THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD || Paul McCartney [Completed]

16. In My Mind's Eye

Two Weeks Later

"Good mornin', Natalie."

Natalie gave Robby a cheery smile and bounced over to the counter to flip through the sign in log, "Mornin', do you know where my brother wandered off to?" She asked, scanning over the log to see which members decided to bless them with their presence.

Robby leaned over the counter, his chin resting in his fingers. He scratched his bottom lip while mulling over her question. Natalie noticed his reluctant behavior and lifted a brow curiously.

"Not yet, he called this morning and told me to open up, that he would be late. He didn't know if you were coming or not because you're always with-" He gave a shrug, "Paul."

Natalie rolled her eyes. She assumed her brother was here upon arrival, but obviously, she was wrong. Just because she enjoyed spending time with her boyfriend, didn't mean she couldn't tend to her usual responsibilities at the club. If her brother couldn't open up, it was her job to do so-especially with school out. She pushed the log sheet aside in a huff and moved from behind the counter, "Well, I wish he would have told me instead." She said walking toward the locker room with Robby following behind her.

"I told him to ask you first, but he wouldn't listen," Robby said, hoping Natalie wouldn't direct her anger toward him. It wasn't his fault Matthew suddenly decided to keep Natalie in dark about all things concerning the club.

"My brother has been acting like a child since Paul and I got together, and honestly I'm growing tired of it. He thinks he's punishing me, but he's only hurting himself." She ranted as she entered the locker room. Robby was going to answer her but stopped at the sound of her gasping in horror.

He looked up to see Danny wrapping his knuckles and Natalie standing there, staring at him with her mouth open. Danny's eye was completely purple, his lip was split along with his left cheek. His nose seemed broken, and he had bruises along his jaw that trailed down to his arms.

"What the hell happened to you?" Natalie asked, moving quickly to her friend. She accessed him quickly, searching for further injuries and Danny only shrugged her away.

"Come on, Nat. Just back off, I'm fine." He said, his voice hoarse with fatigue. She glanced down at his knuckles which were blistered and busted as well. She grabbed his hand despite his protests and examined them closely. He obviously had been in a fight, a really brutal one too.

"You're obviously not fine, Danny. Who did this to you?" She looked up at him, searching his eyes. She was full of conviction and concern, but even so, he wasn't going to give in so easily. He snatched his hand from her and turned around to open his locker as if to dig through it for no reason other than to ignore her.

"Just leave me alone, Nat. You can be so overbearing, and no offense, but it's annoying." He murmured into his locker, his voice solemn and strained.

Natalie was taken back by his statement. She knew she could be a bit bossy at times, but she never thought she was overbearing. She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at the back of his head. Her bottom lip sunk between her teeth and she glowered at him, "Excuse me for being concerned. I'll just leave you alone then." She turned on her heel, brushing against Robby's shoulder as she rushed out of the room. She didn't bother changing, because she didn't plan on participating any longer. She was just going to sit at the front counter and take phone calls and doodle on paper for the entire day. She wished Paul was available to listen to her vent, but he was working in the studio.

She grabbed the wooden bar stool and pulled it out roughly; ignoring the stares she received as the bottom scraped loudly against the wooden floors. She plopped onto the stool and rested her cheek in her hand as she scribbled on a paper.