𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩//𝐌𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧//

Thirty two

john 

Paul held onto johns arm as they walked through the dark streets. whenever they passed larger groups of people he would tighten his grip. john liked being able to feel like he could protect him. he liked paul being able to feel like he could protect him. but he also knew his outburst at the bar was something that he couldn't let happen again, he wanted to be the person paul needed, and the boy that fights in bars is not him.  they got into his apartment around ten o'clock.  they walked in and paul tried to turn on the hallway light but as it came on the bulb blew resulting in the initial darkness.  "shit," paul muttered under his breath, they continued on into his kitchen and the light turned on in there.  "sit down," paul instructed to him, john took a seat at his table as paul pulled out a first aid kit from his cupboard.  john watched him intently as he sauntered around his kitchen grabbing bits and pieces. He poured john a cup of tea as well as himself before he stood in front of john, paul positioned himself between his legs as he poured some alcohol onto a cotton pad.  "this will probably hurt," he said before placing the cotton pad on the cut on johns cheek. John flinched as it touched his wound, paul placed a hand on the back of his head to gently stop his movement as much.  He gently wiped each cut, one on johns cheekbone, and one split through the middle of johns lip. the bruise on his cheek was still quite light, a purple shine throughout it. Paul put the used cotton pads on the table as he turned back to john and trailed a finger down the side of his face, "there, gorgeous."  john watched him as he did it all, the way he cared for him was something he'd not experienced before. he felt like Paul had truly seen all of him at this point and he was so happy to be with him in the moment.  John smiled weakly at him, he didn't attempt to move from between johns legs, mostly because he didn't want to, but partly because whilst he had been standing there john had snaked his arms around the back of his legs.  "thank you," he said, paul smiled sweetly at him,  "i'd say anytime, but if this happens again you're on your own," paul said jokingly with a hint of seriousness to his tone.  "it won't, i promise." Paul leaned down and kissed the boy below him, he kissed back immediately feeling an urgency to feel paul against him unlike before. almost like a reassurance that he's still there and still with him. they kissed slowly, with not much movement, paul was afraid of hurting him more, he held a hand on the back of johns neck and played with the ends of his hair. john moved his hands up to wrap around his waist and placed his bare hands on the small of pauls back. john separated their lips and then reconnected to give paul another peck. He pulled paul closer and rested his head on his stomach, paul wrapped his arms around johns neck and continued playing with the hair on the back of his head.  "i really appreciate this McCharmley," he mumbled into his skin.  He just placed a kiss on the top of johns head in reply.  after sharing this moment john stood up and wondered whether he was supposed to leave and go home or if paul wanted him to stay.  as if paul read his mind he said, "stay tonight, with me."  "are you sure?" he asked, paul nodded his head.  "would it be alright if i had a shower i feel a bit, you know, sweaty," he said referring to his gig.  "yeah of course, you can wear my dads shirt again but i have no bottoms for you," paul informed him as he motioned for John to follow him into his bedroom.  Pauls whole apartment was a studio apartment, so his bedroom had a high ceiling. there was a large bay window on one side. He had a three quarter bed, slightly smaller than a double and slightly bigger than a single with a black rail headboard and foot. And a feature wall with a large mirror and framed photographs covering it, mostly professional photography that looked like it had been ripped out of books and magazines. Paul had a small bedside unit with a telephone on and a lamp, then on the wall below his bed there was a bookshelf full of books and camera equipment, beside that his wardrobe. he had dark floorboards with clothing scattered among it, along with piles of music based magazines. the colours were mostly black, grey and white with the odd colourful ornament or photograph.  Paul walked over to his wardrobe and pulled out a hanger with a grey shirt, "here," he passed it to john and then pulled a towel out of the shelf inside his wardrobe too. He took john to the bathroom and informed him of the dodgy shower heating and instructed him to be quick if he wanted to use the hot water.  after walking out paul went into his bedroom to change himself into nightwear. he put on a baggy shirt with just his underwear. Paul stood in front of his mirror and brushed his hair and it just made it more messy, which made him just sigh, just as he finished he heard the shower turn off. Paul walked into the living room and turned on the lamp before walking over to the record player and putting on his paul anka record he had only recently brought. a song called put your head on my shoulder, a song he had grown very attached to.  "never heard this one before," john spoke as he walked in ruffling his hair with the towel, then putting it down onto the arm of the sofa. Paul turned around and smiled at the sight of john wearing his fathers shirt, on his bottoms he just wore the boxers he was previously wearing, they were kind of long but the shirt he wore was quite baggy on him covering what would've most likely made paul awkward if he could see. Just like himself was wearing. "it's one of my favourites, by paul anka," he replied.  john watched him as paul smiled listening to the voice sing out out.  "dance with me," he said.  Paul turned to him with a small smirk on his face, "dance with you? is john lennon asking me to dance?"  he rolled his eyes and walked over to Paul to grab his hand. he pulled him into the centre of the living room and wrapped an arm around his waist as paul put an arm on his shoulder and slid his hand into johns. they stood closely whilst listening to the voice drown out the rest of the world. they leaned into each other, pauls head on his chest and johns arm tightening around his waist.  soon enough the record ended which left a static sound coming out of the record player, but paul and john stayed in their position just holding onto each other.  "can you believe we only met thirteen days ago," paul softly giggled into his chest.  "feels like i've known you my whole life," john replied pulling back from him making paul look up to him.  "do you think," paul started dropping his arm from around john, "do you think we're moving too fast?"  john thought about if for a second before replying, "i think - i think that we've spent a lot of days together. enough days to know how we're feeling. and perhaps we've moved a bit quicker than anyone else but, i don't think anyone else can say they connect as much as we do, y'know? i mean i think that anyway."  Paul smiled to him, "i think that too. i just don't want you to think you have to move quicker than you want with me just because you feel like you have to you know?" He looked down to his feet before talking again, "i know that you're new to this. and so am i, but it feels so natural with you. if i ever cross the boundaries i need you to tell me."  john sighed and moved his arms from around his and placing them on pauls cheeks instead to push his face up to meet his eyes. "Paul, i want this with you. i don't exactly know what this is yet but i know i really like being with you, you make me feel like i've never felt before, and i definitely think it feels natural. a few weeks ago i would've hated the idea of allowing a boy into my life the way i've let you, but it feels good to do it and it feels even better to do it with you. please stop doubting it." Paul nodded slowly in response, "my feelings for you grow stronger every day i spend with you, and McCharmley im seriously so okay with it."
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New update! I really do need to start writing again lol