Remember - Chapter 1
She watched from the corner of her eye, as she distractedly fiddled with the olive she stubbornly refused to eat, of her martini. She exhaled shakily, briefly glancing in his direction. As she did so, she felt waves of pain and grief being shot through her body. That feeling consumed every inch of her being, making her quiver in her seat. It was like he didn't care anymore, it was like the ring he had offered her, the one she still wore proudly, meant nothing. It was almost as though it only served the purpose of marking her as his propriety.
She sipped her martini and felt the comforting feeling of the alcohol burning her throat and stomach. She reluctantly and discreetly looked in his direction again. Then she felt it again, that very same familiar feeling of her heart being crushed into tiny little pieces that could no longer be mended. He doesn't care anymore. At least that's what it looked like. Another girl sat on his lap. He had his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him, and his hands rested on her legs. The blonde laughed at his words and seductively and also suggestively whispered on his ear.
She stopped herself from watching any longer and drank a little more from her martini, quite convinced it would ease her pain. Everything around her seemed blurry, muffled by the unpleasant scene that was taking place just a few steps from her. She heard voices but she couldn't quite place what they were saying over the loud music, or over her loud thoughts for that matter.
"Alright Kathy?" She heard. Turning her head towards the voice she found Ringo with a worried expression, something you didn't see happening regularly. She stared at him wordlessly, for a few brief moments thinking about nothing in particular.
"Oh? Yes, fine, lovely actually" She forced a smile, sipping her drink so as to avoid pretending to fake her feelings any longer.
"You sure? You don't look so good, love" He concernedly asked again, sitting on the seat next to hers. She nodded, her face turning into a, perhaps exaggerated, mask of cheerfulness. She kept stealing glances in his direction, oblivious to the fact that Ringo was attempting to chat her up, keeping her distracted from the scene that was taking place.
"Kathy?" He said, resting his hand on her arm. She finally focused her attention on Ringo, who was trying his hardest to save her from the pain that scene might cause her.
"I'm sorry Ringo" She apologetically said, with a weak smile gracing her soft features. "I'm a bit…distracted. You were saying?" She asked, finally trying to focus her attention on the older Beatle, bringing her almost empty glass to her pouty lips, leaving a pink stain on the glass.
"Nothing of importance" He smiled warmly. "I know this isn't really my place since George's me mate and all…" He said looking in briefly glancing at George "…but what he's doing is… well, wrong" He sympathetically said, his hand lightly squeezing her arm for extra reassurance.
"Oh?" Kathy mouthed in mock confusion. "And what exactly is he doing?" She asked pretending to be as confused as one can be. Still, Ringo knew exactly what she was doing, and he comprehended completely.
"Come 'ead Kathy." He said with a slight shrug "He's being a bloody git. I don't even know how you can handle it." He said sipping his whisky. "You shouldn't be forced to deal with this" He said with an apologetic smile.
"How can I handle what?" She asked with a confused expression. However, she was anything but confused. There was no room for confusion when she had the confirmation she needed right in front of her.
"Seeing him with other birds. Like this, in front of you" He said, his voice brimming with worry.
"Oh? Oh no. George and I aren't.. you know.. exclusive" She explained over the loud music. They weren't exclusive anymore. Not at least after all that happened. She had no one else to blame but herself, she had no excuse. She gulped and brought her hand to her forehead, feeling her head starting to hurt.
Ringo raised his eyebrow in surprise. "Is that so? What about that ring then?" He pointed at her long slim finger, the bright green emerald stone standing out. She stared at it, once more, wordlessly, her mind flooded with memories.
"Y'know Kathy, we all know you still have feelings for Georgie-boy." He continued once he noticed her lack of words. She felt tears stinging her eyes and she hardly managed to smile through the tears. "And I'm quite certain he still has feelings for you as well. It's just that he was pretty hurt after…what happened" Ringo said, tilting his head to the side as he took a sip from his drink.
"Ritchie," She interrupted him "It is fine. He can do whatever he wants to do, we're just good friends now" She said with a shrug, beaming sweetly.
"George's only doing…that, cuz well, he was very hurt and I do believe he's simply trying to fill in the void you left." He said lightning up a cigarette. "And what hurts him the most is that he knows no one can fill that void but you Kathy dear." He wisely said puffing his cigarette.
"I'm not so sure about that Ritch" She said with a defeated smile. "The only thing I'm sure of though, is that I do need another drink, a strong one" She winked as she stood up in a gracious move. "If you'll excuse me"
"Sit down miss" Ringo said grabbing her wrist as he pulled her down to her seat. "I'll bring us another round." He said standing up and adjusting his jacket in a comical way, making Kathy roar with laughter.
"A martini is it love?" He asked with a wink.
She smiled and quickly looked in George's direction, feeling the very same familiar thrill of hurt running through her. "Make it a double whisky instead" She smiled.
Ringo nodded and quickly made his way to the bar, leaving her to finally enjoy her loneliness. It wasn't as though as she was alone, oh no. She watched in delight all the beautiful people dancing on the Ad Lib's dance floor. Colorful clothing and striking eye makeup made every single girl look divine, almost as though as they came from outer space.
Paul sat next to Jane, the couple clearly lost on their own little world. John seemed to be equally as lost in conversation with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones from the Stones. She felt out of her element, not quite feeling as interesting as the people that sat at her table, not quite feeling she deserved any sort of acknowledgement.
She toyed with the ring on her long, slim finger, twirling it around her finger.
"Oh but you're not as interesting as you believe you are" She giggled leaning against the wall of the bathroom stall, struggling to keep herself on her feet.
George looked at her with an exaggerated mask of sadness. "Aye, words hurt love." He said patting his heart. "I was quite certain that being a Beatle automatically made me interesting y'know" He said with mock confusion.
Kathy shook her head. "It so happens that it doesn't" She said with a chuckle. "In fact, au contraire mon chère" She laughed rather loudly.
George rushed to her and covered her mouth with the palm of his hand, pushing her against the cold wall of the bathroom stalls. "Quiet love, don't want anybody to hear us, do ya?" He asked, whispering in her ear.
"Why are we even here?" She asked as soon as he removed his hand from her lips, nevertheless not moving his body that was gently pressed against hers.
"To have a chat, luv" He said, lust brimming on his tone. "A proper one" George said, with a sly smile.
"Couldn't we have it outside?" She asked, the alcohol making her oblivious to his true intentions.
"I couldn't very well kiss you outside could I?" He asked, slowly and gently placing his hands on her waist. She stared at him for a while, speechlessly, just enjoying the sweet and gentle movements his hands were making around her waist and back.
"I'm afraid I have underestimated you, George." She finally said, smiling coyly. "You might not be as interesting as I hoped, but you are very smart" She sniggered.
"Very true that" He said laughing along with her, tilting his head to the side. "Dunno how they say John's the smart one. Cuz that's clearly me" He said with a chuckle.
"Here, let me finish!" She said poking his arm lightly and affectionately. "However, you can't just kiss me outside; you can't kiss me anywhere, never!" She said biting her bottom lip as she smiled teasingly.
"Is that right?" He asked pressing his body against hers more firmly, his hands travelling up her body to her face.
"Y-yes" She practically whispered, feeling a shiver being sent down her spine as George breathed the scent of her perfume on her neck.
"So, you must be certain about that" He whispered in her ear, before softly biting and sucking on her ear lobe. Kathy nodded, gently resting her hands on his chest, feeling George's heart beating fast against her palms. "Absolutely certain?" He asked again, now facing her.
Since she didn't answer, George took that as an indication she wanted to be kissed, and being the gentleman he was, he complied. He slowly leaned in, resting his forehead against hers, their fringes mixing together. Kathy inhaled shakily, feeling both guilt and an unexplainable warmth washing over her. Her hands slowly and carefully travelled from his chest to his neck, where she desperately entwined her fingers on his mop top hair.
George smiled with satisfaction, breathing heavily with sheer desire and lust. He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. Kathy allowed herself to enjoy the kiss more than she expected, knowing for a fact that her boyfriend was probably looking for her at the club. George teasingly licked her upper lip and sucked on it. Kathy practically moaned against his mouth as his hands started roaming through her body.
"George.." She whispered against his lips. Kathy lightly pushed him away, regretting the kiss. "George, please" She repeated, pushing him away completely when George insisted on continuing the kiss, part of her missing his body and lips lovingly pressed against hers.
"My boyfriend is outside" She said trying to reason him.
"I know he is, love." He said, still heavily breathing. "He's having his fun and I'm having mine" George explained, trying to kiss her again. She turned her face on him, preventing him from kissing her, although she wildly and secretly expected that he did so.
"I'm sure he's looking for me" She worriedly said, suddenly the effects of the alcohol wearing off.
"Ahhh, love. Isn't he in that Kinks band?" He asked, looking pensive for a split second.
"Yes..why do you ask?" She asked.
"Then worry not! He's probably surrounded by birds by now." George said with a shrug, starting to get impatient and frustrated his lips weren't kissing hers.
"Is that supposed to calm me down?" She asked sincerely laughing at his statement, folding her arms over her chest.
George sighed, feeling defeated. "When can I see you again then?" He asked stuffing his hands on the pocket of his trousers.
"Oh" Kathy said, taken aback by his question "Don't get me wrong George. I think you're a lovely lad but, Ray and I are serious" She looked at the floor, suddenly feeling incredibly self conscious.
"It's not like I'm asking you to leave him, is it?" George snapped at her.
"No, it isn't George. But I still can't do it" She sighed, looking at him straight in his velvet eyes, suddenly feeling extremely and unexplainably sad.
"Where does this leave me then?" He asked, a tad too much irritated for Kathy's likening. She had never insinuated she wanted to have an affair and she simply couldn't comprehend why he was so mad at her when she had never even flirted with him.
"I'm sorry" She said with a weak smile before exiting the bathroom, leaving a defeated Beatle behind.
That was the second time she had met George. The first one being when her boyfriend Ray Davies took her to a party at Mick Jagger's flat. All the beatles were there as well, obviously having a good time, passing around joints and heavily drinking. They clearly weren't as clean as the media portrayed them. Kathy was completely in awe and starstruck, but once she got past that, she had a lovely time at the party.
Ray introduced her to all The Beatles and she soon developed a friendship with the lads, especially with George who showed an odd interest in the girl. The first times she hung out with him, she wasn't particularly comfortable. George knew that she had a boyfriend but still tried to flirt with her, much too her discomfort and disapproval. However, after a while his celebrity fade away, allowing his true person shine through.
Kathy was awoken from her daydreaming, something she found herself doing more and more often, by Ringo, who placed her drink in front of her at the table that was located at a smoky corner of the nightclub.
"There ya are then!" He exclaimed sitting huddled next to her.
"Thanks Ritchie!" She yelled over the loud music giving him a warm smile.
Ringo smiled as he danced, sitting next to Kathy, in a comical way. "Yeah , Yeah, alright" He yelled back.
Kathy took a long sip from her whisky, finally feeling the alcohol running down her throat, slowly burning it, somehow comforting and soothing her broken heart.
"Fancy a dance?" Ringo asked, leaning in her ear. She shook her head, not feeling much up for a dance, instead intending on getting drunk until she felt absolutely numb. "Maybe later" She whispered in his ear, refusing to disappoint the drummer that was trying so hard to cheer her up and keep her company.
Kathy kept sipping her drink for the next minutes, occasionally stealing glances in his direction. The same blonde still sat on his lap, laughing and giggling at his remarks and flirtatiously hitting his chest only as an excuse to rest her hand on the Beatle's chest.
However, Kathy thought nothing of it. She was just another girl among the many, wasn't she? At least that's what she kept telling herself, that George would somehow forget about…what she so regretfully did and would have her back.
She reluctantly looked in his direction again. This time her heart stopped dead on her chest. She felt like the whole world was crushing on top of her. She felt tears welling up in her eyes and for a second she had to remind herself to breathe. He was kissing her. He wasn't just pecking her lips, they were engaged in a big time make out session.
"Are you feeling good, love?" Ringo asked, his voice full with concern.
"You're very pale Kathy dear" Jane interjected, hearing Ringo's questions. Kathy didn't answer any of the two questions and she felt the tears that had gathered in her eyes starting to run down her cheeks.
She quickly dried them and turned her attention to Ringo. "I think I'm going home now" She said trying to get past him.
"Do you want a lift Kathy?" He asked as he moved to allow her to pass.
"There's no need." She smiled weakly. "I'll see you next time" She said, gasping for air as she sobbed.
"I insist."
"Okay." She resigned.