***
'Morning John.' Cynthia walked up behind John and Paul.
Paul nudged John towards her and nodded, indicating him to do what he had been told to do.
'Look, Cyn, about last night, I'm really sorry. It won't ever happen again.' John looked awkwardly at his feet.
'I suppose you told Paul?' Cynthia folded her arms. 'Like you tell him everything?'
John nodded, making Paul look quickly at the floor.
'Well, Paul, I'd prefer if you forgot about it. I'm willing to because it was just the grief.' Cynthia smiled and leant into Paul's ear, whispering, 'I don't want him to feel bad about it.'
'Right.' Paul nodded. 'Got it.'
'You coming Paul?' George called from the college gates.
'I'll see you later John, Cynthia.' He bowed and ran off.
'Why weren't you on the bus?' George asked.
'Oh, John stopped over so I had to walk with him to his this morning and we missed the bus.' Paul told him.
Cynthia took John's hand and walked with him into the college hall. There stood the Headmaster with a grin on his face. 'Good morning Students.'
The students all repeated the usual 'good morning' before he continued.
John dozed off after that, imagining a life with no college where he could just play music all day and hang out with his band. That's what he'd told Julia he would do and that's a promise he intended to keep.
***
'Right lads, this is a big gig for us.' John said, nodding to George, who was offering him a cigarette.
'It's a sweet bar innit?' Stuart dragged his cigarette smoke back out and smiled.
Paul rolled his eyes. 'You feelin' alright Geo?' He asked.
'I'm alright.' George nodded.
'And you Paul? Are you alright?' John smirked.
'I'm alright.' He smirked back.
'What is this? Some kind of inside joke?'
'Right.' John clapped, ignoring Stu's question. 'Let's fuckin' do this!'
The band walked out onto the stage. The Casbah was filled with people, ir was the largest crowd they'd played to yet and they were excited to get started. Stu stood at the front with a smile on his face.
Paul noticed Stu in the audience and grumbled. He was always there, always watching like a dog. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy about Stuart's and John's friendship.
'Welcome to the Casbah!' John greeted the crowd. 'I can barely see you all, these lights are bloody bright.' He shrieked. 'Wait a second! Where's everyone gone?'
'We haven't even started yet and you've already scared 'em off.' Paul taunted on cue.
'You fellas are blind.' George emerged from the back. 'Look at all their bonny faces there.'
'Oh yeah.' Paul laughed.
'Shall we get to it then?' John grinned.
Stuart called from the crowd, 'that's all we want!'
'I want my mummy but we don't always get what we want.' John joked, putting on a childish tone and stomping his feet, receiving laughs from the none-the-wiser audience.
'Mummy ain't ever coming.' Stuart winked. John furrowed his brows uncomfortably.
'But the music is!' George counted down, to which the audience clapped. Paul scowled at Stu and started to strum.
Once the show was complete Paul stormed backstage.
'What was that about?' He grabbed Stuart by the shirt and pushed him back.
'Woah now.' Stuart growled. 'It was just a joke.'
'Not a very fucking funny one.' Paul pushed him into the wall.
'Calm yourself Paul.' Stuart grabbed him back. 'You don't want to pick a fight with me.'
'Oh, don't I?' Paul laughed.
'No.' Stuart straightened himself back up.
'Fuck you.' Paul grumbled.
'What was that?'
'Paul!' John grabbed Paul's shoulder and pulled him back. 'Leave it alright?' He said. 'It was just Stu messin' about.'
'Fuck this.' Paul walked out. George blinked awkwardly and followed in quick foot.
'What was that about?' He raced after him.
Paul spat his gum out and turned to face George. 'You don't joke about someone's dead relative.'
'I know but Stu's John's friend.'
'I couldn't care less if he's his sister, you don't make jokes like that.'
'It was harmless words, Paul.' George shrugged. 'Let it go.'
'Alright Geo, you're right.' Paul put a hand on George's shoulder and nodded. 'It just touched a nerve, y'know?'
'I get that.' George agreed. 'I'm gonna head home, you coming?'
'I might stay a little longer.' Paul said. 'Go join in the opening party.'
'Alright. Don't fight with Stu whilst I'm not here, I'll get popcorn for the next time.' He winked.
'Okay Geo.' Paul scruffed his friend's hair.
Paul walked back into the Casbah to see John speaking with the owner. She was a middle aged lady who owned the house just upstairs. She'd always had a dream of owning a social cafe/bar and the Casbah was exactly what she was looking for.
Paul, John and George had helped her to decorate the new cafe by painting certain areas. Paul had painted the roof in a rainbow format where John painted white stars onto a black canvas.
'Oh hey Paul.' John said, walking away from Mona Best. 'This is Pete, Mona's son.'
'Hey Pete.' Paul stuck his hand out to which Stuart scoffed. So well brought up.
'Alright Paul.' Pete shook his hand. 'Great set up there tonight.'
'Cheers.' John thanked him.
'I must say, this opening night has been a great success. You must be so pleased.' Paul spoke directly to Mona now.
'Thank you Paul, I am. I'm very impressed. But I couldn't have done it without your band's help.'
'It was no trouble.' Paul smiled in a friendly manner. Stuart scoffed again, making Paul roll his eyes.
John pulled Paul to the side, 'stop pissin' Stu off.' He said.
'I'm not doing anything.' Paul shrugged.
'Well whatever you're doing, it's annoying him.'
'Alright I'll just not speak.' Paul joked.
'Alright.'
'Fuckin' hell John.' Paul pulled his arm out of John's grasp. 'Are you takin' the piss? I'm not going to stand in silence for the whole night just so I don't annoy your friend.'
'I didn't mean it like that.'
'I'm off over there.' Paul noticed a small girl stood in the corner. She had her hair cut short and her skirt was even shorter. 'Alright?' He asked coolly.
She looked at him with a confused expression. 'Yeah, are you?'
'I'm alright, yeah.' He smiled awkwardly. 'What brings a nice girl like you to a dingy place like this?'
'I like the music.' She met his eyes.
'Funny, me too.'
'You were in that band that just played, weren't you?' Her eyes glistened.
'Yeah.' He nodded with a laugh.
'So what do they call you?' She asked.
'Paul.' He smiled. 'You?'
'They call me Dot.' She grinned.
'Well, Dot, how about I take you on a date?'
'I'd like that.' She nodded.
'Good.' He took her address down on a piece of paper. 'See you later.'
'Paul!' John grabbed his arm. 'Dance.'
'I'm going to head off.' Paul stepped back.
John looked at Stu then back at Paul. 'I'll walk with you, Mimi will be expecting me back anyway.'
He walked over to Mona and bid her farewell, promising to be on time for their next night. He then walked to Stuart and started to speak. 'I'm gonna head off with Paul, I think.'
'Why? Is goody-goody wanting his bed?' Stuart laughed.
'Ah come on Stu, you're just pissed.' He rolled his eyes.
'You're too- he's too good for you.' Stuart pointed at Paul through dazed eyes.
'We can't leave him in this state.' John looked at Paul and frowned. Paul sighed heavily.
'Alright, we'll walk him back.' He grumbled. 'See you Pete, it was lovely to meet you.'
'You too.'
'See ya Mona.' John nodded again, putting his arm around Stuart's waist as Paul grabbed him from the other side.
***
Stuart grasped onto the wall in front of him and held his head. 'Ah man I feel rough.'
'You did drink a lot last night.' John said, watching as Paul sighed.
'Yeah-' Stuart turned around. 'About that-' He looked at Paul. 'I'm so sorry about the way I behaved, I don't know what came over me.'
'It's alright.' Paul said.
'It's not alright though, is it?' Stuart laughed. 'You must have thought I had something against you.'
'Yeah, you could say that.'
'I was more just jealous of your talent if I'm honest, I've never seen anyone play like that.' Stuart said. 'Let me buy you a drink tonight, to apologise for being a drunken dick.'
'Right.' Paul nodded. 'I'm going to be late for school, I'll see you later.'
Paul ran off to the building next door and vanished inside just as the bell rang.
'He made it.' John clapped.
'Yeah.' Stuart laughed. 'Jesus my head's banging.'
'Mr Sutcliffe. I do hope you are not hungover.' The headteacher strolled up behind the pair of them.
'No, sir. Not at all.' Stuart tried to act as normal as possible under the circumstances.
'Good.' He bellowed. 'I wouldn't want to think Mr Lennon here had corrupted you on one of your biggest days.'
'I actually find that quite offensive!' John squared up to the teacher.
'Biggest days?' Stu looked confused. 'Ah yeah! The auction.'
'Be at my office for the time arranged.'
'Hey, good luck Stu.' John said. 'Anyone would be stupid not to take your art, no matter the cost.'
'See you tonight.' Stuart winked as he followed the headteacher into the school.
John suddenly felt a tap on his left shoulder. 'Morning John.' The brunette girl batted her eyelids. 'Great show last night.'
'Thanks.' He smirked.
'I really like your outfit.' She took her index finger and ran it down his chest. 'You looked very - dashing.' She giggled.
'Cheers.' John bowed his head and took a step back away from her.
'I was wonderin' - do you want to go on a date with me later this week? We could go dancin'.'
'Honestly, I'm flattered.' He laughed nervously, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the unwanted attention. 'But I'm taking my girlfriend to a gig.'
'Oh.' The girl looked downbeat.
'Sorry.' He shrugged before taking a quick walk inside. 'Cyn!' He raced up after her.
'Oh, hi John.' She blushed a peach colour. John thought it brought out her eyes.
'You fancy walking to class with me?' He nudged her playfully.
'I'd be delighted.' She perched a light kiss on his cheek before taking his hand. 'Who was that girl you were talking to outside?'
'Oh, er - she asked me to go on a date with her.' John explained, not wanting to lie. He really liked Cynthia, loved her even.
'She did?' Cynthia took a look at the girl. She had large green eyes and a beehive hairstyle that complimented her slim figure. Cynthia couldn't help but wonder why John would turn her down - she was a lot more attractive than herself.
'Yeah.' John suddenly turned shy. 'But I said no, of course. For I have the most beautiful women in the college.'
Cynthia hit him with her purse. 'Don't be daft.' She laughed.
'What? I do.'
'You really are a softie, do you know that?' She wrapped her arm around his waist and pulled him down into a tight kiss.
'And you're quite strong for a woman so petite.' He winked.
Cynthia giggled. She bid him goodbye and headed off for her class, promising to see him later for lunch.
***
George pulled his guitar out of his bag and set it down beside the bed in Paul's room. John sat staring out of the window.
'That was a shambles.' Paul said. John turned to look at him.
'Who needs the Star Search anyway?' John sighed, kidding himself. The show could have been their big break but they blew it. 'This isn't working out.'
'Maybe we just need a re-brand.' George piped up. 'Johnny and the Moondogs didn't work out but maybe another band could?'
'He has a point. The name is a bit bland.' Paul admitted. 'Buddy Holly and the Crickets worked because Buddy's known, who's Johnny?'
'Me.' John winked.
'Yeah but-'
'Alright. We need a new name. The Silver-' John said. 'What about Butterflies? Or some other bug, Spiders maybe?'
'The Spiders?' Paul laughed. 'That's not appealing in the slightest.'
'The Silver Spiders?' John cringed at his own idea.
'Beetles.' George said. 'What about Beetles?'
'That's got a certain ring to it actually.' Paul put his finger to his mouth.
'The Silver Beetles.' John nodded. 'That works.'
'It does.' George smiled at his accomplishment.
Paul smiled, 'but what makes The Silver Beetles different to Johnny and the Moondogs?'
'We have a drummer.' John smirked.
***
'So Pete, what do you say?' John sipped his coke. 'Do you want to be in our band?'
Pete thought for a second before grinning. 'Sure.' He grabbed his pint and took a gulp.
'Great.' John nodded. 'Welcome to the band.'
***