"I've got no time for you right now, don't bother me…"
Liverpool, England, 1963
Have you ever met that person who just won't leave you alone? They're like that mosquito that keeps buzzing around you, no matter how much you swat the air. Or that overplayed song on the radio that plays on every station. It's like "Enough! Can you just get away from me?" And the thing that's the most annoying about that person is that no matter how hard you try, they can never take the hint that you don't want to hang out with them! That was Samantha in George Harrison's world.
"Hi George!" Speak of the devil…
George slowly spun around in his bar stool, taking in every second where he didn't have to see the she-devil. His best friend, John Lennon snickered beside him. "Shut up." George hissed to the latter. His eyes met the girl's in front of him. She looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to return the greeting. Her gray eyes widened in glee.
George forced a smile on his face. Samantha was the type of girl where even though you didn't like her, you had to be nice to her because you couldn't bear to see her sad. She had lots of friends though. The guys would make fun of George when she was around. Sam always did have a thing for him and his friends took every chance to crack a joke when she was extra nice to him.
"Hi Sam." George said hesitantly. He was debating whether he should excuse himself or make a run for it. Usually the second one works when she turns around and he gets out of that place fast. But, even though what he did was pretty mean, she still was happy when she saw him; and that was pretty much everyday.
"Hey Sam, how's it going?" John was obviously trying to irk George. He didn't give a flying fuck about what Sam's been up to.
"Fantastic!" She was always this bubbly. "I just went to the Bye Bye Birdie movie with my friends. It was so good."
"Oh really?" John said with a sly grin. Now what is Lennon up to? George thought. "Well, I'm sure George would love to hear all about it. I gotta go pick up Cynthia. We got a date tonight." John got up to leave.
George grabbed his arm and pulled him so that his mouth was next to his ear. "God dammit John, you always do this to me!" George angrily whispered so only the older one could hear.
"Who me?" John feigned innocence. "Ta." He tipped his hat towards Sam like a gentleman before leaving.
"Bye John!" Sam waved.
George groaned. Now he was going to have to spend the next half hour listening to Sam babble about something he doesn't care about. If Sam saw the disappointment on George's face, she didn't show it. She just kept standing there, smiling like an idiot. Out of all the girls he could have, this one had to fall for him. Life was a bitch. George propped his elbow on the counter top so he could rest his head in the palm of his hand. He sipped his milkshake from his straw, nodding and saying "Gear." Or "That's nice." every now and then while Sam told her story.
"…And then we found out that they gave us more than we ordered. But we weren't going to complain."
George laughed unconvincingly, but Sam wouldn't be able to tell. "Funny." How long am I going to have to sit here and listen to this? George thought. He didn't want to even look at Sam, much less talk to her. He looked passed the top of her head to make it look like he was focused on her. He stared at the parking lot through the window behind Sam. Just then, he saw a familiar face walking towards the diner he was in.
"Uh, Sam," He hopped off the bar stool and finished up his drink before handing the cup to the waitress near him. "I'd love to stay here and chat, but I have to go. Me and Paul were gonna go to his house and practice." George motioned towards a cherub-face, doe-eyed boy who was walking into the diner.
"But I was just getting to the—"
"You can tell me the rest later. I just really have to go." George pulled on his jacket. "Bye!" He nearly ran away from her.
"O-okay then," The boy left Sam confused. "I can't wait to see you guys perform tomorrow night!" She called after him. Sam was always the cheery one. "See ya."
George sped up his pace, looking over his shoulder to see that Sam wasn't following him. He kept up like that until he finally got to the front of the joint.
"Hey George, you eating here, too?" Paul McCartney, his other best friend, greeted him.
"Hi Paul, nice to see you, you're here to pick me up so we can go jam at your house, right?" George said, just in case Sam was listening nearby.
Paul looked at his mate incredulously. "Jam session? I never said anything about—"
"Yeah, you did. Of course you did. Don't you remember?" George spoke fast and nervously. He spun Paul around and started ushering him towards the door. "Just keep walking out." George whispered.
"But I want to eat here!" Paul protested.
"C'mon hurry up!" George struggled to push Paul out, as the second boy tried going the opposite direction. He sighed in relief when they exited the premises. "Safe."
"What's your problem Harrison? I'm hungry!" Paul's nostrils flared. "My dad had to leave early for work today and brother went somewhere with his friends so there was no point in making a decent breakfast if I was going to be by myself. So if you don't mind, I'm going here to eat!" Paul was about to walk back in when George grabbed his wrist and dragged the older boy along with him.
"I'll have my mom make you breakfast, just don't go in there." George groaned.
Paul glanced back in the diner. "Why what's wrong with eating in—" Paul finally spotted the source of George's problems. He smirked. "Are you sure you don't wanna go in there Georgie? I could eat my breakkie while you go talk to your little girlfriend!" He stretched that last word to irritate his friend.
"Shut up Paul." George said through gritted teeth.
"Why George? Don't you want to see her? I'm sure she'd love a conversation with you." Paul teased.
George turned around to face Paul. "If you say anything more about Sam, you will starve."
Paul put his arms up in the air and surrendered. "Hey, I'm done, I'm hungry. Now, let's go, I can already taste your mom's homemade chocolate chip scones melting in my mouth." The boys raced back to George's house.
"Good morning Mr. Epstein!" Sam walked into Mr. Epstein's record store. She smiled cheerfully at the man behind the counter.
"Morning Sam." Brian Epstein smiled back at the eighteen-year-old blonde. It was like the feeling of optimism surrounded her and hit whoever was near her. "What are you doing here? The weather is nice outside. Go to the park or something!"
"Just came back from there with my friends. They wanted to go to the pictures but I was too tired, so I came back here." Sam hopped up on the counter, something she always did ever since she first came to the store at age 12. "Got anything new for me?" She took the stack of records Brian was sorting through.
"You won't like those." Brian said, knowing her taste in music.
Sam looked at one of them and threw the stack on the counter like it was contagious. "Ick, classical."
Brian shook his head. "Not since yesterday."
"So what have you been up to Mr. Epstein? You've seemed really preoccupied lately." Sam asked.
Brian sighed exasperatedly. "I'm having trouble with my boys."
Sam's eyes lit up. "Your... boys?"
"Yes. See they've already got that debut album out and now I'm getting them better shows. It's going to be harder for us to move around because we've only had like two people helping out, you know, Mal and Neil. Plus they're getting better equipment. I need them to be more professional." Sam nodded while Brian continued. She knew all about the Beatles: she was their number one fan. "The boys' fan base right now is really big. Last night, they barely got out of that club because fans were blocking the doorway. Which is good, it means they're going to the top." Brain added. "But you know, I'm always having to run errands for the guys so they won't get mobbed on the streets. I can't be doing that anymore because I'd have to be at the venues already, talking to promoters, seeing the sets, you know what I mean? I'm just pretty busy and don't have time to pick up their ciggies and what not. Mal and Neil can't do it because they're helping to set up their instruments or they're helping me. And the boys' can get really cranky if they don't get what they want. Sometimes I feel like I'm looking after children, not a rock and roll band." Brian muttered the last part.
An idea popped into Sam's head. "I could do it Mr. Epstein! I could help you out."
"You? But why—"
"Mr. Epstein, I'd be perfect for the job! Not only could I run errands for you guys but I could also do stuff like sew back trousers together if they accidentally rip or help one of them get better if they get sick. I could be like you and the band's personal assistant!" Sam clasped her hands together and put on her best "you know you can't resist this" face. "C'mon please Mr. Epstein, I could really use the money."
Brian rubbed his chin. "I don't know Sam, d'you think your father would be okay with this? I mean, we'll be traveling a lot. Sometimes we won't be home for a long period of time."
"I'm sure he'd be okay with it Mr. Epstein. He always did say that a trip would do me good. Dunno why though."
Brian thought for a minute. A girl with us on tour? This didn't seem like it but it was actually a very important decision. "Oh all right, you've got the job. But only if your dad says yes!"
Sam hopped off the counter and hugged Brian. "Thank you Mr. Epstein! I'll ask him right now but I bet you he'll say yes!" She was about to leave but turned around when she got to the door. "You won't regret it Mr. Epstein."
"Oh, I hope not." Brian laughed. "Thanks, you're a really big help." He waved her off and Sam left. She uncontrollably beamed as she thought about what she got herself into. I'm touring with him.
A/N: So what do you think? Good? Bad? Eh? Thanks for reading, please review! I'd really like to know what you guys think of it so far. Sorry it's so short but I just thought of this bit last night before I went to sleep (yeah, I get my deepest thoughts before I hit the sack) so I typed it out so I wouldn't forget it. I was really thinking about making a sequel to my last story but I just thought it was pretty complete already. So I apologize if you were hoping for one. I have a million ideas buzzing in my head but I'm still trying to figure out how to piece them together. But I'd really like your guys' suggestions and ideas. If any of you have ideas for chapters, please PM me. All suggestions are welcomed. Just get back to me on this story! I really need your help! Pretty please with a thank you on top :)
Oh yeah, one last thing- CrazyCatie, I was trying to make this a John story, but I don't know, I just couldn't. I'm sorry. I always keep picturing scenarios like this to happen to George. But I assure you there will be lots of funniness from John to come. Also he plays an important role here. But I'm not gonna say anything else!
Now, review and PM me… please? And thank you!