Another Path
 | This chapter is exclusively available to members of Bittersweet Club International. |
| Another Path | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Published | August 2, 2010 |
| Page count | 25 |
| Major characters | Paulo, Lucy |
| Minor characters | David, Paulo’s dad |
| Locations | Roseville High School, Paulo’s house, Roseville Park |
| Chapter navigation | |
| ← Molly’s Adventure | Magic Tricks → |
| Read in the BCI Members’ Library | |
Another Path is a non-canon Bittersweet Club International-exclusive comic in which Paulo daydreams his way back through the night in Another Shoulder when he turned Lucy down. So what if he hadn’t?
Partial synopsis
In reality, David reminds Paulo that he turned down both Tess and Lucy. He says Paulo may get another chance with Tess, but adds, “Once in a lifetime event, dude!” Paulo maintains that sleeping with Lucy would have been a mistake, then walks away blushing and repeats the phrase as his daydream begins.[1]
Paulo’s daydream returns to his bedroom on the night of Another Shoulder. Tearful Lucy asks him to have sex with her, and he initially refuses as he did in canon.[2] He then tells her he loves her. She answers “Then.. Show me..”[3] Paulo changes his mind, and the comic implies that they have sex through silhouettes tinted red and pink.
The next morning, a tearful Lucy punches Paulo awake and says “PAULO YOU TOOK IT!!” He confirms that they had sex, then blames her for pressuring him.[4] With twenty minutes before school, he drags her downstairs past his father Rodrigo, promising to explain later.[5]
On the walk to school, Paulo speaks into Lucy’s deaf ear while telling her he loves her. After she directs him to her other side, he asks “So anyway wanna go out?”[6] Lucy says Mike rejected her confession a week earlier and worries that she would treat Paulo as she had treated Mike.[7]
She has not given him an answer yet. Paulo is the one imagining all of this, and he has not thought nearly far enough ahead...
Character dynamics
- Paulo and Lucy: In canon the thing Paulo does for Lucy is refuse her. He promises she can rely on him, then turns her down the same night.[8][2] Imagining the other choice does not make anything easier between the two of them. They wake the next morning blaming each other, and Paulo has to ask her out from scratch on the walk to school.[4][6] She still has not answered.[7]
Trivia & observations
- At the time of publication, this was Rodrigo’s first substantial characterization in the series. Before then, his only appearance had been a brief scene in Another Shoulder, where he sat at the table in a hard hat and said “You’re gonna be late.”[9] The daydream repeats the image of him at the table with a hard hat and newspaper.[5]
- Veronica later criticized the story’s treatment of Paulo. In a 2026 Tumblr post, she concluded, “I just think Paulo deserves so much better than this lmao Lucy is not very nice to him!!!!”[10]
- In 2017, a fan asked whether the daydream idealized Lucy. Veronica replied only, “lol”.[11]
Related chapters
- Another Shoulder: The daydream restages the night when a heartbroken Lucy climbed into Paulo’s bed. In canon, he refused her sexual advance and comforted her while she cried.[2]
- Back and Forth: Another Path’s opening continues David’s teasing in this chapter.[1][12] Back and Forth follows Paulo as he pursues other girls after turning down Tess and Lucy.
- A Distance Apart: Lucy confesses her love to Mike here, and he rejects her.[13] Paulo’s daydream places the rejection about a week before he asks Lucy out.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Another Path, page 1 🔒 (members only)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chapter 52: Another Shoulder, page 12
- ↑ Another Path, page 2 🔒 (members only)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Another Path, page 4 🔒 (members only)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Another Path, page 5 🔒 (members only)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Another Path, page 6 🔒 (members only)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Another Path, page 7 🔒 (members only)
- ↑ Chapter 52: Another Shoulder, page 10
- ↑ Chapter 52: Another Shoulder, page 14
- ↑ “Post on Lucy’s feelings for Paulo in Another Path”. 2026-03-04.
- ↑ “Ask about the daydream’s version of Lucy”. 2017-05-03.
- ↑ Chapter 54: Back and Forth, page 4
- ↑ Chapter 50: A Distance Apart, page 13