Ringo's PoV

I've hugged my mum one last time and slowly walked into the courtroom. My legs were shaking and I had no idea how did I manage to reach the defendant's place. I sat beside my lawyer.

"Don't worry," he said and I nodded.

The man smiled warmly but I couldn't pull myself together and smile back; I was terrified. Staying in the arrest itself was like hell to me. I tried not to think about the prison, asylum or wherever they wanted to put me in. Instead, I thought about George — that he cared about me, that he'll do and say everything to save me. I loved him so much.

After a while the judge walked in.

"I am opening the trial."

It has begun.

An indictment was read — it didn't make any sense to me. Really strange to hear something so ridiculous in the court. Finally, it was my turn. I stood up, my knees going weak and flinched at the judge's voice.

"Is defendant feeling good?"

Of course not! How anyone could feel good in this situation?! Was this all a fucking joke?!

"Y-yes, of course."

"Alright. Let's start then... Name, surname."

I made it through all the formalities, praying deep inside for them to never end. Compared to what was gonna start, they were quite nice.

"Is the defendant pleading guilty or not?" Guilty? Was he for real?

"N-no, Your Honour, I'm not."

"Naturally. So, what is exactly your relationship with the witness George Harrison?"

I swallowed nervously. "Well, we're friends. Bandmates. George is like a brother for me." The certainty in my voice surprised me — he was like this to me until very recently, after all.

"What about your relationship with Paul McCartney and John Lennon?"

"The same, they're my friends."

"How will the defendant refer to the photos provided by the witness Peter Best?" This time the prosecutor spoke.

I hesitated; my lawyer stood up. "My client doesn't have to answer this question." He started to invoking some paragraphs, quoting the acts. I trusted this man, he knew what was he doing. At least him.

Then they interrogated Pete.

He talked about the photos, about how he caught us after that concert. But also that because of our romance we threw him out of the band and that our relationship has been going on for a long time, and he suspected us from the very beginning.

We both knew these were lies. But it looked like he convinced the court.

"Why didn't you call the police before, then?"

Pete was confused — he didn't know how to answer — but soon continued. "I couldn't tell, until I was sure."

"Sure?"

"I suspected them and it seemed that I'm right, but I had no evidences. Now it's certain. This Starkey is just a pathetic queer."

"Watch your mouth, mister Best."

"Right. I'm sorry, Your Honour."

Damn, that's all... Even if he thought it up quick, it seemed believable. And surely it was enough to convince them that I'm guilty.

***

Update at 1 am? Yea why not