I Need You: A John Lennon Story

Chapter One: Getting Better, 12 July 1957

The house was big. It looked grand, and much too posh for my taste. Just as our car rolled into the large driveway, I pulled my sleeves down.

Standing on the stone steps leading to the grand door was my father. He wore a forced smile, his hands crossed against his chest. The car parked, and the driver opened my door.

"Thank you," I thanked him quietly. By now, father was climbing down the stairs, the same tight-lipped smile on his face.

"Julia, my darling," Father engulfed me in a tight hug.

"Dad," I breathed. I hugged him back just as tightly, and he just held me there.

I choked back tears with a quiet hiccup. He hugged me tighter for a second, and then released me.

"Second floor, third door on the right," He told the driver, who was standing awkwardly awaiting instructions.

He nodded, and went into the house. "Let's get in,"

Father placed an arm around my shoulders and tugged me inside as I wiped my tears away with the side of my coat sleeves.

He led me into a grand foyer, and shut the door after him. The stained glass shook in the slightest as he slammed the door shut. He pointed to another archway to my left, and I walked towards it.

It was a kitchen, and on the stove was an already boiling tea pot. I walked to it, and poured ourselves some tea as father took a seat on the breakfast table.

"Thank you," Father mumbled as he took the tea cup i handed him. I sat myself down in front of him as he began to speak. "How was your flight in?"

"Fine," I shrugged, taking another sip of my hot tea. "How have you been, dad?"

"Alright," My father shrugged dismissively. "Better now that you're here,"

I smiled at him, and he reciprocated it, trying his hardest to convince me that he was okay, and that I shouldn't worry about him.

"You'll be okay, dad," I muttered softly.

"I know, darling," He responded just as softly in his thick Liverpudlian accent. "I'm going to head up to bed; it's been a long day for the both of us."

"Goodnight, dad," I said softly.

He smiled weakly at me, petted my hair, and then exited the kitchen, rubbing his neck in the process. He looked worn out, and he looked like a beaten old man. It saddened me to a great extent to see my father, so joyful and optimistic before, so sad and depressed now.

I heard him trudge up the stairs and into his room, closing the door shut softly behind him. Once his door shut, this house, our house, was completely silent. The rooms felt distant, and made me sad. I didn't want to think that this is where I'd be living for the next few months.

I had to get used to the idea, nevertheless.

I finished my tea, and began to trudge up the same staircase, my mind racing. Every emotion that I had held back these past weeks seemed to seep out of my skin as I dragged my feet up the stairs.

Everything was so completely new and foreign, and I had nobody. I had nobody within this entire Earth that I could speak to about anything.

I was completely alone and it hurt me so much to think that this was completely true.

I clambered up the stairs and into my designated bedroom, never recalling the driver leaving our house. I saw my suitcases in the corner of my large room, and sat myself down on the edge of my bed, gripping tightly at the silk bedspread underneath me. I shut my eyes, and felt a single tear slide down my cheek.

I felt it land on my wrist, and I cried some more. Though tears were flowing violently down my cheeks, I hadn't made a single noise since sitting myself down on my bed.

I let out a high pitched wail through clenched teeth, and fell back on my bed. A wave of drowsiness overcame my petite body after a few more minutes of crying, and soon enough, I fell into a deep slumber.

When I awoke the next morning, tears were already sliding down my cheeks. I had been crying in my sleep; a normal occurrence to be quite honest. My mind was awake, but I kept my eyes shut, not wanting to open them and look at my new bedroom.

After lying silently with my hands curled underneath my pillow, I finally opened my emerald green eyes. I was met with a weak stream of sunlight going through my yellow tapestry. The sun was out, but covered by masses of grey clouds.

At this, I smiled softly: I had always loved gloomy weather. I propped myself up on my bed, and stretched my arms out, a weak yawn escaping my lips. As I clambered off of my bed, I tousled my brown locks, still rather drowsy.

I went to my vanity, and closed in on the ornate mirror. I stared blankly at my reflection, staring at the big emerald eyes popping against my pale skin, my full pink lips in a perfect pout, and straight nose in the air.

I pulled my hair back, and looked at my thin face, impassive. After rubbing my eyes and sighing a deep sigh, and went into my bathroom, and into the shower.

Seeing as I had absolutely nothing to do today, and I was going to be alone all day, I took a rather long bath. I came out relaxed and just as depressed as before, but relaxed nonetheless. After wrapping myself up in a towel, and drying my hair off, I walked back into my room.

The sky had gotten darker by now, and it looked beautiful. I readied myself for a day of nothingness, waving my chestnut brown locks, and placing my sundress under a pea coat. I threw my boots on, and tossed a scarf around my neck, trudging into the hallway and down the staircase.

I took a woven bag from the coat closet in the foyer, and exited the house. I locked the door, and trudged down the marble stairs and to the expansive gardens. I had no idea where I was going, I only knew that I wanted to explore this new town.

We lived out in the legitimate suburbs of this city, so I had to walk at least a mile to get to the first bus stop. I clambered on, and was relieved to see that there was only three other people on it, an elderly woman, another woman dressed in a maid's uniform, and a small clan of teenaged boys.

I deposited my change, and walked to the back of the bus. I crossed my legs, and looked out to the passing street. I planned on getting off at the nearest stop in the metropolitan part of Liverpool, and exploring. Sitting three seats in front of me were the three teenaged boys.

They all wore their hair slicked back in a way similar to Elvis, and all had leather jackets on. They all blended together, all except the clear leader of this clan. This teenaged boy also wore Buddy Holly glasses, and they, I supposed, were worn to show his dominance.

They all hadn't kept their eyes off of me since I boarded the bus. I was flattered, and intrigued. I'd never received this type of attention from boys back at home in New York City. To be stared at by not one boy, but three boys, was glorious.

As coyly as I could, I flipped my hair to my side, clearing up my vision. They all kept staring at me, but the leaders gaze was mesmerising me. He held a passion in his eyes that I'd never seen before, and it made me not want to look away. He held my gaze for a few more seconds, until he finally looked away.

I smirked to myself, and heard his friends clap him on the shoulder loudly. I rolled my eyes, and tossed my hair to the side again. The bus suddenly came to a stop, and I shot up from my seat. Much to my surprise and pleasure, I saw the three boys get up as well. I was going to wait until they exited the small corridor of the bus, but the leader of the group insisted I go first.

"Ladies first," He backed in his seat, causing his friends to fall back. I chuckled softly at his friends, who had landed on top of each other, and began to make my way past the boy whose gaze was so mesmerising.

"Thank you," I mumbled to him.

He only nodded. Blushing, I crept out of the bus, and into the sidewalk. It was getting gloomier, and colder. Tightening the scarf around my neck, I began to walk down this street.

I heard heavy footsteps behind me, and sure enough, noticed that the same boys on the bus were walking right behind me. I got a full view of the boy with Buddy Holly glasses, and saw him to be one of the most handsome boys I'd ever seen.

His complexion was pale, and perfect, his almond eyes shielded behind his large glasses. His lips were slightly put into a smirk as he caught me examining his face. Just as I caught his eye, and I was to turn around in embarrassment, I heard him whistle. I turned back towards him, and slowed my fast-paced walk.

"Come 'ere a sec," The same boy called for me. I stood frozen at my spot, unsure of what to do. "You deaf, love?"

"Err..."

The boy chuckled and instead filled the gap between us. He walked up to me, his two friends trailing behind him.

"What's your name, beautiful?" He asked me once he stood in front of me.

"Julia," I said after clearing my throat. "Julia Salvatore,"

He nodded. "You American, Julia?" I nodded. "You sound it," He smirked at the latter.

I stayed quiet at this part; I didn't know what to say. "How old are you, love?"

"Seventeen," I sprouted quickly. "I just moved here,"

"From?"

"New York City,"

"Where are you going to school?" He asked me.

"Liverpool Art College," I answered, smiling.

"As am I," He smirked again. "How interesting."

"Indeed," I smiled wider. "What was your name?"

"John," He smirked. "John Lennon."

"Lennon? I rather like that name," I mused. "Well, it was nice to meet you, John Lennon, but if you'll excuse me, I've got shopping to get done."

"I'll see you round, Julia," John backed up from me, and back to his friends, who had been watching our altercation from a distance.

He came up to his friends, who all gave him a congratulatory clap on the shoulder, and began to walk away. John turned his head back to me, and smiled a soft smile before turning around and leaving me.

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