Over the next two days there were two more lunchtime gigs at the cavern for the guys, both of which Pru managed to attend. It was getting harder to be around the crazy fans and her and Cynthia had to be extra careful not to be spotted by the girls, otherwise they could be attacked. It was well known that Cynthia was dating John so she had to wear a dark wig when she went to the gigs but luckily no one knew how close Pru was to Paul. Maureen hardly ever came to the gigs as she was terrified of the fans.
Pru and Paul hooked up two more times before he left for Birkenhead on the 31st of January; once in the backseat of his car on the way home from her work the night before, and once again when they got to her bedroom.
I'm definitely not having a dry spell.
On February 2nd the phone rang through the house before the sun was even up. Pru growled as she got out of bed and ran to answer it in the kitchen downstairs.
"Hello?" She mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"Prudence!"
"Not so loud I just woke up!" She yelled back. I'm not a morning person. "What's up Georgie?"
"Please Please Me has just entered the music chart at number sixteen, thought you might like to know sleepyhead." George said nonchalantly over the phone but Pru could tell he would be grinning from ear to ear on the other end.
"That's amazing!" She squealed and George laughed, "Hey, not so loud!"
She rolled her eyes as he continued to speak. "I've got to head, we've got another place to go, more crazy fans to meet," he sighed and Pru felt her heart go out to him.
From everything I've ever read or heard about The Beatles, George always seemed to be the one who didn't handle fame as well as the others. He's never going to appreciate the crazy girls…and he's probably hoping it will get better…
"Don't let the fans and crazy shit get to you George, okay?"
"I'll try," he growled. "Anyway, just wanted to let you know the news Pru," he changed his tone light-heartedly. "Miss you!"
"Miss you too Georgie, give the boys my love!"
Pru couldn't make it to the Cavern gig the next night, Tommy always wanting her to work seeing as she was his new favourite employee. Tommy had started to look at her a certain way every now and then, and she got a funny feeling in her stomach whenever he did it. She guessed if she wasn't so preoccupied with Paul and the other boys she would probably ask him out, but that was the last thing on her mind as she could hear the screams of the girls outside on the street.
Tommy left her to close by herself and she did it quickly, shooing off Ronald as quickly as she could. She was disappointed when no one came to visit her or take her home. Bloody hell they could have at least told me I'd have to walk.
She walked outside locking the door behind her and jumped about a metre in the air when a car beeped at her. She tried to ignore it but as she walked away they beeped again. She turned and walked back towards the car, angry at whomever was taunting her, but as she looked through the windscreen she saw a familiar face that turned her walk into a run.
"Paul!" She breathed, smiling as she opened the door of the car. He smiled back at her, but immediately she could tell something wasn't quite right as she sat down in the seat and closed the door. "What's wrong?"
"I've got the flu or summat." His voice was dry and he sniffed loudly. "It's all this touring that's done it."
He started the car as Prudence looked at him, half with concern and half with disappointment.
"So… no sex tonight?" She questioned, moaning a little because she already knew the answer. Paul laughed and fought back a cough.
"I wish, but I really don't think it would be pleasant for you, with my nose running like a tap."
"I could be on top," she joked and that resulted in him laughing even harder and then having a small coughing fit before he could speak again.
"God, I missed you Prudence."
Paul decided to go straight home after dropping her off, saying he needed to get some rest and that if he came inside he would be too tempted to sleep with her. She briefly hugged him goodbye when he walked her to the front door but she didn't want to stay around him too long and catch whatever he had.
She closed the front door to the house and she could already smell tea in the air. She wondered if Cyn was home with John, but as she walked into the living room she only saw John, his hands buried in his hair and his tea on the table.
"Just you?" Prudence said quietly, before walking over to the couch and sitting next to him. He looked up at her briefly and nodded before reaching for his tea and taking a sip. Before he could put the cup back down Prudence grabbed it out of his hands gently and brought it to her lips. He watched as her pink lips took in the tea, her eyes looking at him cheekily as she drank.
"You didn't offer me any so I just thought I'd take a sip of yours," she grinned, putting the cup back on the table. She waited for him to give her a sneer or a snarky remark like usual but he only chuckled quietly and his gaze fell down to the floor.
"Okay, I know something is wrong because you haven't come out with some smartass remark yet. What's wrong?" she nudged him and then crossed her arms, trying to look intimidating but failing because of her small frame.
"Thompson just leave it-"
"Tell me," she said in a commanding tone that didn't sound anything like her, and his eyes flew to hers. He looked into her eyes and realised that for some stupid reason he trusted her and quickly relaxed next to her.
"It's the music," he said, tearing his gaze away from hers and looking at his palms. "Brian has got us playing this one set of music. The same fucking set, every fucking night. 20 minutes of that same shit. It's killing me. There's no freedom anymore. This tour is going to ruin the band, I can feel it. I miss the way it was in Hamburg, with just the lads and Stu…"
As soon as Stu's name fell from his lips Prudence grabbed his hands in hers. She knew how much his death affected him and she had no idea how to comfort him about it. I can't even begin to think I know the right thing to say about Stuart, but maybe I can help with the music.
"I know it's hard now, but you are still trying to make it in this business. Imagine…" She paused when she inadvertently said the song title of what would be his most famous single, but the pause made him look up at her, so she quickly composed herself.
"Imagine… your life in the future. You could be so happy. After all this hard work is done, you'll have the freedom to do what you want with whoever you want. This world is changing and you are going to help change it John," her eyes began to water as she spoke more passionately and John kept her gaze.
"How are you so sure?"
"Uh…" She hesitated. What to say? 'Because I'm from the future and I know everything about you?
"Because I believe in you John Lennon," she blurted out and his eyes widened at her words. She tightened her grip on his hands as she continued to speak. "And you have to believe in yourself too."
They both stared at each other in silence as her last sentence hung in the air between them. He stared at her in awe. I don't know what to think with this bird…maybe she's just gone ape…but she really believes in me.
She stared at him, not able to tear her eyes away from this man before her.
It's weird how comfortable I've become around these boys over this short period. This is a musical genius sitting in front of me and I'm holding his hands.
She was brought back from her thoughts as his right hand let go of Prudence's and travelled up her arm which was still covered by her red jacket.
She didn't dare move as his hand glided across her shoulder and touched the light skin of her neck. Her breathing became heavier and she sighed, her eyes fluttering closed when his hand glided past her cheek and rested in her hair. Although her eyes were closed she could feel him moving closer to her and she felt his breath on her lips.
Prudence had heard a few times during her 19 years of life from various people and from a couple of TV shows or movies that the wait before a kiss was always better than the actual kiss. Bullshit.
"John," she breathed in what came out as a desperate whimper. Her name falling from his lips in such a desperate way proved too tempting for him as he moved closer and their lips touched for the first time. They both breathed in heavily as their lips met and Pru's hands were moving to pull her closer to him when they heard the front door open. They flew apart as they registered just exactly what they were doing.
"Hello!" Cynthia called happily from the front door before entering the living room where John and Prudence were on the furthest edges of the couch as they could be without falling off. "What's happened between you two? You're both red in the face!" She laughed as Prudence panicked.
John didn't say anything and she knew it was going to be up to her to make an excuse. "You know Lennon and I Cyn," Pru said as nonchalantly as she could, standing up and moving past John without sparing him a glance. "Always fighting," She managed a smile at Cyn and she giggled in return.
"You guys will probably fall in love one day," she said jokingly, but Pru tensed and she heard John groan behind her.
"Anyway I'm off to bed. Goodnight Cyn," she kissed her on the cheek and began to move toward the kitchen but she stopped to turn and look at John.
"Goodnight Lennon," she said in a grumpy voice, still looking for some kind of acknowledgment from him for what just happened. He didn't even look at her, waving her off and putting his head back in his hands, just like he looked when Pru walked in only minutes earlier. Pru's blood began to boil and she stormed to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her before sinking to the floor and putting her head in her hands.
For fucks sake Pru what is wrong with you? You love Cynthia. Cynthia loves John. John loves Cynthia. Cynthia loves you. John loves you – No! He doesn't. Get it the fuck together Pru. Don't ruin the relationships you've managed to build here. Be strong. Don't let a boy do this shit to you. You're better than this.
She sighed.
Fucking Lennon.
I can't believe I've done this to Cyn.
Cynthia was smiling happily underneath her dark wig and scarf as they walked out of the Locarno Ballroom in Liverpool on the 14th of February, completely oblivious to the fact that her best friend kissed her boyfriend. The boys had played at the ballroom for a special Valentine's Day dance and Pru and Cynthia had sneaked in the back and watched them play. They all looked worn out; especially John.
John had caught whatever flu Paul had a few days ago, and on the 11th they had spent the whole day recording the rest of the Please Please Me album. Pru knew that John being sick would set the tone for the album and be the reason that his rendition of Twist and Shout is as good as everyone knows it to be. Still, looking at him ripping his throat apart on stage, Pru couldn't help but flinch at his pain.
Although he was sick and she felt sorry for him in that way, when she looked at him, she felt angry. Confused.
But when she looked at Cyn she felt sick. Guilty.
As she continued to look at Cyn and sink further into her own world of self-deprecation she was pulled out of it by the terrified screams of a girl and angry yells from fans. Cyn froze and Pru quickly pulled her behind a car to hide her from the pack of girls across the parking lot. Pru poked her head out from behind the car and saw the girls banging on a car which looked like Ringo's.
Shit! It's got to be Maureen.
Maureen had told Cyn that she wouldn't be able to come in to watch the show, out of fear of being recognised. She did say however that she would wait for Ringo after the show. She must be waiting in his car.
Pru moved swiftly, knowing how scared the young hairdresser must have been. She jumped out and pointed towards the ballroom and let out her best 'squeal'. The girls turned towards her and she pointed to the ballroom again, "Oh my god, I just saw them in the ballroom! Paul!"
The girls quickly ran towards the ballroom and flew inside to search for the boys while Pru ran with Cyn following close behind her towards the car.
Pru knocked on the window of the car and saw Maureen bury her head even deeper in her hands in what looked like fear as she sat in the driver seat. "Mo! It's Pru and Cyn," she said through the window and the terrified girl raised her head, showing her face which was covered in blood, smeared from deep scratches on her face.
"Oh my god, open the door Mo," Pru demanded with wide eyes and Mo quickly opened it, Pru kneeling down next to her, not caring that she was ripping her tights on the asphalt.
Cyn moved around and jumped in the other side of the car and stroked Mo's arm while Pru ripped off some of the bottom of her own white dress off, lifting it up and pressing it to Maureen's cheek. She hissed in pain and Pru spoke. "What happened?"
Maureen took a shaky breath and her lips trembled as she talked. "I was just waiting h-here. I th-thought no-one would recognise me just si-sitting in the car. But out of nowhere, these girls just came screaming and one r-reached in and scratched my face!" She let out a sob and Cyn squeezed her arm reassuringly.
"I was scared for my life!" Pru's eyes widened and she gave Cyn a concerned look over Mo's shoulder. "If I didn't get the window up in time, they would have killed me!"
Maureen began to cry and Pru shook off her fears of being attacked herself and took action to help her friend. "Okay love; get in the backseat, and Cyn you're driving us to the hospital, she needs to get cleaned up."
Cyn nodded and got out of the car to help the shaky Maureen into the back, while Pru looked around and wondered what to do next when she spotted Mal Evans coming out the doors with some equipment and she ran over to him. "Mal!"
He looked up in surprise at a girl calling out his name instead of one of the boys and his eyes widened even more when he took in her appearance. "Pru?"
"I'm going to the hospital with Cyn and Mo, tell Ringo to come okay?" She breathed before running back to the car. Mal had noticed the blood on her and her ripped dress and tights, quickly running inside to get the boys.
Pru sat in the hospital waiting room by herself. I guess the hospital doesn't get so many late night visits in 1963…it's only 12 o'clock.
She stared at the clock, sitting in her ruined white dress, with blood covering her hands and other parts of her from trying to clean up Mo as much as she could in the backseat of the car.
Cyn was with Maureen while she was being cleaned up by the nurses. Mo was fine really, but Pru wanted to make sure the cuts would heal correctly.
"Pru!" She heard a yell and quickly stood up to face the door as 7 men ran through, John Lennon leading the pack.
He stopped in his tracks as he took in her appearance; ripped dress and blood. "What the fuck happened to you!" He tried to yell but really just croaked with his raw throat as he walked towards her, grabbing her face in his hands and staring at her. She was taken aback by his reaction and she looked over his shoulder at the other guys behind her who didn't seem the least bit surprised that he was so worried. Paul looked like he was about to punch something as he stared at her.
"Pru! Answer me! Who did this to you?" He let go of her face and grabbed her arms, pushing her back to study her and try to figure out where she was hurt. "John," she whispered trying to calm him down but he continued to yell questions at her and look her up and down.
He was becoming frantic and Pru started to panic. "John!" she yelled and slapped his face, sending him to stumble a few steps back. He stared at her in shock and she couldn't believe her own actions as she stared back. It must be some pent up anger from the other night...or nerves.
"I'm fine," she whispered looking up at the others who were just as surprised as John by her response. It was only when she looked at Ringo she remembered why they were here.
"Maureen is seeing the doctor and Cyn's with her," Ringo's eyes widened as she told him it was his girlfriend that was hurt. "She's okay," she quickly reassured him, feeling uncomfortable and crossing her arms in front of her as she continued to feel John's stare. "Some fans attacked her in your car, and they scratched her up pretty bad. I took care of her," she gestured to her dress and the blood, "and brought her here. She's shook up."
Ringo was shifting from one foot to the other and looking towards the hallway where the rooms were. "Go on Ringo, I'm sure they won't stop you. Room 5," Pru waved towards the hall and he quickly ran down to find Mo, breathing a "thanks" as he swept past Prudence.
Pru stood there and realised she was shaking a little as Paul walked over to her and pushed her hair out of her face, looking her in the eye.
"Are you alright Pru?" He spoke softly and she nodded with watery eyes.
I'm not hurt. But it could have easily been Cyn or I.
Paul leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips before sitting her down and sitting next to her, holding her hand.
Still over near the door, Brian stood in conversation with Neil and Mal and George made his way over, taking off his jacket and setting it on Pru's shoulders as he sat of the other side of Pru. "Those girls…" he practically growled. "I can't believe they would attack her like that!"
Pru was taken by surprise as George's temper flared and she grabbed his hand and squeezed it and she smiled at him. He smiled in return and leant forward to kiss her cheek. "Glad you're alright Pru."
She nodded before turning to look at John who was still standing where she had slapped him. "I'm sorry I hit you John, but you needed to snap out of it."
He shook his head and laughed a little before sitting down across from them, keeping his eyes on the floor.
Why did he care so much? It's probably all because of that stupid kiss…
"You've got a good arm Thompson - for a tiny bird," he joked rubbing his cheek and Pru stuck her tongue out at him. "By the way, I had to tell you Mimi is coming back this weekend, so you'll need to move out."
"Oh," was all she could manage as she groaned internally.
I guess I couldn't stay forever.
Hey ho! New chap! Woo!
By the way, that stuff with Maureen actually happened, but obviously Pru wasn't there to help.
Hope you like this chapter, review and junk if you like!
Thank you for the reviews on chapter 10, especially RubberSoul! Such a lovely review! Made me smile loads and I glad you are enjoying the story!
Anyway, lots of love from me!
