"No way! Seriously? You're putting me on!" Minnie spoke frantically in the middle of the school hallway in disbelief after hearing the news about how my uncle decided to manage The Beatles. I quickly put my hand over her mouth to quiet her irritatedly.

"Yes, seriously, and could you speak any louder?" I spoke harshly sending apologetic smiles to our school peers who were now staring at us with curiosity thanks to Minnie. I retracted my hand after seeing her roll her eyes.

"Well excuse me, but it's not everyday Brian decides to manage four painfully gorgeous boys." She spoke in a daze. I shook my head and scoffed knowing that she had completely missed my point that I had gushed about to her minutes ago.

"Okay look, I'm sorry, I know Brian touring around and working more often is a drag, but Poppy, it's the Beatles." She whined tugging on the sleeve of my uniform blazer.

"Oh gosh you're right, what was I thinking?" I spoke flatly grabbing my things from my locker in preparation to get back to the NEMS store since school had just finished for the day.

"Look, all I'm saying is this doesn't have to be a bad thing, I'm sure there's at least a few upsides to having the boys around." She winked suggestively making me repress the urge to break into a huge grin, she may have been a worrier by day, but she was boy crazy by night.

"But whether he's a manager or not, you still need to talk to your uncle, you can't ignore him forever." She sent a sympathetic smile patting my shoulder. I sighed as I shut my locker and turned to face her once again.

"I hate it when you're right." I groaned. For the past couple days my uncle had tried to make amends but I had been giving him the cold shoulder. I guess I was so afraid of losing him to his job that I thought it would be easier to try and be angry at him so when he leaves to go touring I wouldn't feel as lonely because I wouldn't miss him, but so far it hadn't been working well at all. All I was doing was feeding a huge amount of guilt to my self conscious making me feel like a gigantic jerk.

Once Minnie and I had parted our separate ways outside the school I knew I had to try and get things to be right between my uncle and I, the last time I had been this upset with him I was still only under five feet tall and just learning the truth about Santa Clause.

I walked along the snowy sidewalks a few blocks to the NEMS store watching my own breath in the frigid January weather and feeling my chest tighten slightly from the freezing air. It felt almost the same way it did when I had been down in the Cavern club but I decided to ignore it and keep walking, too preoccupied with my guilt ridden conscious to give my shortness of breath a second thought. When I finally saw the store sign I was already rehearsing an apology in my head over and over again.

Through the fogged window of the store I could faintly make out four very Beatle like figures making a large pit grow in the bottom of my stomach. After John and I's chat the other morning I dreaded when I'd have to be in the same room with him and George at the same time. This would also only make apologizing to my uncle more difficult, with them around I had a feeling I would barely have two minutes alone to talk in private with my uncle.

I prayed I'd go unnoticed as I crept into the store as quietly as humanly possible but the loud clanking of the bells at the door gave away my entrance leading all the eyes in the room shift to my direction. I sent a weary smile with crimson red cheeks as I walked behind the counter quietly noticing Johns smugness had increased upon my arrival.

My uncle spoke a brief greeting and quickly turned his attention back to the boys and they continued on with their conversation. Since the store was almost completely empty of customers I grabbed a book from my school book bag and began to read trying desperately to avoid the intense stare of John that was burning into the side of my head.

"You mean you want us to wear, suits?" I managed to hear Paul ask clearly disgusted by the idea. I nearly burst out into laughter, my uncle had only officially been their manager a few days and he was already planning on dressing the boys up like the next Buddy Holly and the Crickets?

"Yes, I have them in my office. I'll go grab them for you." My uncle spoke with a gigantic smile audible on his voice. I winced feeling deeply sorry for my uncle, to get one of those suits on one of those boys while they performed would take a lot of convincing.

While they talked amongst themselves I had finally started to read the book and tuning out of their conversation. It got a bit difficult to focus when suddenly I heard a loud shuffle and a sudden groan of agony coming from in front of me. I looked up to see George much closer to the other side of the counter rubbing the side of his ribs wincing as Paul stood smirking behind him. George licked his lips anxiously, awkwardly standing in front of me looking at a loss for words.

"W-what's that you're reading?" George asked suddenly, his voice cracking as he forced a nervous grin on his lips.

I smiled and closed the book to admire the cover. I was a bit hesitant to admit it but I enjoyed reading and writing and all the kinds of things that people would consider boring, but to consider myself an intellectual was a bit of a stretch, I had always figured I'd be working at this NEMS shop with my uncle for the rest of my life anyhow so I wouldn't need to be, but now that things were changing who knows what was to come anymore.

"To Kill a Mocking Bird." I said with a blush feeling his big brown eyes boring onto me watching my every movement. I hesitantly looked up with a meek smile trying to fight the butterflies that were fluttering around my stomach furiously. I bet John was getting quite the show out of this.

"Gear." He smiled looking slightly more comfortable. There was a painfully long moment of awkward silence as he stuffed his hands into his leather jacket pockets.

"Isn't there something you'd like to ask her George?" John asked with a smirk as he walked over to stand next to George. I would've thought he was taking a crack at me if it weren't for his eyes remaining on George and seeming to completely block me out for a moment, making slight confusion creep up on me uncertain of what he was getting at.

"Ask me what?" I asked looking at John perplexed, uncertain if he was being serious or not.

"Ask, you to, come to a party Friday night at Rory's house, with us all." Paul spoke pursing his lips and looking at John like he had almost told me about something he shouldn't have. John nodded with a fake smile growing.

"Really? What time should-" I started to speak excitedly when John cut in.

"We'll get you at eight. Enough questions!" John waved me off dismissively. I rolled my eyes and leaned my chin on my hand. I was definitely missing something between the three of them and George. They were all snickering at his absolute mortified expression. Well that was strange and exciting all at once. They invited me to a party at Rory Storms house?? Minnie was going to tear my head off.

"Here they are!" My uncle exclaimed bringing out four matching suits out making the faces of the rock n rollers contort into absolute disgust and horror.

"What happened to "we get to keep our own image"?" Paul asked making air quotations then crossing his arms very moodily.

"I'm not saying you have to wear them. Just, try them on and see what you think...please?" My uncle smiled the way he always did when he wanted me to do something for him. He usually gets what he desires when he puts his mind to it, so I was curious to see who'd get their way this time.

Hesitantly one by one the four boys left to go change in the washroom leaving my uncle and I by ourselves in a dead silence. I cleared my throat nervously making my uncle look over to me almost a bit frightened to see what I was about to say.

"I'm, I'm really sorry I've been such a bad niece uncle Bri." I said with a frown. He seemed to perk up a bit and a small grin settled on his lips.

"Oh you haven't been an awful niece, I'm the one who should be sorry, I should've told you sooner about all this. I was just scared you'd hate me." He paused making me smile a bit.

"-You don't hate me right?" He asked with uncertainty. I shook my head with a small laugh making him relax.

"Course not. I could never stay mad at you." I spoke sheepishly seeing his smile grow.

Less than a minute later Paul came out leading the other three matching band mates in a walk of shame. My uncles face lit up seeing his four new rock n roll ken dolls showing off their dazzling new outfits. Although I thought the idea of them in suit and ties was a bit far fetched I had to say they actually looked very handsome and mature all dressed up.

"What d'you think?" Paul asked me doing an over exaggerated strut and twirl. I giggled at him as his goofy grin awaited my answer.

"It suits you." I said trying not to laugh at myself.

"Was that a pun Epstein?" John asked with a playful smirk. I nodded giggling at my own joke making smiles stretch on all of their faces.

When I looked at George, I almost completely zoned out seeing his suit fit his tall and slender figure quite nicely, looking like he was meant to be wearing it. When our eyes met for a brief moment it felt like suddenly the world had stopped around us and it was only the two of us in the room. With every pound of my heartbeat I seemed to get lost further and further into his eyes, suddenly very fascinated with the colour of his eyes. I was surprising myself with how strongly I felt about George in that moment, a way I've never felt about anyone else before. Something about him made my whole mood lighten and my insides feel warmer and sweeter.

I soon broke away from his gaze knowing better than to continue to let myself fall for George, it seemed like a one way street leading to a dead end, he'd never like me like that, my mind kept reminding me.

I saw John looking between George and I pretty contented with himself, like all this was some sort of game to him. I realized as I looked at Paul and Pete they were also looking between the two of us quite amusedly. I blushed and looked back down at my book. Did John tell them I like him?

"So Poppy." Paul spoke suddenly making me jump slightly surprised I hadn't heard him move closer. He chuckled lightly seeing me clutch onto my chest trying to prevent my heart from beating out of my chest.

"What do you think of lead guitarists?" He asked propping his head on his hands while his elbows rested on the counter. My stomach dropped, he had told them hadn't he? Maybe George was so repulsed by the idea that I had a measly little crush on him so they all made fun of him for it. Yeah, that was probably it.

"Did John tell you I like George?" I suddenly blurted out surprising myself and slapping my hand to my mouth to keep me from embarrassing myself further.

"You like George back?" Paul's eyebrows raised up in shock.

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