Nineteen

                                    

                                          
"Phil, that hurt!" I yelled, holding the back of my head. 
                          
"Move next time!" He called back, laughing maniacally. I picked up my own snowball and launched it at his head, though he dodged it. "You'll have to do better than that!" 
                          
I ran toward him with another snowball in my hand. I was ready to pounce when he took off in the other direction. I followed him for a few short seconds before I became tired and had to stop running. "I'm not in shape," I wheezed. I stood doubled over, my hands gripping my knees as I took deep breaths, trying to calm my heart down. 
                          
"Aww, Dan," Phil whined, walking back up to me. I reached a hand out and playfully slapped him away. 
                          
"Shut up," I growled. 
                          
Before I could register what was happening, he pounced on me, tackling me to the ground. "Hey, get off me!" I struggled, giggling. 
                          
"I have tamed the dinosaur!" He shouted, waving his fists in the air. "The danosaur!" 
                          
He started laughing at his stupid pun, making me roll my eyes and groan loudly. "Really? Danosaur?" 
                          
"It was funny," he defended. 
                          
A smile broke into my face. "Yeah, alright, it was kind of funny."
                          
He rose off of me and held out a helping hand. I grabbed it and pulled myself off the snow-covered ground. 
                          
"Thanks," I muttered, wiping the snow off my black pants. 
                          
"I'm having a lot of fun with you," Phil said softly, not meeting my eyes. 
                          
"Yeah, this is the most fun I've ever had," I replied, grinning from ear to ear. 
                          
Ever since that day with Phil, he'd call me "his danosaur," which normally I hated when people give me nicknames, but I really liked this one. 
                          
And now, as I drive my mom's rundown silver Honda over to Phil's house to pick him up for the concert, I can't help but smile at the pet name. It was cheesy, but Phil gave it to me. And that makes it so much better. 
                          
I pulled into his driveway and honked my horn, letting him know I was here. I made sure to make myself look extra nice, even though I'd probably get all sweaty while I was there. I straightened every individual strand of my hair, and wore my nicest black t-shirt that I owned, accompanied by a zip-up hoodie and some blue skinny jeans. 
                          
Phil trotted out of his house awkwardly, and waved, a large grin adorning his face. I waved back, chuckling at his bumbling stature. 
                          
He slid into the passenger seat of my car happily. "It's weird that you're driving," was the first thing he said to me. 
                          
"Would you prefer to drive, then?" 
                          
"Oh, no," he quickly denounced. "I just meant--" 
                          
"Don't worry, I was kidding," I joked. 
                          
"I know that," he huffed, sitting back in his chair. He was acting kind of strange. His stature seemed to be more uptight than usual, and his voice seemed to quiver every time he spoke. It was almost as if he was...nervous?
                          
I pulled out of his driveway and drove off toward the highway. I snuck a peak over at Phil, who was fidgeting with the hem of his shirt and gazing out the window distractedly. 
                          
"Phil?" 
                          
He looked over at me with a smile. "Hmm?" 
                          
"Are you alright?" I asked with concern.