Transcript
Transcript
[Caption: End flashback]
*Back to the present, Lucy looks annoyed.*
Lucy: And that’s the story. He became much more of a jerk after that, so I really dodged a bullet.
*Paulo looks devastated. Mike is aghast.*
Mike: …
*Paulo cries out, dismayed.*
Paulo: Dammit, Lucy! I wasn’t REJECTING you! Is that seriously why you spent all that time avoiding me?!
*Lucy looks at him, emotional.*
*Paulo blushes. There’s a serious look on his face.*
Paulo: I was really scared, okay? You were the prettiest girl I’d ever seen and I didn’t really know what to say so I just freaked out, you know?!
Paulo: This probably won’t mean anything now, but just let me explain myself!
*Lucy looks taken-aback.*
Paulo (narrating): Maybe I’m a jerk, but I had my reasons! It was back when we started sixth grade…
*In Paulo’s flashback, a younger Paulo walks alone in the midst of a crowd, looking embarrassed.*
Paulo (narrating): I had so much trouble talking to girls.. I knew I’d look like an idiot.
*Two girls pass by, chatting with each other. Paulo glances at them and shrinks away, uncomfortable.*
Paulo (narrating): I couldn’t deal with it. I didn’t want to embarrass myself.
*Paulo hides his face in his hands.*
Paulo (narrating): But I REALLY wanted to talk to you again.. .. I was just too much of a coward..
*Paulo notices something and glances up.*
Paulo (narrating): .. until this one day at the mall.
*An teenager wearing sunglasses stands talking to two girls, a hand on each of their shoulders. He’s grinning at them. The girls laugh and fawn over him.*
*The girls are blushing. The teenager grins confidently.*
Paulo (narrating): This slick high schooler with a gaggle of girls who just.. .. BLED confidence.
*Paulo stares in awe.*
Paulo (narrating): How was he DOING IT? He made it look so goddamn easy.
*Paulo trails behind the group of teenagers, looking timid.*
Paulo (narrating): .. So I followed him around a little while.
*One of the girls, a dog with curly hair, turns to Paulo with a smirk.*
Aaron’s first girlfriend: Looks like ya got a new admirer, Aaron.
*Aaron and his other girlfriend notice Paulo. Paulo freezes.*
Aaron: Huh?
*Paulo blushes deeply, suddenly looking very flustered.*
Paulo: Umm.. uhh..
*Paulo winks and grins, pointing a finger at the girl.*
Paulo: The only one I’m admirin’ is you ♥
*The two girls blush and smile at Paulo.*
Aaron’s second girlfriend: Omigosh, he’s SO CUTE!
Aaron’s first girlfriend: I’ll have to keep an eye on you, handsome!
*Aaron glares. Paulo looks at the girls, shocked.*
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Author commentary
Veronica: Paulo’s side of the story! This part of the chapter was completely rewritten for the Omnibus because, as I’ve said in past commentary, I originally wanted Paulo to be linked to the bad guys from Confrontation as part of some convoluted attempt to tie storylines together. In retrospect, however, I found this plotline embarrassing and cringy, and didn’t actually develop it any further from here.
IT’S JUST TOO DAMN CONVENIENT. And so I’ve altered it to be something more realistic, rather than Paulo getting groomed by older kids into being a horndog :l ugh
.. Though given some way-into-the-future storylines, Paulo is showing a side of himself he doesn’t really reflect on for many many years..