August 1, 1961
I walked around sticking to Paul the rest of the day because my classes with George split after first period. Since Paul and I were in the same grade, though, we had mostly the same classes and whatnot, so it worked. We met back with George at lunch.
"So, Londoner, how's your day been?" George was lying on the ground under a tree, picking at a sandwich. He had a guitar lying next to him in a case.
"Well, I guess it's been alright."
"I've been showing her around, so I think she just doesn't want to admit that it was the best first day ever," Paul added smugly.
"Whatever you say." I looked at the guitar next to Paul and George. "Won't you play me something?"
He cocked an eyebrow and finished off his sandwich. "Well, sure."
Paul reached beside him to unzip the case. Pulling out the slightly-battered instrument, he plucked each string individually. "Ye have a favorite, Donna?"
"I-uh-I don't know."
"What about-." He began to pick out a could-be-better version of "Roll Over Beethoven."
George cringed and I snickered.
"Give me that," George said, reaching for the guitar. Paul stood up and George followed, jumping in circles as Paul held the wooden mechanism over his head. I watched them skeptically as Paul laughed and George scowled, his eyebrows almost becoming one.
George stopped and frowned. "C'mon, please?"
Paul rolled his eyes and lowered the guitar. George smirked and took it.
"Fine," Paul reasoned. "You play and I'll sing." He smirked at a frowning George.
"Fine."
"Fine."
They sounded like five-year-olds.
They seated themselves back on the ground. George began to pick out a better version of "Roll Over Beethoven."
Paul began to sing and they both laughed and jammed along together. It was funny to watch them having so much fun, not sure what it could turn into.
They concluded the piece and looked at me. I clapped, laughing.
"Whatcha think of that, love?" Paul smirked.
I rolled my eyes. "It was good."
"How about ye come out to the Cavern Club tonight? We're performing."
"I'd be delighted."
George shoved Paul in the shoulder and he winced. "What do you bloody want?"
George shook his head. Paul raised his eyebrows. I was just confused.
"So you'll be there?" Paul then asked.
"I'll make an effort," I assured the two boys.
"That's lovely. You can meet the rest of the band. I'm sure John would just love you."
"You think?"
"Yeah, why not. You're rather pretty so probably, y'know."
I raised my eyebrows. "Is that all he looks for in a friend? I can tell he saw that with you." I looked him up and down and he turned pink.
"I—uh—I think John would like you too, Donna," George added, skirting an awkward silence.
"Mhm, I'm sure you do." I nodded.
George blushed.
~~~
The rest of the day went by quickly. I went home alone, as George and Paul went off to some, "er-rehearsal?" with their band. If that was code for talking about me, they sure didn't hide it.
"Hey, how was your first day?" Brian asked as soon as I stepped in the house.
"It was good."
"Did you meet anyone?"
"Yeah, I met two guys who are in a band. They came up to me and started talking and I just went along."
He furrowed his brow.
"They were nice," I added. "They invited me to a gig they have tonight at the...the Cavern Club?"
"Oh? That sounds fun. So, you think you'll like it here?"
"Yeah, I definitely think I will."
"Well that's good then, yeah?"
~~~
I was home a few hours after that before I decided to set out to find the Cavern Club. Paul and George had given me a time, but had slacked on the directions to the place itself, so I found myself wandering the streets blindly.
I quickly realized that I had seen my surroundings multiple times already. Discouraged, I gave up, awkwardly shuffling over to a young girl about my age leaving a food truck and asking if she could help.
"The Cavern?" she asked. "Of course I can help, I'm on my way there myself."
"Oh, really? Thanks so much."
She held out her hand. "I'm Emily," she greeted.
I shook her hand. "Donna," I replied.
"So, Donna, you're not from around here, are you?" Emily asked, her Liverpudlian accent thick in her tone.
"Yeah, definitely not. I'm from London."
"Oh, wow, not from around here in the slightest, then, eh?"
"No, but I am pretty glad to see something different for the first time in my life." I laughed.
"Nothing good in London like they say?"
"Not if you've lived there for 17 years."
"I guess that makes sense."
I nodded. "Have you live here all your life?"
She thought a moment. "I've lived in England all my life, but I used to live in Blackpool. My father gets moved about for work a lot. I actually think I may've lived in London a while too."
I smiled. "That sounds lovely."
"It's a big sorta drag, really. I get settled and happy somewhere and then we gotta move again, ye know?"
"That's fair enough."
"Anyways," she said. "Why you off to the Cavern tonight?"
"Oh, some guys at school said they played here. They asked if I wanted to come and I have nothing else to do, so I said why not, I guess." I shrugged.
"Oh, that's fun. You go to Quarry Bank?"
"The—yeah, yeah I do."
She laughed. "Maybe we'll see one another sometime, then." She looked up. "Here we are."
I looked at the building skeptically. It was dingy and looked like it could contain anyone, but I went in nonetheless.
"So, what brings you here?" I asked Emily.
She smiled. "My boyfriend is playing tonight with the Beatles."
"Wait, really?"
"Yes." She laughed. "His name is John."
"Oh, that's fun." I laughed. "The guys who invited me are in that group too. George and Paul?"
"Oh, yeah, they're fun." She laughed too.
As we made it to the room containing a stone stage as the teddy boys walked out.