Chapter Text
The red numerals on the scoreboard flickered once again, signifying that the Black Wood High Wolves had gained another point, placing them at 36 and the other team 10. The crowd behind Dan erupted into deafening applause, and a grin spread across his face.
“Dan, look, Phil scored!” Louise, another member of the cheer team, exclaimed. She gripped Dan’s shoulder, shaking him lightly in order to get his attention. He took Louise’s hand in his own and joined the crowd in the celebratory cheering.
With the scoring of the point, Dan and the other cheerleaders turned to face the crowd and began their routine that they’d practiced diligently for this game. The smile on Dan’s face was almost brighter than the stadium lights illuminating the football field.
Pom poms were tossed up in the air, a victorious gesture, as the field judge blew the final whistle. The game had ended, and their football team was taking home yet another triumph.
The mass of people began to disperse from the bleachers, leaving only the coaches and players on the field. From their spot on the track, the cheerleaders began to talk amongst each other.
Dan branched out from the group, more focused on the boy displaying the number 13 across the back of his jersey. He watched him lift the black and yellow helmet from his head, revealing sweat-drenched, jet black hair.
“Phil,” Dan breathed, approaching the other. They met halfway in an embrace, Phil’s strong arms wrapping protectively around his boyfriend’s shoulders. “you did so well!” Dan pulled back just enough to shoot a proud smile at Phil.
“Thanks, love.” Phil responded, bringing a hand up to rub his thumb over the sparkly “13” painted on the younger’s cheek. “I see you were rooting for me. I mean, unless there’s another thirteen that I don’t know about.” He chuckled, knitting his brows together in mock concern.
Dan rolled his eyes, “Oh, sure.” He nudged Phil gently as they broke the hug, the two of them beaming at one another like fools.
“Hey,” Phil began, pulling puppy dog eyes, “there’s a party at Kendall’s tonight. Care to be my plus one?” each time Phil had offered for Dan to tag along, he’d been too weary to join; although, the pleading look on his face was enough to convince Dan to deliberate on coming along.
The younger hesitated momentarily, eyes flickering to his feet as he weighed his options. “Why not? I mean, like, sure.” He spoke hesitantly, clearly somewhat anxious about the situation. Phil must have noticed this, as he snaked an arm comfortingly around Dan’s waist.
“You don’t have to go if you’re not okay with it, I can drive you home.” Phil offered reassuringly, the tone of his voice effectively putting Dan at ease. He tilted his head slightly to make eye contact with Phil, whose lips were turned up into a warm, inviting smile.
“No, no, I seriously want to go this time.” Dan insisted, shooting a lopsided grin back at his lover. “I’m okay with it, promise.”
Phil nodded his head, pulling Dan a tad closer to him, “Alrighty.” he stated briefly as they began the short trek to Phil’s car.
“Hey! Phil,” Chris began, only to pause when he caught sight of the younger male. “ Daaan.” He drawled, a grin working its way across his face. “You made it!” With that, Chris moved out of the way and welcomed them inside, shutting the door once they entered.
“Duh, we made it.” Dan heard Phil say, but his attention was quickly diverted away from the football players’ conversation in exchange for the group of sweaty, drunken teenagers.
The margin between human and animal seemed to be blurred; bare chests decorated with white lines and alcohol saturated sweat being smeared between couples and strangers. Dan was out of his element, but the familiar thrum of excitement was still present in the back of his mind.
“Do you want to get a drink, princess?” Phil inquired gently, effectively shaking Dan from his thoughts.
“Mhm,” Dan hummed in affirmation, lacing his fingers with Phil’s as they made their way over to the carelessly assembled “bar”. Before Phil could even get his hands on the liquor, his fellow players were huddling around him, cheering and showering him with praise. Dan watched as his boyfriend was abruptly snatched away and urged to open a bottle of Blanc de Blancs.
Dan crossed his arms over his chest, brows arched curiously as he watched the scene in front of him unfold. The boys hustled together around Phil, somehow ending with him shirtless and grinning.
“Do it, Lester!” One boy shouted, his voice sounding akin to a foghorn.
“Yeah, come on, Phil!” Louise chimed in.
Phil chuckled and caved, placing the bottle’s cork between his teeth and yanking it off with a resounding pop. Foam surged from the opening, spilling over his knuckles and down his forearm. Without a moment’s hesitation, Phil was hoisting the bottle above his head and champagne cascaded down his lean, topless figure. His mouth hung open, capturing only a small portion of the alcohol. Between the sound of his peers cheering for Phil and the heavy music, Dan could hardly hear himself think.
Despite this, he was still capable of focusing on the way the champagne traveled down his boyfriend’s pale torso (and he didn’t miss the way it caught on his v-lines) and into his jeans. Dan felt his face get a bit warm at the sight.
Phil flashed a smile at Dan from across the room, and he could have sworn that his teeth were sharp. Maybe he needed his eyes checked, because Phil most certainly did not have fangs.
His wide blue eyes locked with Dan’s own brown ones, and the younger found himself sauntering forward, shoving past the people carelessly to get close to his lover. Before Dan could reach Phil, he found himself pulled to the chest of a burly teen, his vodka-laden breath hot against his face.
“Hey, bottom bitch. ” The boy practically moaned against his face. Dan felt his stomach churn as he struggled to get himself out of the other’s vice grip.
“Get off of me, you fucking oaf.” Dan snarled, not strong enough to escape.
“Calm down, Miss Congeniality. I just wanted to have a little fun.” The boy drew his hand up Dan’s neck, causing him to cringe and squirm.
All of a sudden, the boy was ripped away from him. Dan stumbled back, eyes widening as he watched Phil pin his offender to the wall with almost murderous intent.
“Keep your filthy fucking paws off of my boy.” Phil growled viciously, his arm resting hard against the other male’s windpipe, keeping him in place. “I mean, unless you want your small intestine torn out through that big mouth of yours.” He hummed, his tone shockingly cavalier.
The crowd which had gathered due to the commotion all laughed at this, Dan even managing a few quiet snickers into his hand. The male that Phil had held to the wall was released, muttering unintelligible curses under his breath as he slunk back into the sea of sweaty bodies.
Phil spun around, looking distraught as he whipped his head back and forth, seemingly in search of Dan. As soon as his boyfriend’s eyes were on him, Dan felt his heart swell. They met in an embrace, Dan’s face pressed into the damp crook of Phil’s neck.
“Are you okay?” The older male asked, his voice thick with concern as he smoothed his hands over Dan’s back.
“I could be better.” He replied with a tense laugh, holding onto Phil as if he was almost afraid to let go.
Phil pulled back, bringing a hand up to push some of Dan’s fringe away from his face, “I’ll take you home.” he promised.
“You don’t have to do that.” Dan assured, waving a hand and shaking his head. “I don’t want to ruin the party for you.”
Phil leaned down, pressing a sweet kiss to his forehead. “Yes I do.” He wrapped an arm around his boyfriend’s shoulders and led him through the house. The partygoers cleared a path for Phil, not interested in getting in his way after what they had just witnessed.
Phil mumbled goodbyes to his friends, roughly bumping fists with Chris before he opened the door and held it, allowing Dan to walk through first. He slammed the door behind them, not straying far from Dan as he escorted him to the car.