"What exactly do you two think you're doing?" Mimi's voice called to us as we attempted to sneak into our rooms. Usually she was asleep by now, but tonight she had decided to wait for us. I was speechless for the first time in my life. What could I say that wouldn't result in me being evicted from her home?
"I'm tired so I thought I'd go to bed. What do you think you're doing?" John asked me with a smile.
"I think I was about to go to bed, too."
"What were you two doing out this late together?" She asked. She never seemed to mind me coming home late when I was alone, but now that I arrived with her nephew she minded a whole lot.
"I was with Cat. We're working on an assignment together. We've got to make this sculpture and it's not going as well as we hoped. It took us awhile to get it right." I lied. I was so thankful I was a convincing liar.
"I went to Paul's after our show. Cat lives near there and I saw Alice walking home alone and it's not safe fer a girl to walk alone at this time, now is it? We both live 'ere so 'ere we are."
Mimi seemed convinced by our lies. "Alright, but I want nothing going on here. Alice, you are here for your studies. Nothing else. John, I want you focusing on your studies too. I won't have you neglect your education for that guitar and be unqualified for anything in the future. To bed with the both of you." She said sternly and we walked upstairs. We said good night and got in a quick kiss before heading into our respective rooms. That disaster was avoided for now.
I sat talking to Thomas in our class before lunch. John walked in late as usual with his guitar on his back. I handed him the materials for the day and set about my work. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence, Lennon?" Thomas asked when class was over. "You borrowin' our girl again?" John put his arm around my shoulders.
"Borrowin' 'er indefinitely, Tom." He smiled. "Ready to go, love?" I nodded.
"Got a ciggie fer me?" John asked as soon as we were out of the building. I fished one out of my pocket and handed it to him. I only smoked a few times a week, but I had learned to carry them with me at all times since John never seemed to have any of his own. We went to a local shop and ordered some fish and chips and returned to meet up with Paul and George.
The boys went right to work. They chatted and worked on new songs to add to their set. Paul had mentioned a song that he was trying to learn and tried to work out the chords. "A Major."
"Huh?" Paul looked up, confused.
"The chord you're looking for. It's A Major."
"I've 'eard you play this before." John stated and handed me his guitar. "Go on. Play it."
I took the guitar from him and played through the song. The two younger boys watched in awe and John had a proud look on his face as he sang along.
When I finished playing Paul was the first to speak, "I've never seen a girl play like that before. Well, not since-"
"Me mum." John finished the sentence for him. "She used to play banjo fer us." His face softened and he was smiling slightly at the memory of his mother. This was the first John had openly spoke about his mother around me. "I wish you could've met her, Alice. She would've loved you." The sentimental moment didn't last long. John cleared his throat and reached for his guitar, "So, A Major, right?" The boys went right back to work with me guiding them through the song.
I enjoyed listening to them practice, but I knew the lunch hour was drawing to a close. I stood and began gathering my things. John stopped playing and looked up at me. "Where d'you think yer goin'?"
"To class. Like students are supposed to."
"Can't ye bunk off just once? He pleaded.
"No. I've already had this discussion with you, John."
"Well, I wasn't listenin'. Sit." He patted the spot I had just risen from. I rolled my eyes. I had skipped classes in high school all the time and I still managed to make honor roll. I guess one time at college couldn't hurt. I gave in and sat down beside him. "That's my girl." He smiled and gave me a peck on the cheek.
The boys wrapped up their jam session early. Paul and George had to go home and John suggested we go to Strawberry Field. John sat with his knees bent up to his chest and his arms around them. He stared off into the distance. "Are you feeling okay? You're uncharacteristically quiet." I observed.
"Just thinkin'" He stated.
"About your mom?" I asked.
He finally met my gaze and gave a slight smile. "Nothin' gets by you, love." He fell silent once again.
"What happened?"
"She died." He shrugged and looked straight ahead of him again. I had already figured that much out. I wanted to ask more questions, but I could tell he didn't want to talk about it. John moved closer to me, put his head on my shoulder, and wrapped his arms around me. "Don't leave me, Alice." I was shocked by the vulnerability in his voice.
"I'm not going anywhere, John." I reassured.
"Promise me."
"I promise."
We sat like that in silence for a while. The boys had a gig tonight or else we could have stayed there forever. I decided to go home to do some school work, much to John's disappointment. He walked me back to Mendips and then went to meet up with his band-mates.