Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait! Thanks for the KIND reviews. I'll eventually get around to posting another chapter of Something….


I'll Follow The Sun

Chapter 2

John

Two weeks.

It's been two weeks since I got a phone call in the middle of the night informing me that Paul was dying at the London hospital.

Although I would probably never admit out loud; I loved him. I would have never had the strength to say it to his face, but he was my best friend. We had been through a hell of a lot together and it wasn't fair that he was taken from this life so quickly.

Who was going to stand beside George to my right playing bass?

Apparently, a new guy named Ronald was going to attempt to replace my best friend. Eppy, our manager, called me after dinner tonight claiming that he had found the perfect replacement. That's what kills me, it's been two weeks and he already wants to replace Paul. I suppose he just cares about money; I guess he wasn't in the least bit sad about Paul.

Why did bloody Paul have to die anyway? Why did all our hopes and dreams have to be ruined?

I heard the stairs creaking and soon I saw Cynthia's blonde hair. She was wearing one of my old t-shirts. As she walked over to the couch, I looked up and down her legs. She had had our son Julian a couple months ago and she was radiant.

"John, are you coming to bed soon?" She asked me timidly.

I took another sip of my brandy and another long drag of my ciggie, "Yeah, in a few minutes."

She sat down beside me, "Are you alright?"

"I'll be okay," I replied dryly.

Cyn rested her head on my shoulder and I instinctively wrapped my arm around her. She threw her legs up and draped them across my lap.

"John, I'm worried about you," she said.

"I'm okay," I said taking another sip of my brandy.

I wasn't okay; I had been staring at the roaring fire in the fireplace for three hours or ever since Brian's phone call after dinner.

My thoughts drifted to Paul as Cyn placed soft kisses on my jawline and neck. I could never replace Paul and now Brian was desperate to for a last ditch effort to save a broken band.

"What did Brian say on the phone?" Cynthia asked pulling me out of my deep thoughts.

I sighed, "He found a replacement for Paul."

Cyn hugged me close, "Oh, I'm so sorry John."

"It doesn't matter Cyn. If everyone else can forget Paul then I can too."

"John, no one is forgetting Paul. Brian is just putting the personal things aside and thinking about the future of the band."

I got up quickly from the couch and paced back and forth, "That's just it, Cynthia, I don't know if I can be in the band anymore. Not without Paul."

Cynthia stood from the couch and hugged me closely, "Paul would not be happy if you just quit. This was your dream."

I sat back on the couch and grabbed my brandy, "I don't know how to go on Cyn. How do you move on when your best friend just dies out of nowhere?"

"You have to find your own way to move on," Cyn replied quietly.

Tears started to cover my eyes. I threw my brandy glass abruptly and it shattered when it hit the picture above the fireplace.

I jumped up, "Why does this keep happening to me Cynthia!? Why does everyone I love have to die!?"

I sat down on the couch, buried my head in my hands, and cried. Cyn slowly rubbed my back as heavy tears overcame me.

"First Uncle George and then mother. Now Paul. But I can't handle Paul's," I sobbed, "I just can't."

"Come to bed now John," Cyn said grabbing my arm.

I followed Cyn up the stairs and silently prepared myself for tomorrow—the first day back to the studio after Paul's death.

Ringo

I slowly opened my puffy eyes. My cheeks were tight from the tears that had streamed down them almost all night.

It had been two weeks since I saw Paul lifelessly lying in the cold hospital. He was dead and I wanted to question what was to become of the band without him. Paul was the oil that kept the machine running. Who would write all of our songs? Sure there was John, but he needed Paul. Paul and John were like a dream team of songwriters and I wasn't sure John could be as strong as he was when Paul was around.

Brian told me that he found some guy named Ronald who played bass and sang like Paul apparently.

I felt a tear leave my eye and fall onto the pillow.

We had to be at the studio today and I honestly think that it will be a disaster. Brian told me that we have to start recording the new album and rerecord some of the songs we had already finished with Paul. I'm terribly afraid of John blowing up at the studio.

Paul was all of our best friend, but he and John had something special. I joined the band later than everyone so I didn't witness the beginning of their friendship. George explained to me that Paul helped John through his mother's death. He said that that is what made them so close. None of us had a friendship with Paul and John like they had with each other.

I finally made myself leave the comfort and safety of my bed to get dressed for the day. I slowly put on my clothes and sat alone in the kitchen to eat a small breakfast and a cup of tea. I walked outside as the warm air surprised me when it hit my face. The skies wore the usual overcast; they properly reflected the feeling of today. I got in my car and began the familiar drive to the studio.

Out of all the feeling of dread about today, I felt as if interesting and cheerful might happen today.

George

"Where are we going Paul?" I asked him as we walked through the familiar streets of Speke.

"George, I'm taking you to audition for The Quarrymen," Paul replied looking over at me.

"Really Paul?" I really want the other guys to like me," I said looking around at the beautiful day in Liverpool.

Paul looked at me again and smiled, "Once John hears you play 'Raunchy' he'll let you in. Don't worry."

I blinked the tears out of my eyes so I could drive. It had been two weeks since Paul died and Brain wanted us back in the studio. He got some bloke named Ronald to sing and play bass. Ugh! No one could replace Paul.

I still remember the image of Paul's lifeless body lying in the hospital bed. We had a small intimate funeral for him in Liverpool with only a few people.

For these past two weeks I haven't been able to shake the image of the person in the hospital bed next to Paul. A girl who was apparently in the wreck with Paul, but she got to live.

I remember a small voice calling me over to her bed as the other lads cried over Paul's body. I remember the frightened look in her crystal blue eyes; her dark, brown hair framing her head on the pillow. I remember her looking at me through all of the hospital rig she was hooked up to. I remember her soft voice whispering, "I'm so sorry. I loved him so. I didn't…"

Most of all, I remember the sound of her small voice disappearing as I walked away because I didn't care. I hated her for living and for Paul dying.

As I came out of my deep thoughts I looked to my left and saw two teenage boys walking down the side of the road. They reminded me of Paul and I when we were that age.

I turned onto Abbey Road and pulled up the security gate at the studios. Mal Evans, our roadie, saw me immediately and opened the gates. I pulled my car into one of the front spots and sat in my car for a few moments to collect myself before entering the studio.

My eyes clouded up and I blinked back tears at the dread of returning to this studio. I got out of my car , put my sunglasses on, and locked my car as I headed to the front door.

I began to walk up the front steps until I heard someone behind me.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Brian Epstein," a woman's voice said to me.

I turned around slowly; it was the girl from the hospital.


Author's Note: What do you think Lucy's doing at Abbey Road Studios? Tell me what you guys think about the chapter please!