*
The pursuit of happiness just seems a bore
And if you take more of those, you will get an overdose
No more running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
They just helped you on your way, through your busy dying day
*

Brian was right, it was nice being on my own. The last few weeks I had more people in my life than I had for years and especially the whole thing with him and well Mary too just seemed complicated. I tried calling her, but it seemed like she wasn't home. Maybe she was still with George, but it seemed odd that she was all over him when before she had no interest in them whatsoever. What had made her change her mind? I really needed to talk to her especially since Brian had caused such a scene with her, for my sake and tell her I'm sorry. Maybe I'll try again later.

The rest of the afternoon I wandered around and looked through Brian's home. He never had bothered to show me the whole house and I thought if I was going to live here I could at least have a look around. I didn't really know what I expected, but he owned a lot of books and it somehow didn't really fit into this rock star image. On the other hand Brian always had something different about him, beside that he made me feel uneasy and was annoying. He was a lot cleverer than he let on, if he had a clear moment, but even while high he still remarked things and he seemed to be interested in a lot of different topics. Maybe if we made an effort for once we could actually hold a normal conversation, even if I now doubted that we really had much in common. He had been to so many places, read so many books and probably met the Queen, where as I only had my job and Mary... Blimey I haven't even been out of the city once...

His life seemed so much more exciting than mine... No wonder they thought I was boring or stiff and it made me curious.. I know it wasn't polite and I felt a bit guilty for going through his things, especially his photographs... However he had now so often barged into my life I could at least take a look at his stuff. He looked different in them. He seemed happier and I wondered what changed. He clearly enjoyed his music and the band, so why had he lost his interest? It couldn't only be the drugs, there was more behind it, but I doubted he would just tell me and asking him was a ticket home. I wanted to help him, really, but I wondered if I could. He and I didn't get along and he had no idea about personal space whatsoever. He was rude and demanding. Still I couldn't deny that he interested me or well his death did. It just seemed so odd and the sudden changes made it just even more mysterious. Furthermore Brian had his moments, but he wasn't an asshole usually. He owned a second chance.

After my tour I tried calling Mary again with the same result, because I had nothing better to do and no better idea I rung my own phone, maybe she had gone to my flat. It wouldn't be the first time she crashed there, because she didn't want to go home and there indeed somebody picked up.

"'ello?" I frowned that didn't sound like Mary, so who was at my flat? She wouldn't just bring somebody to it, would she? And a burglar would hardly pick up the phone.

"Can I ask whose speaking?"

"Can I ask whose asking?" He replied.

I rolled my eyes. "Listen, I just want to speak with Mary, nothing more."

"You're her friend from yesterday, aren't ye? The one Brian was lookin' for."

I sighed. "Does it matter? Please just give me her."

"A moment, luv." I heard him putting the phone down and calling Mary. It took her a few moments, but then finally I heard her voice.

"Charlie?" She asked.

"Mary, why are you with George in my flat?"

"We could hardly go to mine and he is well you know..."He was married. I sighed. "And I thought you would be leaving with Brian and would probably not return any time soon. That's where you clothes are, aren't they? Tell me when did you and Brian get together? I thought you were with Keith. What happened?"

"Eh... wouldn't it be better if we meet up to talk? I mean that's easier than discussing things over the phone... I have some questions for you as well... "

"Sure, I can come around, if you want. You're at Brian's, aren't you? Does he mind?"

"He's not here at the moment and I don't know when he's back. So I don't think he'll mind too much." And even if he would, I didn't really care. I just wanted to have a talk with her, if he was bothered just by that, then that was his problem.

"Just tell me where he lives." From the background I could hear George say something like 'Oh I know where, I'll drive you there.' Then I heard Mary giggle. "George knows, he'll drive me around. See you then."

"See you." I replied and hung up. I had no idea if Brian had a problem if Mary came around or not. He hadn't exactly said what I was allowed to do and what not at his house, but he didn't really seem like the guy for rules and it wasn't like I invited a whole bunch of people. It was just Mary and maybe George if he stayed, but I doubted it.

I changed my clothes. I still was wearing some comfortable clothes I had put on, because I thought I would be staying in, but now I wanted to at least look a bit presentable. Mary was always complaining about my clothes anyway, so I didn't need to give her any more reason to. After that I prepared some tea. I didn't know when they were going to be here, but I didn't really wanted to start anything big or new before I had to stop in the middle, which was a good plan, then Mary and George were rather quick.

The door rung and I let them in. Mary hugged me. Old. Death. I sighed. It was nice seeing her vision after the last ones I had. George offered me his hand and I took it politely. Hospital. Sick. Death. The death was still far away, no need to worry about it now and somehow I doubted that his death was any business of mine nor if I could do anything. The problem with an illness always was that I had no idea which it was. It could have been everything from a cold to cancer... Anyway I had the hands already full with Brian.

"Nice to meet you again." I told him and he nodded.

"Eh... I'll better leave now, call me or something." He hugged Mary and went back to his car. He waved and drove away. 

"Would you like to come in? I made some tea?" I offered.

"Charlie I still can't believe it! You're really with Brian Jones and we are at his house!" Mary exclaimed as she followed me to the living room.

I sighed. I could hardly tell her that I probably wished I was anywhere than here. "Well you were visiting me with George Harrison in tow so I guess were even."

She laughed. "Well that's different. So tell me how you ended up with Brian."

Neither Brian nor me had talked about that and I hadn't thought that anybody would well ask. I guess the best was to stick as close to the truth as I could. "Remember the evening I ended up in the river?" I asked her as we sat down in the living room. I purred her a cup of tea, but Mary's interest was elsewhere. She kept looking around, I suppose she was still amazed at where she was, even if I couldn't see why. We had ended up at I don't know whose flat it had been, she had slept with Mick probably twice and well George Harrison too, but now she looked like sitting with me in Brian's living room was the most unrealistic thing that could have happened.

Mary laughed. "Of course. You had me and Keith worried, we even looked around for you."

"Mick mentioned it. Well Brian rescued me and took me home... We talked and I stayed for the weekend." That wasn't the whole truth, but it was as close as I probably could without revealing too much.

"You didn't say a word about that last week!" Mary exclaimed.

"Well he and me had a fight and I didn't really think much about it, but then he appeared at my work and well we got talking again."

"And you simply moved in with the guy? And then left again? I mean he was talking about that you had disappeared!" She sounded confused and I couldn't blame her. I knew the whole story and it still sounded barmy.

"It's a bit more complicated than this, but in short yes and eh... I'm sorry for yesterday." I said.

She sighed. "Next time tell me at least when you end up with someone. He was yelling bloody murder and I had no idea what he was on about. I even feared he would scare George away. Luckily he seemed to know how Brian sometimes could get and didn't think too much about it..."

"Tell me how that happened?" I asked happily to finally being able to change the topic.

"I called you, but you weren't home. Well I guess you were at Brian's... I still went out, but it really wasn't the same. I mean it was lonely, but then George came to talk to me, because I looked lonesome and well the Beatles aren't so bad, but he's no Mick Jagger." She laughed and even I had to smile. This sounded more like the Mary I know. "He invited me to this party and I thought why not and well I felt bad for leaving you out... So I wanted to take you with me, but well I shouldn't have forced you. I was annoyed because you weren't home, I was high and other things... But I suppose you ended up being lucky... Brian made a fool out of himself for you..." She smiled a tad, but it had something sad about it. I frowned, there was definitely more behind her change in character.

"Mary is something wrong? I mean you're not usually like this..."

"I don't want to bother you with my problems, especially not now ..." She mumbled.

"You're my friend, you could never bother me and maybe I can even help you."

She sighed. "I doubt that you can do something about it, but you're right I can't hide this from you. You're always there for me, even if I just drag you somewhere... You're really a good friend." She took a deep breath. "My parents arranged a marriage for me and well I guess this will be the end of my carefree life..."

I guess I could see where this was going now... "And you want to enjoy it as much as you still can?"

She sighed. "Pretty much."

"Is there nothing you can do about it?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I doubt it. Of course I could leave, but I have no money, no place to stay nothing... I was hoping I could stay at yours, but I suppose now that you're living with Brian you no longer need your flat..."

"I'm keeping my flat, but I guess I won't use it much. You could live there, if you want."

"For real?" She looked quite happy and I nodded. I mean I really didn't need my flat for the moment and if I could help her out, why not? Of course I had no idea what the future would bring, but I don't want to see Mary unhappy after all. She was my best friend. "But the rent... I have no job and I don't want to live off of you."

"Believe me, you won't. Brian is going to pay it no matter if it's empty or if somebody staying there..."

She raised her eyebrows. "He's paying your rent now?"

"Well I didn't want to give it up and he wanted me to live with him and well it was somewhat of a compromise... Believe me, it's all rather complicated and you really don't want to know..." We hadn't really talked about that, but I mean he had offered it and still somehow this sounded wrong, especially if we were in a relationship... I really hoped Mary wouldn't think too much about it

"And really that's fine with you?" She asked unsure.

"Mary, you're my best friend, of course it is fine." She hugged me and I smiled throughout the vision.

"Thank you so much! Now all I need is a job or something... How do you look for one?"

I shook my head, but smiled. I never believed Mary would really move out from her old life, but I guess being confronted with her future let her realise that you can't put some things off forever. And I wondered if sometimes everything needed was a push in the right direction to change a life around.

Thank you for reading, voting and every single comment! It really means a lot. (:

As for the last chapter, well there was some reaction on Brian's behaviour and I can't blame any of you. It might seem worse than I actually intended too, because everything is from Charlie's view (I usually write 3rd person and I think there's a reason for that: it's easier xD) 

In short: Brian's frustrated. His band is no longer his, the drugs, alcohol etc and now he knows he's going to die and all that could save him is some stupid girl they met in a bar. He's at her mercy, he needs her and not the other way around, which probably is not the best start for a friendship. No wonder then if he isn't very fond of her and acts somewhat rude towards her. 

Preview for the next chapter: 

" What's my vision doing now?" He clapped on the bed to sign me to sit down next to him and I regretted that I hadn't changed into something more comfortable first, but well I had been worried...

I sat down and he put his arms around me. Hospital. Sick. Death. "It's the one, where you're older."

"So it is working?" He asked smiling like a five year old.

I shrugged. "Seems like it."

"Well that's good. You're really useful." And with that he pushed me down on to the bed and I yelled out in surprise. Before I could get up again he had put his legs on either side of me. "But you could be even more..."