“Double Down”, page 48

People don't have to be romantically interested in you to put in effort to help you. True friends care and put in that effort. Paulo saying that, feels like he said it partially out of hurt from rejection and seemingly being "replaced". But there's also the fact that Paulo (and the rest of the group) doesn't really know the dynamic between Lucy and Augustus so he can only guess. As far as he can tell, it looks similar to the relationship he and Lucy had whenever she would seek him out for comfort. Honestly, with recent actions Lucy took, had Augustus had any romantic feelings for her, it very well could've been like that. Lucy's reaction feels like it could be out of some guilt and shame with how she treated Paulo and recently tried to do with Augustus, along with feeling Paulo has no right to judge Augustus's role in her life.

Kash Bran

Thing is, Paulo ISN'T trying to drag her back into that situation. He's trying to figure out what changes she needs so she can be in a better place. He just offered to get rid of Michael, if that's what she needs. The progress she lost has been due to Michael's actions, not anyone else's.

Kash Bran

Ok , now we need Mike passing near and the dish Is ready

Filias Nox

I resonate with this. Thank you for sharing.

Hot take: hormonal teenagers are still people with valid feelings and problems, no matter what their neurochemistry is at any given time, and that doesn't make their mental or interpersonal situation more trivial than anyone else's

He's not wrong though

Bibicita

stop it lucy! paulo has the high ground!

A.D.E.

Lucy: BECAUSE I HATE YOU ALL!!!! Paulo: WHY!!!! Lucy: YOU ALL WENT TO DISNEYLAND WITHOUT ME!!!! Paulo: Oh yeah, we did, didn’t we.

SCD

Paulo is the main character of this comic

Crim

There are better ways to show you care then bringing up the past. From experience having the past be brought up constantly even though one has moved on is very painful.

Tylily

Paulo wants to drag her back to the situation that almost killed her for the sake of “I don’t want to leave me”. People have the right to remove harmful or hurtful people from their life. Totally different situation here. Lucy has a support system, she has family who are involved, friends who she trusts and is comfortable around. Lucy wants to break away from the group and triggers that are causing her distress. I’ve seen in the past few chapters her starting to lose the progress she worked for so hard. Paulo and the gang are going to end up hurting her more. It’s one thing to be like in your example- but this is different. This is someone who has supports and help and wants to break away from people who continue to stress and hurt her. Everyone has the right to cut out toxic or hurtful people from their life. Paulo might not be any to hurt her intentionally, but he is doing more harm by this point. Stop bringing up Mike. Stop asking for things to go back to normal. Normal is gone. Lucy tried to kill herself. Leave the girl alone and let her thrive and make progress to overcome her suicide attempt. Stop trying to drag her back to the situation that almost killed her Paulo!!

People are defending because we have been on either or both sides of this type of thing before. Just because you might not be the one going through it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt you to see someone you care about suffering in silence. It's a horrible feeling having to sit there and watch your loved ones in such a dark place not knowing if its right for you to respect their privacy or try to pull them out. Every single action you take you have to second guess if this is right and unlike other hard decisions if you mess this up the one you care about could die! The amount of adults who cant handle this is high enough already let alone hormonal teenagers. Could you really sit there and be ok with your friend doing this? If they left to find new friends like you said they absolutely have the right to do so, if you can watch them walk away so easily can you really even say you cared or they were really a friend?

Red Miso

This chapter echoes some of the other chapters: "December" The one where Mike tells everyone what he did... Daisy conforts him and Paulo attacks Mike The one where Lucy and Paulo went to the carnival Are some of the ones that come to mind.

Tylily

Girl can’t even walk home and have a casual conversation. Paulo trying to drag Lucy back to the situation that almost killed her months ago. Why is everyone defending Paulo?! How DARE he make this about him. Lucy TRIED TO KILL HERSELF A FEW MONTHS AGO. She has every god damn right to distance herself from people. To try and avoid people that cause her stress. If she decides that group (which is full of drama!!!) is too much for her SHE HAS THE RIGHT. SHE IS ALLOWED TO DO DO THIS. Sorry Paulo, I know you care about her but stop trying to drag her to a group that she doesn’t want to be a part of anymore. She wants to grow up and move on and leave the past in the past. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO MOVE ON, you are allowed to change your friends, you are allowed to move away from people who hurt you.

Mmm delicious delicious hard facts going back and forth

Red Miso

Oh Lucy Baby 🥺😭

Chloe Fowler