"He'll be there, bye luv"
"John? No , no, no please tell him….. John?" He already had hung up the phone.
She waited for about 15 minutes, the man was still there, she was reading a magazine trying not to think about it, but every time she looked at the window she could see the man standing pretending to read a newspaper. Then she saw him crossing the street "Oh my God he is going toward here!" she thought, she froze when he saw he was near the door, she pretended to call someone, "maybe he thinks I'm calling the police" that was her plan, but to her horror the man didn't leave, he was trying to open the door, she screamed, her heart was pounding in her chest with fear "Go away, the police will be here anytime soon" she saw him smiling, he knew she was lying. She went behind a shelf and closed her eyes. Paul saw the man trying to open the door, he shouted
"Hey, what are you doing, man?" The man saw him, he stopped trying.
"I was just leaving" Paul wasn't sure whether he was about to punch him or to escape, but he only said "You should take more care of your pretty bird, you never know what could happen to 'er"
"If I see you again near here, I'll call a bobby, I'm sure they'll love to see you in jail" The man mumbled something and left. Paul looked through the window, he saw Ella hiding, and he knocked.
"Ella, open up!" she opened the eyes, that voice, that lovely voice, she saw Paul outside.
She unlocked the door and he came in "Is he gone?" she asked.
"He frightened you, did he tell you something?" He softly patted her hand
She fearfully cleared her throat "Nothing, he tried to open the door, God, for a moment I thought that he would break in and…"
Paul interrupted her "He's gone, don't think about that, I'm here" She let out a relief sigh. "Have you been returning home all by yourself?" he asked
"At first Lizzy came, after her dancing lessons, but she quitted, I asked Pete to come, but I don't know why he didn't, Have you seen him?" He had seen him, that was a fact, talking with some groupies, but he decided not to tell her.
"No, I'm sorry" he started to look at the records "You shouldn't wear that necklace, not if you are returning alone"
"Do you really think this is the reason?" she asked
"It's flashy to them" he smiled "I suppose that's why you liked it so much; it came from the striking Pete"
"Are you blaming me for this?"
"No, I'm just remarking how much you love that necklace; you wear it all the time, even if that means putting yourself in risk"
She rolled her eyes, "Great another classic Paul -Ella argument, you missed it?" he didn't answer "are you trying to say I'm shallow?"
"Well, are you?"
"I am not; I wear it because it's a gift, the one my boyfriend gave to me. Money can't buy me love, Paul"
"Let me ask you something, Did you read my letter?" he moved closer to her.
She stuttered, "Why do you, of... yes!"
"Are you sure?" he moved even closer, so she moved away.
"Fine! I didn't" he made a sarcastic smile after that confession.
"Okay, miss 'I'm not shallow' now tell me, Did you put the flower in a glass of water after I gave it to you?" She felt her eyes watering; therefore she turned in an effort to hide her embarrassment. He grabbed her by the arm, she turned to see him. "You didn't, did you? you were stunned with Pete's gift, he practically bought you with that" he said pointing at the necklace, she looked at his eyes, and slapped him in the face.
"Oh gosh, Paul I didn't… I just" there was no turning back
"Let's go, before it rains" and they left, she was really ashamed, she walked behind him, He glared sometimes, just to see that she was fine and following him, they didn't talk, when they arrived she went straight to her room, she heard John telling her to stay with them, but she was still embarrassed about what she did to Paul, so staying in her room was the best option.
John was eating some biscuits and enjoying a comic book, he glared at Paul
"Why you took so long? You naughty boy"
"There was a man trying to open the door y'know?"
"What happened is she alright?" he stood up and look at the door of Ella's room
"She's fine, I told him to leave and he did"
John noticed the redness on his pale cheek "Did he hit you?"
"No! Why you ask?"
John pointed at his cheek "Your cheek looks red" Paul started to laugh
"Ella slapped me, I deserved it so don't worry"
"Oh the rough love!" he said in a French accent
"Nah! That's not even puppy love" He tried to speak softer "Pete was supposed to walk her home, but he didn't show"
"Of course not, 'e met those girls remember? They invited him to that fancy pub, lucky bastard"
"Will you tell 'er?"
"I told 'er that Pete was the most requested lad in the group and that 'e wasn't the good boy 'e pretended to be; but she decided to ignore me saying that it seemed that she knew 'im better that we do"
"Nevertheless, we should mind our own business"
"That's where you are wrong Paulie, I care for 'er, and I don't want that bastard near to 'er, in fact anyone of ya! I'll keep 'er in a convent if I have to" he joked.
"John, you know you can't trade 'er for a couple of nuns, right?"
"You've broken me heart Paul, all my dreams are over now" he said sarcastically
George decided to go and spend some time with Ella at NEMS store, trying to find out why Mr. Epstein was spending time at the Cavern.
"What have he told you?" he asked
"Nothing!" Ella said
"You haven't heard anything?"
"If I had, I would've told you, wouldn't I?" She blinked "And if I do, you'll be the first to know"
George smirked, a smug look on his face "Me? Because I'm the most talented, I suppose "
"No, YOU because you keep on asking," She grinned "And because you're my favorite, but don't tell anybody" she poked him.
"Okay, I won't, Have you seen Pete lately?"
"Nup" a client entered to the store "May I help you sir?" she asked, he rejected the help saying that he was just looking
"And you don't care?" George asked
"Of course I care; no one seems to need my help!"
"I'm talking about not seeing Pete" she tried to keep and eye on the guy, just in case that he decided to take a five finger discount
"I do, but.." the man approach to her
"I'm going to buy this" he paid and left
"I'm sorry, where was I?"
"You, don't caring about Pete" he tried to confuse her
"Oh, yeah…. What? I never said that!" she protested "You always do that Harrison"
"Do what?" he asked
"You know; that! I thought you were quiet, I can't believe I even thought that, cheeky boy" They started to laugh. Lizzy walked in to the store cheerfully as always.
"Look, is the luckiest bird in Liverpool!" she said to Ella
"What are you talking about?" Ella was counting money
"Rumor has it you are!"
"She is not, the luckiest bird will be the one that goes on a date with me" George said while staring at Lizzy, and she didn't even notice that he was there, until he spoke "Hello, Liz"
"George!" she said exited, then she tried to hide the enthusiasm "I didn't see you there, hi" they smiled at each other for a while.
"I'm thirsty, could you two go and bring me something to drink, please" Ella said, blinking to George.
"First, I need to tell you that some girls are asking, who is the one that's dating Pete, they say that they are so jealous of that girl, that girl of course being you!" Ella took her by the arm, away from George so he wouldn't hear.
"Don't say to anyone who 'she' is okay?"
"Why?" Lizzy asked
"I don't know! I'm ashamed somewhat, now go with George, he's waiting" She smiled and they left.