Mysterious Boy - McLennon

18.

(A/N- mentions of abuse after the .-.)

.-.
Paul had been so sore.

If it wasn't for Mike that morning, he didn't think he'd have even gathered the strength to leave the house at all.

The beating his father had gave him when he woke up that morning was horrendous. Paul knew Jim would do it when they were both awake but Mike wasn't, and he barely slept because of hit. The man didn't want to have to explain to a 4 year old what he was doing to Paul, and knew Mike would probably tell the teachers about it.

But Paul couldn't tell the teachers, or John, or George or Ringo... He couldn't tell anyone, because he feared losing Mike. He'd promised his mother he would look after Mike, and his own father. He'd already failed her with Jim, he couldn't fail her with Mike.

Jim wasn't always like this. Paul could remember times where his father was a happy man, who loved his wife dearly and loved his family. He'd be happy to pick Paul up from school, or stay at home with a baby Mike while Mary took Paul to the supermarket.

But then Mary died, and Paul didn't know why, but Jim just broke.

Paul didn't understand.

He didn't understand why Jim was okay with Paul being gay, but wasn't okay with him doing the littlest of things wrong. He slapped him if he addressed him as anything but 'daddy', he slapped him if he hadn't made supper when the man  got home from work. And when Paul lied... That was the worst.

However nothing would beat when Jim was drunk. There wasn't a list of things that he'd beat Paul for, he just... Did. If ever he got angry out of nowhere, he'd shove him against the wall, probably spit nasty words at him, and slap him. When the man dug his fingernails into his neck, that was the worst.

But that morning, Paul had woken up purposely before Mike. Way before Mike, infact. He'd made his way cautiously to the hallway, gently closing the door behind him. As soon as Jim heard the door shut, he headed to the landing too.

Paul had been dragged into Jim's room, punched in the face and given a back eye, grabbed by his shoulders and thrown onto the floor, all while Jim had been reminding him why he shouldn't lie. He shouldn't 'spit crude things at his own father', as it wasn't Jim's fault that Paul was such a difficult son.

After it though, Jim had broken down into tears, gripping onto Paul's weak figure and sobbing against his shoulder. He didn't apologise, not verbally anyway, just burried his own neck further into Paul's shoulder. The boy felt his father's tears run down the back of his neck and down his spine, but he just couldn't move. He couldn't hug back...

He felt lifeless.

That had been the case for another few minutes, until Paul heard Mike's voice call Jim from the next room. He must have wondered where his brother was. Jim weakly let go, raising himself to his feet slowly and grabbing his coat. Paul watched him leave the room, sniffling tears, and heard him go down the stairs. That was the last thing his brain processed, he'd assumed that Jim had just left the house, probably not to return for hours.

Paul didn't care, neither him or Mike would be there when he eventually got home.

His brother had called his name again, this time sounding worried. Paul had forced himself to move into his own room, to get to Mike, even though his eye stung like a bitch. Mike didn't noticed, he was too tired and it was too dark for him to see...

.-.
He had gone into school after dropping Mike off, even though his arms hurt. If his father got a call from the school again, he'd be in so much trouble. Jim would probably claim that Paul had been lying again, and Paul didn't want that.

Seeing John somehow made him feel a bit better, too. That was another reason why he went into school. He had honestly had a great night the day before, and wanted to talk about it with John. But he just get he couldn't talk that much in general. He felt weak, not just physically, but mentally.

John had kept glancing at him, Paul could see him, but he just didn't have the strength to glance back. He didn't feel he had the strength to do anything at that moment, or so far that morning. His father had made sure that was lost.

The rest of the day Paul had tried to avoid John, George and Ringo, scared they might see his black eye or get suspicious. He didn't want that, not at all. But his last lesson was with John, it was English.

"Paul?" John approached him at the beginning of the lesson, when the class was waiting outside.

"Hi John." Paul spoke, hesitantly. keeping his eyes on the floor.

"Are you okay?" The older asked, but before Paul could make up some sort of pathetic response, the teacher showed up.

"Sorry I'm late, guys..." The man sighed, making his way through the group of school kids and to the door.

He opened it, and Paul slipped his way in before anyone else could in an attempt to escape the conversation. He didn't know why, as John sat next to him anyway so it wouldn't exactly make a difference. John would be sat next to him for the next hour anyway.

John was sat next to him, but could tell that Paul once again wasn't in the mood to chat. The younger boy sort of felt bad... They'd had such a great night before, and now Paul just wasn't talking to John...

John must have been so confused

But he just couldn't talk. He didn't feel up to it at all...

-

The lesson ended, even though it seemed to drag, but as soon as the bell rang, Paul had grabbed his stuff and was out of the classroom. It seemed he wasn't quick enough to escape John though, as half way down the hall, the boy called him.

"Paul..." He called to him, and Paul slowed down.

He approached the frozen Paul, standing next to him. Luckily he didn't place his hand on his shoulder.

"Macca..." His voice was gentle. "I-I know you probably won't feel like it... But if you want you and your come to my house after school?"

Paul was shocked, and he turned to face John immediately.

Bless him, the boy looked rather nervous, as if he was sure the answer would be no.

But Paul didn't think that he could go back home, not straight away... And he didn't wanna take Mike back home. The 4 year old adored John, asking in the morning when he was 'going to see Paulie's boyfriend again'.

Paul nodded, and John looked in shock. Then a smile appeared on John's face, and Paul couldn't help but smile too.

"Yes." He spoke, giving a slight, innocent side-smirk.