Old Friends: Dan Howell
I walked out of the Underground and the cold bit at my cheeks. I sigh as I attempt to pull my coat up to protect myself from the wind. My hands screaming, I shove them back into my pockets and ball them into fists. I feel my nails digging into my palm and I grit my teeth.
I do all I can to fight the winter air, and yet still it creeps between the seams, sliding across my chilled stomach, up my spine, and causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand.
But I’ve learned this lesson before. You can’t keep the outside world from chilling your bones and freezing your heart.
I didn’t think I saw him at first. My eyes were sliding across the crowd casually, checking my surroundings, when I caught his eye. My neck twitched in a double-take, and I laughed incredulously at the sight of the old friend. Immediately, my heart warmed as I began to make my way to him, never loosing eye contact with the tall boy. I do suppose he is a man now.
Once we reached each other my arms wrapped around his torso, and I was engulfed in a black jacket. I pressed my cheek against his coat, and felt the warmth from him radiate on my blushed skin. Reluctantly, I pulled away from him.
“Dan Howell,” I said, my voice dripping with nostalgia. His eyes still twinkled the way they used to. As he greeted me, his voice melting in my ears, I looked over his face. He matured, his face losing all the child-like qualities we both had years ago. I glance down to his lips, making sure not to spend too much time there, and remembered the softness of his kisses.
“How have you been?” he asked me, dimples engraved into his cheeks.
I smiled. “Good. I have been working so much, but it’s rewarding. How are you? Mr. Internet Star?”
He laughs and rolls his eyes at me. He was never one to dwell on his success.
“Really great. Hey, if you have the time, we should grab a coffee. Get out of this cold, too.”
I smiled at the thought of a warm Chai Tea; although, ironically, I don’t seem to really need it anymore.
Nevertheless, we went and chatted about ourselves, filling the empty patches of the other’s lives we have been absent from. I sipped my tea, never breaking my gaze from his face. I still could not fathom that he was sitting across from me. He reminded me of how I felt when I was younger, and while that may not be the most healthy reason for enjoying his presence, I couldn’t help but bathe in this youthful nostalgia. Yet, as we talked, I felt my present self attach to him, a similar bond I felt when we first met. Did I want to get back together with Dan? I pushed the thought away to listen to his milky-sweet voice.
“Are you seeing anyone?” he finally asks me, attempting to sound casual but his voice was clouded with awkwardness.
I chuckled at his unease. I lifted the corners of my mouth to a smirk and met his gaze. “Only if you are.”
He was taken aback, but a grin swept across his face, and he shook his head. “I missed your honesty,” he said, pausing for a moment. “And I am not seeing anyone.”
I nodded, smiling as I took in the information. “Neither am I.”
We were both silent for a moment, an unspoken agreement that we were both going to try this again. We were going to try to fall in love with each other again. We were going to be warm again.
Authors Note:
To those who care and to those that don’t: It has been little over a year since my last post. Recently, I have found it in me to take up writing again. I know my audience may be gone by now, maybe not. I do not care. I simply crave to write and give to all of you again. No matter if it’s a thousand people or one. I missed writing and I hope I can reconnect with some old friends (By the way, I am taking requests again) <3
-G
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