly shouts about how he’s coming in a minute.
The second the phone hangs up, their lips are connected again, these kisses are short and sweet, they know they’ve run out of time but they want to make it last.
“Promise me something,”
“What?”
“Don’t let this make it weird between us, okay?” Dan says, just audible above the noise.
“It’s not weird, as long as you don’t make it weird,” Phil answers with another kiss, this one only a peck. Dan’s phone torch shines on and he holds it up to his head.
“Does my hair look weird, will my brother be able to tell?” Phil hesitates at the chuckle that he wants to give. Of course Dan would be worried about make out hair.
“You look great,” and it’s not a lie, but he uses the opportunity to gently brush his hair with his hands, a thumb trailing as he hesitates to let go, “I’ll ah, walk you to the door?”
“Sure,” Dan stands, a hand trails down Phil’s arm, a moment of hesitation, quickly moving out from behind the couches, back to the crazy crowds of the club, Phil's hand quickly latches onto the crook of Dan’s elbow. Dan pauses unsure of where to go. Phil gently guides him in the direction of the exit, having been here a number of times. Once down the stairs and near the door he lets go, not wanting someone to see, he knows Dan wouldn’t want his brother to see.
“I’ll see you Wednesday, yeah?” Phil says hopeful. Dan looks away, his brother waves impatiently from the other side of the road. He smiles and nods, heading out the door, waving back to a now forlorn Phil. His heart swells, he finally got to kiss Dan, but it all happened so fast and he only hopes that Dan feels the same as he does.
He sees his brother grab Dan's arm, pulling him to the train station. He hopes that this kiss was more than just a fleeting moment. As Josh pulls Phil back to the dance floor, his mind is still on Dan. He can’t stop thinking about Wednesday.
~~