Of course she didn't go anywhere, with guilt she hoped that he would think to go to her, still she said to herself that it was impossible, he didn't even go to talk to Paul. A couple of hours Ringo called, asking if he had returned, he asked her to go and check their flat. That's what she did, but there was no sign of John's return; she returned to her place, it was an expected surprise to find him seated at the table.

Unsure if she should smile to him or not, she offered him a glass of water; but he had taken the liberty of drinking one of her cokes.

"Where were you?" she sat next to him.

It seemed that he didn't want to be near her, as if he were there against his will, he stood up immediately, standing far from her, hands in his pockets he told that he had been walking for a while. There was a very strange feeling in the air, a sentiment she had felt the first day she met him, in a very coldly manner he confided his plan, John wanted to disappear for a couple of days, away from the city.

"Edinburgh? I suppose that's a good idea" Michelle added with doubt.

He threw back his head and laughed "Don't try to talk me out of this, I know perfectly that tone"

She decided that she will try to be nicer to him, to be sympathetic; she had never tried that before, not with him nor with anyone.

"I won't, when are you planning on going?" she asked with a fake interest, erroneously she thought that he would not leave.

"Now, so take two or three dresses, only what you need for a weekend" he commanded, as he gave her a bag for her clothes.

She knew it was dangerous to contradict him, so she tried to change his mind "I'm not a good companion, it seems that you need some time alone" her voice was soft.

He turned to look at her; his expression was severe "Alone? If I'm inviting you it's because you need to come with me, don't think you can leave me as she did"

She couldn't decide if she felt sorry for him or it was because she was afraid, but she went to her bedroom and packed a few things, he told her to go to the parking lot and wait by the car; he was going to look for the keys.

When he returned she found her inside, the car was opened. It was a great astonishment not to hear her contradicting his plan. It was only five in the afternoon when they left. She had tried to make him talk, but he was annoyingly quiet. Finally, after more than two hours since they departed he confessed that he did like Candy.

She knew that what he had said was true "I'm sure of it"

With eyes on the road he simply said that he doubted it.

"It's the truth, I don't believe a man will stand her more than you did" she stated; it was very hard for her to be obliging.

"I believe she must think the same of me" he sighed.

She could not get to comprehend why he could care for someone that vain, of course she was aware that she wasn't exactly a better person that Candy, but then again her undetected ego was ruling her mind, with a bit of jealousy she dared to asked him if he loved that actress.

He tried to pinch her cheek, but she stopped him, she wasn't feeling playful at all.

"What if I say I did" he sneered.

Michelle decided to stop being so complaisant to him "It's funny because when she was your girlfriend, you were trying to convince me that you only had eyes for me. Thank God he gave me brains to be aware of your stupid ways"

His laugh was hateful; her cheeks acquired a very crimson colour, ashamed of her previous remark. "Great, you're an idiot when you're sober and an idiot when drunk" she said, regretting her decision to come with him, they knew they were far from London; she had seen that they had passed Northampton.

"If you say so" he replied, with one hand he tried to reach something in the back seat, since he didn't reach anything, he stopped the car and went out.

Nervously she asked "What happened?"

"I bought some beers" he answered dryly, when he was going to open the trunk, he heard her saying something.

"I said that you won't find them" she shouted from the inside of the car.

He entered calmly to the car, trying not to lose his head "What did you do?"

With a lot of courage she looked directly to his eyes and explained that she put them in the trash while he was looking for the keys.

Since he didn't say anything she continued "What did you expect?! Driving and drinking, I wasn't going to allow it; I can't believe how reckless you are"

He started the car and turned without saying a thing.

"Are we going back to London?" she asked in relief.

"I saw an inn a few minutes ago, it has a pub"

She only sighed in frustration.

He parked and went out, when noticing that she had stayed in the car, he returned for her.

"I won't go out, leave me alone"

John opened the door in the driver's seat and ordered her once again to go out, she was reluctant; he grabbed her by the waist and practically dragged her outside the car.

"If you continue with that attitude you will walk home" he warned.

She had no other choice than to follow him. An older man welcomed him in a very cheerful way; we cannot say that John replied with the same enthusiasm. There were only two other women in that pub, it was awkwardly quiet. He ordered two beers; Michelle immediately assured him that she will not drink it.

"More for me"

She grasped his hand before he could take seat "If you drink one sip, I will slash the tires"

"I can't let you do that" he said with a pretended worry "Sir, do you have any room available?"

The owner said that he did.

"Then, please we'll take the biggest one, give the key to this woman; when she's tired she starts acting very bitchy"

She stared at him sitting in that table, he drank as if he were very thirsty, probably to annoy her even more. An elder woman came and told her that she will show her the room.

Once alone, she lay on bed. She had been very stupid to suppose that she could manage John's character, but she couldn't help it, even if she never noticed it, she had always seen herself above others, it wasn't on purpose but something natural for her. She really wanted to blame herself, although her pride prevented her from doing so. While she thought of that, fatigue made her sleepy. She had just achieved to sleep when the noise of the door awoke her.

John entered, he could barely stand on his own "You still have your clothes on" he began to laughed, he tried to walk but he fell.

"Can't believe this" she said and immediately stood to help him.

Before she could reach him, he stood up and smiled idiotically at her.

"You smell terrible, you smell of pure booze" she complained.

"I didn't drink a drop, not a swear I drop" he said incoherently, he continued to look at her wickedly, his glance stripped her naked. He lunged at her "I made you jealous didn't I?"

"Of course I'm jealous of her, right now she's in her home away from you, while me, why I'm here with your horrid presence" she answered, she took one quick look at him, his eyes had a strange glitter, probably from all the drinking.

He took her throat with one of his long hands, not with a lot of pressure, probably because of the alcohol "You have no right to be so harsh to me, if someone has rights here, that one is me"

She remained where she was; when she saw the door open she had an impulse to run. The owner informed John that the dinner was ready, but that they had to come down to the pub to eat it, he didn't like food crumbles in his rooms.

He grasped her wrists and demanded her to go with him.

"You don't have to take by the hand, I can walk by myself" her worn obstinate personality was still there, and she wasn't going to let John know that she was scared of him.

She seated herself, the old man asked what they wanted to drink, he asked for wine and she said that water would be fine. While they waited for the food, John never stopped staring lazily at her, he needed to feel in control again, but of course that wouldn't happen with someone like Michelle.

She hardly touched her food, he told her to eat faster or it will be cold "I paid for that"

"That's it, I'm going to call Paul, he will come for me" she said firmly.

"Oh dear Paulie saves the day, if you like him so much why you came with me?" he raised his voice, not ashamed that probably the owners, who were in another room, could hear him.

"I thought you wanted to talk" she muttered, she did not want to make scene in front of strangers.

"Talk? C'mon Michelle, you know the real reason why I brought you with me" his eyes ran over her.

Michelle´s heart sank; her lips began to quiver "You're a beast, how can you be so cruel to me, I meant well!"

She stood up from the table, trying to go to the bathroom; he had proved that she feared him. But he wasn't going to let her go. John tried to kiss her, taking her head with his hands, but she pushed him.

"Stop being so obstinate, I'm glad I made you feel terrible, you deserve it fucking twat"

Without thinking she took a bottle and hit him in the head, he tried to laugh, but the hit made him dizzy, he sat on the floor, but he was so drunk that the blow made him faint.

His head felt heavy, it hurt just to think of getting up, he was now on a bed. John heard Michelle´s voice saying that he was conscious now, and then thanked the man. He felt a towel wet with cold water on his forehead, it was difficult for him to keep his eyes open.

"Did you carry me here?" he asked with a weak voice.

"Mr. Thorne helped me" she said coldly, soaking the towel with water.

"That's his name?" there was no answer for him, he noticed that he was shirtless "But did you really have to remove my shirt?" he said in a merry voice, he tried to make her forget his inappropriateness.

"I had to, it was covered with blood, you drank too much you're feverish" she explained, trying not to look him in the eyes.

"I'm sorry" he had recovered his voice, but that he said it very quietly.

She did hear him "why?" she simply asked.

"I won't repeat it and you know that, can't believe you broke a beer with my head"

She took a bandaid to cover the scratch it had left on his forehead "You deserved it"

With humour he said "I'm hard to kill"

John tried to tickle her but she stopped him, with a grave look she let him known that she was angry "I haven't forgiven you, everything you said, and the way you acted was very unjust. I wanted to listen to you, to see if I could be of any help. When I told you I care for you it was true"

"Don't make me feel worse" he said, he did say it with remorse.

"If I knew how to, I would" she boldly said, though it was difficult to outwit John when he looked as if he had come from hell.

He took her hand, wondering how to say what he wanted to say, finally he said "I couldn't rage against Candy, her guards didn't let me get close to her, I believe I let all my hate rage against you; after all it's only you who doesn't seem to flee from my side"

She was staring at him; his tone was very honest

"It sounds that I should go to a psychiatrist" she declared.

"No, nothing could hurt you ever, that's why I like you very much"

"Guess now, I am the idiot" she giggled, worried about it.

"You could be my idiot"

She stood from there, he held her wrist, she could not resist the temptation of touching his hand.

There was a long pause in the conversation; he told her that he understood her "You've got to see that I'm not used to women like you, much less now that I'm famous"

She returned to where he was laying and sat next to the bed "You're making it sound as if being different was good; I feel it like a curse."

He smiled to her warmly, he had been mean to her that evening, so he tried his best to tell her a compliment "It's not, you don't need anyone agreeing to your decisions; you go at your own pace, don't torture yourself thinking you've taken wrong choices" he tried to stand up and be next to her, but his terrible headache wouldn't allow him to even raise his head.

She felt a frightening sensation in her heart, her brain didn't seem to process what John had just told her, it was the first time someone had come very near to understand her real feelings, ideas and goals. She stood up quickly, she didn't want him to see how exposed she felt; Michelle knew it was time to thank him, to tell him how much she appreciated that, but that would mean to let John know that it may exist a chance that she could ever love him.

"But I do know that I've taken wrong choices, what you have to understand is that I don't really care, I like being cursed" she sighed "I'm worse than Candy, at least she acts human"

John knew that already, the truth was that strangely, she was like himself, a self-centred and selfish person.

He was feeling very tired, and she noticed, she told him to rest, that she was going to sleep next door; the lady of the house ordered her to sleep in another room after the quarrel they had had. He almost immediately fell asleep, wanting to forget about that day.

Michelle woke up quite late, she went downstairs realising that she was very hungry; because of her stubbornness she had refused any food John had offered the night before. Since John wasn't downstairs, she thought that maybe he was still very worn out. The mornings in the country are always the best, the air was fresh and that gave her inspiration to think, to try to understand herself; she simply couldn't picture herself in the arms of any man, she could see Jane Eyre in the arms of Rochester, Cinderella with her prince; but romantic ideas about herself never appeared, nevertheless, John's voice was as always present in her thoughts. Her coffee was now cold; she asked Mr. Thorne if he had seen John, she found out that he had left very early in the morning, so she had to wait for his return, if he planned on returning.

Michelle asked for the telephone, she remembered that she didn't leave a note to the boys saying where they were going.

...

"I should admit, for a moment I thought he had kidnapped you" Ringo answered with a lively laugh.

"Let me tell you, I wasn't very thrilled to join him on a trip"

"I'm very glad he didn't kill you" he answered "Anyway, I don't think that it would have made a big difference to have him here, that man does not want our songs, not even mine and those are better"

"I'm sorry Ringo, if is not a problem, I will let John know that until we've arrived" she added, she still had some more hours of trip with John, why upset him more?

"Good idea, now Paul wants to know if –"

Ringo was interrupted when Paul took the phone from his hands.

"He's planning on going to Scotland?" Paul freaked. "What's wrong with him?"

"His romantic life was exposed, that's what happened" she answered, she knew what he had done was wrong, but still she could understand his reasons. "I never wanted to see it, but he really liked her, anyway he's quite affected by all this"

"He isn't, his ego is making him do all of that, he doesn't deal good with rejections, and you know it better that I" he debated, after that he mumbled something "I...Michelle I didn't- Will you bring him home, please"

"There's a tiny problem, he left this morning" she looked again at the window, to see if he had arrived, but there was no car outside "I woke up and I thought he was still sleeping, but they told me he left"

"So... he, er... didn't wake you up after ...?" he inquired.

"I slept in another room, Paul" she assured, with a bit of mockery in her voice.

"Sure you did, sorry" he said, he bit his lips trying not to laugh at his own comment "Convince him to return to London, I really want to talk to that idiot"

"I'll try, anyway he was quite sick yesterday, I'm certain that he wants to go back now" by the time she hung up, she listen to a car, she went quickly upstairs to look for her bag.

John was waiting for her outside, checking the car.

"Did you pay them?" she asked while she put her bag at the back of the car, he said that he had he told her to get in the car, he wasn't looking at her, she thought it must've been because he still felt a bit ill, his cheeks were reddish.

"Are you feeling well?"

He only nodded and started the car. Michelle wanted to feel his forehead, she had a petite motherly instinct to check if the fever had dropped, but she restrained herself. John gave her a ticket, telling her that it was for her.

She read it, it was to Manchester "It's for today" she exclaimed nervously.

"Mhm"

She looked at him, trying so hard not to look confused, but she was. She attempted to say something, but all she could do was to stare at the ticket.

Finally, John explained "I think you should go with your mum, the book is finished so...that's your ticket to ride" he glanced at her while driving "The bus station is near here, I came this morning"

She felt a bit angry that he had made a decision for her, she looked outside the window for a while, and suddenly they had arrived. He opened the door gentlemanly for her, she went out feeling the need to push him aside, she didn't, she took her bag and walked towards the station. "It doesn't say the bus number"

"There must be a board inside, let's go" he instructed, as he put his arm around her shoulders.

She immediately removed his arm around her, it was obvious she was annoyed "Your watch pulled my hair" she tried to justify her reaction.

While he was walking behind her, he sneered, he enjoyed messing with her. "There it says, 910m ... that's your bus, it leaves at 4, but I can't stay here, if I don't leave now it will be very dark"

She sighed, to calm herself "Tell me you're not going to Scotland" she turned to see him.

"No, you've ruined my adventure" he smiled, he looked at her, but she was avoiding all eye contact with him "Don't worry about your things, next week we'll be playing in Manchester, I'll make sure someone drops your things at your home"

"Good!" she faked enthusiasm, she raised her hand, he shook it, she did not look at him. "I would lie if I said it was a pleasure, because it wasn't, but it was nice meeting you"

He didn't let go of his hand, so she continued with her 'lovely' goodbye speech.

"Even though most of the time you acted as a complete ape, you have more swearwords in your vocabulary than actual words! And you..." she looked at his hand, she was still shaking it "You're terrible at shaking hands with a lady" she assured, as always John was making her loose her temper.

"Have you finished?" he asked with a wry look on his face

Michelle turned her back and simple answer that she had. "Idiot" she said between her teeth.

Weirdly she smiled to herself, she did enjoy the way he made her act sometimes, it was different, she felt different, it was something completely unlike other relationships she had, maybe she should tell him that, to stop hiding herself and confess how thanked she was to him, "Should I start with 'I love you', or should I finish with it?" She asked herself in silence.

"I give up" she admitted, she was very nervous, the idea of looking straight into his eyes was exasperating; as she looked down she turned to him "How can I say this...?" she looked at his shoes... but those weren't his shoes, as she looked up she saw that the person behind her wasn't John, she tried to spot him leaving, but he wasn't there anymore. "You've got to be kidding me"

It was lucky for John that she didn't look at him leaving, because if she would have seen his big grin on his face, she would have looked for another bottle to slash on his head, again.

George and Ringo were waiting patiently for the roasted potatoes that Paul was attempting to prepare for his friends, luckily for them; there was still plenty of food in the fridge from last night's dinner; although they were hoping for those potatoes. It actually began to smell very well, so that made their patience worthy. Paul informed that it will only take several minutes more, they had to cheer after that.

The last member of the group joined them "What are we celebrating?"

"That finally we'll eat like home, Paul asked his father for a recipe and whatever he's preparing, it sure smells delicious" George informed as he sat by the table, he wanted to be the first one to taste it.

John, who was fatigued, decided to lay on the sofa; he was closing his eyes as he listened to Paul's story on how he loved to eat that as a child, trying to stay awake, he declared that he wanted to eat too.

"And I wanted you to be at the meeting, I suppose you can't always get what you want" Paul said sardonically.

John stood up and went to hug his friend "Don't be mad at me luv, I'm sure you did a great job pretending to be the leader of the band"

McCartney pushed him away "Well, your absence wasn't a big deal; I believe you have a fever, there's some paracetamol by the telly" he noticed.

John went and took two pills, he felt all the eyes on him, and he turned to find his three band members, looking at him, with a serious look "What? I'll be fine, I do remember we have a gig tomorrow"

Ringo adventured to propose to postpone it.

He assured that he won't "I want to perform, it's been long since our last concert, besides what I need is thousands of girls screaming my name"

"You didn't have enough from last night?" George said, elbowing him.

"Ha! With tight-laced Michelle? Someone should give that girl a medal for retraining herself from my charms"

"Or for having common sense" Ringo added, making all the others laugh.

Paul wasn't really listening to the conversation, he was setting the table, as he father always told him to, of course the other boys had no table manners that evening, they were too famished to remember those. He did hear Michelle's name, so he asked John to go and look for her.

"I would, but I'd have to buy a ticket for that" he was washing his hands, he knew he was about to be questioned, with light attitude he sat by the table. "I sent her to Manchester"

Ringo hit him in the head "Arse!"

Paul had served the potatoes on his plate, sticking the fork in the potato, he asked with a warning tone "Why would you do that?"

George wasn't really trying to rage against John, he was more interested in having a large portion, the other two waited for a response.

"I was tired of her, I'm sure she needs some time alone, all her life she's been a loner, must be hard to have all my attention on her" he explained in the same style, he knew now what he was doing, he was sure that he was in love with her and, conceited as it might sound, that she loved him too. How could he give up on her? when she had been the only woman in his life who had accepted him as he was. Michelle didn't want John to be nicer nor better behaved, she never made him feel less, sure she had shown him that he had insecurities, but being aware of those had helped him. The only problem was that he was the only one to have realised that, at first he thought that maybe because he was smarter than her, he was quite sure; but then he understood, she knew that all along but her pride was greater than his, she feared being 'weak' , she had told him once love means giving up.

"Let me understand this, you let her go by herself to her mum's house?" Ringo asked, not knowing if he should be surprised.

"I wouldn't say by herself, buses are always full" he corrected.

"He's right" George was the only one eating "Pour me some wine, Paulie"

"You got rid of two girls in one day, not with a single slap, good job mate" Ringo marvelled.

"Not a slap, but one of them broke a beer with my head" he explained, eating bites of his dinner "And technically I still have one"

Paul glared at him "If you're talking about Michelle, I swear I will send her to Australia"

John laughed lively, just for a second because he still had a terrible headache "I meant Candy, she's my fiancée"

His Macca, putting his hands on his face, complained "What did you do now?" he had lost his appetite, putting his plate aside asked "Please John, next time you want to make your own decisions, consult them with us first"

"She hasn't accepted yet, but I left her a ring... I thought that would make you happy, that's what Mr. Feynman wants, besides it's all part of my plan, trust me"

"You've got to admit that the last time you trust him Paul, well it was when you began to play in his band" Ringo patted him.

"And I also trusted him once to take care of my little cousins, and I found him teaching them how to smoke" he eyed him suspiciously. Sighing he stood up to make himself a cuppa of tea, hoping it will make him relax more

That was a long one, sorry, hehe. I hope you liked it, if you don't mind please tell me what you think! I'm making it hard for them, don't worry the end is near, and I'll make my best. Now, consider reading also MissMello's story, it is great! (Longest Journey) For reals ;) well, have a darling day , all of you! xx