hello little girl // p.m. (beatles au)

- F I V E -

"Paul! Paul! Paul...come quick!"

It was nearly midnight. Paul jolted out of bed, startled by the sound of Daniela's voice. He had given her the night off; she told him she needed it due to "family issues that were to be sorted out". By the volume of her yelling and her loud sobs, Paul could tell that whatever happened with her family didn't end on a good note.

He raced down the stairs, unlocking the door that led to the restaurant as fast as he could. A dishevelled-looking Dani sat in one of the booths, covering her face with her hands.

"Dani, what's the matter?" Paul asked loudly.

"Paulie...c-come h-here," Dani managed to say through a few sobs.

Paul gave her a sad look, then sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Kitten, tell me what happened," Paul requested in a lower voice.

Dani's heart tingled from hearing the vibrations of Paul's deep, handsome voice saying his special nickname for her, causing her to crack one of the smallest of smiles. However, she immediately remembered the situation she was in, which triggered a few more tears drop from her eyes.

"Oh, Paulie, they're taking my parents to jail..."

"What? W-why?" Paul questioned, furrowing his eyebrows.

"T-they have drug problems...gambling problems..." Dani barely managed to say. None of her friends knew about her issues at home; Paul was the first person she had ever told. "My aunt offered to take custody of my two little sisters, but me? My parents don't care about me. My whole family doesn't. I'm going to have nowhere to live. I have nowhere to stay tonight."

Paul heart sank, for he hated seeing Daniela in such a horrible state. He let her cry in his arms while he held her close, trying his best to think of a solution to her problem. Paul certainly considered offering her to spend the night at the shop, but he knew she wouldn't have much choice in where to rest. His living room couch wasn't the best place for a good night's sleep, and there was only one bed -- the one he slept in. Paul would love to have Dani's company in his bed that night, but he knew she'd probably be very uncomfortable with that suggestion.

Paul couldn't leave her stranded, however, so he toughened up and said, "Dani, you can stay here tonight if you want to."

Dani sniffled, then looked up at Paul with her red, puffy eyes. "Really?"

"Yes, of course. We're...we're friends now, okay Dani? I want to be a good friend to you," Paul mumbled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Only one problem, though."

"What's that?"

Paul cleared his throat and looked away. "I...I only have one bed."

Dani widened her eyes. Her heart fluttered due to the thought of sleeping in the same bed as Paul. She knew it probably wouldn't happen though, and that she'd most likely have to sleep on the floor or something.

"Oh," Dani said softly.

A nervous laugh escaped from Paul's lips. "That is, unless, you...you want to sleep in mine. Only if you're comfortable, though."

There was only silence from Dani's end; she was so thrilled about sleeping in a bed with Paul that she couldn't respond. Paul only took this as a sign of discomfort, and he felt his cheeks burn due to embarrassment.

"It's okay, I won't be there with you. I'll take the sofa," Paul clarified, shutting his eyes and shaking his head. That sofa was firm as a stack of bricks, but he knew he'd do anything to keep his kitten happy...