She's a Woman

Chapter Twenty: Love Hurts

(WARNING: The timeline of events isn't accurate, but it makes for a good story. :3)

Several days passed and the lads didn't go back on their promise. They let me stay in the band and even let me perform with them, just as long I was wearing my "Michael" outfit. I did go back to wearing girlier clothes, like skirts and blouses, but my leather trousers, suede boots and jacket remained my favourites. George said he preferred the Teddy Boy outfit over the flowery dresses and skirts.

"I'm used to seeing you in leather," he chuckled.

I agreed with him and stuck to my "Michael" getup (minus the punishing binder, of course). 

Life went on quite quietly for a few weeks, and before I knew what was happening, the group was due to leave Hamburg and head back to England. It was almost disappointing packing my bag and tidying up the flat before our departure.

"Are you okay?" George asked. (We had persuaded John to let us switch rooms, so George and I had bunked together for the past few weeks.) 

"Yeah, I'm okay," I said, shoving a bundle of shirts and trousers into my case.

"You don't look it," George remarked. "I know how you feel. We've grown attached to this little place, haven't we? You don't want to leave."

I nodded and flopped on the bed beside him. We sat there, arms draped around each other, recollecting on all the weird and wonderful things that had go on within the walls of the flat. We didn't want to leave, but it would be nice to go back to England where everything was familiar.

Not everyone agreed with that logic. Stu, the bassist who hardly ever spoke, put his foot down when we told him it was time to go home. John took him aside and tried to convince him to come back to England with us, but Stu wasn't having any. Apparently he had plans to stay in Hamburg so he could live with his girlfriend, a pretty blonde girl called Astrid.

"I love her, John," Stu said softly. "I want to stay and be with her. I'm sorry."

"You can't leave, Stu," John protested. "We need you here! You're the best bassist we've ever had!"

"Hey! Hurtful!" Paul said from his spot on the couch. He also played the bass and prided himself on it, so hearing John say that Stu was better probably felt like a punch in the stomach.

"Sorry, Paulie," John said apologetically, then he turned back to Stu. "Are you sure you won't change your mind?"

Stu stared directly into John's eyes. He looked sad - no, devastated. When he spoke, it was in a tiny mouse-squeak of a whisper. "I'm sure, John. I want to stay here with Astrid."

"Why not come home with us and keep in touch with her?" George suggested.

"I can't do that, George." Stu glanced at me. "Would you go back home to England if it meant leaving Michelle behind?"

George hesitated for a moment then shook his head. "I don't think I could do long distance with Michelle, and I wouldn't want to anyway. I love her."

"That's exactly how I feel about Astrid," said Stu. "I really am sorry, guys, but I have to stay here. You guys will do just fine without me."

It was obvious that no amount of pleading and bargaining would shift him. The only thing left to do was respect Stu's decision and leave Hamburg without him; although he nearly cried when we said our goodbyes. Stu and his new lady, Astrid, saw us off at the dock one chilly morning in October.

I got the shock of my life when Stu lunged at me and gave me a hug. It was a very awkward situation. I wasn't sure whether to wriggle away or hug him back. We'd barely spoken in the eight months I'd known him.