Chapter Four: I Want To Hold Your Hand

"And when I touch you I feel happy inside. It's such a feeling that my love I can't hide."
-Lennon & McCartney

Paul carried on throughout the whole night with a dandy smile on his face. All of the other lads were trying to find out what had made him so chipper. Everyone preferred this side of Paul. The side that was happy and likes to joke around, not the side that was depressed and sorrow-filled.

As the night carried on Paul felt himself get more excited. In just over twelve hours he would be seeing Audrey again, and this time there will be no one there telling them to hurry up.

"Hey lads!" Paul called out across the table. "I've got a joke for you!"

"Oh yeah?" John challenged him.

"Yeah!" Paul exclaimed.

"Let's hear it then!" Ringo called out as he had one too many to drink.

"What's the best gift you can give someone?" Paul asked everyone.

"I don't know!" George exclaimed.

"A broken drum!" Paul said. Everyone looked at him weirdly. "Because no one can beat it!" Paul finished off.

"That was both the best and worst joke I've ever heard!" John exclaimed while he was joining in with the laughing.

"At least it isn't as bad as George's." Ringo said with a smirk.

"Hey!" George said from across the table.

***

Paul was now back at home it was nearing ten o'clock. Paul had to admit that the dinner that he just had out was probably the best dinner he had ever had! It was just like old times. John throwing witty comments to everyone, George enjoying food more than the actual company, Ringo making dry jokes that everyone laughed to and Paul just making his own jokes and having fun while arguing with John.

Paul sighed as he sat on the couch in the living room. As he sat down sheets of music fell onto the floor. Paul decided to be lazy and leave the papers on the ground.

With another sigh Paul realised that it was too quiet for him. So Paul got up and walked to his record player. He had a very healthy collection of records. He flicked through them all to find a record by Elvis Presley. Paul pulled the record out of the sheet very carefully, he then carefully placed the recorded on the turn table and the lifted and moved the arm to his selected track. As soon as the needle hit the record Jailhouse Rock blasted through the small flat.

Paul attempted his best Elvis Presley impression an danced and sung to the song. For the next hour and a half Paul danced and changed the sides about three times. After glancing at the clock he turned it off an carefully put the record away before he went up to bed. The thoughts of how well his day with Audrey could go was constantly buzzing around in his head.

***

In much lesser words it was time. Paul was now standing outside the restaurant that he was at last night waiting for Audrey. Paul was beyond neverous. This was his first 'date' he had been on since the horrific break up.  He and many others didn't believe that he was able to move on. But now he is attempting to prove them all wrong.

All too soon Paul saw Audrey. He felt himself freeze. Everything in his head went blank. Paul knew that she was beautiful. But never had he have his thoughts leave him.

Her hair was just below her shoulders with a little curl toward the end of her hair. She once again wore a dress and a pair of black high heels. It was simple but she looked truly beautiful.

"Hi Paul." Audrey smiled as she walked up to him.

"'Ello Audrey." Paul replied as he saw her walk up to himself.

Paul didn't really have anything in mind that he wanted to do. So they just walked and talked. They asked some of the more obvious questions.

"I've noticed you have an accent." Audrey said. Paul nodded. "Where are you from."

"Liverpool." Paul replied with a smile. Paul thought that everyone knew that The Beatles are from Liverpool, but he was wrong.

"It is obvious what my job is." Paul said as he kicked a stone on the footpath.

"Well of course it is." Audrey replied with a giggle.

"But what 'bout you?" Paul asked.

"I'm a school teacher." Audrey replied as she looked over to Paul.

"Who do you teach?" Paul asked with a look of surprise. He had never met a school teacher before (besides the ones that he had at school).

"Nine year olds."

The pair soon found themselves in the middle of a park still talking to each other as they watched the ducks swim in the pond. They had spent hours just talking to each other. Paul had to admit that it was nice to talk to someone that wasn't obsessed about The Beatles and didn't ask questions about the band every five minutes. Sure, Audrey asked a few questions but she was more concerned about knowing Paul than the band.

They soon left the park and started to walk again. As Paul walked past a bakery he realised how hungry he was. The smell of pastries was making his mouth water in delight. He looked up a head and saw a café on the corner. If he could just hold until the corner of the street he would be fine.

As they walked their arms swung in a rhythmic pattern together. Every now and then their hands wild brush against each other. Paul would feel extremely happy and he just craved to hold her hand. Paul soon made it a habit. Though he didn't do it at a regular interval. He wanted to do it but not have Audrey be wondering why his hand was always touching hers.

"Hey do you want something to eat?" Paul asked as he gestured towards the cafe.

"I would love something to eat." Audrey replied with a smile.

They both walked into the quiet cafe. There wasn't many people in the cafe. The only people in there was a old man reading the paper in the corner, a mother with two children and what looked like the shop owner. They walked to the counter and saw what was on display.

"What would you like?" Paul asked Audrey as she looked at the pastries that were in the cabinet.

"A slice of chocolate would be nice." Audrey said as she looked longingly at the chocolate.

"Sure," Paul said as he looked over at the chocolate cake. "And tea for the drink?"

"Yes please." Audrey said as she looked over at Paul.

Paul walked up to the counter and smiled at the lady at the counter. "Could I please have one chocolate cake, one carrot cake and two cups of tea?" He asked the lady.

The lady nodded and wrote down his order. "If you would like to take a table and I will bring you your food to your table." She said as she walked away to get there order ready.

Paul and Audrey looked around the cafe to see if there was an ideal place for them to sit. They looked and found a table and two chairs not that far away from the window. It was further enough away that people didn't see Paul but it was close enough so Paul and Audrey could watch the now busy street. Soon their tea and cakes arrived at the table. Even long after they had finished their cakes and tea they pair still sat there taking to each other and laughing at each other's jokes.

They soon left the cafe and started to walk back to the restaurant for where they first met today. As they were walking through the park Paul unintentionally laced his hand with Audrey's.

Audrey didn't do anything. This was because she mostly didn't feel Paul's hand holding hers, it just felt natural. They soon made it to the restaurant.

"Thank you for today." Audrey said to Paul as she blushed.

"It was my pleasure." Paul said. "Could we meet up again?" Paul asked shyly.

"Sure, how about half past three on Friday?" Audrey said with a smile.

"That would work perfectly." Paul said. They truth was that Paul knew that he had a television appearance later that night. But he was going to make it work.

"See you Friday." Audrey said as she gently removed her hand from Paul's and kissed his cheek.

She had also placed something in Paul's hand. Paul read it and smiled. He realised that it was her telephone number and her address. Now he knew where he could pick her up from. And after a long day he could now have a conversation with him. This made Paul's smile to grow as he walked away with a jump in his step.

***

A/N: Here I present to you another chapter! I actually wrote most of this chapter during my music class today! 😂 This chapter is also dedicated to Leonardo DiCapiro who had finally won a Osscar! 🎉🎉 and also to MidnightMotion for commenting and voting on the previous chapters!

-ash 💕