"I want the entire street out of town 
Just so I can be alone with you" ~Adore - Amy Shark

**Trigger warning:  physical abuse and derogatory language in this chapter**

August 23rd, 1959

Paul knocked on the Jamison's door, he could hear a scuffle as Jenny's mother stumbled over what he assumed was one of Simon's toys and Jenny laughed.

"Good afternoon Paul!" Ms. Jamison said laughing slightly.
"'Afternoon, everything alright?" Paul asked.
"Oh, of course, Simon just decided to line up his animals in the kitchen. Come in, you can be a part of the circus parade!" she laughed.
Paul stepped inside the home to see a line of animals stretching from the kitchen to the lounge and Simon lining up more.
"Jenny will be right down, she just went upstairs to get her gift" Ms. Jamison advised. Paul nodded and made his way to Simon.

"Hullo, Simon," he said crouching down. Simon ignored him and played with the giraffe he was holding.

"You've set up a nice little parade, haven't you?" Paul said as he added a blue hippopotamus to the line.

"NO!" Simon said angrily taking the hippo out of the line "He doesn't go there!"

"Sorry Paul," Jenny said as she reached the lounge "Mr. Hippo never goes before Ms. Giraffe, Simon why don't you show Paul the right order?"

Simon nodded and placed the giraffe toy first "She always goes first, she's nicer."

"Ah, my mistake," Paul said without question.

"Did you get it??" Jenny asked excitedly. Paul grinned.

"It's back at me house, figure we'll kidnap her for a few hours..she's probably climbing up the walls by now" he laughed "Did you get your present for her?"

Jenny showed a small box she'd just finished wrapping.

"Bye mum!" Jenny called as they walked out the door

"Tell Charli I say 'Happy Birthday'" Ms. Jamison called.

"So, what's the plan Macca?" Jenny asked as they walked along to Charli's house.

"Honestly, I figure...we make some sort of excuse, but head back to my home and just let her relax, it's her birthday after all," Paul said.

"Yeah, she said her grandmother is visiting for her birthday...if that's the case, that woman is harder on Charli than her parents can be," Jenny said shaking her head.

Soon, they were at the McLeod's doorstep. Paul knocked, he and Jenny were excited to help Charli celebrate.

A young woman, in her early to mid-30s, with red hair like Charli, answered the door.

"Erm..hi, is Charli..I mean Charlotte home?" he asked. She smiled, she was tall and thin and had similar facial features to Charli's father.

"Of course!" She laughed "I don't think we've met! You must be her friends, I'm her Auntie Mandy, up from London"

Both Paul and Jenny visibly relaxed and introduced themselves, Mandy was much warmer and more welcoming than Charli's parents.

"Charlotte lovey! You have guests!" she called. They heard Charli come running from the lounge. She instantly grinned as she saw them.

Paul and Jenny both, loudly and off-key sang "Happy Birthday" to her.

"Aw, thanks," she said blushing

"Happy birthday Charli," Paul said happily

"Yeah, happy birthday luv!" Jenny said handing her the gift she'd wrapped "But you can't open that until later"

Charli raised an eyebrow.

"Think you can sneak away for awhile?" Paul asked quietly realizing her Aunt was still near.

Before Aunt Mandy could even say anything, her father stood nearby.

"Thank you both for stopping by, I'm sure Charlotte appreciates your birthday wishes," he said.

"You're welcome sir," Jenny said "We were wondering if she could come with us for awhile, just a walk and we've gotten some gifts for her"

"Jennifer, she has relatives visiting just for her birthday, I don't thi-" he said, only to be cut off by who they assumed was his sister.

"Oh come now, Joseph...the girl is turning 16!" she said "Let her have a little fun with her friends, yer only young once you know"

"She has family here," Mr. McLeod said.

"And we'll be here when she gets back," Aunt Mandy said without pause.

"Fine," Mr. McLeod said finally "Charlotte, you are to be home by dinner. No later, your grandmother is here"

"Yeah...I know" Charli said under her breath.

"You have NO idea how happy I am to see you both!" Charli laughed as they left her house.

"We do have gifts for you...the first; getting you out of the house" Jenny laughed hugging Charli's shoulders.
"Brilliant!" Charli laughed "Where are we going?"

"Back to my house," Paul smiled "We'll give you your gifts then, my da' says its fine. No real plans other than that"

Charli smiled as he held her hand "I'm okay with no plans!" she said happily.

"How's your gran?" Jenny asked.

"Ugh..don't ask...most of me birthday has been the occasional 'happy birthday' then reminding me how girls in her day wouldn't behave like me...mind your parents...be a good little church girl...no boys...no music...heaven forbid I watch Elvis on the telly!" she laughed.

"That's why we decided to 'kidnap' you" Paul grinned "Ya' deserve a real birthday luv"

"Hey, I thought we were going to make a big bash of it on the 29th anyway when you lot open the Casbah club!" Charli reminded him.

"Of course!" Paul laughed "And, I already have a present planned for that night as well...but you deserve a real birthday on your actual day. Especially since you're 16 now!"

She turned to face him and gave him a kiss, which he happily returned.
"Aw, c'mon ...I'm right here" Jenny laughed.

"Hi Dad, we're here," Paul said as he let himself in.

"Great!" James McCartney got up from reading his paper. He went to the kitchen and came back with a small cake. "It's not much, but Paul insisted on baking this last night"

Paul blushed "Yeah...erm...hope its alright"

"Thanks, luv," she said giving Paul a small kiss on the cheek.

Charli, Paul, and Jenny settled in the McCartney's front room. Each enjoying a slice of cake, none more than Charli.
"Hey...you both said there were presents waiting for me!" she said finally.

"Yes!" Jenny said excitedly "Open mine first"
She passed Charli the gift she'd been carrying all morning eagerly.
She opened Jenny's gift revealing a set of pencils, a few paintbrushes and a small set of watercolours.

"Figured, you're always drawing something," Jenny said "It'd be great to see what you can do with color"

Charli grinned and hugged Jenny "Ta luv, I can't wait to use these!"
"Open mine next!" Paul said handing a large book like package. Charli eagerly opened the gift.

"A new sketchbook!" She said excitedly "great! I was running out of pages in my current book"

"I got the best one, according to the lady at the art shop," he said "You should be able to use the paints Jenny got ya' and it won't soak through much"

"Its perfect" Charli grinned "I'm going to get started filling it up right now!"

Soon after, the three sat in the front room. Paul's father was working in the small garden, Jenny sat reading a book from the McCartney bookshelf, Paul playing guitar sang softly while Charli worked on a new piece of art.

"Shite Charli," Jenny said peering over her shoulder "That's amazing"

Charli had been sketching Paul as he played "Nah, I'm not that good...just drawing how I see things I guess"

"Oh hush!" Jenny laughed "Listen to you, 'I'm no good'...Meanwhile, I can't even draw a stick figure"

"Let me see," Paul said paying attention.

"Oh god no" Charli laughed "You'll hate me"

Jenny snatched the sketch pad from Charli's hands and passed it to Paul. He smiled.

"That's how you see me?" he asked. He'd seen Charli's art before, it was always a thrill. She thought very little of her own art.

"It's not finished!" she said snatching it back.

"You make me look good luv," Paul said before kissing her. She blushed and laughed.

"Right, I need to head home," Jenny said after a few more moments of laughs and jokes with her 2 closest friends "Promised mum I'd watch Simon for a bit before I go out tonight. He hates the grocer and she needs to buy food, we're nearly out!.." she laughed.

"Happy birthday Charli," she said sincerely "Hope its been a good one"

"The best!" Charli said. With that, Jenny was out the door. Charli turned her attention to Paul again, he gave her a mischievous smile, set his guitar down and laid back on the couch, she grinned and took his invitation happily. Paul kissed her warmly as his arms went around her waist.

"How was your birthday luv?" He asked smiling.

"Perfect," She said happily before kissing him again. Their kisses became deeper as his hands found their way under her shirt, resting at the small of her back. He broke away for a moment.

"Much as my da' doesn't mind that we're seeing each other, we should be a little careful...don't think he'd want ta' come and see us snogging on the couch" he laughed softly.

"You're the one with yer hands up me shirt" Charli laughed before kissing him again. They kissed a short while longer when they heard the back door open signifying Mr. McCartney was coming inside. Both Charli and Paul jumped and sat upright, pretending to behave.

"Paul," James said entering the front room "So sorry, I got a bit caught up outside...dinner is going to be a bit late"

"Its alright da', I can help if ya' need," Paul said.

Charli went pale "wait...dinner? What time is it??" she asked.

"It's just before 7 Charli, luv" James said amiably.

"Oh my God.." she said suddenly quiet "I'm so late...I'm in so much trouble"

She tangled her fingers in her hair. Paul put a reassuring hand on her back.

"I'm sure it will be okay luv," he reassured "It's your birthday, they've got to at least be a little understanding"

She shook her head vigorously.

"Paul, why don't you walk Charli home?" James said. He was worried at her sudden change in mood and knew she would need to get home sooner than later.

"I should probably say my goodbyes now," Paul said at the familiar corner as he walked her home.

"Yeah.." she said distractedly. He lifted her chin.
"It'll be okay luv," He said warmly "I'll stop by yer window later, alright?"
"Okay.." she said. Her eyes were full of fear and anxiety.

Soon, they parted ways.

Charli nervously, quietly opened the front door to the family home.

She hoped for the best and expected the worst.

"WHERE ON EARTH HAVE YOU BEEN?? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TIME IT IS??" Mr. McLeod demanded as she walked in the door.

"WHAT DID WE SAY BEFORE YOU LEFT?" Her mother chimed in.

"Such a disappointment," Her grandmother said shaking her head "You know she was probably out with that boy doing things I'd rather not think of"

"I...I'm sorry..." Charli said shaking "I lost track of time"

"THAT IS NO EXCUSE!" He shouted.

"Joe..please, calm down" Aunt Mandy pleaded "She's just a child, its ok...really"

"DON'T TELL ME HOW TO RAISE MY DAUGHTER!" Mr. McLeod screamed. He then saw the sketch pad Charli was carrying. He grabbed it from her hands.

"Dad! Please!" She shouted.

"What's this??" He demanded as he turned to the first page with her drawing of Paul. His face twisted in anger, he became enraged throwing the sketchpad into the fire her Grandmother was sitting nearby.

"NO!! DAD!" Charli screamed with tears in her eyes she fell to her knees in front of the fireplace.

Mr. McLeod grabbed her by her wrist, pulling her to her feet to face him.
He grabbed her shoulders shaking her.

"You will straighten up young lady! I will not have a whore living in my house" He yelled.

"It's not like that dad.." she cried. Before she could say anything else, he hit her, hard across the face and dropped her to the ground.
She heard her Aunt Mandy gasp. Charli picked herself up and ran upstairs to her room.

Charli went straight to her bed and cried. She was in shock at everything that had happened since she set foot in the door, her perfect birthday had been completely ruined. She could hear her Aunt downstairs yelling at her father, her father screaming back.

She heard the door to her room open.

Her mother sat at the foot of her bed.

"You know your father is right," she said showing little sympathy.

"Leave me alone," Charli said burying her head in her pillow.
"We're only doing what's best for you, someday you'll thank us," Mrs. McLeod said sternly.
Charli sat upright.
"He destroyed my art! My gift! He hit me...on my birthday! How is this what's best?" Charli said with tears in her eyes.

"Someday you'll understand, until then, I think you should read your passages," Mrs. McLeod said placing her bible on the bed.

"Go away," Charli said hugging her knees to her chest.
Mrs. McLeod, without apology, without comfort left the room, closing the door behind her.

Charli stayed for awhile sitting with her knees hugged against her trying to make her world go away.
"Told ya' I'd see ya' in awhile" the familiar voice came to her window "Charli, what's wrong luv?" Paul said noticing how off things seemed. She looked up from her state, her face red from crying a bruise on her cheek.

"Oh my God," he said almost climbing into the window "What happened to you??"

"Don't come in" she said nervously, "If they see you...it will be bad"
He reached for her face brushing her cheek.

"What happened luv?" he asked again. Charli sighed.

"Dad hit me..." she said finally. Paul reached through the window hugging her as she cried.
"He...I'm sorry...he...threw the sketchbook you gave me ...he threw it in the fire" she sobbed.

"Its alright luv," he said "I can get you another one sometime"

She was quiet. "I wish I wasn't here...I hate this house..." she said finally.
"Let's go somewhere then," Paul said.

"I can't leave..."Charli said sadly.

"C'mon, you've snuck out a million times. This is no different and you need to get out of that house" he said. She thought a moment, then arranged her pillows in such a way under her covers it looked like she was still there before making her way down the ladder with Paul.

A few moments later, the door to Charli's room opened.
"Charlotte? It's your Auntie" Aunt Mandy said as she approached the bed. She sat on the edge of the bed "Lovey, you didn't deserve that and you're not bad for liking a boy" she said as she placed a hand on what she thought was her niece. As she did so, she realised something was off, she pulled back the covers revealing the pillows Charli had stuffed into the covers and an open window. Aunt Mandy grabbed a sheet of paper and a pen from Charli's nightstand and wrote:

Dear Charlotte,

I promise I'll never tell.

You don't deserve this.

If you need me, write me.

Love,

Aunt Mandy

She quietly placed it beneath Charli's pillow and made her way out of the room, closing the door.

"Has she had a think about her actions?" Mrs. McLeod asked her sister in law as she came downstairs.
"She's asleep," Mandy said coldly. "Poor dear must've tired herself out"

Mr. McLeod grunted.

"And frankly, I'm not staying in a house where the poor girl can't be a teenager," She said speaking again to her brother "Until you, dear brother, can stop treating her like a possession and start treating her like a person, I am done with you"

"You always were the bad child Mandy" their mother chimed in.

"Yeah? Maybe I was...but I would never treat a child badly at least" she said as she grabbed her things and was gone.

"Where are we going?" Charli asked after she and Paul walked on for a while.

"Figured you needed an escape...Strawberry Field?" he smiled. She smiled back at him, he hadn't let go of her hand since they left.

It was cool for a summer night, it was late and the stars were out. The streets were quiet.

"...I'm sorry I let your gift get destroyed," Charli said eventually.

"Sorry? Don't be sorry. It's not your fault!" Paul said "I can get you another one"

"Yeah..but it had to cost quite a bit.." she said sadly "I've been looking at sketchbooks like that and they're not cheap"
"It's fine...I'll save up again..I'm just sad he destroyed your drawing from today" he grinned trying to make her feel better.

"Yeah...I was actually going to try and paint it too" she said as tears formed in her eyes again thinking back on her birthday and everything that had happened.

After a while of walking together, they reached Strawberry Field. The gates were closed, but neither had any issue climbing over them. After walking awhile, they decided to sit against a large tree.

"Has your dad...has he hit you before?" Paul asked. He'd been trying to keep the subject light, but he was now worried about Charli more than anything.

She shrugged "Yeah...I mean, usually when he's drunk...or if I've done something really bad...he's never hit me on me birthday though"

"You don't have to make excuses for him," Paul said. "I just don't understand.."

She shrugged again "To him and mum, I'm not on the good path....I should be angelic and pure...but I don't think I'm so bad really...as far as they're concerned...I'm nothing more than a wh-" she couldn't repeat it. She'd told Paul about her father's accusations already.

"You don't have to say it luv," he said pulling her close. He glanced up at the stars, his mind was reeling at everything he'd just learned.

"Someday Charli," he said finally "I'm going to take you away from all this, away from them...just us"

Charli smiled. She adored him, she loved him. Suddenly, they heard laughter as another couple was approaching the area.

"Macca! Fancy meeting you here!" John said as he and Jenny approached "And our wee Charli...bloody hell!" He caught sight of the bruise on her face.

"Not a good time Johnny," Paul said. Jenny dropped John's hand for a moment and bent down to Charli

"Aw, Charli..." she said sweetly "again?"

Charli nodded as tears came to her eyes again.

"He threw my sketchbook in the fire Jen..." She said

Jenny shook her head. She knew Charli's father hit her, it never made it any easier on her when she saw the bruises Charli turned up with.

"Hey, it's okay...I'll come over tomorrow, they can't do anything to you in front of your best friend," Jenny said "And you've got Paulie here taking care of you and just think...in a few days, we're having a big bash for you at the Casbah"

Charli nodded smiling a bit.

Soon John and Jenny wandered off again.

"It'll be ok luv," Paul said kissing her forehead "I promise, you'll be away from all of this, and you'll be with me"

She smiled as she snuggled in closer to him.

-----

A/N:  So, while this one starts out light...it does get pretty dark and this sort of starts it.  There will be trigger warnings from this point forward.  I'll try to have an update before I'm off overseas next week.  Let me know what you think! :)

https://youtu.be/Y-IoluTnuKs