I Promise To You

• Charlotte Creedy, Grade 7
• Short Story
• 2013

I think Phil was asleep. It was hard to tell - his breaths stayed the same, asleep and awake. I turn over so that I now face him, and yes he is definitely asleep. We don’t usually sleep in the same bed; I think he fell asleep in here when we were watching Deathnote. We watch T.V together in bed, it’s so... comforting.

I remember when he read me to sleep every night - children’s books. His voice soothed me, and I loved it when he made special sound effects to enhance the story. It made me love him even more - but he can’t know that, not for now, anyway.

I remember when he barely knew me - and we only hung out because of PJ and Chris. We’ve both separated into pairs now - and our fans are even shipping us. How ironic. Little did they know that what they accepted as headcanon truly would be canon soon. Well, if I went through with it.

My head had moved to gently rest on chest, and I still don’t think he’s awake. I wish he was, I want him to nuzzle up to me, to tell me he loves me back.

-

“...Dan?” Phil sounds a bit confused.

“Yes?” I respond, happier than usual.

“Why is your head on my chest?” He asks, truly confused.

“Oh... sorry I’ll get off.” I say, sad he doesn’t like it.

“NO! I mean, erm... keep it there. I’m enjoying it.” He says, initially embarrassed by his reaction.

I don’t respond this time, and just nuzzle closer to him. I put my arm over his stomach, and stroke his chest. He was so warm, even though it was incredibly cold in here.

My phone’s alarm went off, but I didn’t want to move. Phil tapped the tip of my nose, and evidently that was a signal for me to get up.

“But, Phil...! I don’t wanna move.” I whine to him, and my voice was a little more high pitched.

“Take the day off, babe.” Did he just... call me babe. My heart exploded with feelings for him, and I can’t hold it in any more.

“Phil - I need to tell you something...” I say, a normal male tone, but a little more quiet. He doesn’t respond, but I feel his head nodding up and down. I can hear his hair rubbing against the bed board, friction.

“I...” I trail off, I am questioning how to say it. “I think I love you, Phil. There. I said it.” I am filled with relief, though I worry if he’ll laugh at me.

He doesn’t laugh though. He turns down to look at me and says, “Dan.. I love you too.”

Suddenly, nothing else in the world matters. It’s just me and Phil. Phil and I. Words cannot explain the joy I feel - he just told me he loves me, for God’s sake!

“But, Dan, one thing.” He phrases it in a way that isn’t quite a question - but I have to respond.

“Yes, Phil?”

“Do you promise you’ll never forget me?” The words come out strong and clear, but they mix in my mind.

“Phillip Lester,” I say his full name, “I promise.”

“Dan,” he doesn’t need my whole name, “I promise forever and beyond.”