A/N: New Phan story I came up with... couldn't help myself. I guess it's sort of AU... but, you know... yeah.

Disclaimer: I don't own Phil or Dan, no matter how much I wish I did.

Prologue

Terror.

It was all Phil could think about at the moment. He knew what his supposed "choice" meant, but he had no idea that his parents would react like... that. Motionless, silent... and he'd ran, afraid of everything.

Why? Because Phil Lester was gay.

He'd known for a couple of months now. He'd been realizing how less appealing women had become to him, and how easy it was to get lost in man's eyes. He hadn't told anyone for fear of being called names and ridiculed for who he was. He hadn't even planned on coming out to his family — it just sort of... slipped. One minute they were discussing that new bakery down the street, the next he was saying, "I'm gay."

He'd bolted from the house and not given his parents time to react.

He'd tried to calm himself — it wasn't as if he'd have to stay there, anyway. He was only visiting. He could just leave as soon as he wanted.

Never being one to make such rash decisions, Phil knew he'd be better off to just stay and calm down before he boarded the train. Maybe he just needed to cool off... maybe he'd even go back to his parent's house.

Phil shook his head. Nope.

Rain began to softly trickle down to earth, splashing against Phil's face. He grunted, pulling up his hood. As if on cue, a crack of thunder sounded across the park Phil had somehow wandered into. He closed his mouth, leaving his lips in a tight line.

"Could this get any worse?!" He shouted angrily to no one in particular.

"Problem?"

Phil whipped his head around to see a man, probably around his age, with the most beautiful brown eyes and hair to match. He was slightly tan and had a slim build, his body clad in a black vest-jacket and jeans. He was simply stunning.

And smiling at Phil whilst waiting for an answer.

"Um... no," Phil said, not wanting to burden this innocent stranger with his worries. "I mean... nothing you need to be concerned with."

Phil realized how harsh it sounded a minute too late. Luckily, he was an understanding person.

"I've got time to listen if you would like," the man said, starting to walk once again. He had no idea why, but Phil followed. "I'm stuck here for another three hours anyway."

Phil was a little taken by the... forwardness of this stranger. He'd just met Phil and he was offering to listen to him. Like he cared. It was an odd sort of feeling, yet comforting. Maybe that was why he said, "Um... okay."

Somehow, he and the boy ended up in an ice cream shop only a couple of blocks away from the park they had met in. Phil was still skeptical about it all but, hell. He was leaving soon; it's not like it would matter.

"It never occurred to me to ask for a name," the man said in the middle of the line. "Care to give me one?"

"Phil," Phil replied impulsively. "Just... Phil."

The boy laughed, sensing how awkward Phil had become. "Listen, I'm not a rapist, or a serial killer, or any other weird type of person you've got me made out to be in your head." He paused. "Wait. I take that back. I am a bit on the odd side."

He earned a chuckle from Phil. He turned to smirk at him, just as they arrived at the front of the line. "My name's Dan, by the way," he whispered before turning to the woman behind the counter.

Dan ended up ordering for the both of them, objecting to Phil's money when he was offered. Phil had been reluctant to let Dan pay, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Dan had lead Phil to a small table in the back of the shop, passing Phil his ice cream as they sat.

They began to talk. Phil found himself becoming unbearably happy one moment, and bursting with laughter the next. Dan just seemed to have that effect on him.

Phil learned about Dan's obsession with llamas, Dan hearing of Phil's love of lions. They learned so much about each other, and Phil found himself falling a little further for this man.

"You're amazing, Phil," Dan said out of the blue. Phil smiled softly, a sort of blush rising on his cheeks.

"Should I consider that a compliment?" Phil asked quietly, as if afraid of the answer.

"No," Dan said. Phil froze. Dan spoke again before Phil could get the wrong idea. "You should consider it a title. 'The Amazing Phil.' Catchy."

Phil's cheeks became even pinker. He tried to hide his blush by turning his head away from Dan. "What about you?" He asked in a near-whisper. "Don't you need a new title?"

Dan shrugged. "Obviously I'm hot. Work from that."

Phil burst out laughing. Thankfully, the shop was fairly empty so no stares or glares were thrown his way. It was a good thing, too; he couldn't seem to stop. Eventually, Dan gave in, chuckling lightly along with him.

"Are you kidding me, Phil? I'm on fire," Dan exaggerated. He and Phil each laughed harder and harder.

Phil gained his composure long enough to say, "You may be hot, Dan, but you are certainly not on fire."

Phil's eyes widened as he realized what he'd said — had he really just openly called a seemingly straight guy hot right to his freaking face?!

Great going, Phil, he thought. You make a friend and you just have to ruin it.

"You're not too bad yourself." The comment alone was enough to make Phil blush, but the added wink on the end seemed to worsen it. "So I'm hot, but I'm not on fire? What does that make me?"

"Dan is not on fire," Phil said proudly. Dan looked up and into his eyes, smiling grandly.

"I think that's perfect," he said. And he meant it.

They got caught up staring into each other's eyes, but neither of them minded. They were content with simply staring at each other. And when Dan begin to lean in... well, who was Phil to object?

Their faces got closer and closer. It would only be a few more seconds until —

"Closing time, you two."

They jumped apart, each turning to look in the direction of the voice. A middle-aged woman was standing there, staring at them expectantly. She gestured for them to leave, which they did without any objections.

They were both laughing by the time they were outside. "Wow," Dan said. "What crawled up her ass?"

Phil shrugged, used to Dan's type of humor. "I don't know."

There was a silence.

"Well, I need to head to the train station," Dan said awkwardly. He scratched the back of his neck. He honestly just didn't want to say goodbye to Phil, but he'd never admit it aloud. Especially not to a guy he'd just met.

"Really? I'm heading there, too. We can go together, if you want?"

A grin broke out on Dan's face, ecstatic that he wouldn't have to say goodbye to Phil just yet.

"That would be wonderful," Dan said.

They walked to the train station, small talk filling the usual silence. Each were content in the moment, and dreading when they'd have to depart. But they ignored that thought for the rest of their time together.

All too quickly, they were standing in front of the train station doors. They entered the building, savoring every last second they had.

"So, um..." Dan said. "This is goodbye?"

Phil wanted to laugh at how cliché the sentence sounded. But he was too upset about their imminent departure. "I guess so..."

"Where are you going?" Dan asked, hoping against hope that maybe, just maybe...

"London," Phil answered on impulse. "You?"

"Manchester," Dan replied, somewhat sadly. He forced a smile. "Does it sound weird if I told you that I didn't want to leave you?"

Phil shook his head. "No. I was actually thinking the same thing."

Suddenly, a voice sounded overhead on the intercom. "Train 379 to London, departing in five minutes."

"That's me," Phil said sadly. Dan gave him a small smile. Phil returned it, turning his back to Dan and beginning to walk away.

But Dan couldn't let go so easily. "Phil." Dan stopped the boy, grabbing his wrist and spinning him around. Phil almost fell in the process, but steadied himself by grabbing onto Dan's arm.

They stared at each other, both wanting to just feel the other's lips, but both also too afraid to actually do anything.

"Bye."

Dan knew he'd scold himself for passing up his chance now, but he couldn't just kiss Phil. They'd only known each other for a couple of hours, for God's sake. And they would probably never see each other again.

Phil nodded. "Bye."

And he was gone.

A/N: Sorry for the crap ending... I'll try to make it better!

Review? Please?

-Kristen