Author: It's been an atrocious month. This chapter is long so it's split into two parts. I'll be re-reviewing and uploading the second part tomorrow.

They'd isolated a corner of the busy room to themselves. Paulo had his eyes closed for most of it; the pain across his head was excruciating; it throbbed, and it got so bad he felt at times he was going to faint. He felt nauseous, and shut them tighter. He didn't feel he could do anything, just focus on the pain and do his best to deal with it the best he could. It stopped hurting after a while, and he opened them again, and then he started to make sense of his surroundings. He found himself on a bar stool. Abbey stood by, idly and close to him, keeping his attention on the doorway from where they came and staring at it pensively; on his guard as if he was expecting someone to follow through them. He didn't see Stacy, until he heard what sounded like pots and pans falling over in cupboards, it prompted him to look in that direction. She had crouched down looking into a cupboard on the far side of the room, frantically looking for something. But she wasn't having much luck.

Paulo bought a hand up to the side of his head before bringing it back down in front of him. He saw the blood. Things started making more sense now. He put his hand back there and held it there, if not to try to stop the bleeding, but to at least try and soothe his aching head.

'It's in here somewhere.' He heard from where Stacy searched.

'Are you sure there's a first aid box here?'

'There has to be! Can you look in the boxes over there?'

'Alright!'

He looked around. Right; the kitchen. He couldn't help but wonder why they'd decided to stop here instead of a bathroom. The place was a mansion, there were so many other rooms to offer; ones which weren't busy with servants coming and going with hot food and delicacies that provoked his appetite. There was a reason, he just didn't know what it was.

Out the corner of his vision he spotted a tall man approaching them. He looked different to the others, more. . . important? Paulo wondered. There was an air of seniority over him? Yeah, it'd be him. Maybe the head chef. He had the face to match, one not to be trifled with and it screamed you're not supposed to be here, to him. You're in my domain.

Not that we want to be here. Paulo casually told himself.

Why are we here? He wondered again.

He'd learn no time at all. He wasn't the only to spot the man as he approached. Stacy appeared to have expected him. She shot up from where she was and quickly made her way over to intercept him. She'd hoped he'd recognise her from before. But he didn't; much too busy. It didn't deter her from wasting any time explaining as best she could about the situation.

A sharp piercing feeling went through his head, and he winced from it. It really hurt. He really couldn't be any use to them if something was going on.

And then he felt dread. The fight just now. He won, right? What happened to the other guy?

Are they safe?

Why are they in the fucking kitchen?!

He pushed harder with his palm. His head hurt!

Protection. Had to be, he wondered. There were a lot of cooks and servers here, a lot of adults. For all he knew, he couldn't tell if the bouncer was out there doing his job; cleaning up what remained of the drunken assailant who had decided to play hero and sending him on his way home. What if he wasn't doing his job, and the idiot was still there on the carpet? Maybe getting up, ready for another go? There were plenty of adults here that could watch over them. But as Paulo looked around at the other chefs in the room with, he had doubts. He wasn't sure whether any of them could put up a fight against someone that tall looking for revenge. Or worse; if his friends were to follow them, seeking retribution.

His attention moved back to the head chef while Stacy pleaded her case. Paulo swore for a moment it was as if he was going to lose it, the head chef's face screamed death. But then it softened. Paulo breathed a deep breath of relief, he'd gotten over it.

It would be unknown to any of them, there wasn't a single thing the head chef could do to stop them anyway. Not a single thing – he couldn't waste any more time. He was short-staffed, overworked, and the food was late. The night wasn't going to plan as it was; he'd already wasted too much time on the kids. He had to get back to work in preparing the food, or Katie — his employer would find someone else. That would be guaranteed, and finding work was already getting hard enough in this economy. The last thing he wanted was wasted time. He told them to keep to themselves. Not to touch the food, cutlery, and to clear out as soon as they could. He snapped his fingers and shouted his orders to the servants, the cooks as well. They lined up, and grabbed the food from the waiting table. Then they marched out the door in a single file. Leaving the kids in the room alone.

He looked towards Stacy, who appeared just as confused as she turned back to face them. She shrugged. He returned the shrug. Abbey did too. It appeared that was all for nothing.

If worse came to worse, Paulo considered — a room full of sharp objects might deter anyone more persistent assailants.

Ahh, he wondered if that was the real reason they'd stopped here.

He really hoped it wouldn't come to that, if the choice was somehow available.

His headache was getting worse. He thought he was told not to move from the bar stool, but he wanted to. And really, he just wanted to go home and sleep it all off.

They wouldn't let him. Stacy had located the first aid kit. She started taking out all the creams and bandages. Abbey moved over towards her and looked at them too. They looked back towards Paulo.

'So, bandages or icepacks?' She asked Abbey.

'Icepacks.' Abbey said. 'I'll check the freezer. You can patch up our victim here.'

Paulo thought about that. He was the victim, wasn't he?

For some reason, a part of him felt he had a problem with that.

Stacy tried moving forward to clean up the blood from the bumps and scrape for a fourth time, but it was becoming impossible – Paulo just wasn't willing to cooperate with them. Every time she tried to get close Paulo had managed to managed to keep her at bay knocking whatever she held out of her hand.

Abbey had long since given up. He stood back and folded his arms in resignation and simply decided to watch with a stern expression across his face. He'd tried his best, but he'd already grown too frustrated with Paulo's arrogance to even grace the idea of trying to help again. He'd known Paulo for his difficulty over the years, but this was taking the cake.

Paulo sat in the corner of the room on the bar stool. He never left it — *couldn't* leave it — he had no strength in his legs. Every time he tried to summon energy to them, he gave up immediately after. So he did whatever else he could. He still held onto the side of his face with one of his hands; he never moved it from before. His other did its best to try and stave off his friends from doing what they could with bandages and ice packs.

He just didn't need the help.

'Look, I'm fine, just leave me alone!' Paulo tried to reassure them. He tried to get up again, but like before; the he just couldn't. He swiped at the air with his free hand to bat the cream out of Stacy's hand. He managed, but she was quick enough to catch it before it hit the floor.

'Stop being so stupid! You're hurt!' Stacy begged. 'Why are you doing this?'

'Look, just leave me alone!' Paulo begged.

Abbey rolled his eyes and shook his head. 'What is wrong with you? We're trying to help!' He shouted.

'Screw you!' Was all that came back.

Abbey seethed. He gave a very aggravated sigh, but that did nothing to stop his blood from boiling. This tough-guy attitude was wearing thin off him. He contemplated knocking Paulo over and pinning him to the floor if it would help them along with hurrying it up and getting it done. Although the idea thrilled him inside, it stayed there. He saw no benefit in upsetting Stacy or Sue.

Paulo manage to hit out at Stacy's hand again. This time the cream went in the opposite direction and straight into Abbey's face. He caught it as it rebound, his hand had already tried to use it as a stress ball. 'That does it!'

'Abbey! No!' Stacy shouted.

Abbey didn't listen. Too furious to care. His face didn't mask it either. He was sick and tired of tonight. He was sick of the games his girlfriend played with him, he didn't want his friends to *help* him, and he hated the way this. . . this. . .*child* was acting. He stamped forward. The idea from before was certainly in the cards now. Never-mind what his friends thought. He just wanted this night to be over.

But it wouldn't be like that; he expected Paulo to cower, maybe a reminder of that time in the bathroom that one time a year ago. But he didn't; Paulo looked more agitated than he did before. And Abbey stopped in surprise of that fact.

'If you think it'll be just like back then, you've got another thing coming!' Paulo shouted, his hand made a fist.

Abbey unballed his fists. It wasn't the reaction he'd been expecting, but it was a good enough distraction for Stacy. She leaped in and started to try and smother some of the antiseptic cream over parts of Paulo's face. It was when Paulo shoved her with his free hand, Abbey made a move and grabbed ahold of it. Paulo tried to pull it back, but Abbey's grip was far too strong.

'Let. . .me . . . go!' Paulo struggled.

Stacy moved in again and did her best to clean up Paulo with a cloth with the up-most precision. There was some relief; the main scratch she had been worried about didn't look too bad. She turned her head to Abbey. 'Icepack.' She said.

'Got it.' Abbey said. He slammed the icepack into Paulo's eye.

'ABBEY!'

'He's being a prick! What kind of a child acts like this when people are trying to help him?'

'Fuck you!' Paulo shouted.

'You're fucking getting off on this, aren't you? Is one woman all over you not enough?'

'What the fuck are you talking about?!'

Stacy moved up and stood between them. 'Just calm down you two!' She turned to Paulo, 'It wasn't your fault, we all saw it, so stop it already! Please let us help, you're hurt and you're bleeding.'

Paulo looked up at her. He felt miserable. It took him a moment to put his pride away for good. He felt short of breath, like he was being squeezed. 'Alright. . . alright, fine.' He said after a second.

'Finally.' Abbey muttered.

'Look here then.' Stacy said again to him. She looked over him. Ah, there was a spot she missed. She squeezed more gel out of the tube and nudged his other hand. It left the side of his head, granting her access, and she started to clean up what she could. It was much better like this; without Paulo acting like a kid. Although, Stacy started to consider that maybe there was one other factor in this that was also contributing. Her hand went to Sue's shoulder. She gave it a squeeze. 'Sue, you're going to have to let go of him and move, I can't get in and around while you're like that.'

Sue didn't listen; she kept her arms wrapped around his sides and sobbed into his stomach. Paulo had only cared to notice now. No wonder he felt short of breath. It would also explain why he couldn't find the strength to get away from them; Sue was squeezing so hard he couldn't even feel his feat.

Abbey's face contorted. He felt like he was going to vomit. He pointed towards her, 'Can't you at least deal with that yourself?' He asked him.

Paulo glared back disapprovingly, Abbey commanding him wasn't something he needed. He turned back to Sue and felt his heart soften. He'd already moved the hand nursing his head over and across her back in a hug. 'Come on, you can let go now. I'm alright.'

'Are you really, though?' Abbey asked folding his arms. 'You got knocked around pretty hard.'

He didn't want to answer Abbey just on principle, but as soon as his eyes met with Stacy, he felt the walls of Jericho that protecting his feelings crashing down. 'I—I don't know? All I know is I've got a fucking headache. And my ears are still ringing.' Paulo said. 'Do you have any idea who the hell that was?' He asked, looking towards Stacy again.

'That was one of Katie's friends.' Stacy answered bitterly. 'He's a total asshole. Boxes.'

Paulo's jaw dropped. 'You're kidding me, he boxes?!'

Stacy nodded, her expression filled with guilt and frustration, 'I knew something like this was going to happen! It's why I begged for a place far away from all of them.'

'Stacy it's not—' Abbey tried to say.

'Come on Stace, nobody could've seen that all coming. It's fine.' Paulo interrupted, trying to sound reassuring again.

A small smile stretched across her face, but she shook her head. 'I appreciate it guys. But, you still got hurt.'

'I'm fine.' Paulo said again. He made a pained face as Sue squeezed into him hard, this time purpose; she'd had enough.

'No, you're not!' Sue said, now standing in front of him. 'We even heard it from where we sat; you can't be.'

'I told you I'm fine.' Paulo said before he smiled, trying his best to be seemingly reassuring, until he winced in pain; adrenaline wasn't pumping through his blood anymore, and his pulsing headache was now getting to him.

'You could have died.' Choked Sue.

He couldn't look at her when the thought entered his head, a part of him felt the need to agree; 'Yeah.' He sighed, 'suppose there was a chance of that. . .' He said. He looked back up at her. He felt his heart drop; she looked miserable, as if she could've lost something irreplaceable. He shared the feeling. The thought had crossed his mind when he picked himself up from the floor. It was only down to a miracle that his assailant had been a mad drinker. It could've been a lot worse. It began to set in on him. He could have died. That was the realisation. His hands started to shiver along with his mouth as the memories of that moment and years before came back to him. He could do nothing back then. He only just managed before. 'Fuck' He spluttered. 'I just got fucking jumped out of nowhere. It was awful.'

Stacy and Abbey looked at each other for a moment. 'Well…' Stacy started, 'Let's just be happy you got away with what you got.'

Abbey winced, he wasn't ready for Stacy's elbow into his side. 'Ow! Alright. I was going to say the same thing!' He protested. He turned back to Paulo, 'Seriously, it wouldn't have been good to have someone lose their life at a party.'

Paulo's eyes flickered, there was some disbelief in his words; 'Are. . .are you saying you care about me?' He asked. He was being a shit. Deliberately, and paid for it — Sue grabbed onto his shoulder. 'Ow…Ow! I get it, stop! It was a joke!' He begged.

Sue glared at him when she released him.

Paulo sighed and looked back towards Abbey. 'Sorry, and thanks. . .' he struggled with the rest, 'for looking out for me and running over when you could — the two of you.'

They heard the door swing open. Abbey spun around to meet them. 'If you've got a fucking problem-.' He started, but then stopped. He recognised David.

David held his hands up in front of him. 'Is buddy okay?' He asked.

'I'm fine.' Paulo said.

'Where were you all this time?' Sue asked, curiously.

'Oh, he was going something for me.' Paulo said to her, 'I asked him to distract some guys.' He turned to David. 'Where did you go anyway?'

'Oh! Took them outside and told them there was another better party a little further across the opposite side of the yard.' David told them.

Paulo blinked. 'They actually fell for it?'

'Uh. . .sure did.' David said, somewhere between a smile and a pained grimace. 'I told them there would be a beacon to light their way.'

Paulo glanced towards Stacy, who appeared just as confused as he was, before turning back to David. 'What beacon?' He asked.

'The one I made using a portable light earlier when the party was starting. Katie's dad's got a surprising number of extension cords in his shed.'

'You went into the shed?' Stacy asked in disbelief. 'Is that where you were for the last few hours?'

David looked at her like he'd only explained the plan for the thirtieth time; 'The party was boring! And everyone here was being such a depressing baby! So, I went outside and made a little party area, for us!'

'You did WHAT?'

David turned to Sue. 'I did it for us! I swear! This party was so unfun and I decided to make another outside near the big tree with things I found in a shed! I found floor panels, lights, extra balloons and even a place to hang the donkey.'

Sue looked at him blankly and shook her head. 'I didn't say anything.' she told him. 'I've completely given up on everything there is to do about you.'

David appeared confused. 'Oh. . .Then who—'

Paulo had only just noticed then that Katie had snuck in from the opposite room and joined them. They'd all been so preoccupied with David they didn't hear her come in, and that was something amazing, because Katie simply looked stunning. But then he noticed something else that became his biggest concern. She didn't make an effort to mask that she looked positively pissed off at something. She'd heard everything.

She walked up to David, and standing in front of him threw them down in front of him. 'I can't believe you were, like, in my father's shed!' She yelled. 'You ought to leave!' She turned to the others. 'And which one of you's beat up Zack?'

After a small silence, Paulo was about to raise his hand, until Stacy caught it and shook her head.

'Who cares about Zack? He only came because Jennifer was here — he attacked Paulo first.' She said.

'He, like, told me a different story.'

'Did you ask anyone else who saw it? The entire room saw.' Stacy argued.

'I was only talking to Jasmine. He came out of nowhere.' Paulo said, trying to explain his side of the story..

Katie considered it for a very short second. Then completely disregarded it. 'I still have to explain to my father why there are *bloodstains* all over the carpet.'

'We could use baking soda.' David suggested.

'Baking soda? To what? Like, bake a cake? That's for cooking! Not for cleaning!' Katie yelled, 'And I don't cook! Why are you still here? I told you to leave! You can pay for the cleaning too!'

Paulo couldn't help but feel for David was worry spread across his face. He knew about as well as Paulo did; that cleaning bill wouldn't be for getting cleaners in, it would be for the whole carpet replacement.

'You're thinking of Baking *Powder* Katie. Baking Soda can be used as a cleaning agent.' Stacy said. 'Dave's not wrong.'

Katie's jaw dropped, 'Oh my gawd, you're not joining the nerd squad too, are you?'

Stacy blushed, 'N—No! I mean I've used it before to clean up makeup off the carpet!'

Katie didn't appear convinced.

Paulo ummed, 'Everyone knows this, Katie. I've had to use it a couple of times when I accidentally kicked some unempty bottles at home.'

She stared at him, visibly seconds from completely losing it. 'Shut up, you ought to leave too, Troublemaker.'

'Why should he leave?! It was that Bully!' Sue argued.

'I don't care! You should all leave! The party's over anyway!'

'Why's the party over?' Abbey asked.

'Because I said so!' She shouted. 'Everyone's gone outside anyway.' She turned and glared at David, she pushed it through her teeth; 'Because they're all playing pin the tail on the Donkey or something.'

David said nothing, he only gave a worried smile.

'So, like, yeah! The party's over. Call your parents and have them pick you up. I don't want to see any of you here in the next half hour!' She shouted at them. She turned back towards the door and pushed her way through, screeching to herself. They could barely make out the last thing she said as the door swung back to where it was. 'What a disaster!'

They all looked at each other silently. This had all been nothing short of a disaster, for all of them.

Paulo was the first to try and crack the ice. 'Well, that happened.' He sighed.

David groaned, 'Oh, man. I'm going to get hit big.' He worried.

'Yeah dude.' Paulo mused, 'Knowing Katie, she'll probably replace the whole carpet.' He gave a worried laugh along with it.

Stacy rest a hand against David's shoulder. 'It's okay David, I'll talk to her once she's calmed down. She'll probably forget by the end of the night.'

David didn't look any better.

'She's right Dave. Don't worry about it. If anything she'll probably try to put it on me.' Paulo shrugged.

'I won't let that happen!' Stacy shouted. She slammed the lid of the first aid box down. Visibly frustrated for them all to see. 'This is all Katie's fault! She should've just invited everyone in our year instead of getting her stupid college friends.'

Sue thought to ask, 'Why *did* she invite them?'

Stacy didn't say anything for a moment. She stayed hung over the first aid box. 'They weren't. . .originally.'

Sue blinked, 'Come again?'

'Because nobody else replied to the RSVP.'

Paulo couldn't help but nod to it. He had a feeling it would've been like that. Katie had done an excellent job over the last few years isolating herself from many of the kids at school. Her bank account could only be matched in her snobbery, and she was well known for that. The story Daisy told him back when they started highschool made him ensure he'd never hang out with a girl like that.

Shit, he knew it was going to be like this.

Stacy put the first aid box back where she got it from. She turned and walked back to them. 'I'm going to go outside and see what's happened. Will you guys be right staying here until I get back?'

'Yeah.' Paulo said. 'Don't think we'll go anywhere.' He looked over to Sue, and then he noticed it; The bloody red mark on the back on Sue's lovely dress.

Sue had thought to look back towards him and caught him looking at her at that same time. 'What's wrong?'

'My blood's all over the place.'

'Yeah. . . well. . .' Sue held her arms open and showed him her front; much of the same, the blood that ran down Paulo's face had found itself on the front as well.

Paulo felt awful. It was a nice dress too.

Stacy tugged on Sue's top. 'You should come with me, we'll get you cleaned up and we should see what we can get for that stomach ache of yours.'

Sue nodded to her before turning to Paulo again, 'Are you sure you're okay?'

He nodded. 'I'll be fine. I'll still be around by the time you get back' He smiled.

Sue coughed and wiped at her eye, her make up went along with it. She moved in and gave him a tight hug before moving with Stacy out the door. She looked back one final time looking miserable before the door moved back into position.

He gave a deep sigh. This party was going worse by the minute.

He jumped when the sound of a pot falling from the counter rang throughout the kitchen. Both he and Abbey turned towards the noise. David pulled what appeared to be a plastic container from the cupboard.

'David, didn't Katie tell you off enough about going through her house?' Abbey asked.

'Yeah.' David said, 'But I don't think I could afford the bill to replace the carpet.'

Paulo shook his head, 'Stacy's going to talk to her about it. Don't worry. I'm sure more than a few of them have already spilt something on her floors.'

'Maybe.' David said, thinking the same thing, 'I'm gonna try though. I'll be back soon.'

Paulo and Abbey sighed as David made his way through the door. Paulo looked over at Abbey. 'You're not going to follow them?' Paulo asked.

'No, figured you could use the company for a bit.'

'You mean protection, right?' Paulo grinned.

'Company.' Abbey confirmed. 'Wouldn't want to think Sue wants you to get hurt again.'

'Yeaaaah.' Paulo painfully agreed. 'Well, rest assured, I'm sure as hell not going out that door.'

'I wouldn't blame you.'

Paulo gave a short laugh. 'Some party.'

Abbey nodded, 'You said it.'

Awkward. Cringy. It was killing him inside; forget the wounds from earlier; this small talk was atrocious. He needed something to break the ice again. 'If you're interested. I did end up talking to Jasmine for a bit.'

For a moment, there was life coming from Abbey, 'And?'

Paulo had started to have second thoughts. He shook his head, 'Well, before numb-nuts hit me, I think I was getting close.' He shrugged. He tried to recall what she told him, then realised why he had the second thoughts; he found nothing in what she told him. Just more questions he had instead. 'Sorry, actually. There wasn't anything. Figured she'd open up to me at least once but I suppose I'm just an 'Ex' now.'

'Oh.' Abbey replied. Looking disappointed 'Well…thanks for trying. I. . .suppose that's it then.'

'Sorry.' Paulo said.

'It's fine. I…You know, I suppose this could mean we have something else in common.'

Paulo had to think, 'Oh, yeah I suppose we do.' He laughed.

Abbey laughed as well, but it trailed off in time, and he resumed carrying his worried expression from earlier that night.

Their attention drifted back to the kitchen door as they heard it creak open again. They half expected David, coming back from his cleanup operation. But it wasn't him. It wasn't Sue or Stacy either, or even Katie looking for round two of the blame-game. Abbey's eyes opened wider as he realised who it was. Paulo had recognised her too; Jasmine's black and white markings were unmistakable.