The next morning things were strained. The only person that was chipper was Ringo. Ringo sat humming to himself while chowing down on a biscuit and sipping his morning coffee.
John was gazing out of the window, George was sipping his earl grey tea and half-heartedly eating eggs and fruit, and Paul was focusing on eating his breakfast as if ignoring everything around him would make the situation improve.
As soon as Paul finished his food he started fidgeting and looking for anything he could use to distract himself.
John, one to never miss an opportunity to pick on someone, slid next to him and mimicked him.
Paul glares at him for a second before looking away. It wasn't easy to ignore the man next to him. John made it increasingly difficult by bumping his knee against Paul's under the table. Paul ignored the butterflies that it made him feel.
John never liked being ignored so he upped the ante. He started pushing Paul with his shoulder until he was practically in his lap.
''Do you mind!? Paul exclaims feeling more annoyed by the second but overjoyed at the same time. So many conflicting emotions were hitting him at once.
Did he or did he not like the attention from John?
Did he want to continue his relationship with George or did he want to give John a chance? Was John being serious or was he just joking around?
Was John seriously sliding into his lap right now!?
Paul hisses and pushes the other man off of his lap swiftly hoping that George didn't see it and if he did he hopes that his boyfriend didn't mind.
He was never that lucky.
John whines at being rejected and leans against Paul's shoulder once more. Brian scoffs and says,''Cut it out John! It's too early in the morning.''
John whines,''I couldn't sleep though...It's all Paul's fault. He kept me awake with all his wailin' and screamin'.''
The room went dead silent.
All you could hear was George's fork drop onto his plate.
Ringo was a sight to see. His jaw was practically on the table.
Brian squints at John trying to figure out if it was a gay joke or not.
Paul starts hysterically fake coughing to try to fill the awkward silence.
George practically growls and struggles to keep his tone steady,''What does that mean?''
John shrugs,''It just means that Paul is loud at night.''
George blinks slowly and deliberately,''And why is that?''
John shrugs again,''He's a screamer I guess...''
George's next move shocked everyone but John. John was quick to dodge it along with Paul who ran from the table altogether.
Geroge had thrown a butter knife as though it was dart. He aimed for John's forehead. Brian let's out a startled yelp and rushes to hold John back before can jump on George.
''Lads! It's too early for this!'' Brian says trying to get John to calm down.
George jumps up and gets into John's face,''You take everythin'! You ruin everythin'! When can I have something without John Lennon putting his grubby little hands all over it!?''
''Aye! You're jumpin' to conclusions! I never said who was makin' him scream! You weren't supposed to be in our room last night and yet there you were pinning Paul up and fuckin' him in the bathroom!''
There was another awkward silence.
Brian let John go and pinches the bridge of his nose.
Ringo lets out a long sigh before saying,''Welp...''
Paul who was horrified hid his face in his hands as if it would shield him from facing the situation.
John snickers,''You've always been jealous of me you fuckin' twat. You're just mad because you ain't good enough! And Paul is too afraid to hurt your sweet little feelings by telling you the truth! You ain't enough for him! End of story!''
George's frown falters some and he struggles to stand his ground against John's harsh words,''T-That's not true! I am more than enough for him! Aren't I Paulie...?''
Paul takes his hands from his face and says,''Of course you are Georgie...John's just jealous himself...don't listen to him. I love you, Geo!''
Brian looked to be on the verge of passing out.
''I love you too Paulie...'' George coos smiling.
''Oi! What a bunch of queers!'' Ringo exclaims rolling his eyes.
Everyone ignores his outbursts and continues focusing on the gay melodrama in the middle of the room. John lets out a long sigh through his nose,''Fine. If you want to stay unhappy with Geroge, stay with him. But I know you'll always be thinkin' about me...''
Paul felt a tingle go down his spine and warmth spread below his belt.
John's words kept echoing in his mind.
''But I know you'll always be thinkin' about me...''
Paul bit his lip and tried to get rid of the mental images those words gave him. He does think of John late at night. He does wonder what it would be like to have him as his own.
George crosses his arms and says,''He said he loves me. Now sod off!''
''He'll come around one of these days...'' John says with confidence and Brian jumps in between them to stop George from socking him in the face.
Paul was dead tired after the show. He was so tired that he felt that as soon as his head hit the pillow he'd be out like a light.
George and John were still bickering constantly and trying to one-up one another. Paul was beginning to get used to it.
John invited Paul to an afterparty but Paul declined, the only thing he wanted to do was sleep. He let himself be guided to the room that he was sharing with George, took a quick shower, and plopped down on the bed.
He barely noticed when George crawled in with him and snuggled against his side.
Before he passed out for good he heard Geroge whisper words of love and praise to him as he drifted off.
The band was given a bit of a break between shows and Paul took advantage of it. He stayed curled in his bed with Geroge's arms wrapped around him.
George's nose was buried in his neck.
Paul was about to drift back to sleep when he heard Geroge ask him a question.
It was muffled in his neck.
''Will you stay with me? Am I worth it to you?''
Paul tiredly muttered,''Yeah...''
George grunts in return.
Paul feels George intertwine their fingers as he drifts back off.
Later when he wakes up again Ringo is sitting on the bed next to theirs chatting with George. They both think that Paul is still asleep so Paul takes the opportunity to listen in.
Ringo was mostly talking about missing his family and life off of the road. George talked about missing his freedom and the ability to do whatever he liked without being mobbed. It was the standard stuff. Paul was about to drift back to sleep when Ringo asked,''Why him? Why not get some bird?''
''Me and Paul have been together for a very long time...I can't just give up on him...'' George mumbles.
''Why him though?'' Ringo asks again.
''I-I don't know...I've always had a thing for Paul...He was like a big brother to me at first but then...my feelings for him grew and I wanted nothing more than to be with him...'' George mumbles.
''Hmmm...How did you take it when John arrived?'' Ringo asks softly.
''Umm...I didn't take it so well...I pretended to though...I kept a straight face. I was supportive. I pretended that I wasn't scared...'' George admits,''Also...I tried to...um...sabotage him at times. But listen! It wasn't what it sounds like! He started first! He would hide my guitar from me and make fun of me for dumb things so I started hiding his guitar from him and doing silly shit like that...I remember...John wrote a love poem for Paul and even though he never said who it was for specifically I knew who it was for...I...I hate to say this and I'm ashamed of it to this day...but I destroyed it...I spilled milk on it ''by mistake'' It was a beautiful poem...it truly was...I think Paul would have loved it...but that was the problem...the poem was essentially John asking Paul out...I couldn't risk Paul seeing that...John wouldn't talk to me for weeks after ruining his poem. It was so childish of me...''
''You were a child at the time weren't you?'' Ringo asks cocking a brow.
''I...I guess? I don't quite remember...'' George says softly.
''I think you're too hard on yourself about this...I think you're thinkin' about this too much...Whatever will be will be. All you can do is work on the present. If Paul stays good. If Paul leaves good. You can live without him...'' Ringo says take a puff from his cigarette.
''Yeah...I can live without him...But I can not bear seeing him with John...I can't live with that reminder every day...'' George practically whispers.
''Good thing Paul's not leavin' ya.'' Ringo says confidently,''Well...anyway let's go shopping and then hit up a disco! C'mon! Let's have fun!''
George reluctantly agrees.
Paul is left to ponder over what he had just heard.
It was barely five minutes before he heard knocking at the door. It took a while for Paul to get up and answer it.
When he did, the last person he wanted to see was there smiling at him. John must have picked up on his mood because his smile fell and he asks,''What's wrong Paul?''
Paul sighs and shakes his head,''Come back another time...''
John sighs,''I really need to talk to you, Paul...Please?''
Paul caves and lets the man in.
Paul sits on one bed and John on the other.
''What do you want?'' Paul asks softly.
''I want closure...I want to know if we'll ever have a chance or if this is just some dumb fantasy.'' John says simply.
''What if it's both?'' Paul offers tilting his head.
John blinks a few times and tries to process what the other man just said,''Come again?''
''What if...during this current timeline it is just a fantasy? But later on down the line, you will have a chance?'' Paul offers.
Jonh just blinks at him.
''What if I am off limits now but I will be yours tomorrow?'' Paul asks again.
''What type of esoteric bullshit are you on about?'' John asks shaking his head in confusion.
''I'm saying that we could be something in the future.'' Paul answers.
''What if I can't wait that long? What if I need you now?'' John questions.
''Slow and steady wins the race...'' Paul sing-songs.
''But I can't keep at this pace!'' John counters glaring at Paul.
''Johnny it will be sooner than you think! I want my relationship to end organically...'' Paul says gently.
John growls and shrugs in defeat.
Paul smiles,''Thanks for understanding Johnny...''
''Can I at least get a kiss now?'' John asks his tone hopeful.
Paul nods and walks over to John. He sits on his lap and wraps his arms around the other man's neck. The kiss is languid and John moves as though he is savoring every moment of it. Paul moans softly into the other man's mouth and shivers when John runs his hands down his back to stop at his backside. John squeezes and pulls Paul in closer. They stay locked in the heated kiss for a little while longer until they hear keys get inserted into the lock of the door.
Paul practically flies across the room and attempts to fix his appearance as quickly as possible.
When the door opens George goes into defense mode,''What are you doing in here?''
''Just came to talk to Paul,'' John says smiling cheekily.
''Good. Now get out.'' George grunts sitting the keys on the tv stand.
John, for once, does as he is told with a smile,''Goodnight lads~''
''G'night.'' Paul and George both mumble.
As soon as John is out of earshot George says,''We need to talk.''