High on you

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Paul dug his fingers through the holes in the metal table outside the ice cream shop. The sun was lowering but still bright and warm. He took a deep breath and slouched in his seat, glancing at the small plastic bowl of ice cream that was beginning to melt. The chocolate syrup that had zagged over the top was now pooled into one sugary slop at the bottom of the bowl. Paul swirled his small spoon around in it and pulled it out slowly, twirling the chocolate as he pulled.

"Paul?"

George looked amused from behind his ice cream cone that was dripping a trail down his hand. Paul cringed and picked up a napkin, silently gliding it to him. George rolled his eyes but took the gesture and rubbed the napkin down his hand. "What's bugging ya?"

"Nothing." Paul shrugged. "Just a slow day s'all."

George licked the base of his cone and nodded. "Slow weekend s'more like it" George now slouched slightly, thinking more about Ringo and just why he had asked Paul out for ice cream. "Anyway, Paul do you mind if we talk for a second?"

Paul straightened with wider eyes and nodded. George opened his mouth and closed it again. "Well more like I talk and you listen." He chuckled a bit and Paul returned with a giggle as he put his small plastic spoon between his lips. "So um, I've sort of realized that maybe I put you in an odd spot when you found out about my feelings"

Paul nodded.

"And maybe you felt nervous that I wouldn't want to be your mate anymore and you were just looking to John for help when you told him about it." George sighed, slowly getting more embarrassed at admitting it. He picked some skin off his fingers. "Anyway, I'm sorry that I ruined our friendship like that"

Paul pushed his dish aside and looked over at George fondly. "I'm sorry too. For not understanding why you couldn't just get over it..." Paul breathed in and gave George a small tight grin that he returned. "You sounded mighty grown up just then George."

George rolled his eyes and took another lick of his ice cream. "I'm a year younger then ya Paul. I'm not a baby"

Paul laughed and put his chin on his palm. "You think John will be back at school on Monday?"

George couldn't help the tiny frown from behind his ice cream but quickly let it go. "I dunno. But I don't care to think about school any road." He flattened the top of his ice cream and started biting at the cone.

"Least I can bring ya smokes again though, huh?" Paul poked his elbow and George chuckled.

"Yeah, suppose it'll be better now that we're on better terms."

Paul smiled again and put his head down contently, watching the sun dip down.
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John was left to his own devices while Julia was over at Mimi's. He supposed she wanted to talk to her sister about himself but insisted that John didn't tag along much to his arguing. He hadn't much to do alone in Julia's home but play a few of her old 45s'. And as he was pulling at her carpet with some Elvis record playing in the background he heard the door knock. He hopped up half expecting it to be an angry Mimi but was faced with a police officer. His face fell flat and a little scared.

"Is this the home of Julia?"

"Yes but-"

"Is her family home?"

"Umm, her boyfriend and daughters are out but I'm her son John..." John calmly explained and waited for the man to explain the situation to him.
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Paul strolled down his stairs the next morning, just in time for breakfast. Mike was lounging on the couch watching some show intently. He sunk down on the couch next to him without word and Mike cocked his head over and greeted him. "How was your day yesterday?" Paul asked as he picked at his fingernails.