Okay, so this is chapter four. Yeah, you might have notice that I deleted my story then uploaded it again… I had to fix something that was bugging me. I'm a little OCD like that, sorry. Anyways, I'm sorry it's taken so long to update, but I was sick and then when I got better, I found out that I need a root canal. Yeah, a ROOT CANAL! I had it done TODAY and I STILL updated for you people! So don't be mad at me! Anyways, thank you to Ruby Smith, Pandacat1bagillion, SetTheMusicFree12, and Obscure Seance Rita for your lovely comments. Now Enjoy…
The group of teens continued walking until they reached a bus stop. George's house was too far to walk. A few minutes later, a bus pulled up and the group piled on. Maggie suddenly realized that she didn't have any money. I don't even know how much a bus ride costs in England in 1958.
Before she could get too bent out of shape, though, George turned to her and said "Allow me," and pulled out two coins. He placed them in the collection box as he got on. Maggie followed him onto the bus in admiration. How sweet is he!
They all took seats in the back. Maggie sat next to George. "Thanks," she said to him.
"Aw, it was nothin'. If me dad had picked us up, none of us would have had to pay," he said. Maggie had forgotten that George's dad was a bus driver. She thought about how much George looked like his parents and how supportive they were of him, especially his mom. Maggie suddenly became excited. She was going to meet George's loving mother. She was the reason he'd bought his first guitar. Maggie couldn't wait to meet such a caring, supportive mother. She was probably the reason George was such a beautiful human being, Maggie concluded.
John was sitting in the seat in front of Maggie and George. He had his back against the window and his feet on the seat. Maggie thought he already looked famous, with his leather jacket and greased up hair. He and George were talking when John caught her staring again.
"Cor! I must look bloody gorgeous today. Mags, here, can't keep 'er eyes off me," he said to George with a cocky smile. George chuckled.
Maggie could feel herself starting to blush. Then she thought of something. "Actually John, I was staring at that big hooter on your face. How do you ever keep your head up with all that weight pullin' down on it?" She smirked at him after she said it.
George tried to stifle a laugh, but it was too late. John gave him a look and then punched him. "Hey! I'm not the one who insulted your nose, she is!" He said as he rubbed his shoulder and gave John a look. Maggie felt bad that she'd angered John enough to make him punch George. But she couldn't let John embarrass her like that.
"Sorry mate. Maggie was outta reach…" John said with a scowl. Maggie didn't think John would have really punched her, but he did have a reputation for hitting his girlfriends. She decided she wouldn't insult him anymore, even if he did tease her.
It was strange; she didn't mind John teasing her or their bickering. She actually liked it. Maggie was starting to develop a little crush on John. Maybe it was his wit or his bad boy persona. Whatever it was, it was making her look at John in a completely new light. Even though George was her favorite Beatle and she did have a crush on him, Maggie was definitely seeing John in a new way.
The bus came to a stop and John, Paul and Penny stood up to get off. Maggie realized this was their stop and followed them off the bus with George behind her. As they walked down the street, Maggie decided to apologize to George.
"Hey, I'm sorry I made John punch ya," she said to him.
"'S alright…Better me than you eh?" he said with a smile.
Maggie laughed. "Yeah, you look like you could use a beating," she playfully punched his arm.
"Blast! That's gonna bruise, ya know!" he rubbed his arm as if it hurt.
"Is Maggie causin' more people pain? I heard her insult your nose, Johnny," Paul said.
"Oh sod off, Macca!" John practically yelled.
"Now, John don't get angry with Paul. We all know you have a brilliant nose, we're just plain jealous of it!" Maggie said to John with a wink.
Everyone started laughing, including John. "Well, look at me! Who wouldn't be jealous of this?" he said to them.
"Aye, you're the bollocks. Now can we chivvy along? It's cold out," complained Paul.
After passing a few more houses, George turned and walked up the stairs to the front door of his house. Everyone followed him into the warm house.
"Hullo? Anyone home?" he called out as everyone sat down on the couch and chairs in the living room. A woman's voice came from somewhere inside the house, "George? Is that you?"
"Yes, mum. Along with the lads and lasses," he answered.
The woman walked into the room through a door. Maggie immediately recognized her as George's mother. She was wearing a floral dress and apron. "Hullo everyone!" she greeted with a smile. "I just made some sandwiches and a pot of tea. If you two lasses could help me in the kitchen?"
Maggie and Penny followed Mrs. Harrison into the kitchen. She handed a tray with a pot of tea and cups to Maggie and a tray of sandwiches to Penny. "Thank ye girls," she said, "These boys can be a handful sometimes." Maggie smiled at this. She knew from all her research that the young Beatles were no angles.
"Enjoy girls, I'm off to do laundry," Mrs. Harrison said as she walked out of the kitchen. As soon as she was gone, Penny immediately put down the tray of sandwiches and hit Maggie's shoulder.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"Since when do you fancy John?" Penny asked with an annoyed tone. Maggie couldn't believe Penny was asking her this. She put down the tray of tea next to the sandwiches. She hadn't even had a real conversation with this girl yet. Who is she to ask me who I like?
"Are ya gonna answer me or not?"
"I…I don't like him," Maggie said timidly.
"Oh, so you weren't flirtin' with 'im, you two were just quarrellin'?" Penny asked suspiciously. Maggie was getting the feeling that Penny was her best friend – on account of her being so interested in her love life.
"Exactly," Maggie said with a devious smile. Penny was about to say something, but John suddenly barged through the door.
"What's takin' so long in 'ere?" John asked.
"Nothin,'" Maggie said as she picked up a tray and walked past John into the living room. John gave Penny a confused look, but Penny just shrugged her shoulders and followed Maggie.
The girls set the trays on the coffee table in the middle of the room while John got his guitar and began tuning it. Maggie had spotted a bathroom while she was in the kitchen. She didn't need to use it, but she wanted to see what she looked like. She excused herself and walked down the hallway towards the bathroom. Once inside, she closed the door behind her and looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a light purple dress with a thin belt around the waist. Her brunette hair was shoulder length – much shorter than she remembered – and wavy. She also had bangs, which she hadn't had in almost six years – since she was ten. I guess I don't look too bad. A little dorky, but I can manage.
She walked out of the bathroom and heard the boys playing. Maggie immediately recognized the song – "In Spite of All the Danger". George and Paul had written it, but John sang lead on it. She walked into the room as John sang:
In spite of all the heartache
That you may cause me
I'll do anything for you
Anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
Even though John hadn't written the song, he sang it with just as much feeling. He sang as if he were living the song. Maggie felt like John was personally singing to her. She almost forgot about the others in the room, until the song ended.
The trio practiced for about an hour and half while the girls talked and listened. They played many songs in that short period of time. Paul sang Elvis Presley's "That's All Right, Mama" and George sang "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry. Maggie loved Paul's voice when he sang. He made the song his own. And George's thick accent when he sang made the songs even more enjoyable. He also soloed on almost every song.
"I'd say we're ready for a gig. Whatya say Johnny?" Paul asked.
"Aye, son. Tomorrow night we have ourselves a gig," John said with a smile.
"Yeah, me dad got us a gig at the bus depot," George said happily.
Paul looked slightly disappointed. "Aw, I'm sick of these little shows. I wanna make it big, already!" he said impatiently.
"Paulie, remember where we're going?" John said with a knowing look.
"To the top…" Paul said quietly.
"I can't hear ya…"
"To the top, Johnny!" Paul said with a smile.
"And where's that?"
"To the toppermost of the poppermost!" George joined in with Paul.
They really have no idea how HUGE they'll be.
Maggie admired how determined the boys were to make it to the 'toppermost of the poppermost.' She was also surprised to see how fast John wanted to keep that dream alive by cheering Paul up.
"So will the birds be joining us tomorrow?" John asked Maggie and Penny.
Penny scolded him, "Don't call us birds, John. It's rather rude."
"Don't call us birds, it's rather rude," he imitated in a high pitched voice, "Are ya goin' or no?" he asked frustrated.
Maggie tried not to giggle, but Penny heard her and gave her a look of annoyance. Maggie just rolled her eyes at Penny's sour face and said, "Sure, I'll go!"
"Great!"
OOOOOOO! Does she like John MORE than George now? Who knows…Oh I do hehehe! Soooo did ya like it? Even if ya didn't, please tell me in the nicest way possible. Sersly, REVIEW. I didn't get a lot last time and it made me real sad So make me happy by reviewing and maybe I'll update faster *hint hint* ;)
