Gabrielle’s fingers found the ledge of her window and she pulled herself up with every ounce of strength she had. She’s left the window open last night just incase something like this happened and promptly fell through, making as much noise as is humanly possible. The floor of her room was hard and it was making everything hurt even worse but it was a relief from standing.
“Ow” she sighed and rolled over onto her stomach, hoping maybe she would make it to the bed. And she did. Stumbling and then landing on the twin bed with a loud creak.
Maybe no one heard her.
No such luck.
“Gabby?” someone was knocking on the door, and she realized with a groan that it was her Auntie Pru. Didn’t that woman have her own house to go to? “Are you all right? What’s all noise?”
“I’m fine” she croaked. Her throat was all sore and scratchy as found upon waking up on Cynthia’s couch this morning. “I just… I fell out of bed.”
She quickly scrambled under her duvet as the door opened and Pru stood their frowning.
“You fell out of bed?” she asked
Gabrielle pulled the blankets up to her chin and nodded “Uh huh”
“Are you going back to sleep? It’s nearly six you know”
“Er… I’ll get up in a bit”
Auntie Pru nodded “So,” she said conversationally. As if she hadn’t just asked if Gabby was going back to sleep “How was your date last night?”
“Er… the party was fine…”
Pru grinned “Was Paul McCartney there?”
Gabrielle rolled her eyes. And then she realized that she didn’t really have anything to roll her eyes about in all honesty because well… even if they were just mates she made out with him in a closet “Yeah” she said
Pru winked at her niece “Bet you had a good time then” she said and turned for the door. It was nearly closed when she popped her head back in “By the way, would *he* like to help you?”
“Ah…” Gabrielle searched her brain for what she could need help with but couldn’t think of anything “Sure…”
“You think so? Because Jen and Claire and Tommy are going to be at Maude’s and now *she’s* leaving! Can you believe it, you’re all on your own there. Some business in London or something. That girl does to much you know. Anyway, You’ll be on your own, if young Paulie wants to help you out… Is he any good with kids?”
“Uh” Gabrielle sat up, and then realizing she was wearing a minidress she pulled the duvet up with her “Why don’t we just get George to help… I don’t know if Paul”
“Gabby, Darling. You mustn’t hindrance George all the time. Beside, I’m sure Louise will need him for something or other…. Jim has Mike if he needs something”
Gabrielle’s mouth fell open “Don’t you dare” she gasped “Jim McCartney is the nicest old man in the whole world, and his wife only *just* passed away. Don’t you even think about trying for him Pru”
Auntie Pru tutted “Now Gabby, I wouldn’t think of such of thing.” she shuffled over to the door “Ring Paul later and ask.”
Gabrielle watched her Aunt leave. Great. Just what she needed. Another chance to be alone with Paul. Maybe the children would spur them to not find each other sexy. Maybe Claire would be sick all over her and then he wouldn’t want to touch her.
That would make things a hell of a lot easier.
She lay in bed for another half an hour. Making a concentrated effort to keep her mind clear of everything. New York, George, Paul, Aaron, Beatles, Pru, babysitting. She didn’t fall back to sleep though and climbed out of bed and pulled on some very conservative clothes. A gray turtle neck and cardigan. A skirt that had a petticoat and fell to half calf. And then stockings and mary jane shoes. She looked in the mirror and cringed. It was so… fifties. And this was 1961.
With a heavy sigh Gabrielle went downstairs, ignoring Auntie Pru’s tutting over how lovely she looked this morning. Ignore it and be chaste. She ordered herself as she picked up the phone and dialed Paul’s phone number.
“Hullo, McCartney’s fish and chips”
“Hi Mike” she said sitting down at the table and pacing the phone in front of her “Paul home?”
“Er… no…” said Mike
Gabrielle rolled her eyes “Yer just to lazy to run upstairs and get him”
“Ah come on Gabby” he whined “I’m having brecky, just call back and he’ll answer it upstairs”
“Mike!” she insisted “Go get him or I’ll Darcy Beckham you stole a pair of her knickers”
He inhaled sharply on the other end of the phone and muttered “Fine” before she heard the phone set down. Gabrielle tapped her fingers on the counter and watched her father make a fire in the fire place while Pru tutted around him, correcting things and cleaning. Silly old cow. Oh well, at least she was leaving Gabrielle alone now.
“Hallo?” said a voice
“Paul?”
“Gabby?”
She sighed “Yes, look.”
“Er look” he interrupted “Are things going to be all awkward with us now that everyone knows”
“No one” she looked over at Pru “No one knows”
“Uh” Paul chuckled ironically “Well,, what was all that last night then”
“That was just Shaz and Cyn. They’re the only ones. Cyn’s not going to tell John or… or anyone else”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Ok” Paul hesitated. Things *were* uncomfortable “So…”
“Ask him” hissed Pru
Gabrielle glared at her “Paul, are you any good with kids”
“what?” he asked, as if he hadn’t heard right
“Are you any good with kids” she repeated
“why are you planning on having some?”
Gabrielle groaned “No, I mean… remember how… er. You know”
Auntie Pru snatched the phone away “Hi, Paul” she said cheerily
Gabrielle could imagine the look on his face. This was torture. You do not ask favors of this sort with people you get caught snogging in a closet.
“You will?” Pru was saying, she winked at Gabrielle whose mouth had fallen open. “Oh, Thank you Paul, that’s so sweet. Yes, Yes, Oh no… Really? Oh do you? That’s so lovely, it’s the same with my Gabby here. Yes. Oh, Paul! You’re so funny!”
Gabrielle rolled her eyes
“You know” said Pru, she prodded Gabby and grinned smugly “I think that the two of you are so-”
Gabrielle grabbed the phone away “Hello?”
“Yeah” he said, sounding tons more causal and not as tense as before
“You were supposed to say no” she moaned
“Why?” Paul asked sounding generally surprise “I like kids… and I like spending time with you” he said the last part of that sentence a bit quieter
“Paul” she sighed “I… I’ll see you tomorrow”
“Ok” he said “I come over around two”
“Fine”
“Bye” he said and the phone clicked off. Gabrielle sighed and dropped her head on the table.
The rest of the day was spent finding the most unsexual outfit she could come up with.