"George?" Paul mumbled into his crossed arms as he laid on his bed, George had his face buried into his own arms but was laying across the floor.

"Paul?"

"We need to study" Paul said with certainty in his voice but his body made no move to push himself up to follow said suggestion. George just gave a groan and burrowed his head deeper into his arms. "George?"

"No"

Paul finally began to sit up and grabbed a pencil, he whipped it at George's head. George flopped himself over and looked up at Paul with a pout, he grabbed the pencil and put the tip of the eraser in his mouth. "We'll need mood music, then!" He shot up and crawled over Pauls bed to the other side. He reached over to his record player and put on whatever was closest to him. Music flooded the room and George happily grinned and continued to hang over Pauls bed.

"George?"

"I can't study, there's no room for learning anything new, Paul! My brain is at capacity!" George whined and threw himself up.

"Make room then" Paul bumped his shoulder

"If I do that, other stuff is gonna leak out. It's a vicious cycle" George pointed the pencil into Pauls face, Paul pushed it down into George's lap. "I'm already forgetting what we read an hour ago....in fact I think I'm forgetting everything"

Paul rolled his eyes and stood up but George grabbed his arm "stranger, what is your name?" George made false wide eyes, Paul pushed his palm into his face and he fell backwards onto the bed.

"I'm serious, Geo." Paul huffed.

"What are you worried about, Paul? We're passing"

"Yeah but-"

"Let's take a break then" George hopped off the bed.

"Where are we going?" Paul followed him down his stairs.

"The record store, the diner. I don't know" George shrugged as they fled the house. Paul followed George aimlessly around town.

"We've been walking forever" Paul whined. George tipped his head back

"Well, you weren't hungry and you didn't seem like you wanted to go record shopping" George turned on his heels atop the cracking pavement. "Where do you want to go you big priss?"

"I dunno" Paul shrugged, George poked his shoulder.

"Then quit your complaining" George picked his hand up and pinched Pauls cheek.

"We can smoke on the curb outside the houses down there if you'd like?" George pointed forward and squinted his eyes as if it would help him see.  Paul let go of his pout and smiled with an eager nod.

"Best idea you've had!" Paul pulled George off towards the street. They crouched onto the cement curb."This is the best place to smoke!" Paul happily lit his cig and George's.

"You only just started smoking, Paul. There could be better curbs that you don't know about" George pointed out. Paul rolled his cigarette around.

"This one will always be me favorite" Paul smiled as George gripped his legs and crossed them. Paul leaned against a stop sign and breathed in his smoke. "So anything new with ya?"

"Paul, we see each other every second of the day....would could be new with me that you wouldn't already know about?" George chuckled.

"Dunno, so nothing then?"

"Well, uh what do you think of that Ringo character?" George pulled forward and blew a single smoke ring. Paul twisted his lips to the side of his face.

"Nice lad. Why?" Paul waved his cig. George shrugged and with what could've been interpreted as an attempt to avoid answering the question, George shoved his cig back past his lips.

"Tell me why John and company have been leaving us alone?" George asked a question of his own. Paul frowned, he didn't know if he was truly infuriated with John or somewhere in the content area but that would defiantly effect his answer.

"What makes you think that I know?" Paul didn't want to answer and maybe that was suspicious but he didn't have time to think of what to say.

" do you know?" George let go of his legs. Paul copied exactly what George had done before with his cig.

"I just did that! You think I don't know what that means?"

"Yeah but I didn't press ya to answer, did I? Cause. It's not too late for me to-"

"I just wanted to know, in case we hang out with him some more. Now you answer!"

"Well I think he's-"

"Paul! Answer the right question!" 

Paul went silent and shook his cig a little "have you ever known me to associate with them?" He shot another question.

"No but-"

"So I wouldn't know, would I?" Paul forcefully leaned forward. George wasn't sure if he should let it go or not.

"Paul, something the matter?"

Paul shook his head "nothing's the matter, George I'm quite fine" Paul looked away, focusing more on his cig.

George frowned "alright I'll leave you alone if that's what you want"

"You don't have to leave me alone just leave it alone" Paul huffed in annoyance.

"I don't want to sit here with you if you're gonna be droopy now" George huffed back. Paul looked up

"I'm not, ok"

"I feel like You're not telling me something" George frowned.

Paul didn't like keeping things from George but this wasn't his secret to tell, if it was even a secret to keep at all.

"I'm not Geo, let's just let it go, also just so you know I think Ringo's great" Paul muttered.

"I can tell when you keep things from me and I don't appreciate it but I trust you'll tell me eventually, right?"

"Of course I will" Paul smiled and leaned over to hug George.

"Alright get off me, town won't take to our public displays of affection" George teasingly pushed Paul away. "Just know that I love you so" George gave a mocking coo.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
John was smoking a lot more than usual, which was really starting to fuzz his throat. His palms were sweating and shaking a little with every lift to his mouth. Stu was half asleep at the table. John would be lying if he said he want half hoping they'd run into Paul and George at the diner but they weren't around. The pit of his stomach had been in knots ever since he'd given Paul the idea that he could be something other than straight.

He didn't know why he did it, slip of the tongue maybe but it just stewed in his brain right now. He kicked Stu from under the table.

"Ow, John. What?" Stu whined.

"Wake the fuck up, Stu" he hissed

"What's the matter with you, huh?"

"Nothing's the matter. Just bored" John looked around the diner again as if it would bring the two lads through the door.

Paul was bound to say something, at least to George. It was gonna be round the school in no time.

"I'll be off then"

"Again?" Stu asked

"Bye" John thumped his way out of the diner and down back the way he'd seen Paul the other day.

He found Paul and George curled up on a curb, smoking. He marched up to him

"Paul!" He shouted and the boys jumped up in shock.

"John?" Paul asked, dumbfounded.

"I Can't keep the fucking promise, Stu's getting suspicious" he was full blown shouting, he was sure George already gotten the gist from Paul.

"John, quit while you're ahead" Paul held up his hands.

"I can't fucking quit Paul, I have to do what I have to do" Picked Paul up by his collar.

"Put me down!" Paul tried to wiggle out of his grip.

"I've been killing my self over what I said. But I can't keep up my end of the deal so-"

"What? You gonna intimidate me until I agree to keep my mouth shut!" Paul growled. George shot up with anger and pushed the two of them apart.

"I don't know what's going on but end it now" George hissed, mostly at John.

"Didn't tell your boyfriend already, huh?" John wanted to shoot forward but restrained himself.

"The queer jokes end here John! Knowing your situation, you should know that by now!" Paul shouted back.

"What are you two on about?" George groaned. John breathed in deeply

"Johns queer!" Paul blurted it out before he thought about it. He knew instantly that he shouldn't have said it.

John looked utterly exhausted "you wanker!" He let go of his self restraints and jumped forward, knocking Paul to the pavement. George's went wide and panicked but he didn't know how to stop it.

"Get off of him!" He desperately shouted. But John continued to pound on Paul and Paul continued pounding on him. He transferred from shouting to getting physical when he saw blood, he wasn't sure who's it was but that didn't matter.

In George's fury, he succeeded in pulling the twits away from each other. Paul was wiping blood from under his nose. George despite his anger, reached out to Paul's face with a small cringe. John stood behind them awkwardly.

"No good that did" George whispered.

John watched Paul and George fuss with his nose, he rolled his eyes and slipped his sleeve over his fist. He shoved past George and put his fabric covered fist under Paul's nose. Paul wasn't sure what to do so he just let John be until his blood finally dried.

John pulled his fist away and waited for the next confrontation.

"Were suppose to withhold this information while also taking shit from you and your friends?" George finally piped up.

"Yes" John nodded.

"Somehow I don't see that happening" George narrowed his eyes. John leaned forward to George in a threatening manner. Paul sighed

"Well do it ok? Just get out of here"

George looked up at Paul curiously and clear with irritation.

John nodded and turned off.

"We're not gonna tell anyone?"

"Not our secret to tell, I don't care if he's an arsehole, I already feel bad enough for telling you" Paul wiped under his nose again.

"Stop that" George slapped his hand away. "Take me home, will ya?"

"You're not mad?"

"Dunno but now I'm exhausted" George walked on and Paul grinned and walked next to him.

"So you really like Ringo?" George suddenly asked.

"Yeah, wouldn't mind him hanging around" Paul put his arm around George.
~~~~~~~~~~

Paul and George were getting dirty looks, even from teachers ever since the locker incident. Their locker remained beaten in and written on.

Paul turned the corner to find George furiously scrubbing at the locker with a small rag. He frowned and walked over to him and placed his head on his shoulder. George flinched but then relaxed.

"Nearly faded now" Paul remarked, the words were now barely readable.

"I try" George smiled and put the rag down. "Still beaten in though"

"What can you do?" Paul shrugged and reached in and grabbed his mirror. He looked into it and poked at his nose, bruising surrounded it.

"All that matters is that I still think your beautiful darling" George cooed and thrust the mirror back into the locker. Paul pouted but George just grinned.

"Oi!" They heard, and turned around just as Ringo walked towards them. George clutched his books closer to his chest.

"Ello" Ringo happily smiled

"Hello Ritchie" George returned the expression.

"Ringo" Paul smiled and looked at George, who looked very happy all the sudden. "I'll be off I think"

George looked up, confused. "You will?"

"Da is making dinner tonight" Paul shrugged and George nodded.

"Ok, I'll see ya later than" George watched Paul walk off before turning back to Ringo.

"Do you wanna come hang out in the stand?" Ringo offered.

"Yes!" George followed Ringo, he liked the stand.

"You cheat!" George flicked his cards away. Ringo chuckled and cleaned up the cards.

"I do no such thing, Geo"

George purses his lips teasingly and munched on the chips he and Ringo had prepared.

"Paul even beat ya" Ringo added with a chuckle.

"What's that suppose to mean?" George gasped.

"Neither of you are very good, but if be glad to teach you some more"

George giggled, his lip moving up slightly showing his pointed teeth. The action was something Ringo unexplainably thought was almost cute.

"Teach me some more now" George ripped the cards from Ringo's hands and sat back down, gesturing for Ringo to sit down next to him.

Ringo sat over George's shoulder and pointed at his cards, explaining the meanings and the type of hands he could make with what. George almost found himself leaning back into Ringo.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paul didn't know why but he felt George should be alone with Ringo. He didn't feel like going home, so he just decided to walk around town aimlessly.

He gave up eventually and went into the record store. There were a few customers about but not a lot. Paul began fingering through crates. When the bell rang over the door, Paul looked up and found John. He rolled his eyes, too coincidental.

He just continued minding his own business as John mindlessly strolled around the store, looking as though he was purposely avoiding Paul.

That is until he threw down the album he was looking at and walked over slowly. "How's your nose?"

Paul raised his head, John looked at the bruising with a slight cringe. "Painful, distracting...the such" Paul shrugged.

"Ya Kicked me in the groin" John added. Paul smugly smirked

"Very sorry" he said with no sincerity. John chuckled at that.

"You know I appreciate you keeping the information to yourself" John said that as if it caused him physical pain.

"Not my place to out ya, is it?"

"Guess not..." John smiled.

"Thanks for stopping the bleeding last night" Paul twirled his finger around his nose.

"Yeah, well I started it, so it's only fair" John grinned and took a closer look at his nose.

"You're very caring for someone who punched me in the nose" Paul chuckled.

"Comes with bein queer doesn't it?"

Paul rolled his eyes, "being caring doesn't mean your queer"

" I'm caring and I write poetry, tell me you wouldn't think I'm queer" John leaned back on the record crates.

"Oh I forgot about your poetry, you gonna share some with me" Paul teased him.

"I could, want me to?" John stood up straight with a somewhat teasing but serious expression.

"I'd love it" Paul giggled. John ducked past Paul and grabbed a pale colored record from a crate.

"Oh!" He plucked a permanent marker from the counter and turned back to Paul. He popped the cap with his mouth, spitting it onto the ground. The marker squeaked as he wrote on the cover of the album.

"John!" Paul's eyes went wide, he wanted to scold but he couldn't help but giggle.

"Relax, princess." John finished writing and handed it to Paul. He picked up the marker cap and put it back.

"Lets go" John put his hand on Paul's back, leading him out. Paul stared at the album so hard that he just let him. He didn't realize anything was wrong until they were out of the store.

"I have to go back and pay"

John grabbed Paul's arm with a chuckle.

"Let it be" he said and added a closed mouth smile. "Enjoy the fine Poetry, I'll be off" John went to turn around but Paul grabbed him.

"Thanks" he really didn't know why but he felt that he should thank John.

"Yeah, I'll see ya around" John bounded down the street.

Paul looked down at the album and turned it round to the back to read the writing John had grazed over it.

'Love is real, real is love
Love is feeling, feeling love
Love is wanting to be loved

Love is touch, touch is love
Love is reaching, reaching love
Love is asking to be loved

Love is you
You and me
Love is knowing
we can be

Love is free, free is love
Love is living, living love
Love is needing to be loved'

Paul read it over a few times wondering if John wrote it especially for a person or with the exact feeling he was speaking of. Or if he wrote on the subject as cluelessly as Paul did.

Paul clutched the record all the way home. He left it in his lap as he ate dinner with his dad and brother. He placed it on top of his other records and stared at it some more.

As Paul stared, an idea popped into his head and he began to dig through his own record collection. He pulled away a plainly colored record he'd lost care for and nicked a marker from Mikes room.

He sat cross legged on his bed and hovered the marker over the dusted cover. He was perhaps more hesitant to write on an album than John must've been. He made sure his writing was legible and maybe he was trying to show off.

He inked the song he'd been working on in swoopy letters. He held it out for a final inspection and went to bed.
~~~~~~~~~~
Paul's first idea was to put it in Johns locker. But considering George was with him nearly every minute of the day and he had never even seen John by an open locker, he gave up on that. 
So Paul was carrying it around in his bag for most of the day wondering what to do with it.

"Aye" John and Stu strutted their way up to George and Paul in the lunch room. George was beyond frustrated with keeping the information to themselves.

"We interrupting the queers in a busy time? You gonna go get each other off in the bathroom?" Stu slapped the back of their heads. John leaned by Paul's ear

"Dirty queers" is what he whispered and Paul took the chance he could.

"Steal my bag" he whispered back so Stu and George wouldn't hear.

"What?" John scooted back a little

"Steal me bag, want you to read something" Paul whispered again. John stood back up, straightly and thrusted the bag over to himself.

"Hope the queers won't need this" John growled in a low strange voice. Stu nodded approvingly. Stu knocked Paul's lunch to the ground and they were off again.

"I hate them" George sighed at the wasted food. "Anything important in your bag, mate?"

"Too late to get it back now, ain't it?" Paul watched John and Stu exit the lunchroom.