*
I was just passing the time
I'm all alone, won't you give all your sympathy to mine?
Tell me a story about how you adore me
Live in the shadow, see through the shadow,
Live through the shadow, tear at the shadow
*

My first thought after waking up was, that my head hurt and that working today would be a real drag. I got up and looked at the clock, sighing relieved because at least I had still time. It didn't seem odd to me that I was in Brian's room or his bed, it had happened before and he obviously didn't like sleeping alone. I wouldn't have  thought much about it, hadn't there been the small detail that I had failed to notice before. I was only in my underwear. I frowned. What had happened yesterday? My head ached too much to remember much. I needed something for it and probably a drink too. I sat down in the kitchen and tried to recall the evening as good as I could. I got home, had looked for him and found him in his bedroom, smoking and I had joined him. 

At first only a few drags and everything seemed fine, but then it had hit me fully and it became so very blurry. All I had were some small scraps of memory, but nothing concrete. Brian and me drinking something and laughing in the kitchen. Lying down in his bed talking and then one of him undressing me. I bid my fingernails. I couldn't have? No I shook my head. I was still wearing underwear and even drunk or high or whatever I wouldn't do something like this. I groaned... I needed to get ready or I'll be late. I could still think about this later or never. Just forget about it seemed like a good idea. I had enough awkward memories with him already, even without these added. I showered really quick, got dressed and run away from everything, even nearly  forgetting my purse.

I sighed. Today was going to be one of these days, where you just asked yourself why you had gotten out of bed in the first place, I could just feel it. I was dead tired and felt horrible, I could just hope that my work would be peaceful today and until midday it was.

"Charlie, blimey have you seen the paper today?" Mary said as she entered the parlour high speed. I raised an eyebrow at her. Whatever there was written, must really be interesting for her to get so excited. Mr Evan cleared his throat. "Oh sorry I won't disturb you long. Well ok the good news first I got a job as secretary! Isn't that great?"

"Congrats" I smiled. I was truly happy for her that she got a chance at turning her life around and especially this fast.

"We need to celebrate that! Oh I'll pick you up after work and we go out." I was about to object, but Mary didn't even give me time. "Now to the paper, look through it!" She winked and tossed me some gossip magazine. "Well I'll go then! Sorry again for the disturbance. See you later!" And with that she was as fast gone as she had appeared.

"Is that your friend, Ben was talking about?" I nodded. "Seems like a nice girl..." Mr Evan said and then cleared his throat. "You can read that in your break." Again I just nodded. I really wanted to know why Mary would give me some magazine, but I guess there was no arguing and I could wait. My break wasn't that far away anyway and the missing 20 minutes passed somehow too.

I sat down with a sandwich, a cigarette and the magazine. I opened it and scrolled through it without finding anything really worthwhile. So I had a second look and nearly chocked on my cigarette.

George Harrison's secret love affair? Under the headline was a photo of Mary and him outside my flat and one of them at the party. Mary wasn't in neither really recognisable, but if you knew her, you would definitely recognise her. George was easier to spot in both of the pictures. I was in the photo of the party too, cigarette and drink in hand and looking totally disinterested  like I didn't give a care in the world about those two love birds. I laughed, even though it felt strange seeing my own best friend and me in a gossip magazine. I read through the article, but there wasn't much to go with the picture. George obviously had problems with his marriage. Pattie Boyd, his wife had an affair or something. I had no idea what that was about, because I usually didn't read this kind of papers. I hardly read the news, just enough to be informed.

Apparently they didn't know Mary's name, just that she had been seen a few times in the company of George Harrison, in a bar, a party etc. and the company of Brian Jones new girlfriend? There was a footnote directing towards another page. I turned there and I nearly chocked again. I wondered if Mary was trying to kill me with this or if she simply found it amusing. 

 This time there were three pictures. The first photo was of me opening the door and letting Mary in and George leaving. The second one was of Brian, Mary and me entering the restaurant. You could only see our backs and Brian had his arm around my waist. I couldn't even remember he had done that... The last one was of me and Brian, when we got inside his car after the dinner with Mary. Just looking at the pictures, it really looked like we were close. I just wondered how I hadn't remarked somebody taking them...

I read that article too. There was much more info, but well Mary and George had just a fling and Brian and me well we were at least living together and had a somewhat relationship or whatever you wanted to call it. It was probably easier to work with that from an outside view, especially after his scene at the party... There was no picture, but whoever wrote this was rather good informed about it. Well obviously he had gotten some things wrong, because well obviously we weren't dating in the first place and I hadn't left him because of drugs or because he had slept with some girl or whatever, but from what I read the journalist had at least some information. My name was missing like with Mary's article, but my pictures were far more recognisable than hers. I sighed. I should have thought about that before I decided to help somebody famous. I just hoped the papers would soon get bored of this story and nobody would bother me too much. I really didn't want to have to deal with this too.

I put the magazine in to my purse and went back to work. I really should have stayed at home. I felt horrible and even though I tried to push it out of mind the questions what happened last night crawled always back in. I sighed. I never was going to do this again, no matter what. It hadn't been the first time, but definitely the last time. At least with alcohol I normally passed out before I could do something stupid like this. I groaned. Mary! How was I going to survive a night with her after this? I guess I just tell her that I'm sick and ask for her to reschedule or something... I sighed one drink might not hurt. I probably couldn't feel worse, but only one drink I promised myself. That way I could talk to her and still go home early.

Work was nearly finished, when Mary appeared again. I suppose she couldn't wait until I had finished. Mr Evan laughed and told us to go, which we very gladly did. We just went around the corner to some pub.

"Mary, Just one dink. I'm really tired." I said as we sat down next to the counter and ordered our round of drinks. Mary had a whisky, but I couldn't handle that now, at least not pure. I ordered mine with coke. I would have avoided the alcohol altogether, but we were celebrating and just sipping on a coke seemed odd.

She smiled. "No problem. I'll start working tomorrow and I don't want to be late on my first day."

I laughed. "Strange hearing you say that."

She laughed too. "It is, isn't it? And the magazine, wasn't that odd too? I mean I never would have expected you or me featured in one and the pictures of you and Brian are so cute! I'd really like to ask for them, but I doubt they would just give them to me. I mean they would make a lovely present, they are probably the first photos of you and him together and the one of George, me and you on the couch is just hilarious! I would really like a print."

"Eh... I think there's no need for that."

"There probably will be more in the future!" She exclaimed laughing.

I frowned. Did she really believe Brian and me were good couple? But well from her point of view, it must look like he cared about me, I mean how he behaved at the party must seem like he was pretty serious about me. "We'll see, but that's not why we are celebrating. You've got a job! I still can't believe it. Where do you work?" I asked and lit myself a cigarette.

Mary shrugged. "Just around the corner at some office. Nothing big, but it's close and I get my own money."

I smiled. "That's good. Oh and have you read my message?"

"Yes... but I'm not really sure about it. I'm not really looking for something at the moment." She sighed. "And in all honesty I still think his job is creepy and I don't know."

I raised my eyebrows and took a sip of my glass. "He's not Mick Jagger?"

She laughed. "Well I already had the pleasure, so there's no need for that any more, but I just got out of an arranged marriage and I don't want to dive into a serious relationship right away and it was fun with Mick and George. I think I'll keep this casual business up a bit longer. You'll never know who I might score next." She winked. "Oh and George called me yesterday, who knows what that brings?"

I laughed. "Just talk to Ben please, for me."

She smiled. "Sure and I'm sorry for that, but you do understand me?" I nodded. "If it's a comfort or whatever I doubt that with me and George gets anywhere. He's nice, but we don't really fit together... So Ben's not out of the race yet." She joked. "Except if I find somebody else, but who? The Who! You don't know per chance Roger Daltrey? His body is to die for."

I shook my head smiling. "If it helps, I met John Entwistle at the party and well the whole band will be at the gig on the 11th Keith invited us too."

"Blimey! I forgot about that! That's just perfect!" She exclaimed laughing. "Let me pay for your drink!"

We talked a bit more and then we parted. I didn't really want to go back and face Brian, after yesterday, but I didn't really had much choices either and maybe nothing  had happened and I was just overreacting. The things I could remember weren't that bad at least...

It was already pretty late when I got home. The tube had been horribly late and it took me even longer than usual. I sighed I probably really needed a driver's license now. When I entered I found Brian sitting in the kitchen eating something.

"Hey you're late."

I shrugged. "Eh... I've been out with Mary and the train was late."

He looked surprised. "Really? Even though you were out so much yesterday? I thought you wouldn't get up in the morning."

I sighed. "I never miss work and I've been well out before."

"But you're more used to drinking. You had next to nothing and we're trashed... well it was fun." He chuckled. "You should do that more often."

"No thank you." I said as I sat down and decided to eat something with him. I hadn't eaten dinner yet and this was probably the best occasion I was going to have today.

"Let me guess, you can't remember much." He still chuckled. "I'm not surprised, even if it's a pity. You're actually really fun."

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks..."

"But if you're wondering, we just talked, had a drink and I put you to bed. Oh and you might have kissed me."

I frowned. "I might have...?"

"You were about to, I think, but pulled away... Pity. I still have some, would you like to repeat the evening?" He winked.

I rolled my eyes. "No, definitely not... I'm dead tired. I'll shower and go to bed."

He laughed. "I didn't expect you too, but a man can still hope."

"Bye." I shook my head and head to the bathroom. At least I knew now what had happened even if it was only a very short version of the evening. I really needed to stop overanalysing things. On the other hand I had been right with what concerned Mary. There had been more behind it than just a simple party feeling, but well that was one out of ten I had gotten right. Perhaps Brian was right and I needed to loosen up a tad. I mean I couldn't stay away from people forever, especially now with Brian. Why did Mary have to meet the Rolling Stones couldn't she have settled for the Beatles like everybody else? Yes John was going to die in 10 years, which is not that long, but not like 10 months and shooting was easier to avoid than drowning in a fuckin' swimming pool for no apparent reason whatsoever. And George well whatever sickness was going to end his life still gave him 32 years. I hadn't met Paul and Ringo, but at least it seemed like the Beatles hadn't one foot in the grave... I sighed. This was stupid. It had nothing to do with the band or whatsoever Brian was going to die and that was something that could happen to everyone, well in fact it does. Only sometimes it does earlier than one could think. My head was so messed up I probably shouldn't be thinking in the first place and just go to sleep.

I got ready and just went to bed, my bed to precise, but I doubted that I would spend the night on my own and I was right. Sometime during the night a vision woke me up, but I just shrugged it off and continued sleeping and this became somewhat of our rhythm.

Another meh chapter, but soon we are back to some funnier parts of the story: The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll circus :3 I think I somewhere in the story mixed the dates up and stated it was the 10th when it should have been the 11th. Well sorry! Oh and if somebody hasn't heard of that performance, just look it up on the Internet. It's a great show, featuring not only the Stones, but lots of other interprets as well (John Lennon, Jethro Tull, Marianne Faithfull,  Yoko Ono (the part you really should skip for the sake of your ears... believe me) Taj Mahal and the act you really need to see the Who!) I probably would kill to get a chance to travel back and be there in the audience... Nevermind xD

Anyway Thanks for reading, voting & commenting! (:

Preview for the next chapter:

"So tell me when did you have the honour to be in Mick's company?" Brian raised his eyebrows.

"Didn't it cross your mind maybe once that I didn't find you attractive either and would rather spend my time with somebody else?" I retorted.

He smiled. "Then I'm sorry to inform you that you're not Mick's type and anyway you're my girlfriend remember?"

I groaned. "Didn't you have things to do?"

 Brian laughed. "You're really no fun, want to have a smoke with me?" I just shook myhead and he went off again.