Apple Corps.

We should be fighting

Paul pressed his chin onto his flat palm as he watched John finish all that he was eating. They hadn't done much talking and Paul was afraid to say anything else. John purposely wasn't going to look up and make eye contact, knowing exactly where this was going. But eventually John's hands ran out of food to keep them busy so he looked up and found Paul's peering eyes. As if trying to persuade him that he'd not been trying to guilt him, Paul moved his gaze back to the table. Serving as nothing more than irritation for John.

"Paul, why do you have this inability to let things go?" John's breath was rough and tightened. Paul made his hand fall flat against the table.

"John, have you noticed that we've skipped the small talk?" Paul asked quietly, shying away slightly.

"What are you on about?" John asked.

"How's Mimi? I haven't seen her in a while-"

John narrowed his eyes and tipped his chair back to lean away. "Don't turn this into something it's not because you're insecure, Paul. M'not gonna give ya it the light of day."

Paul looked away, touching his chin to his shoulder. "It's not the insecurity John. It's just we've skipped this whole part of being reacquainted."

"This a sort of kink for you, love?" John let some frustration pass through his teeth and teased him.

Paul shook his head, looking as if he might just forget the whole subject but John took hold of it for him. "So how's Mike? Old Jim?"

Paul smiled. "They're great. Da's back at home and Mike, well he's being himself and that."

"Mimi's at the old place, stiff as ever." John shrugged. And the table went silent again. John was really going to try for Paul but the small talk was just plain pathetic.

"Are you putting your guard up?" Paul muttered. John felt like something was stuck in his throat. "Because, I know why-"

"Paul, I swear on me life if you don't stop-"

"Is bringing it up so bad if I'm recognizing that what I did was wrong?" Paul broke from his soft voice for an angered tone. John rolled his eyes and banged his fist on the table.

"It is! Because I don't want to hear it, Paul. I don't need to talk this through with you so that you can feel better about yourself!"

Paul put his face in his hands. He was pressing so hard that there was a few color blotches when he closed his eyes. "S'not about that! I need you to know that I'm sorry for bragging and for-"

"I know that you are, love. And I'm sorry too. Ain't that all we need to know?" John tried to go soft for him, setting his hand on Paul's wrist to pull it down from his face.

"We can't not talk about things just because there hard, John." Paul allowed him to pull his wrists down. And with the frustration back, John subconsciously pinned them to the table.

"Ok, we're hashing this all back up? You're a hypocrite, Paulie. And it's looking me right in the face now." John waved his hand in Paul's face. "You want to talk about not talking about something cause it's hard-?"

"John! You stopped answering me. I called until I couldn't do it anymore. I shoved the kissing in your face whenever I could!" Paul thrust his wrists away.

"You know me, Paul! When does shoving something I've done that you know I regret in my face, make me want to talk about it?"

Paul scoffed. "You're mad at me because I didn't bring it up the right way? What would you have preferred?"

John wanted to scream. "I. Don't. Know."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John's shoulders ached as he hunched over the phone on his bed, pressing his elbows onto his knees. The day was on its last legs, crawling to about eleven thirty. He hadn't been expecting it, he really really hadn't. He dropped his hand from his forehead to his mouth. Outside, a couple of leaves lodged on his window pane and crinkled as the wind blew past. When John swiped his hand across the bed and the phone smashed against his wall, he felt better for a half second. He clutched the bridge of his nose and to avoid more strain on his eyes, he put his glasses on.