'So this is where all you guys went.' She said from the doorway, 'Are you okay?! I was worried!'

Paulo turned to Abbey quick enough to catch him in the process of the largest gulp imaginable. He didn't expect Abbey would have the courage to talk with her so soon, so he took point on the matter. 'I'm certainly alive, thanks for asking.' Paulo shouted back with a smile, 'What about you? Where'd you run off to?'

'Someone grabbed hold of me and pulled me back when he hit you — I didn't even get a look at them. I was so scared! Then they all just. . . left, apparently there was another party at the other end of the backyard?'

'Just as well as you didn't get hurt either.' He jabbed Abbey with his elbow. 'Right?'

'Oh—Right!'

Jasmine appeared to hesitate as she approached them. 'Abbey.' She said.

'Jasmine?' Abbey said.

She looked worried for a moment. 'Could. . . I. . . be alone with Paulo for a moment?'

'O—Oh. . .' Abbey said it with a heavy sigh. Paulo was convinced it wouldn't take much for him to break down in front of them. It was when Paulo's hand went to his arm that kept him from doing just that. He had heard the two had gotten along quite well over the last couple of months according to Sue.

'It's fine dude, we're just gonna talk; catching up — from before.'

Jasmine waved her hands out in front of herself worryingly, 'That's right! I only want to finish what we were talking about.'

'It's alright, I know.' Abbey said walking past them. 'Suppose I'll just go wait outside.' It was as soon as he reached the door he found it harder to move. He stopped when something, or someone press into his back, it wrapped its arms around him and hugged tightly.

'Don't…go too far. I want to talk about us after.' Jasmine told him.

Abbey looked apologetically behind himself. 'Alright.' He disappeared out through the door as she let go of him.

She sighed, and turned on the spot and back towards him, both in silence as she did so. She rubbed her arm. 'Well, hurry up and say it.' She muttered.

He tilt his head, 'Say what exactly?'

'That I'm being stupid!' She shouted.

He shrugged, 'Well, duh. You're dating Abbey. Thought you'd have figured it out by now.' He laughed. But not for long, it was replaced with regret. Her glare was long and deep as if he'd disturbed a dragon from its sleep.

'Not that! Don't be such an asshole to him!' She shouted.

His hands came up quickly, 'I'm just joking!' He lowered them. 'Really! I just. . . thought about cracking the ice.'

'Try breaking it in a way that doesn't do it at his expense! This is why neither of you could get along!'

'Oh come on, it's not like it's ever been a one way street. Why is everyone like this?!'

'Because it's the truth; you'd never given him a chance to see another side of you.'

'There wasn't ever a chance; he acted like an asshole to me long before too.' He shouted. 'Why are you defending him anyway? Are you his girlfriend, or aren't you?'

'What does it matter? I'm just telling you how it is! I don't need to be to do that, don't I?' Jasmine shouted back.

'So I guess that's a no then?' Paulo asked.

She sat up on the counter. 'It's. . .not exactly a no. You know I have been trying to convince him there's more to you. . .a better side. If you'd just let him see that for a change.'

'Why would you even bother? We've never interacted since he broke up with Daisy. God. You know it would've been better if it stayed like that; he's given me nothing but a headache since I got here. He's been on my ass the entire time, and people had been expecting me to be the one to sort out the deal between you two.'

Jasmine played with her fingers. 'You know. . . I want to think I know why.'

Paulo snorted. 'Yeah. Well, let's hear it.'

Abbey brooded from the other side of the kitchen door frame. The night was going about as well as he'd expected, in that he wasn't expecting to have a good night to begin with — and he wasn't. He felt more miserable than when he arrived. It had been one thing after another. Nothing that really matched the aspirations that Sue had that the night would bring him: It didn't make him feel calmer. It didn't make him feel any happier to be around the people he hung around back years ago. Instead it just dredged up bad memories. And worst of all; Paulo was Paulo. Sue had promised him that she wouldn't let Paulo ruin the night. Yet, here he was, hating the fact that he was the one waiting outside the kitchen; that Jasmine was the one who told him to leave, while she talks to someone who she once said she'd gladly moved on from.

Just her and Paulo, together.

He felt sorry for himself. So fucking frustrated with himself too. He couldn't take this; just standing around. Acting like a guard dog to a person who ridiculed him the whole time he'd been at Roseville. Just what were they doing in there? Were they making out? God, he could imagine Paulo doing that. Never-mind he was dating Sue, he could definitely picture Paulo making out with every female he could get his hands on. His blood boiled with every thought, and his heart hurt along with it.

Paulo had always been like that. He was just simply bad news. The worst kind of role model that anyone could follow. His current girlfriend one of them originally, who wised up, thankfully. He saw no reason to think otherwise.

Maybe except the people who told him he might have been wrong about him, and that turned out to be. . .

Everyone. Everyone basically. Even Jasmine.

He felt upset and conflicted. Everyone told him Paulo wasn't so bad. But something in him was telling him different, as if he were a threat. It was all reminiscent of long ago.

It hurt to think about.

He saw David poke his head up from the from the far side of the room and look around himself. The lounge bar blocked his view of most of the room. Suddenly, he was interested. He looked over the bar. 'Ah', he told himself. David was still doing what he said he'd be doing; cleaning the floor where Paulo had been struck down before. But then he realised it wasn't; David was cleaning in the wrong area. He lent over to his side and looked through the doorway to the opposite end of the house. He was sitting on the couch there, he could see everything, even Paulo being hit. So why was David cleaning on the opposite side?

Whatever. It was a convenient enough distraction. He kicked off the wall and walked towards him. 'What are you doing? You're cleaning the wrong area.' He asked.

'No I'm not.' David told him. 'There's blood here too.'

Abbey walked closer, it was then he noticed the smears of something red on the carpet closest to the doors leading to the outside. He shook his head, 'That's a drink, clearly.'

'It doesn't smell like it.'

Abbey considered that just so, David was a dog after all and his sense of smell was better already.

'Fine, it's blood.' He said squinting. 'What's blood doing over here then? Pretty sure he landed on his back when Paulo hit him'

'Dunno.' David said pouring baking soda over it.

'Why are you cleaning it?' Abbey looked around. The white carpet was full of stains. God, everyone's been spilling their drinks. 'You're never going to clean all this up.'

'If I can clean it up, Katie won't be mad.' David said.

'Katie's pissed at us enough.' He looked over to the sachet of baking soda. 'You know that's not going to be enough for all these stains.'

'Maybe, but she's mad at me more.' David said, lifting up the sachet. 'But she shouldn't be mad at Paulo.'

Abbey swiped it out of his hands.

'Hey!' David shouted, standing up.

'Why are you helping him?' Abbey demanded to know. 'He'd never do the same for you.'

'He would too!'

'He would not!' He shouted again. He backed away as David clumsy lunged towards him.

'He's my best friend!' David said, trying to snatch back the sachet. 'Come on, give it back! I need to finish it before Katie gets back. I said give it!'

Abbey could tell David was getting quite frustrated; His lunges were getting faster. He appeared more agitated. His arms were coming in over his head.

'Give it! or I'll—'

'Hit me already!' Abbey demanded.

He didn't. He stopped instead. David looked at him puzzled and stepped back. 'What?' He asked.

'You're not getting this back.' Abbey told him. 'You'll have to come and get it.'

David couldn't help but feel more confused. 'I'm. . . not . . . why do you want me to hurt you?'

Abbey's arms shook while he said it; 'Because you need to. Please.' Abbey pleaded.

'Even if you want me to, I can't.' David said.

'Why the hell not?!'

'Because it would make everyone's night worse.' David said. 'Including best bud's.'

The answer did nothing but make Abbey more visibly angry. Tears began to swell in his eyes. 'God DAMMIT!' He shouted, throwing the sachet to the ground in front of him. He fell down to his knees and used his hands to stop the droplets. 'Why does everyone like him so much? It just doesn't make any sense! He treats women like shit and he manages to get them all! It doesn't make sense!'

David slowly lowered himself to retrieved the sachet from the ground. He sighed and turned it upside down in the grip of his hand. Nothing fell out. Not a single speck of baking soda. 'Because he was my first friend. We'd been inseparable for the largest part of elementary; he'd do it for me.' He sniffed.

Abbey looked up enough to catch David in tears of his own. He didn't mean to act like a bully to him, to be so mean. He just— 'David, I didn't mean it. I'm sor—'

'If you need someone to be angry, you should be angry at me.' David said miserably, shaking his head. 'Not buddy.'

'Angry at you?! Why?'

'Paulo's the way he is because of me! Couldn't ya tell?' David shouted.

'You're not making sense! I don't understan—.'

'Come on! All the games we used to play. But he was happy, ya' know.' He tried to explain again.

Abbey shook his head furiously. This was turning out worse than he imagined. He was furious at himself, and now he's set David off. He was the one making the night worse. 'You're still not making sense. Look, forget it.' He started back towards the kitchen 'Let's just go back to the kitchen and get some baking soda, that way you cou—.' He found himself yanked backwards as David's hand pulled on his arm.

'Yes it does!' David sobbed. He shook him with both his hands on his shoulders. 'I couldn't even help him back then.'

'Back when?'

'When he tried to ask Lucy out again.'

'What, back when we were second years?'

'No! In junior! She kinda. . .really. . .you know, let him have it when he asked.' He tried to explain. 'And not in a really nice way either.'

Abbey sighed. 'Well, Paulo did kind of act up when he was her rebound, you know.'

'Yeah. . .no thanks to me.'

'I doubt it was just you, David. He was pretty capable of stopping so I'm pretty sure he doesn't hold that against you.'

'Yeah. . .maybe. . .But I can't help but think I caused that. You think he was capable?'

Abbey held his breath. 'I guess.'

'That's not exactly the worst part either.'

Abbey arched an eyebrow, 'What was that?'

'I couldn't do anything to help over the summer holidays.' David said looking hopeless. 'He wasn't answering his phone. He. . .He just fell off the face of the earth.'

He'd heard as much himself. Someone said something of the like back in the MMO around the summer vacation. He didn't pay too much mind to it himself. He zoned out of most of the Paulo discussion whenever it arose. He was with Jasmine at the time too, and she took most of his time. But, 'He was that bad?' He asked.

'He'd only been crushing on her since middle school.' David tried to explain. 'He was pretty sure they'd never be a thing, and then I kinda made him think they could've been.'

He felt conflicted. He really did. There was every bit of justice in everything he said between the antics they got up to and the consequences that came from them. But Abbey couldn't find the power to tell him I told you so. He just didn't have the heart to. 'Well we've all made our fair share of mistakes that catch up with us.' Abbey tried to say reassuringly.

'You don't think he hates me, do you?'

Abbey looked back towards the kitchen. 'What, do you mean that idiot? Don't think he does well holding a poker face. Don't you?'

'Yeah. That's true.' David agreed, feeling a little better.

'I'd think you'd be pretty safe. The only thing he manages to mask is the good things he supposedly does.' Abbey said, arching an eyebrow and folding his arms.

'You mean like how he's in there chatting up Jasmine to find out what exactly the problem with your relationship is?' David asked.

Abbey stared at him. He said nothing.

David folded his arms. He said nothing either.

'You have a real great way not being vocal of your surroundings, did anyone ever tell you that.' Abbey commented. He rubbed the nape of his neck. 'They are only talking, aren't they?'

'I tried to find him someone else a couple of days ago.' David said, before chuckling to himself. 'I haven't seen him so close to someone before.' David mentioned. 'Sue, you know?'

'I'm surprised she wasn't needing to whip him just to keep him under control. Heh. And here I was thinking I had her figured out too.' Abbey said.

They both stared at the door.

Abbey shook his head. 'I'm going to go outside.'

'Why? Where are you going?'

'The shed. Figured if he's going to be trying to clean up my mess, I should probably do the same back.' He said walking to the doorway. 'Reckon there'd be any cleaning supplies in there?'

David didn't see any when he went in there the first time. But he'd be up for another look.

Paulo lowered his hand after a moment. 'Sorry. Thought I heard yelling outside.' His ear flicked around again. Still nothing. Whatever was going on outside had since stopped. He shook his head and turned back towards Jasmine again. 'Forget it. Can we talk about you guys now?'

'I—I guess.' Jasmine said hesitantly. 'What did you want before?'

'What are you doing?' He started. 'You dyed your hair and I feel like you'd never touch anything like what you're wearing on any other day.'

She sighed and bought her hands up so she could rest her head on them, 'I don't know anymore. I only meant to scare my parents. Becoming too unchristian-like; dating an atheist an all that.'

He leaned forwards, 'I hope that isn't the only reason you're dating him.'

Jasmine rose, 'What? No!' She shouted. 'It's just something that came after I had him for dinner one night! My dad's a devout Christian. I didn't think that extended to me too!'

'That would've been an awkward dinner conversation. And what did Abbey say?'

'He said if it was a problem, he could become one too!'

Paulo laughed, 'Oh my god, of course he would, and I bet he also suggested he'd break up if that meant it wouldn't make you look bad in front of your father.'

Jasmine threw her arms down to her lap. 'He did!' She screamed to herself.

Paulo mixed his groan with his laughter. 'What a disaster! He would be just like that!'

'It's not funny Paulo!' She seethed. 'I love Abbey but I was so pissed off with him when he said that!'

'I'd bet.' Paulo agreed. 'So, what's the problem? Most girls I know would kill for a boyfriend who's willing to bend over like that for them.'

'What if I'm not one of those kind of girls?! What if I don't want Abbey to change for me?'

'Then just tell him he doesn't need to?!'

'I did.' Jasmine pointed out. ' . . well, I tried to.' She looked in the other direction. 'That's not the only problem.'

'What's the other problem?

'He. . .' Jasmine tried to speak. 'Well he. . .always wants to do what I want to do.'

'Okay?'

'Paulo for chr—. . .heaven's sake! He only wants to do what I want to do! We haven't once done something he wants to do for a change!'

'Well fine! Tell him then! He needs to call the shots sometimes!'

'I can't.'

'Whaddya mean, 'you can't'? He's your boyfriend; you can tell him these things! Hell you can tell him anything!' Paulo couldn't help but feel she was hiding something, as she looked away. 'Seriously, what's keeping you from telling him the truth?' He asked again.

She sighed a very deep sigh. 'Because every time I go to. . .it reminds me of you.'

Paulo fell silent. 'And that's stopping you? How is it different from back then when we were dating, you told me things all the time!'

She didn't return him a response, instead she grew more fearful and worrisome.

'You're not falling for me again are you?'

'N—No. That's not what I—I mean I love Abbey but—' She fumbled. Her heart was pounding. She just couldn't explain the words! But then she found a way; 'Oh come on!' she shouted. 'When we were going out we were always doing cool things together! It almost felt like every weekend but he hasn't even come up with a single idea! He always asks me what I want to do.'

'Is this really the problem? He's just thinking about things you'd like to enjoy.'

'When we were together, we did a lot of things I didn't enjoy.'

Paulo felt himself backing off a little. 'O—Oh. Was. . .was that a problem? I could've—'

'No, you lame-brain. That's what I'm saying! It wasn't, but I learned to like some of the things we did; I didn't like horror movies, but I grew to! Do you know how long it's been since I've been to the movies? Months! Every time we get together he just wants to study! He just…really tries to please people around us. . .Just not me!'

'Then just tell him you want him to call the shots and do things that isn't just study!'

'No!'

He gave an exasperated sigh. 'You know you're going to have to at some stage. Remember us? Remember how we didn't talk about this? It's the same thing. Not to mention the idiot's been following Daisy around for years now, you've been dating for. . .what, three months?'

'Six.'

'And that's great! But he's an idiot who's been following Daisy around for years trying to be a good influence. He doesn't know anything different.'

She took a moment to think about it. 'Can you try to tell him, please?'

Paulo shook his head, 'He's your boyfriend.'

'Haven't you ever noticed Abbey hangs around girls? I can't be wrong with him!'

'He's not going to listen to me? Are you crazy?'

'He needs guy friends. He needs someone who can tell him to care more about himself. It's only ever been about me and not him. He just needs to be a bit more…' Jasmine searched for the word.

Paulo felt he knew where this was really going. 'Selfish.' Paulo finished.

She twirl a lock of her hair in her finger. 'You were really good at doing the things you wanted to do.'

'You know I can't force him to change.'

'I know.'

He studied her. 'You really do care about him, don't you?'

'I—I do'

It was a very aggressive and frustrated sigh. He knew he'd have to pay her back some time for the friendship roses. 'Fine.' He said, surrendering. 'I'll speak with him. Don't know what it'll come to. We haven't gotten along well in the past and I'm not sure he'll be willing to listen.' He turned to her. 'But this, whatever this is, you know you shouldn't do this to him of all people.'

She looked regretful, 'I know.'

'I mean seriously, he put all his love into Daisy and. . .didn't get much back, he'd be on a very unlucky streak if you were to do the same thing.'

'Didn't you get Daisy and Abbey back together originally?' Jasmine queried.

'Technically, I'm doing the same thing for you, aren't I?'

'Ha, yeah I guess.' Jasmine said, feeling a little embarrassed for herself. 'No friendship roses this time though.'

Paulo smiled as he sighed. He found the strength to stand and got up off the bar stool. 'I'll go speak to him now then so the night's not all wasted.'

Relief washed over Jasmine's face. But, she was curious, from that earlier time. 'H—Hey, before you go.' Jasmine said. 'Back before when we were talking, you said it was an accident, you know. . .back at Daisy's house. . . did you really mean it?'

Paulo scratched his head. 'Yeah. I was going to tell Lucy. It's just that Rachel was there to pick up the pieces when she disappeared.' He said, feeling sad. 'I didn't mean to let her do that. I just. . .liked the attention. Suppose you were right, in the end you needed someone more mature.'

'You always had such weird relationships with your friends, I almost thought you really liked Daisy that much while we were together.' She giggled, 'Suppose it was only inevitable.'

Paulo shook his head. 'Hey. Don't be like that! I actually enjoyed our time together.' He smiled as Jasmine's head looked up to him in surprise. 'But. . you know, I started having feelings for Lucy again. . . and well, that's history.'

Jasmine's ears flattened, 'You still don't feel the same even with Sue now, do you?'

He said it with a stern expression on his face, 'No.'

'How is it with Sue? Do you get along?' She asked.

He lent against the same table she was on. 'Ha, for the most part. She's a complete pain in my ass. Did she ever tell you how we got together?'

She shook her head.

'She ran from the other side of town when we had that huge storm roll in. She was stuck at my place for the whole day.'

'That's really nice of her!'

It wasn't quite the reaction he was expecting. He expected her to say it was crazy, but still, he smiled. 'Yeah . . .yeah it was. Scared the crap out of her too. She just barely got to the door when it hit. We sorta. . . fought over it, ended up hurting each other. Then. . .you know, she told me. It's kinda nice — her, that is.' He sighed to himself. 'I. . .I should probably go find her actually.'

Jasmine nodded. 'I'm happy you've found someone who'd run across half the town for you.'

'And the rest. Kicked my sorry ass into gear.' He laughed.

Jasmine smiled. 'I'll let you in on a lil' secret if you can keep it one?' She asked.

'Sure?'

'I'm heaps jealous of Sue right about now.'

'You shouldn't be.'

'Well, I'm thinking if I just waited a couple of years. . .'

'Yeah. But you love Abbey right?'

'O—Of course I do!'

Paulo flashed his trademark grin and stepped outside.

The smell got to him first. Holy shit, it was strong all right. Whatever David had turned to using was doing well for his sinuses. He turned his head. He expected Abbey to be near the door frame — brooding. Doing that thing he did when he was in a fowl mood. Waiting for his turn to go inside and to Jasmine. So Paulo was surprised when he wasn't there.

'Where the fuck did you go?' Paulo shouted.

'Over here.' He recognised Abbey's voice coming from somewhere in the room.

He walked forwards, and sure enough, Abbey and David were doing what they could with the various stains in the carpet.

'Can't see shit because that Bar table is too high.' Paulo muttered walking towards them.

'Yeah, thought the same thing a few minutes ago, actually.' Abbey stood. 'Not going to ask us what we're doing?'

'David doesn't want me to foot the bill.' Paulo said.

'We're in perfect sync!' An elated David yelled out with his arms stretched above him.

Abbey rolled his eyes and smiled. 'Is it my turn in there?'

'Yeah. I got her ready for you.'

Abbey treated the question with some suspicion. 'What do you mean?' He asked.

'Oh my god, we just talked.'

'I know,' Abbey smirked. 'Just. . .trying to messing with you.'

'Well you succeeded. . .Don't do it again; it's not you.'

The smirk fell off his face. 'Oh.' Paulo couldn't help but recognise him as the Abbey they all love and adored again. 'Never-mind then.' He continued. He went to move past him. He stopped when he felt Paulo's hand keeping him there.

'Hold up. Can we talk about something quickly?'

'Well I expected she spoke about us?' Abbey asked, a little irritated. 'What are you going say? Something rude? Insulting?'

'Chill dude, no need to get defensive. I just want to ask something.'

'What is it then?'

'Did you really offer to split up from her?'

'What?'

'Come on man, Apparently you said something to her father at the house.' Paulo asked, folding his arms.

Abbey tried to remember, 'I. . . I might have? I can't remember?'

'Seriously?'

Abbey racked his head. 'God, look I'm trying to. . .I might've? Why are you even asking me this?' He stretched his arms out at his sides. 'Are you trying to give me advice?'

'Hey man, don't shoot the messenger, okay? I just finished talking with her and she said something to that extent. Is she right or wrong?'

'I. . .might've.'

Paulo sighed in frustration. 'Look, Just go in there and make up with her.'

'That's it?' Abbey asked.

Paulo shook his head. 'No? Not really? Give some real thought to what you said back then and whether you meant it. I don't know what you were trying to do but she took that to heart.'

Abbey didn't say anything, he just hung his head in acknowledgment. 'Anything else?' He asked.

'Dunno, take her out to a movie you want to see for a change. She's dying to know more about you, but she can't if you only take her to things she likes to do.'

'I see. . .' Abbey said. 'I'll see what I can do with that.'

'Just. . .fuckin' be selfish man. Surely there are things you'd want to do, places you'd want to go. Just. . .don't study all the time. There's more to this than that.' Paulo turned and walked past them. 'I can't take the smell. I'm gonna stand outside for a bit. I'm not doing this cupid shit anymore either. I've got my own problems.'

'Thanks for your honesty.' Abbey said back.

Paulo didn't return a response, Abbey only saw the back of his head shake before he moved past them, back into the room where Stacy took him when he arrived.

David didn't say anything until Paulo was out of sight. 'He says that, but he'll come around to it eventually.'

Abbey shrugged. 'Guess I can count on you for relationship advice until then?'

David's eyes shone brightly again.

He wasn't in the kitchen by the time she got back. It was only after looking around the entire house for Paulo, Sue had found him outside on the balcony, looking out into what had become the real party in Katie's yard some hundred meters away from them. The house was completely deserted with only a few party goers making a quick retreat for a bathroom break before going back out into the cold. The alcohol must've been helping in one way or another. Food wasn't being delivered to the main dance room. Instead, Paulo watched as the servants tried to carry a table through the snow to the new party. He suspected Katie must've given up. Her "friends" had found enjoyment in the various children's games that David had set up expecting them to use.

There was some solace in Paulo knowing needn't worry about turning into someone different when he turned into an adult. Apparently, all that happens is you turn into a bigger kid.

'I've been looking all over the house for you.' Sue said coming up beside him.

'Feeling better?' Paulo queried.

'I should be asking much the same to you.' She said, 'I'm fine now, but what about you?'

'Feeling better.' Paulo said. 'Can't say this didn't help.' He held out an unopened bottle he was saving for her. He watched her face grimaced, and he laughed when she held her palm out, an affirm 'No, I'm done drinking tonight.' It told him.

'All the more for me then.' Paulo said, taking a sip from his bottle.

'Blech.' Sue said, sticking her tongue out. 'Go for your life.'

He gave a bit of a laugh while resting his head off his hand. 'Some party.' He sighed.

'Yeah…some party.' Sue agreed, resting her head against him. 'Did you want me to ring my mother and have her pick us up?'

'That'd be nice.'

'Oh? Not going to suggest walking home?' She quizzed.

'No.' Paulo said, he shook his head. 'Certainly not after tonight.'

Sue didn't say anything. She joined in looking out to the party at the far end of the yard, listening in to the amusement coming from it. 'Sorry.' She said after a minute.

'What for?' Paulo asked.

'I bought you out to this party to relax and get together with friends.' She sulked. 'Didn't want you to get hurt either. And…I…urp' Sue suddenly lurched forward. Paulo had to look away as she lost the contents of her stomach.

'You alright?' Paulo asked, patting her back.

'Didn't expect to be so sick today.'

'Maybe you've just got a weak stomach.' He chuckled,

'I do not!' Sue moped. She bought herself up off the balcony to a waiting handkerchief being held by Paulo. She wiped her face with it.

'I'll get some water.' Paulo said turning to the main room, he stopped when he felt the tug on his shirt.

'It's alright. I'll be fine.'

He took her word for it, he slumped back on the railing and looked back into the household, observing the people inside; on one side of the room, he found Abbey at least talking to Jasmine. David had only arrived just now, he looked happier. He must've managed to clean the floor. Stacy beside him. He then turned to where they had been sitting, the food Stacy had assembled was looking pretty lonely.

'You know, if you're feeling up to it. I think we should stay a little longer.' He said twisting back around. He looked out to the other party again, but this time he was looking for someone.

'Even though Katie was threatening to throw us out earlier?' Sue asked.

'Reckon she'll remember?' He said, he pointed out. Sue followed his arm out to what seemed like a figure of Katie chugging a good gallon of beer from one of those enormous transparent funnels. They both watched her with amazement as the funnel contents disappeared.

'Oh my god.' Sue exclaimed as she watched. 'She doesn't want to remember anything at this rate!'

'So, you're agreeing with me, right?' Paulo said, smiling. 'A little while longer?'

'Are you sure? It's been an awful night for you so far.'

Paulo looked back into the small room. His eyes meeting David's. Then to Abbey and Jasmine, and Stacy entering the room too.

'Yeah, lets just give it an hour and be a group again.'

Sue couldn't say no, her phone went back into her pocket.