Chapter 17:

I woke up late the next day late, Paul still being beside me. It was already 12 in the afternoon, I groaned in annoyance, I can’t believe we slept so late into the day. I got up quietly, putting on Paul’s night pants over my underwear and just left my tank top on. As I snuck out of my room, I noticed nobody else had waken up either. I left for the kitchen, setting up the water for tea and turning for the fridge. The fling door to the kitchen opened silently, like I had moments before. Quick steps towards me and a sigh kept my back to the fridge.

“Emi-” He began to say but I cut him off to quickly.

“Don’t. You said all you needed to yesterday. Didn’t you?” I told George harshly, maybe a little to much, then shutting the fridge door milk and an apple in hand.

“No, because I was drunk and not thinking.” George said softly, like he should be the one crying.

“Then why? Why did you say it? Why would you say such awfulthings if you didn’t mean to? I thought you cared about me? You’re not supposed to do that to people you care about and supposedly love.”

“I did it because I wasn’t thinking! I wanted to give you a reason to be mean and hate me! I wanted something to make me stop loving you! So I could hate you, but I ended up hating myself even more. I can’t stop thinking about you, I hate that I was horrible to you. I want you, I need you, I love you. I-I even finished your song.” George said yelling at first but becoming hurt, his voice breaking with almost every word. I couldn’t stand it.

“Geor-”

“No, stay here. I’ll be right back.” George says cutting me off and running of, out the door.

“I know you’re confused. I just want you to listen okay?” He asked me, setting up his guitar, tuning it a bit “Will you please?” George asked me with pleading eyes.

“Okay” I said softly, watching George’s reaction hurting me deeply, due to the mix of sadness and excitement.

“You don't realize how much I need you

Love you all the time and never leave you

Please come on back to me

I'm lonely as can be

I need you

Said you had a thing or two to tell me

How was I to know you would upset me?

I didn't realize as I looked in your eyes

You told me, oh yes, you told me, you don't want my lovin' anymore

That's when it hurt me and feeling like this I just can't go on anymore

Please remember how I feel about you

I could never really live without you

So, come on back and see just what you mean to me. I need you

But when you told me, you don't want my lovin' anymore

That's when it hurt me and feeling like this I just can't go on anymore

Please remember how I feel about you

I could never really live without you

So, come on back and see just what you mean to me

I need you

I need you

I need you”

George sang, while playing a sweet melody. His eyes, every time he’d glance up to look up at me, looked as if he was going to cry, and I couldn’t help myself, but letting a tear or two escaper, but quickly wiping them away.

“I love you Emily” He tells me, setting his guitar back in the living room, I quickly let out the downpour of tears, then wiping them away just as quick as he comes in. “I can’t hel-” George begins to say, but stops as the swing door opens up.

“ ‘Ello Geo. Mornin’ love.” Paul says, coming in, his hair scuffed up, messy bed head and like George, in only his night pants.

“Good morning” I tell Paul, while he kisses the top of my head, then turning towards the tea, “Have you seen Dona or John?”

“ ‘aven’t seen John, but I heard ‘em snorinnn’” Paul tells me, and I nod, walking out the door and down the hall towards Dona’s room.

“HEY WAKE UPPP!!!” I yelled jumping on top of Dona, she groaned and shifted under my weight, “Man, it’s almost 1! You know what today is!” I told her, shaking her arms.

“I’M UP!” She shouted, sitting up as I rolled off of her. “You and Paul get ready, John and I will need to.”

“Oh you and John?” I asked, my smile turning into a smirk, wiggling my eyebrows playfully at her, a huge blush spreading across my best friend’s face that I haven’t seen so bright since her first kiss.

“Shudddup or get the hell out of me room!” Dona said, her face blushing even more.

“Well I’m going to get the boys in order and get dressed myself. See ye.” I told her, as she walked to her dresser and I closed the door after me.

I started walking down the hallway wondering how I’ll ever get John ready and on time, I walked to his door and knocked, not knowing if he was awake or not.

“Come in.” John called, his voice surprised me, but not as much as a only-underwear-clothed-John-Lennon as I walked in.

“Shit, John. Put some clothes on!” I said, laughing and guarding my eyes as I shut the door to talk to him in private.

“Did you say take it off?” He asked and I could almost see the smirk on his face.

“John, we have somewhere to go, remember?” I told him, looking at him once I heard a zipper go up “Wear something kind of nice if you want to come, we’ll be wearing dresses so maybe you can clean up a bit and wear a suit.” I tell him, shaking out his hair.

“Obviously you haven’t seen any of our pictures or us performing.”

“Obviously not John, but you don’t wear suit’s a lot in front of me.”

“I hate those damned monkey suits. I’m a rocker! NOT a mod! Bloody hell and we have to bow after performing, I fooking hate it.” John said in disgust, I just rolled my eyes, always the dramatic John Lennon.

“Well will you do it today. For Dona and I?” I asked giving him puppy dog eyes.

“For Dona.” He said and a big smirk rose to my face and before I could point anything out he rushed “AND YOU! Yeah you and Dona, of course.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, Lennon’s in love! And with my best friend. Wow, what if I don’t approve?” I asked him, my smirking growing by the second, John starting to even blush. I would definitely approve of Dona and John though, but I just like giving John a hard time.

“Love overcomes everything. That includes your opinion. Plus I swear I’d treat Dona right.”

“Whatever John, let’s get ready” I told him, leaving and going to my own room to get ready.

After an hour John, Dona, Paul and I were all ready to go. Paul and I road were up front, Paul driving by the directions I was giving him. Around 3pm we finally arrived at the cemetery. I remember walking this path everyday.

“Dad, Dona and I are here, along with Paul and John.” I said, sitting with my knees to the side, due to the fact that I was wearing a dress, along with Dona.

“I’ve missed you so much.” Dona began “I think we all have”

“It’s been a really long and amazing year. I’ve met a lot of new people, like my wonderful friends and boyfriend Paul” I say quietly and I couldn’t cry anymore, neither could Dona, Paul only crocked out a ‘hello’

“We can’t really cry anymore, can we? I think we’ve come to realize you wouldn’t want us to be crying, but we really can’t forget you. Paul is taken care of Emily nicely, I’ll still keep my promise.” Dona told him laughing at the memory.

“You’ve brought these two girls up perfectly. They’re turning into two beautiful and amazing people.” John said to my dad, which shocked me. I guess maybe he was there for more than emotional support.

“Happy Holiday’s dad. I hope it’s good. We love ye. Always will.” I said before we left, we had been there for a while talking about memories and just goofing around, I could almost feel his presence.

“Where to now?” Paul asked, starting up the car after we had all gotten inside.

“Lunch?” John asked and we all agreed on that idea, we must have looked like an odd couple of people, me and Dona in black dresses and the boys in nice suits, on such a regular day and so close to Christmas.

The next couple of days seemed to blend together, George didn’t try to finish where we had left off except for telling me that we’d finish it. Dona and I were informed on the ‘Beatles Christmas Traditions’ which include lots of things but mostly, acting sneaky and buying last minutes gifts and my favorite: Not putting out Ringo’s gifts because he’ll wake up at 4 in the morning, unwrap of them, looking at them, then wrap them back up. Christmas Eve, Dona, John, Paul, Ringo, George and I went to my grandparents ‘traditional’ Christmas Eve dinner. My grandparents loved the boys and George for the bare minimum we could say he loved their cooking, but before it got to late we got home and started getting drunk and wrapping presents.

********************************

“IT’S CHRISTMAS!!! WAKE UP!!! TIME FOR PRESENTS!!! COME ON!!!!” I heard, pulling open my eyes to see Ringo jumping up and down on the bed, Paul with a big smirk on his face. “COME ON EMILY!!!!!”

“HEY!” I yelled louder than him, calming down his yelling and somewhat of his jumping “Let me get dressed first and the camera!”

“OKAY YAY!” Ringo said jumping off the bed and shutting the door behind him, I looked over to a smirking Paul.

“What?” I asked, suddenly feeling very self conches with Paul’s eyes and smirk on me.

“Ye don’t remember? It’s tradition to wear your nightwear, now he’ll tell the boys ’bout yer lack o’clothinnn’” Paul said, sipping his coffee nonchalantly.

“Whatever, hand me your pants please.”

“Ah, ah, ah, ye didn’t sleep in these. Now you’ll ’ave to wear yer knickers out there.” Paul said to me, with his sleeping pants, around his finger.

“If you give me the pants, they’ll see less of me. So maybe in reward ye can see more of me?” I said making it sound more like a question with a sly grin. Paul agreed immediately and threw me the bottoms.

“Thank ye.” I say after pulling them on under the covers so he couldn’t see me, walking on the bed, jumping off from it I plant a kiss on Paul’s cheek.

“Don’t forget your presents” Paul tells me after kissing my lips in return, I nod my head and pull out a huge bag of specially wrapped presents from the closet. “Damn love, have enough things?”

“Well I had to buy my amazing boyfriend something didn’t I?” I tell him and we walk hand-in-hand to the big Christmas tree in the middle of the living room. It’s the cutest shot I’ve ever seen and I capture it with my camera: John and Dona are sitting and drinking coffee, John’s arm wrapped around her shoulder securely, Ringo with his big blue eyes gleaming at the presents, that he has now surrounded himself in and George with sleepy eyes, messed up hair, going through his stocking and eating candy.

“YAY!!! YOU’RE HERE!!! LOOK AT THOSE PRESENTS!!!! IM SO EXCITED!!!!” Ringo says, his eyes brightening and widening even more if that’s possible.

“We know..” George groans and we all laugh about how cranky George seems to be up early. “WOAH THAT’S A LOT OF PRESENTS!!!” And now we’re all laughing at how excited George seemed to get over his sleepy and grumpiness quite quickly.

“Okay, come off it. All presents opened in front of everyone too! No secrets!” John said and we all agreed, Paul and I taking our places around the trees and presents.

“I WANT TO OPEN THE FIRST PRESENT!!” Ringo cries out

“Keep yelling, complaining and nagging ye won’t open any presents! Making me sound like Mimi.” John tells Ringo and they agree to keep the yelling at a minimum. “Well great, now that we have an understanding… Ringo! OPEN THIS GIFT FROM ME FIRST!!” John says, throwing Ringo a wrapped box, he eagerly tears threw it while I take pictures of it. Again Ringo’s eyes go big.

“No. John. Thank you SOOO MUCH!!!” Ringo says flinging his arms around John, who hugs him back with his free arm. Paul, George and I look over to the opened box, it’s black and on the inside is wrapped in green velvet with these beautiful drum sticks and they must of be worth wild the way Paul, John, George and especially Ringo were acting. “How could this get any better?”

“Not killing me” John says with rugged breathing, causing Ringo to quickly lets him go and apologize. “Oh and it will get better, here.”

Ringo quickly takes the bag from John’s hand and pulls out the tissue paper “HECK YEEAH I LOVE GUMMY BEARS!!! And Johnny!” Ringo shouts, pulling John into another hug. Most of out morning went like that, from the big gifts to the small ones, the normal ones and the outrageous ones I knew it’d be a Christmas I’d never ever forget.

For the main gifts I bought John a big thick book of Edgar Allen Poe books and plays, he in return gave me another book, plus a handmade in India wind chime which was very beautiful and traditional looking. For Ringo I bought him a nice set of conga drums, he gave me a costume made lava lamp. I bought Dona a locket that she had been eyeing up in this store for about a year and a half, she gave me a brown leather purse that, goes over your neck, along with leather hair bands and a glass bracelet. Paul was probably the hardest, but I ended up giving him a memory book of us, along with a glass photo frame of my favorite picture of Paul and I, along with a brown leather bracelet that was hand carved (in store of course) with our initials and anniversary on it. Paul who flabbergasted me with this present gave me a jewelry book, with some very old and new jewelry in it. Paul had told me that when he asked his grandmother what to give me, she pulled out the jewelry box. It was amazing, maybe 12in or a little bigger/smaller tall, a side that’s glass that pulls out for rings and long necklaces, then 3 drawers that cover the other half, with a full length drawer at the bottom. For George I picked out a French book that my mother used to be very found of, it described meaning of life, family, love, friend, etc, and I had become found of it too, I wrote him a note inside saying:

George,

I hope you get as much enlightenment and use of this book as I did. My mother loved it, so do I and I think you will too. You’re very special and near in my heart, just like this book. Have a wonderful Christmas and don’t forget how bright you shine, never let your light go out.

Your, love, worst enemy, tracker and friend

Emily.

George too got me a sentimental gift, a 45record with the music he wrote about me on it, a long with a hand drawn picture of a sun and a moon with the quote “A thousand moments that I had just taken for granted -- mostly because I had assumed that there would be a thousand more.”

Everything was perfect and I was in pure bliss, even if the boys did tell each other to Sod off once in awhile for the stupid ‘joke’ gifts. For example, John bought ‘me’ a mans wallet, just so I’d give it back to him.

**Dona’s P.O.V.**

The day was winding down and we were in the same place that we had started it off in, it was amazing- one of the top Christmas’s ever by far- except for one thing: John. I had expect after all this time he’d ask me out, I knew he liked me by the way he acted around me, plus the other boys and Emily. Today seemed like a perfect time but with it getting late and all, I came to the conclusion of ‘nope not today either’

“Eh, Dona, come make some tea with me will ye?” John asked me, in the middle of talking

“I’ll come help” Ringo starts off but I see the sudden glare from Emily that says ‘Ringo, don’t you dare, I will murder you’ “Oh, never mind, I gotta use the lou” Ringo says, quickly scurrying off.

“Weird, so ye comin’?” John asked me again, playing with his hands all nervous like, I nod my head and big grins spread across both of our faces. “Come ‘ed your room”

“This isn’t the way to make tea” I state, with a smirk playing across my face, but I follow him into my room.

“I got this for you.” John states, holding out a wrapped box.

“I thought yo-” I begin to say but John quickly cuts me off.

“I know what I said, but it’s more of a introduction?” I nod my head to his words but not understanding at all. I open the box and inside is a 45 of Buddy Holly songs.

“Buddy Holly huh?” I ask, looking down with a grin on my face, reading the songs, they’re all love songs.

“I’d try and make you a mix tape, but I-I- was in such a rush.”

“Well, I love it and Buddy Holly. Thank you” I tell him and we hug, soft and nervous at first, but then John’s hands wrap around my waist and pull me close. It feels good being so close to John, protective and loving, I can small peppermints, man spray and cigarettes on him. All my senses feel heightened, and I’m sad as I feel him start to pull away, but I let go anyways and then he begins.

“I like you. I thought you were breath taking when I first saw you. I wanted to ask you to be w-with me. Go steady ye know?” John asked, all nervous-like and I think it’s the most adorable-yet sexy- thing I’ve ever seen, he puts on such a ‘bad boy’ act and now he’s timid to ask me out.

“Of course John, I’d love to.” I tell him and he pulls me into another hug, letting go quickly this time and pointing above him, to the mistletoe above our heads. I in response turn my head, so he can kiss me on the cheek. I do not want to rush into things with John, we went out on a date twice and now we’re going steady. I really hope John will understand when I tell him I want to take it slow, but he doesn’t seem that effected and kisses my cheek in response, entwining his fingers with mine and going back into the living room, just him and I together - or so I thought it was.

“We’re back” John announces, as we walk into the living room,

“ ‘El-” George begins, but stops as he looks at us, a smirk starts playing on his lips “Ay John, that ain’t tea,” I stiffel a laugh as I look up at John’s irritated, yet blushed looking face, yet no one else seems to notice and laughs at George’s remark.

“Why don’t John and I go and make tea. How ‘bout it John?” Paul asked John, saving him from the awkward situation George had put us both in. John asks me if it’s alright and of course it is, John kisses me on the head and points with his head to the door, while Paul gets up from his side.

“Just promise me you won’t come back holding hands with John.” Emily tells Paul and everyone burst out laughing, even John and I.

“Oh I hope not.” I tell him, smiling up at him. ]

“I dunno, John’s very convincing.” Paul says with a smile, walking out the door behind John, towards the kitchen. I go and replace Paul’s place on the carpet beside Emily. Both George and Emily stare at me, urging me to explain what the was all about, but I play dumb.

“What?”

“Bloody hell, what was that all about?” Emily asks with a smile on her face.

“Nothi-” But before I could even finish the word George cuts me off.

“Stop lyin’”

“Yeah we all saw it” Emily adds in and I sigh, trying to sound a little annoyed, but it probably came out sounding excited.

“He asked me to go steady, and to go on another date. soon.” I tell them, I have a huge smile on my face, the kind of smile that makes you want to scream out in joy, but you can’t, so you smile and it feels as if your face might tear in two.

“Well congrats. I’m happy for you two, I actually already talked to him.” Emily says and her and George start laughing as I groan. Emily usually despised my boyfriends, mostly because they were pieces of crap, so I’m glad Emily and John already have a sturdy friendship. But imagining what she said to him, gave me very humorous thoughts.

“It’s nice neither you, nor him had thoughts about other people, hm? You two sound and look great together.” George said, and my head immediately snapped to Emily, trying to see the damage it had done, her face turned from happiness, horror, sadness, and numb in less than 2 seconds right before my eyes, it was like watching the steps of having to tell someone about a death of another person. “Shit, no Emily, I re-”

Of course Emily wouldn’t let him finish his sentence, she wouldn’t stand for an apology about something that didn’t hurt her, but I knew inside it broke her heart, she cut him off with “It doesn’t matter. You can’t take back words, wounds, or broken promises. So don’t. I’m sick of it. Tell me what you want and if you can’t do that, then don’t you dare blame me.” She told him, her voice even changing for each sentence, numb, then hurt, numb, pissed and then a mix between them all. Emily got up silently, George and I watched her disappear out the door.

“That was such an asshole move” I tell George, his eyes, turn to me, looking away from where Emily had just been sitting, then to the door she just walked out of, then back to me.

“I really didn’t mean to! It just slipped out”

“And if things like that just keep ‘slipping’ out, then you’ll never get anything from her, she’ll be numb to you. I like you George, so I’ll make it simple. Go apologize, there are things about her you won’t ever understand, especially if you treat her in this eat-shit way. I know how much you mean to her, even if you aren’t hers, it still is tearing her apart.” I told him, and George just kept looking at me dumbfound “Better get going, before John and Paulie come back.”

**George’s P.O.V.**

I sprinted out of the living room and into the hallway to Emily’s room. Tons of thoughts were rushing through my head. Dona was right. I don’t know Emily. But I want to explore every inch of her brain. I didn’t mean what I said. Am I breaking up Paul and Emily? I can’t hurt Emily. I can’t hurt Paul. I love them both, in very different and complex ways. I need to say I’m sorry.

I take a deep breathe as I reach Emily’s door. I swiftly knock on the door and wait, no answer. I knock again, before deciding to walk in. There laid, this beautiful and confusing mess of a girl, who I needed to know more about, scribbling down words at a very fast pace, in a notebook I recognized as a birthday gift.

“Hi George.” Emily says, but doesn’t lift her head from her notebook.

“How’d you know it was me?”

“I notice the difference in the sound of footsteps, plus I do have a peripheral vision.”

“Ah, yes. That’s not really what I came to talk about”

“Then say what you need to talk about, I mean I at least need the topic”

“I didn’t mean what I said back there. I’m sorry, and it feels like I’ve been apologizing way to much lately. I just keep screwing everything up it feels like. But since you told me, to tell you my feelings, I will.” I say to her, she lifts her head from the notebook for the first time, I’ve been in her, I don’t give her time to protest or defend anything, I just simply keep going. “I see this look in your eyes that I can’t understand. It kills me to think about it, it kills me to think about what you’re thinking about. I think you’re beautiful and fucking amazing, or at least what I know about you. I know I’d love everything else about you too. I don’t want to - I can’t think about you and Paul together, but that’s the only way I see you. Your smile, can make me smile. I hate how dead I feel without you, but I love how alive I feel with you. Maybe I need you more than I can cope with right now. I can’t tell you I love you - I don’t know you as much as I want to, but I’d love to. I don’t open up to people. At all. And believe me when I say that I want you to read inside of every nook, cranny and closed door in my mind, heart, just everything.”

I looked at Emily, in her mysterious eyes, that seemed to change colour by who she talked to, or the subject, or with what she wrote, or even with just her thoughts. I felt as if I could see the inside of her mind, processing my words, through her eyes. Usually if someone hadn’t responded to me by within these thirty seconds, I’d feel week and defeated. But she gave me this push, this confidence, I wanted her to know everything, every single thing. So how could I get embarrassed of my thoughts or feelings, when I wanted her to know everything.

“Y-you’re forgiven” Emily tells me, tripping over her words and avoiding eye contact.

Pause. I can’t seem to see that she’s thinking about.

“I’m sorry I don’t know how to respond. I’m with Paul and I can’t just break up with him, to be with you.” I know that she’s with Paul, but I could be so much better for her. I know it. Why can’t she see that I’m right.

Another Pause.

‘It’s the holiday season. Let’s put all of this behind us for now, maybe pick back up on this later, I don’t want this to effect us, or the others around us, or the holidays.” Emily says, looking into my eyes, an almost scared looking emotion, shining in her eyes. I nod, a ‘yes’ and go “Oh yeah, sure, no of course”. Emily’s face instantly brightened and I couldn’t help but to think, that I put those scared, depressed, fragile and numb eyes into place on her face. I don’t want that. I only want to see her happy.

“Would you mind” Emily said pointing towards the door, “I have to finish this” nodding back down towards her book I nodded my head, getting off the bed and walking towards the door, opening it and closing it behind me, taking one last look at her.

***Emily’s P.O.V.***

I watched George walk out of my door, taking one last look at me. I can’t handle this. Why has this become so hard? It has all became so rushed with Paul and I don’t know if that should be a signal towards something. STOP IT! I thought, rummaging through my brain was making me more stressed out then I should be. I looked down at my book

“And your eyes whisper a truth, that your mouth would never tell”

I was finally about to finish my poem, and now I can’t. My mind won’t stop rushing me along, taking no time for ‘silly’ things. I groaned and decided to get up, closing my book and hiding it under the loose floorboard, I had discovered about 3 months ago. I quickly joined the living room, while Paul and John looked as if so did they, setting everyone with a cup of tea.

“Like some tea love?” Paul asked, when I walked past him. Myself, I had expected him to not even see me come in, looking too busy with the tea.

“Sure.” I told him and sat down beside Dona, who was currently telling Ringo a seemingly embarrassing story of herself.

“Oh so is it story time, now is it?” I asked, once Paul, John and George rejoined us with everyones cups of tea. I thanked Paul and sipping at it, it heated my body and made me start to actually feel warm inside.

“YES!” John shouted, shocking a lot of people, George almost chocking on the tea he was sipping from, Ringo pat his back.

“I think we all are a wee bit too sober for ‘hat” Ringo said, after George had stopped coughing.

“Then what’a ye waiting for?” John said, and George nodded his head, going into his room. “Ye girls gonna smoke?” John asked and we both said yes.

“Wait, I’ve got a ton from the birthday presents. Lemme go get it I’ll be right back” I said standing up and from me being half way down the hallway I barely heard John laughing out ‘That means ye don’t have to tag a long Paulie’. I laughed to myself, and opening the floor board, up again, taking out the huge stash that I don’t know why I hadn’t remembered. John had taught me some of the basics of how to tell high quality weed from Reggie. I picked up two 1.5 grams (as they were labeled) and put the rest of the baggies back, slipping the floor board into place.

“Ah how are you even back before those bloody blokes?” John asked, arm around Dona’s shoulder, Paul still sat where he had been when I left, the spot over to where Dona was sitting.

“Because my room isn’t in shambles. Plus I’m a girl.” I told him sitting down beside Paul, who put his arm around my waist and pulled me close.

“Ay’ my girl” He said, his almond brown eyes shimmering in the light and kissing me on the cheek. I blushed a deep colour red, Dona just smirking at the sight. I felt uncomfortable- with everyone looking at me. I threw John the baggies, and he looked up at me with surprise, relief, and joy in his almond eyes.

“Hey, it’s the season of giving!” I said and his grin turned up, Ringo and George making a mess of the way they were coming.

“I told ye. It’s always a horrible or ‘mazin’ time” Ringo said, and George just nodded his head, ending the conversation and walking towards us. “Damn, who’s this?” Ringo said, picking up one of the two baggies in front of John’s crossed legs. John nodded towards me. Then he packed the bowl and we smoked. It felt as if we hadn’t smoked in forever so 3 bowls later between the 6 of us, we were ready for story telling.

“I’ll go!” John called out and started “So when our precious little Georgie over here, was in Hamburg, Germany with us, he lost his virginity to a prostitute up there. Then the next day, feelin’ like ‘he man he was. This lil shit tried to get ‘nother girl, which he respectively was smacked like ‘ell” John said, laughing and snorting the last part. Everyone had been laughed and John never stopped telling the story, no matter how much George pleaded. After we died down from laughing- but George’s cheeks being bright as ever- John told him “Aw I’m sorry mate.” But all George did was shoot him an evil look.

“Alrighty then. Now it’s me turn. This one night, long after we had played and had a few drinks after and the club was closing, John tried to pick this bird up. The bird was decent, for bein’ drunk and half past four in the morninnn’. Anyways, while gettinnn’ into the car, he asked her to come, kissed ’er. I knew somethinnnn’ had to ’ave been wrong. I mean she was with John, but ’nyway, she threw up all ov’r John and ran away. I made him take off all ’is clothes before he even thought about gettinnn’ in me car.” George said and everyone was bursting out, even John, and it was bad because we couldn’t tell if he was actually laughing, brushing it off, or crying. But we all still laughed and he didn’t seem to really hold it against us.

On and on the day went, drinking tea and coco on the cold, snowing, Liverpool-Christmas day. Dona and I cooked for the boys and we all sat on the floor eating and talking, not wanting the day to end, we all cuddle up on the couch’s in front of the warm fire place and fell asleep for the night. The next six days were not very important. John and I sat at home together the next day, enjoying each others company rather than be the plus one to anyone else’s house or seeing our own family members.

The time I had spent with John was nice, he talked to me about Paul, Dona and the other two boys. John finally opened up to me and told me more about his Parents and aunt Mimi. John also read me his favorite poems and parts from the books I had gotten him, plus he even showed me some of his own writings that he hopes on getting published.

Finally the last day of the year had arrived! We had all become very amp-ed up about it, the boys making short audios for the radio wishing everyone happy holidays and new years. We planned on going to a friends party, where Brian would be so he could meet Dona. I dressed up in a white dress that John had picked out for me, it was above my knee, shorter than I’d actually like to admit, it was all lace and the underneath was tank top sleeves, yet the lace extended down my arm all the way and flared out a bit at the bottom. Dona wore a white/silver like dress, it was a little bit longer than mine and had a scoop-neck, with short ruffled sleeves, barely past her shoulder and her dress flared out like mine, if the dress had been longer, puffier and poka-dot it would look like it was right out of a 50s movie. We both did lose curls in our hair and wore black lacey looking shoes. The boys all dressed up in nice white shirts, black pants and black shoes, they looked like a million bucks and we made sure to take tons of pictures.

“Okay, enough pictures.” Complained Ringo, which was very surprising since he loved to take pictures, but also not because he hated people taking his own. Before I could say anything the car horn beeped.

“Ah, Hennery, always so punctual.” John says and the lot of us go out the doors, George making sure I leave the camera at the house.

“How long is the car ride?” I ask, getting in the car beside of Paul “Happy new years Hennery”

“Happy new years!” Every chimes together, even Hennery, I smile looking back at this year. Actually it was really sucky, only during the end did it start to clear up, I had just quit my job and broke my lease, along with my roommate who split. I was in trying to start over again, both with my music and life all together, I had even planned on writing. But alas, I had not, I met the one and only band The Beatles in my father’s friends old store. I took a look back on my life and it came to me, nothing would be the same, every little detail in life is so very important. Imagine if those girls hadn’t chased after us from the store, maybe I would have blown Paul off. I would never be where I am now, that’s spectacular.

“Emily?” Paul’s voice reached to me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Huh, yeah?” I asked, turning away from the window of the passing buildings to my Paul.

“I was just saying we’ll be there in 2 hours. ‘re ye alright?” Paul asked me, smiling, but worry lacing threw his voice.

“I’m fine I was just thinking.”

“What were ye thinking about?”

“How everything would have been different ya know, if I hadn’t met you, or if I wouldn’t even decided to start over. I’m so happy to be here, with you and the boys and Dona. Just it’d be so different without you guys. I’m glad to have you. Plus all the other blokes that come with you.” I said smiling around at the boys, Dona and then Paul. I was scrunched up by his side, due both to lack of room and the mere fact I wanted to be with him. I snuggled slightly up to his side and he kissed me on the lips.

“I’m glad I’m with you too.” he whispered to my face, seconds after pulling away from the kiss. He held me close to him, his arm pulling me close. I looked over to Dona, who was sitting beside John, her cheeks red and not from makeup, John’s fingers were threaded threw her own and I couldn’t help but smile at them. Ringo and George were preoccupied in their own conversations about something special tonight, sometimes Hennery jumping in. The closer we became to our destination the heavier the conversations got, along with anticipation.

“I guess we’re here.” I said, and everyone got quite, looking at the sidewalk, on the usually busy road

“This is what we’ve been waiting for then?” Dona asked and the boys said yes.

“Come ‘ed” John said, excited like the rest of us, we got out of the car and went into the main lobby of a very expensive looking building. The man working there showed us the instructions to access the penhouse suite and roof top that the party will be hosted on. We thanked him and went to the lift, stepping inside and pressing the highest button number 26.

“John, Mick’ll be there too huh?” George asked and Dona’s breathe, I could tell, caught in her lungs. Dona had loved The Rolling Stones, even though they weren’t even big-yet, she had gone to tons of little local shows after her cousin drag us to one a year or two ago. I had told her, not the full story of knowing them well, just meeting them.

“Yeah, heard they’re gettinnn’ signed soon.” John told George and I nudged Dona slightly, giving her a huge smile, reminding her to do so also.

“Dona actually loves them, we saw a gig with her cousin once and she kept on going back.” I told them, Dona turned to glare at me but the rest starred at her.

“Ay, really? Makin’ bette’ music choices than boyfriends I see.” Ringo said, shooting Dona a toothy grin, everyone laughed except John who pinched him, sending Ringo to turn to George, mumbling curse words under his breathe.

The doors dinged at our destination and we were opened up to a huge room. The place itself was beautiful, white floors, black leather couches, glass windows almost 180 degrees around the flat, but all the artwork and patches of mixed-matched carpet, plus an old home-like fire place made the house look simple in an expensive kind of way, like one of those home decorating magazines that look simply and cozy but everything is way out of spending range. I looked up at Paul and my hand gripped his tighter. Ringo, stepped forward away from the lift so we could all get off it without it going back down to the lobby again.

“Ah! The Beatles! And their birds I see! Ay, there’s an extra one from last time!” Brian exclaimed, moving away from the bar, which seemed like a good thing. It was only 8 and he seemed almost there. John put his arm around Dona and pulled her closer to himself, then taking a step towards Brian.

“Eppy! Nice to see you. I’d like you to meet Dona, my girlfriend, Dona this is Brian or Eppy, our manager.” John smiled, Brian shook Dona’s hand, but his smile went down a bit. Girlfriends are probably a major bummer for any band, and John especially to Brian.

“How was your Christmas Brian?” I asked, snapping him out of his looking threw Dona, he smiled at me sweetly and turned back into himself.

“Terrific. Very snowy, but nice to have a break and see family of course. How about yourselves?”

“I had to spend it with them, what do you like?” I asked, looking disgusted but broke out into a smile far to quickly. Soon enough Paul and I found our way to the bar. We both sipped on our whiskeys and sat down.

“You look beautiful, really. I’m so very glad for this year. Everything could have been different. It could be terrible, so much worse, but it couldn’t get anymore perfect.” Paul told me, in a hushed voice. There were tons of people around us and we’d know soon enough, we’ll get cut off. Paul pulled me close and gave me a strong, passionate kiss on the lips, that left me wanting more, but knowing I couldn’t.

“Thank you, and you’re a handsome tease.” I told him, in a low whisper. We starred deep into each other eyes, before we saw someone, from the corner, approach us.

“Wow, I can just swim in all of this sexual tension.” Dona said, a smirk playing on her lips as she and John sat down on the half-glass-half-wood-coffee-table.

“Oh, sod off.” I told her and the boys laughed at us. John’s arm wrapped around her waist. Suddenly I saw Dona’s neck twitched, I looked at her oddly.

“Mick, Keith, over here.” John said calling the boys over and I gave her a devilish grin. The boys walked in front of Paul and I, stopping to give him one of those guy handshakes that I don’t understand and me a hug. The both smelled strongly of cologne, weed and a trance of alcohol.

“Woah, where’d you get two of them?” Keith asked, sitting down on the couch next to Paul, Mick sitting beside of Keith.

“And where can I get one?” Mick asked seriously, before anyone could answer, everyone at least chuckled, other than Dona whose cheeks were as bright as roses in the summer and blooming.

“Yer gonna ‘ave to find yer own. This one’s mine.” John told them, but I doubt they’d quite flirting.

“What’s your name, love?” Keith asked.

“Dona” She said, calming down a bit.

“Ay, Dona’s been to a few of yer gigs. The bird was a fan, before she got into good music.” Paul told them, laughing, but the boys continued to look impressed. A man passed by and Mick asked for 6 shots and 6 Whiskey Sours.

“So not your music?” Mick shot back and we all talked a bit, about Christmas and the boys became intrigued with Dona.

“ ’ave ye seen Ringo and Georgie?” John asked, after we all pushed back our 3rd shot, from this couch. I was starting to feel everything and I know Paul was too and soon enough we’d be out on the roof, smoking fags and hopefully alone.

“They were talkin’ up some birds. Tryin’ to get with them none the less.” Keith told John.

“Good.” Paul snorted, “Yeah ’aven’t seen the young lad, be on such a dry spell” John added in quickly, referring to the fact that George doesn’t go have sex with any random girl, which I’d love to snap back at John. But hey it isn’t my place, because I knew John would be on a long dry spell if he pissed Dona off enough.

Soon enough, Paul excused us both. Paul led me threw the big apartment that neither of us have ever been in and soon enough we found ourselves on the roof. There weren’t many people there, maybe four, but they were paired into twos. Paul pulled me over to the edge of the railing and lit a smoke for both him and I.

“It’s beautiful. So many stars are out tonight.” I said looking up into the sky, there were tons of stars out, and along with the other building lights it lit up the darkness. We were in London and everything felt so surreal.

“Come here, you must be freezing.” Paul said, taking off his over coat, leaving him in his coat-suit-jacket and insisting I wear it.

“I can’t believe how lucky I am.” I say, pulling him close to me and lay me head on his chest, the music from inside soft and he dances lightly with me.

“Think about how I feel.” He tells me and I roll my eyes at him. Paul pulls me even closer and kisses me, with more passion and less lust. Butterflies always erupting in my stomach and make me shiver as he pulls me closer. “Are you ready to go back in?”

“Sure, let’s go.” I tell him, and we kick over our already smashed cigarettes off of his roof and walk inside hand in hand.

“Hey, we were comin’ to get you guys.” Ringo says, walking up to us, a bird with short blonde hair and dark blue eyes with a short green dress on, wrapped around him.

“Huh. What’s goin’ on?” Paul asked, nonchalantly and I hope it’d stay that way. That there wasn’t anything so serious that we had to run or hide, that’d be a huge bummer.

“They want us to play and John wants to do the song he just wrote.” Ringo told him and Paul just nodded and he led us to where John and George are.

“Um, yeah, Dona and I will wait at the bar. We wouldn’t want to disturb a band meeting.” I told them and looked at the sheet music lying out, guitars, strings and drums, with an awkward looking Dona who seemed relived to hear me say that.

“Emily do me a favor?” John asked quickly before I closed the door.

“Of course.”

“Tell Brian we’ll be on in 10 minutes.”

“Okay” I closed the door and turned to Dona, who was waiting patiently for me. Brian was easy to find, he was over at the bar, drinking a brandy, with stress and concern twisting on his face. “Brian. John said they should be ready in 10.” I told him and his face turned back up.

“Thank God. Emily you’re a lifesaver.” Brian told me and pulled me into my very first hug from him.

“All’s in a day’s work” I tell him. Dona and I order coffee, trying to slow down a bit, it barely reaching 11.

“Are you two related?” Brian asked suddenly.

“No, very very close friends though.” Dona tells him with a smile and I know he hates her, but can’t because she’s being too nice and too friendly for anyone to hate her with reason.

“You look so much alike.”

“We get that all the time.” I tell him and five minutes into our chat I can tell Brian would like her a lot more, just if she wasn’t with John. Brian dismissed himself, trying to get the word out for them playing, plus others playing, he also had to make sure the amps were all ready too and I never thought of how tired he must get, or lonely. Working for The Beatles, is a never ending job, plus he know is helping the other bands prepare too.

“Does Brian not like me?” Dona asked, once he was lost into the sea of people.

“He does, it’s just difficult… I know he likes you, as I person and all.” I tell her and we order mixed drinks and she tells me about what happened once Paul and I had left. Apparently, John quickly retrieved from the prying and overly flirty band members, and made his way with her to Ringo and George, and that’s when Brian had told him about playing soon. Dona, insisted for John to dance with her and once a slow song came on he did, then finally became overly excited to sing ‘the song’ and sent Ringo off to get Paul and I.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing my best friends happy, especially when they’re happy together. Brian announced The Beatles and everyone became very quiet, Dona and I, sat on barstools near the front and listened to them play. Dona was resisting the urge to scream, since it had been her first time ever seeing them playing and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Well as our last song for tonight” John began introducing the song “I want to sing something special. For a very special girl, Dona. Which I had came up with not very long ago. Thank you everyone again!” John said, and Dona’s face was still in shock, people had begun to stare at us and I nudged her in the arm as the instruments began, then John and Paul sharing lead singing a beautiful song going like this:

“If I fell in love with you

Would you promise to be true

And help me understand

Cos I've been in love before

And I found that love was more

Than just holding hands

If I give my heart to you

I must be sure

From the very start

That you would love me more than her

If I trust in you oh please

Don't run and hide

If I love you too oh please

Don't hurt my pride like her

Cos I couldn't stand the pain

And I would be sad if our new love was in vain

So I hope you see that I

Would love to love you

And that she will cry

When she learns we are two

Cos I couldn't stand the pain

And I would be sad if our new love was in vain

So I hope you see that I

Would love to love you

And that she will cry

When she learns we are two

If I fell in love with you”

A smile itched across Dona’s face and sappy tears came out of her eyes, which she tried to brush away quickly but I saw it.

“That was for you.” I whispered to her, she turned to me, her face broken out into a contagious smile.

“I can’t believe it. God I love you and for introducing me to John.” Dona told me and hugged me tightly. We searched for the boys threw the crowd, but someone came and told us that they’d be out in a minute. The clock was itching forward to 12am, it was a big clock, that showed seconds too so it felt as if you were racing. By the time the guys came over to us the clock had made it’s way a little past the 11:40pm mark. Once John started to approach us, with Paul walking along-side, Dona sprang to his embrace and they stayed like that for more than two minutes. I held onto Paul too, feeling so close to him suddenly and kissing me on the lips he pulled up to more barstools.

“It’s almost time” Paul said, and looking at the clock reading 11:56pm, those words had finally snapped John and Dona out of their talking trance, and they looked as if they finally remembered ‘hey other people are here’.

“Thank God it’ll be 1964” John said “And with me girl by my side. Last drink of ‘63!” John said, as a cheers, we all clanked glasses and drank the whole cup down. I looked over my shoulder towards Ringo and George, talking to two girls, one of the ones I met earlier.

“ 10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!” The crowd cheered, streamers and confetti flying everywhere, Paul stopping the countdown between us early by kissing me on the lips, a new years tradition. I held onto him after the kiss and once I head him giggling like a school girl I pulled away.

“What’re you laughing about?” I ask him suddenly, turning very self concuss.

“I just kissed you for a whole year.” Paul said, bopping my nose and I laughed hard at him, and he pulled me back in for another kiss. And looking back at John and Dona I knew they had just shared their first kiss, and on new years, and one that lasted for a whole year.

I smiled to myself, having Paul and my best friends with me, going to America this year and so many more things to come I decided to look up. This year will be the best I could ever hope for, so many possibilities, that I kept thinking of. Paul and I had escaped from people from the rest of the night of the roof with tons of blankets that we stole from the hall closet, we talked and stayed together and I had never felt such at peace or as excited or so close to another person, aside from family and friends.

Paul pulled me close and told me that he loved me. It wasn’t one of those impulse things, it was real and I could tell that. We laid there together, watching the sun rise over a new year, month and day. Falling asleep together, like it was our first time, because it felt like it, everything was perfect, in a dream-like way.