Get It Straight, Or Say Good Night

LA Nights

Louise had fallen asleep watching the late, late show. 

When Rich and George stumbled in she sat up stiffly from her slumber on the floor. Paul too, having heard the lads enter the warm quiet lounge room like a bomb exploding, was now rubbing his eyes and shaking his head at the intrusion.

"Oh hullo there" George weaved towards the two half-awake individuals "What are you two up to then?"

"Sorry.... I'll put Sir Geo to bed and let you two get on with the telly" Richy grinned, he wasn't anywhere nearly as plastered as George.

"Where's John then?" Paul asked once he realised Lennon wasn't back.

"Took Miss Mansfield home, he did" George tottered off down the hall with Richy shushing him and glancing back at Lou and Paul now both seated on the sofa together.

"Tea?" Louise stood and stretched, her voice not conveying her thoughts or emotions in the slightest.

"Yeah righto" Paul tapped a comforting hand on Lou's shoulder and followed her towards the kitchen. 

 After sharing bicky's and tea Paul led Lou back to the sofa to see what was on the telly. A western movie was starting, so they sat quietly for a time.

The clock on the mantle ticked.

With the lights off and the movie rolling, the clock chimed on the hour.

Then chimed once more.

After the first hour Louise began to feel restless, her fingers drummed and she stood to check Evie a few times for something to do.

Lou watched the second-hand spin.

She wouldn't cry, no.

She wouldn't become upset or angry or inconsolable or throw things.

No sit - watch telly. Wait.

This is maddening.

Paul watched Louise stand and walk out the double glass doors towards the pool area.

He let her be, he had watched her demure change over the hours and could understand the frustration she felt. John was up to his bits in tits no doubt about it and Louise was waiting. Her face fell a little more as the minutes worked their way through the night and each chime of the hour had her sit up a little more then slump down in dejection.

"Louise, where'd you get to luv?" Paul stood at the double doors and tried to see into the gloom of the night, no moon tonight only cloud, maybe it would rain later but now it was high and blotting the moons beams with it's dense coverage.

It was a lovely pool, good size for parties to which they'd had a few. The who's who of tinsel town all in a tizz wanting to visit a few kids from Liddypool; Pretty funny Paul thought, that four scruffs could get so far "Lou babe?"

"Over here, on the sun lounge"

"There's like ten out here Louise"

Louise huffed "Oh Paul.... the one by the waterfall"

The furthest away and the darkest spot Louise had found, not really wanting company but wanting to be found and comforted too. Paul's red glowing smoke loomed towards her and she felt the lounger dip and fill beside her. Louise turned on her side or else she would have been tipped off.

"Alright?" The waft of sweet smoke hit her nose as Paul exhaled from his post a little higher than her. Louise took the stumpy piece that was left and took a drag herself, coughing a little she tried again and was rewarded with a slight buzz, it wasn't a Marlboro, that was for sure.