Lucy feebly fell back onto Jimmy's rumpled bed and held her aching head in her sweating hands, praying for the horrific experience to end and the thick fog to rise from her mind. Paul was leant precariously against the door and holding a quaking hand to his chest as if trying to control his own racing heartbeat. His face glistened with a thin layer of sweat and as she gradually came to her once muffled senses, Lucy was able to spy flickers of fear in Paul's dazed expression as he wiped at his damp face desperately. Moments that seemed to last for a lifetime passed by and the atmosphere of horrendous dread eventually dissolved. The shaken pair found themselves sat side by side upon Jimmy's bed; both were glad that the trip was finally drawing to an end and clasped at each other's hands as if to be supporting themselves to the nearing finish line.

"What happened?" Lucy finally choked out in disbelief, "What was that?"

"I…I'm not sure" Paul stuttered, "Jimmy told me there was this thing and everyone does it these days…I…Christ, that was scary…"

"Tell me about it," Lucy gasped, her mind still blown from the unique yet terrifying experience, "remind me never to go to a party with you again…"

"I'm sorry, Lucy," Paul muttered with guilt, "I had no idea…"

"It's fine," Lucy lied, shaking her heavy head, "it wasn't your fault…just…I just need time to…to feel better…"

"Come 'ere" Paul smiled invitingly with open arms ready to receive Lucy in a supportive hug.

She hastily complied, desperate for any scrap of comfort as she allowed herself to ease into his arms and nestle up to him groggily. She could feel Paul's irregular heartbeat stuttering through his shirt and his breath burst from his lungs in jagged breaths as his body frenziedly tried to correct itself. Lucy strained to feel the pure bliss and sparks of joy she had encountered when wrapped up in the safety George's arms, yet Paul seemed unable to provide her with this perfect contentment. The hug was heartfelt and tender, yet the teenager felt herself waiting for the time to pass. George's embraces seemed to last for an eternity, each youthful heartbeat and trembling breath drawn out for what must have been hours. Her heart was struck with a white hot pain as she recalled each touch and embrace she had encountered with George…

"I thought you'd like to try it out," Paul sulkily murmured in Lucy's shoulder sympathetically, feeling Lucy flinch against him and guessing the involuntary action was a result of the drugs, "I thought it would have been y'know…fun. I didn't think this would 'appen!"

"It wasn't really my cup of tea…" Lucy confessed shyly as she half-heartedly buried her face into his ruffled hair, "I'm happy just to spend time with you I guess…you're my friend after all…"

Paul's body suddenly froze up against her and the teen was concerned that she'd said something unpleasant; upsetting Paul into despising her as well as George would have been a pretty impressing achievement. She was then aware of Paul's icy hand upon her heated cheek and without warning he fervently turned her delicate face to meet his. His ghostly touch created an increasing sense of unease deep in the pit of Lucy's stomach and the apprehension left her trying to control the butterflies that elevated her already unstable heartbeat. His dark eyes were heavy lidded with raging passion and she noticed him blushing furiously as he amorously beheld her face.

"You look so cute when you're nervous, Lucy" Paul sighed sensually as his delicate fingers brushed a loose strand of hair from her eyes.

She was too overcome with astonishment to react in time to the bassist's adoring statement and his craving lips were soon crushing down upon her own with overwhelming lust. She stiffened under his touch and waited patiently for his hungry lips to tear away. However, Paul had no plans to finish the kiss anytime soon and stroked her lean thigh sensually as his kisses became more frantic. Lucy began to strain away, suddenly aware that Paul was under the impression that she was attracted to him and that he held powerful desires towards her. Yet Paul held on tighter, ignoring Lucy's attempts to escape the zealous embrace and allowed his fingertips to playfully dance further up her tensed thigh. The agitated teen felt her wild heart skip a beat as Paul tenderly softly kissed along her quivering jawline and got to work nuzzling at her neck seductively. His heated breath scorched her tender skin and the teen recoiled awkwardly.

"Paul…" Lucy tried to speak out but the words were unable to pass her swollen lips.

"Hush Lucy," Paul nibbled against her neck, "it's alright, just leave it to me…I love you Lucy…"

She was aware of his fingers tugging furiously at the hem of her pleated skirt and bit her lip uneasily, begging that the bassist would tire of his frenzied antics and leave her alone. He giggled boyishly into her collar bone, still completely oblivious that Lucy was beginning to panic. She tried to flee from the increasingly upsetting situation by filling her mind with George. He was a beacon of light in dark times. If he was there with her, everything would be ok…

It was then that Paul's attempts to seduce young Lucy were disrupted by an earsplitting clatter from downstairs and the bedroom door was almost thrown off its rusty hinges in a rage. Paul leapt back from Lucy and let out a startled cry as he was confronted with a stout man with clenched fists. The girl's heart sank as her dismal eyes fell upon her furious father. How had he found her? What was he going to do to her? Her enraged father turned to Paul who was now cowering in the corner of the grimy room. He threw a vicious punch at the bassist and Paul felt a numb sensation crawl up his cheekbone as the grubby fist came into contact with his jaw.

"Stay away from my daughter" He growled, "Fuck off out of my sight you pathetic bastard! And you Lucy, yer in HUGE trouble, yer little slag!"

The bassist yearned to stride over and defend Lucy from this wretched child-beater like a knight in shining armor, yet every inch of his being quivered in terror as he witnessed the drunkard viciously grab Lucy by the arm and brutally drag her out of the dingy room. Paul slumped down to the floor and felt ready to burst into tears over what he had just seen. The injury he had sustained began to throb with a dull sting and he was suddenly overcome with sickening disappointment in himself. That poor girl was in grave danger, and he just stood there and allowed her father to treat her like dirt.

"I need to find George!" Paul sobbed pitifully.