dan

the clock in phil's office reads eleven thirty, and i roll my eyes in annoyance, continuing to scroll through tumblr. it has been two hours since i've been waiting for him to show up, and roslyn has provided me three donuts and four cups of coffee by now, and all i have done in that time is nothing but mindlessly scroll through the website, which has started to bore me now.

i sigh, pushing my body off the bean bag and standing up, pulling my jeans up my hips and exiting the office.

no one is lurking in the dark halls except for me, and after moping around for sometime, i decide to find roslyn. it isn't a hard task, because she's standing outside the studio and talking loudly into the phone, and i wait until she's ended the call before approaching her.

"hey, can i maybe use the piano for a while?" i ask her and she just pushes the glasses up the bridge of her nose before smiling at me.

"of course, don't even bother asking," she waves me off and i smile gratefully at her. "want another cup of coffee?" she teases and i laugh in embarrassment.

"thank you, but i think i'll pass this time," i say sarcastically and she just laughs, gesturing towards the piano again and leaving once her phone starts buzzing.

i sigh with relief once no one is around in the studio, walking inside and taking a seat on the familiar leather bench, cracking my fingers and letting them slip over the keys, and soon enough all my annoyance is dissolved in the calming notes that reverberate through the small studio.

***

i stretch my arms behind my head, letting out a small yawn in the process as i grab the few sheets of music that are scattered around the piano deck.

when i enter the office again, it's still empty, only a few plastic cups littered on the desk and my files that i left there for phil and i to discuss. the clock shows one in the afternoon, and i feel the annoyance get to me again as i grab my bag, messily shoving the documents inside it.

what the hell is phil's problem?

i sweep the cups and let them fall into the metal bin next to the table and pull the strap of my bag around my shoulders before making my way to the door. i'll ask roslyn if i can leave because i don't think phil is going to show up any soon.

just as i step out of the threshold of the room i bump into a tall figure and it takes me less than a second to realise it's phil. he looks tired, his shirt crumpled at the bottom and his hair messy and falling all over his forehead.

"hey, where are you going?" he furrows his eyebrows and i take a step away from him so we aren't standing awfully close. i am about to open my mouth but my eyes travel down his neck and towards the purple marks peeping out of his collar and my voice is stuck in my throat.

"yeah, had a rough night," he rubs along his neck with a tired smile on his face once he notices me looking, and i can feel something pool uncomfortably in my stomach, my chest clenching at the sight of him.

"i-i don't feel well, i'm gonna go," i state pathetically and before i can walk past him he's grabbing my arm to stop me, pulling me back so i'm standing close to him.

"hey is everything okay? you don't look well," his hand raises to touch my cheek and i almost flinch. i don't like him touching me anymore. i don't know what it is but something is deflating rapidly inside me and it's making me feel uncomfortable.

"that's because i'm not," i pull away from him and pull the straps tighter around my shoulders, feeling the space getting smaller.

"do you want me to drive you? i have some—"

"n-no thank you, i'll manage thanks," i stammer and quickly walk past him. i think he called my name but i might just be imagining things.

i imagine a lot of things as it is.

--
yo !! check out my new book stranger things it's really cute you'll like it