⇾ 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 | 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐈

Chapter Fifteen: Well Done, Donna...The Fall of McCharmly!

August 17, 1961

The next week dragged on pretty slow. Nothing interesting really happened.

"Donna...Donna...Donna!"

I turned to Paul, not looking amused. We were in history class Wednesday afternoon and he wouldn't stop bugging me. He snickered and I rolled my eyes.

"What could you possibly want?" I hissed, glancing at my teacher, who was trying to teach a lesson and thankfully hadn't noticed Paul.

"You fancy John," he said.

My hands began to shake. I calmly returned to the notes I had been copying. "What makes you think that?"

"Oh, just the way you act. You're not exactly good at hiding it. He's just as bad. You can tell he fancies you. It almost disgusts me."

I felt helpless as my face burned more with each passing second.

"I'm sure you're the expert then?" I decided to shoot back.

"Not hardly. I just know a falling face when I see one. They're easy to spot if you look close enough. Plus, I've known John for a while now. I dare say I know him just about better than anyone."

As he spoke, I kept my eyes focused on the teacher as she began to ramble about a project she was about to assign. I let out a deep sigh when she said "partners next to you." I dared to glance at Paul, who was now leaning his head on his hand, eyeing me with a smirk etched into his expression. I rolled my eyes.

"Anyways, about John, partner," he continued and I rolled my eyes. "Don't sweat it. He doesn't stick around long."

I looked at him, incredulous. Why would he tell me this?

"I don't need you to help monitor my decisions."

He shrugged, closing his notebook—which he had written nothing in—and stowing it away in his bag. "I'm just tossing you suggestions. But again, I know how John works. I've seen birds fly away in flocks. Him and Emily lasted about a month. That's a record."

I rolled my eyes again. "I don't need you to be telling me this," I said with a bite in my tone. "Partner." And with that, I turned to put my stuff away.

He remained expressionless a moment before replying. "Alright, but don't say I didn't warn ye, love." The bell rang overhead and we stood, gathering our things as we went to leave.

Neither of us talked till we were at the corner of the hallway. Of course, it wasn't I to break the silence, but rather Paul, again. "So, uh, Donna?" he asked tentatively.

"Paul?" I replied, turning unconsciously.

"Did ye happen to catch what that project was supposed to be? I wasn't listening."

I held up a piece of paper. "I took the teacher's paper."

He looked at me a moment, surprised. "You what?"

Before I could reply, George rounded a corner in front of us.

"Paul looks like he's seen a ghost," he commented. "What did ye do to him?"

I shrugged. Paul snatched the paper out of my hands and looked it up and down.

"You menace," he said, looking me up and down. "How the hell did you do that?"

"She was turned around. I just took it off the shelf. It's not that complicated."

He whistled low. "Well played."

"And worst case scenario she'll think it's you solely 'cause you're a troublemaker," I added.

He opened and closed his mouth a few times, then decided against speaking again. George just watched the whole thing, amused.

"Well done, Donna," he said, laughing loudly. "The fall of McCharmly!"

I rolled my eyes, unable to hide my smile, and walked ahead of them. George ran up beside me quickly, pulling Paul.

"Where ye headed this afternoon, Donna?" asked George.

"To where my dad works. He needed some extra help today." I'd gotten good at not faltering on the word "dad" around them, and quite frankly, I was proud of it.

Paul mumbled something low that I didn't quite catch. I chose to ignore it.

"Ah, fun. Maybe we'll drop by. Have a little chat?"

"I'm sure that'd be quite alright."

George looked down awkwardly for a moment before looking at Paul and I's scowling faces. "You two seem genuinely annoyed with each other's presence."

"I tried to tell Donna here what a waste of time John is." Paul rolled his eyes. "But she didn't listen." I scowled at him. "I'm just looking out for you, y'know," he said in response to the look.

I nodded, fumbling with the zipper on my hoodie. "Sure you are."

Paul sighed and walked away. George frowned in his direction then turned to me.

"You gonna go chase him down?" I asked. "It appears I've hurt his feelings."

George shrugged. "He's a big boy. He'll get over it," he explained, and I could tell by his tone that he was leaving something out, but I chose to ignore that.

"Hey," I said, veering away from the topic of Paul. "What ever happened with you and that girl...." I paused. "Mary?"

He smiled widely. "She's so nice," he began happily. "We went out again yesterday and we talked in French today."

I raised my eyebrows. "French?"

He frowned. "Yeah, they shoved me in there. It's dreadful."

I thought a moment. "I mean, they do say French is the most romantic language." I smirked at his blushing face.

He shoved me playfully as we stepped out the school doors. His house was in the direction of Brian's shop, so we continued together a while.

He continued to tell me about 'his Mary' and I listened carefully, trying to think of everything but Paul's 'warning'. He was just exaggerating, right? He couldn't have been serious. Then again, maybe he was, and maybe I was making a horrible mistake. I guess I wouldn't know till I tried it. After all, y'know what they say? Don't knock it 'til ye try it.