If I Fell - a John fic
I lay in my warm bed, curling my toes around the water bottle my mum had given me the previous night, and one thought was running around in my head; "I don't want to get up". It was December, and I didn't relish leaving my bed and having to get washed and dressed in the cold. However I had no choice, as I had to go to work. Scrambling out of bed I fished my housecoat off the back of my door and wrapped myself in it. I opened my bedroom door and could hear my parents already in the kitchen talking and getting breakfast. I debated whether I should wait a while as our kitchen was tiny, and it wasn't fun trying to negotiate around it. My stomach rumbled though, and that was enough. Goodness, even the staircarpet felt cold this morning! Mum was making tea as I walked in. "Tea love?" she offered. I nodded smiling and leant against the cooker. "Thanks for the water bottle last night Mum, it made a difference" I said. Mum grinned and ladled two heaped teaspoons of sugar into my tea and handed it to me. "Not a problem love, we'll all need them. This cold is a devil to keep out", she replied, nodding towards the frost on the small window. Dad stood up, finishing his toast "Aye just don't spend a fortune, Christmas is coming and it's not cheap is it?". Mum nodded and I grabbed a piece of toast as I was behind.
We lived on Beaconsfield Road in Woolton, a small terraced house but comfortable. I had to catch my bus to work from Booker Avenue which was a 10 -15 minute walk and today I was walking particularly fast to keep my feet from freezing. I always paused though at the gates of Strawberry Field, it was a Salvation Army home for orphaned kids. I just loved the gates – all elaborate swirls in red. In the grey light of December they stood out even more, injecting some colour. I hurried out of Beaconsfield Road – to get to the bus stop I had to cross Menlove Avenue into Yewtree Road which led to Booker Avenue. There was little traffic so I crossed easily. As I made my way across Menlove, I could see a young lad ahead of me, in dark gear. Well it looked dark – black drainpipes, black winkle pickers. He had a guitar over his back, and was walking – well I say walking, it was more swaggering down Yewtree Road. I walked behind him all the way and then he turned off into Mather Avenue. I walked past, glancing at him as I carried onto Booker Avenue. He cut an interesting figure I must admit. I found myself wondering what he looked like from the front!
Little did I know I would run into him again that evening. I got off at the same bus stop on Booker Avenue and started the walk up Yewtree. On the corner were two lads, they were laughing and smoking. One had his back to me as he talked to the other boy, who had enormous hazel eyes, they were quite stunning. He had a perfect mouth as well, and his hair styled in a quiff. He had a black jacket, black jumper and jeans on. "Cute!" I thought, as I got closer. He saw me, and moved out a little so he could see me, "Alright love?" he asked with a grin. This made the other lad turn, and I recognised him as the one from this morning, guitar and all. And he was lovely, I felt quite embarrassed as I slowly stopped by them. "Yes I'm fine thanks" I replied. "Paul". The boy with the big eyes offered me his hand and I shook it, reacting to his cold hand. "My goodness aren't you both freezing out here?!" I asked. Paul just smiled and motioned to his ciggie. "Not allowed to smoke at home!". I grinned back and turned to the other lad. He had a striking aqualine nose and almond shaped brown eyes. He looked down at me, with a stare that made me want to be swallowed through the pavement. "What's... your name?" I nervously asked. He blew out some smoke. "John. Who wants to know?" he said curtly. Oh God, this boy was hard work. "I'm Ellie" I said quietly. "Ellie?" asked Paul brightly. "Pretty name sweetheart!". I smiled gratefully at him, he was definitely the friendlier of the two. "Well nice to meet you both, might see you around" I said and turned and began to leave. A hand took my forearm stopping me. It was John! "No love, Macca and I will walk you. It's getting dark. Where do you live?" he asked. I told him Beaconsfield Road and the three of us began walking – myself in the middle, John and Paul either side of me. Any hopes I had of John making any more conservation seemed to dissipate, as Paul was the one who seemed interested. "Do you have any brothers and sisters?" he asked. "One of each, an older sister and a younger brother. My sister is married and lives in Hoylake." I told him. "What music are you into?" John asked quietly. I looked up at him, surprised he'd found his voice. "Erm, I like jazz, but mainly rock and roll – Elvis is fantastic!" I said. John looked down and gave me a half smile which made my stomach flutter. So that was his passion, I should have known really by the guitar.
"So you play guitar John?". He looked at me. "No it's to help my bad back!" he scoffed. Oh God. I seemed to be digging a deep hole with him. I think though he regretted his sarcasm as he then spoke again, "Yes, yes Ellie I play guitar. Feel my fingers". He held out the hand holding the cigarette and I reached out and ran my fingertip over his. They were all hard and calloused. "Yes, that's enough proof" I replied. I looked ahead of me as I walked but I could see John looking at me out of the corner of my eye. I shivered, and Paul slipped his arm through mine and began to rub it. "Cold? This'll help". Thank God for Paul I thought. John was a hard nut to crack, and ironically he was the one I wanted to know better. I heard a tut and John began to walk slightly ahead of us. "Is he alright?" I asked Paul. "He's fine, just stuck on a song we've been writing. Makes him crabby". This impressed me, Paul looked very young to be writing songs. "You and John write songs? How old are you Paul?" I asked. "I'm 20, John's 21" he replied. We caught up with John as he waited to cross Melove Avenue. "You can go home if you want John, I'll walk with Ellie" said Paul once we safely crossed. "No you're alright Paul, I don't mind a walk" said John. I half wondered why he wanted to come, he seemed really cheesed off. Paul had now taken my hands and was rubbing those warm, he was quite sweet. "How old are you Ellie?" he said as he blew sporadically on my hands. "I'm 20 as well" I answered. Before Paul could answer John shot me a question "What do you do?". I smiled at Paul and took my hands away from him, shoving them in my coat pockets. "I work in a chemist's, a dispenser. Not exciting at all but it's a wage. John nodded. He then moved closer to me. "I, well Paul AND me, we have a band, well it's mine really, the Beatles", he volunteered. I saw a change in him, a look of pride took over his face. I smiled at this. "Really? That's brilliant, do you get many gigs?" I asked. Paul looked incredulous "Have you never 'eard of us? THE Beatles! We were in Hamburg this summer, they couldn't get enough of us!". I laughed, slightly embarrassed by my lack of knowledge. "You should come and see us, what d'ya reckon John?" he asked. John nodded "Yeah, you should Ellie, you'd have fun.". My face was red from the cold already but the thought of spending more time with these boys made my stomach flutter.
As we neared my house I started to feel disappointed as our first meeting was coming to an end. John had also paused at Strawberry Field like I had this morning, and told me that he used to play in there as a young boy. It was nice to feel something in common with him. "Well this is where I live" I slowly stopped walking as we got to my house. "Thank you boys, it was kind of you to see me back", I said. Paul put his arms around me and gave me a squeeze, he smelt of hairgel, aftershave and cigarettes – not unpleasant strangely. "It was a pleasure, great to meet you Ellie." I turned to John and thinking he would never hug me I held my hand out. "Oh right, so I'm not good enough to cuddle is that it?", John smirked and put his nose in the air pretending to be offended. As he did so I approached him and wrapped my arms around his middle. I felt his hands on my back and wanted to melt. What WAS it about this boy? He then patted my head. "I know I'm gorgeous but really Ellie, what will people think?". I giggled and let him go. "Bye lads" I said as I opened my gate and waved them off. John did a goofy face and Paul simply grinned. I watched them walk down the road and John suddenly ran back to me. "Hey, we're playing in the city Friday, at the Cavern Club. It's in Mathew Street. We're on at half twelve that afternoon, will ya come?". That would be tricky, I'd be at work. "Oh John, I'm not sure I can make it as I'm working, another time". John smirked "Ah go on, bunk off! Live a little, we're worth it" and he winked at me. He had a ridiculous effect on me... "Ok, I will try. Maybe see you Friday" I replied. John grinned, and with a turn of his boot he ran back to Paul and the pair of them began whooping and yelling down Beaconsfield Road. All through dinner I couldn't get them out of my mind. As I lay in bed that night I could see them in my head standing on that corner, smoking and chuckling. They seemed to radiate some kind of aura that pulled you to them. Paul was pretty gorgeous, and he had been so friendly. John was aloof and sarcastic, yet he could turn and be sweet in an instant. I thought that Friday was going to have to be a sick day.