It was what I considered an art. I loved music and I had talent. I loved playing guitar and bass, it came so naturally to me, and everyone that ever heard me play and sing thought that I was great. I didn’t care what anyone else thought though, I just loved how I felt when I was playing. My finger tips felt magical as they glided over the strings of a great guitar or bass. I was in a band working clubs trying to get discovered when my life changed. One night while working a two hour set I passed out. I’d been having a lot of headaches lately and I just sort of blacked out. Luckily I wasn’t on stage when it happened.

I woke up in a white sterile hospital room. I looked around and found my self surrounded by flowers. I tried to lift my head, but the effort was just too much. I could barely move my fingers. A doctor entered my room after awhile and noticing that I was awake began to explain to me my condition. I had a brain tumor. I wouldn’t have much longer to live, a few months at the most. I just laid there taking it all in. My life was numbered. I was only eighteen, and my birthday was only a couple of days away. I was going to die at the age of nineteen. How could this happen to someone so young, with a promising future, and growing talent. When the doctor left it really hit me. I was going to die in a sterile hospital room within months. They were just going to sit around and wait for my brain to hemorrhage.

I fell asleep dreaming about living my life to the fullest. I woke up to the knowledge of knowing I would never live long enough to get married or raise a family. My dream of being in a successful recording band would never come true. No I would be stuck in a bed till the day that I died. Hell what was there to look forward to? How can God let someone so young and promising die? I couldn’t believe in God at that point. My friends and band mates visited me as often as they could.

“Liv, what do you think of the demo tape?” Kale asked.

“It’s great. I love it. I’m sure you’ll do great at the meeting. I wish I could be there with you. I can’t believe I’m going to miss out on being the bass player in a ground breaking band,” I tried to keep from crying. It had been nearly a month since my prognosis. I wasn’t staying in the hospital. Instead my sister was taking care of me. I hated being a burden to her.

“It’s a fucking shame you can’t be there with us. You’ve been the backbone in this band from the very beginning. You are the greatest bass player in LA. Damn it why’d this have to happen to you?” Jonas sighed.

“How do you think Jules is going to take it? He got us all together and now I can’t be a part of it. I wanted to be there when he really broke loose and got out of his father’s shadow,” I sighed.

“I understand, luv. Don’t worry so much,” Julian sighed as he entered, then he leaned down and kissed my cheek. “Take as much time as you need to get better, love.” I looked up and saw Julian glaring at Jonas like he wanted to strangle him.

We talked a while longer and then I became really tired and sent them away. My sister, Hannah, had put some Beatle CDs in my CD player and I had the remote in my hand. I let myself go listening to Abbey Rd., Revolver, and the Sgt. Pepper album. I wanted to play my bass so bad as I listened to Come Together, but I just didn’t have the strength. Tears streamed down my face as I realized that I’d already lost my life. What could I do, aside from turn over and die? My dreams were different though. In my dreams I was playing at the greatest arenas with my band, the Silver Python.

I also had dreams of meeting the Beatles and living, actually living, in the sixties. Eventually I woke up to the reality of my fading life, and I would begin to lose hope again, but at night I had a life. The time finally came when I was too weak to survive any longer. It felt like an explosion in my head. Everything burst inside. It was so painful. A tear slid down my face as blood trickled from my lips. The moment had come when I left my body to move onto better things…

I woke up in the morning with a horrible headache. I looked around and discovered myself in a strange room. I saw a record player where my CD player should have been and everything just felt strange. Something kept nagging at me. I brought a hand to my mouth, but there was no blood. What the hell was going on? I was supposed to be dead. I felt the pain and the explosion. I died of a brain hemorrhage, but here I was alive and well aside from one hell of a headache.

“Olivia, are you coming? We’re gonna be late if we don’t leave right now. Bloody hell, hurry up. Are you even up?” A strange accented voice said.

“Where are we going?” I called back. Something was different about my voice. It sounded like I was from England or something. What the fuck was going on? Where was I?

“Are you bloody daft, Liv? We are going to the Blue Angel tonight. You know to see the Beatles. Aren’t you the one that is completely soft over that guitar player, Paul?” The woman said. I felt like I’d known her all my life and suddenly her name popped into my mind.

“Carrie, what are you talking about? I don’t like Paul. It’s John that I’m daft about! Who can blame me? I mean him in those gorgeous leather pants!” I shrieked with laughter into a pillow.

“You are daft! How can anyone like some group of teddy boys? Anyone interested in one of them is completely out of their mind!” Carrie sighed in exasperation.

I got dressed and looked at a clock. It was nearly eight o’clock. The Beatles set began at eight. I hurriedly got dressed and ran a brush through my hair. I still wasn’t sure how I’d ended up in the past, but hell now I had the chance to make my dreams come true. The old me was gone, hell not even born yet. I now had every opportunity opened to me. I looked around the room and sighed, not one single guitar or bass. Damn I hoped my talent came back with me.

When I was ready we left. Somehow we managed to get a table close to the stage. I didn’t really know how we got a table so close to the stage. My eyes remained on John the entire time. I couldn’t take my eyes off a young, healthy, living John Lennon. I was spellbound. They launched into “Be Bop a Lula” and John’s eyes met mine and held my gaze for most of the set. I felt heat in my cheeks. I knew that I was blushing. I ordered a scotch and coke and Carrie ordered a plain coke.

When the set was over they rushed off of stage. John ran over to our table, grabbed my drink, and downed it in a matter of seconds. Only John would have had the guts to do something like that. I smiled at him good naturedly.

“Ta, luv. I needed the drink. So what brings a classy bird like you to a dump like this? Got the hots for Paulie, have you?” John grinned.

“What if I were to tell you that you are the reason I’m here? Take as many of my drinks as ya like. If anything I got the hots for you, not your guitar playing, Little Richard sounding, friend. Hey do you think I could have a look at your guitar?” I asked.

John was completely astounded by my answer. He grabbed my hand and brought me over to the stage. He handed me his precious guitar and I tuned it a bit. I strummed a few cords and then I played a bit of Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be the Day”. The entire group was looking at me stunned and a few people in the club were turning to see if the band had gotten off of break that quickly. I blushed and handed the guitar back to John. He looked at me in amazement.

“I didn’t expect to meet a bird like you in my entire life. You can play like you’ve been playing all you life! Where’d you learn to play like that? Who taught you?” He asked.

“It comes naturally. I can also play the bass and do some banging around on drums. So do you think you can handle a bird like me?” I purred.

“Hell I can bearly handle m’self, but I can certainly try!”

“Hey, John, who’s the bird that can play like one of us?” Paul asked as he joined us. He had a pint and some blond hanging off of his arm.

“Pull all the bar maids ya want mate, but this bird’s mine!” John grinned.

“Let’s go on stage. Our break’s over and we have to get up there before the bloke that owns this place gets pissed,” George said, coming up behind Paul and getting his guitar. Paul grabbed his guitar with a weary look on his face. I grinned at him and said that I would easily take his place. The weary look was replaced with a grin as he ran up on the stage. John gave me a quick kiss and a pat on the ass that made me blush as he ran up on stage. I walked back over to the table and Carrie was completely speechless for once. I sighed as I turned to face the stage. Maybe living in the time that I loved wouldn’t be so bad, after all I had the chance in a lifetime, and I had the memories of the past, present, and future. I might even be able to save John when the time came around, but that was far ahead.

Carrie ended up going home, but I stayed for the entire set. I couldn’t help it. In my time, during the eighties and nineties, this never would have been a reality to see the Beatles together, alive, and in good spirits. John had died before I was born, for Christ sakes, so I never would have gotten the chance to meet the man that inspired me in the music field. I was a hard rocker back in the old band, but deep down I loved all of the Beatles’ songs from “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” to “Get Back”. They could change their style from album to album and make it sell. They were the greatest band and set more trends than Madonna ever would!

Finally the set was over and the guys came tumbling off stage. They’d been busy drinking while they played. I couldn’t blame them really. They needed something to keep them going. If drinking and uppers helped then let them go. John sat down at the table downed my drink and then ordered a pint.

John leaned over and kissed me. His breath reeked of alcohol but I didn’t care. This was the man of my dreams and I finally had a chance to have him! I didn’t want to change history too much, but I did want John. I wanted him more than anything. This was going to be so much fun.

“Ya, know I’ve been kissing you all night and I still don’t know your name. Usually when I’m pulling birds I learn their name first,” He slurred.

I grinned at him and then replied, “I’m sure you know all of their names when you get them squared away in your bed, don’t you?”

He blushed and then gained some of his senses back.

“Now, luv, what could you possibly be going on about?” He tried to keep a straight and innocent looking face, but he was bursting inside.

“Come off it! You certainly aren’t innocent little choir boys. I bet even George gets him some!” I laughed evilly as I saw John’s appalled look.

“We get on just fine…” John sputtered.

“What do you get on?” I interrupted and he blushed.

Paul must have been listening to the conversation because he came to John’s defense. “Hey now all he did was ask for your name. He didn’t ask for a bloody interrogation. What kind of a game are you playing? How can you know anything about us if you just met us? You, Miss Proper and all that,” He said. John nodded his head in agreement with Paul.

“The names Olivia Kenton, and let’s just say I have my sources. I know a lot of things about you, and let me tell you this, you will be the best bloody fucking band in the world when it’s all done. I can promise as much,” I grinned and then I began to walk away and out of the Cavern.

Once I was outside I began to laugh. I couldn’t help myself. I knew what I’d started and I’d know how it was going to go. This wasn’t a game, no, this was for keeps. I was going to get John before his trip to Hamburg. The year was nineteen sixty when I woke up, I would live a long and happy life, and I’d get married and have a family. Cyn wasn’t going to stay in John’s life for long, because Olivia had just come into play.

I heard some foot steps behind me and sighed. I turned around, but instead of finding John I was facing George, the young, handsome, George Harrison. He was so far from learning about the sitar and Indian culture right now. I smiled at him. He blushed and then said, “I heard what you said to John. Why’d you have to drag me into it? I wasn’t even intruding there.”

I couldn’t help but grin. This was the man who was going to write songs like “Love You Too”, “Something”, and “My Sweet Lord”. Oh, his future held a lot in store for him. I reached out my hand and ruffled his hair a bit, it wasn’t the moptop look yet, but it would be. He grimaced and then grinned at me.

“Geo, I’m sorry you got dragged into it, but I had to make a point. You do understand don’t you?”

“Yeah, and you’re right you know, we are going to be the best band in the world. We know it. One more thing, where’d you learn to play. You were amazing on John’s guitar!” George blushed again. I’d never imagined that he’d be so shy.

“Let’s just say I have a way with instruments and men,” I sighed.

This took him by surprise, but he gave a wicked grin at my mention of men. He was beginning to become comfortable around me, and that was good because I wanted to develop good strong friendships with these men. They played great, and the fact that they looked absolutely gorgeous and completely sexy was a damn good bonus.

“Wanna go out next Friday? I haven’t been out in awhile and I’d enjoy the company. Are you going to refuse a girl who just got her life back? Damn this skirt!” I sighed as I began tugging at the horrible skirt I’d thrown on. George laughed as he watched my aimless struggle with the skirt.

“Sure, I’d like to go out with you. I’m just glad you asked. I was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed,” He said and then he offered to walk me home.

“I live on Menlove Avenue, and you live a bit far from there don’t you? I mean not that it’s a bad thing, but why go out of your way for little old me?” He looked a bit hurt from what I said.

“Hell, walk me to the fucking moon if you like. Let’s just go before I rip this damn skirt off!” I said as I tugged at the skirt yet again. He smiled at having won me over, but then something occurred to him.

“You live over there, near John? Hell that is a bit far for walking, don’t ya think?” He asked.

“I haven’t been out and walking in a long time, George. I need the fresh air and I want to feel the freedom that I feel when I walk. I haven’t had this much freedom in a long time.” Tears began to fill my eyes and slide down my face. He looked astonished by the sight of them and began to wipe them away.

“Bloody hell, luv, I didn’t mean to make you cry. We can walk if you want,” He sighed and then took my hand. We walked aimlessly holding hands and chatting for a long time. We came no where near Menlove Avenue. We found ourselves sitting in a park on the fresh clean grass. I sighed and looked up at the unusually clear night. A clear night in Liverpool was rare thing indeed. Being with George had long since made me forget my discomfort with that awful skirt. The sweet smell of that fresh night and the grass brought new tears to my eyes. How long had it been since I smelled a fresh night like this? How long had it been since I’d been outside, since I’d walked?

George noticed my tears again and then the inevitable question sprung from his lips, “What happened to you? Why are you crying and what is so special about a night like this, other than its not raining?”

I sighed trying to buy time to figure out what I was going to say. I couldn’t tell him I came from the future, and that I was brought back here after I died. He would think I was completely daft. “I’ve been sick for a really long time, and something happened and I’m no longer ill. I used to be so weak that I could barely leave my bed. I haven’t walked in months and last night I felt like I’d died and then today I woke up and I had a new lease on life. Now I can live like anyone else and have the same freedom as anyone else. I’m no longer trapped by an illness that can threaten my life. I wish you could understand what I’m saying, and why I’m acting this way. You see things like this everyday. All I’ve seen for the past few months are walls, and I’ve been stuck in a bed for fear that just getting up would kill me. In a way I did die in that bed last night. My old self died and I was born again into a better life, a healthier life, a place where I belong,” I stared up at the beautiful night sky taking in every breath of heaven that I could.

I felt George putting his jacket over my shoulders. We were leaning against a tree, and only our hands were touching. I wanted to be closer to him. I felt the longing to be held the way Jonas would have held me before I got sick. Jonas, I would never see him again, I would never see any of my old friends or band mates ever again. Maybe that’s the price I paid to get a second chance. I leaned over so that I was leaning against George. My head was on his shoulder and my hand on his chest. His breathing was becoming more rapid. I lifted my head and I kissed him, like I’d never kissed anyone before. I never even kissed Jonas like this, and Jonas and I had a long history together… I never felt anything like that kiss before in my life. It was amazing. I felt so much longing in me and a heat, a passion that was new to me. His arms wrapped tightly around me and drew me closer to him. Our breathing was fast and ragged. My arms hung tightly around his neck. I kissed him long and hard again and again. Our tongues met and explored each others mouths. We surfaced and then he began to trail kisses down my neck. He was about to unbutton my blouse, but unfortunately I had to stop him. After all we were in a park and who knows who could have decided for a late night walk.

We stayed in the park though and he drew me closer to him, and kept his arms wrapped around me. I sat there with my back and head lying against his chest. He sighed and leaned heavily against the tree. It was really late by then. I don’t know when but we fell asleep there. I was in his arms and he was against the tree. We were still asleep when John and Paul found us the next day at around one in the afternoon. John wasn’t subtle about waking us up. He got down by our ears and yelled, “Wakey, wakey! George were you using that snaky?”

I grimaced and reached out with my hand to try to swat John. I suddenly set up with a start. I reached up and grabbed his collar. I yanked him down so that he was facing me head on. He was shocked and momentarily paralyzed by my strength. “Look here Lennon. When I want a fucking wake up call I’ll let you know, but if you pull that fucking stunt of yelling in my ear again I’ll make sure you never have children!” and then with my other hand I grabbed his crotch. “Now do we have an understanding or do you want to see how far I will take this?” I gave him a little squeeze and he gulped. Paul was laughing and George was just getting around to waking up. I let John go quickly and he backed away very slowly.

“What’s he on about?” George moaned sleepily and pointed to Paul.

“Your bird just put John in his place in several areas!” Paul laughed even harder and was rolling on the ground.

John was blushing and rubbing himself, just to be sure that nothing in that “area” of his anatomy was harmed. He looked at me with a startled look and then kicked Paul and walked away in huff. I’d done the same thing to Jonas before we’d gotten together. Jonas always was a pushy bloke before I set him straight. Now I was sidetracked though. John could take the back seat, because I was on an emotional roller coaster with George. Wow all of this in just one night. Paul, grinned at me and then went off to look for John, and see about John’s wounded “pride”. The sky was filled with clouds. I sighed and then I kissed George. He gave a sleepy smile and then kissed me back. We got up and walked around to stretch out our stiff legs.

After awhile Paul and John caught up to us, of course John kept his distance, and noticed that George and I had something going. George and I were walking hand in hand, stealing glances at each other and on occasion we even kissed. Paul thought it was amusing and would pick at us, but John just sulked. I sighed and thought about what I’d done to John. Now I was going to have to work really hard to gain his trust and friendship. Damn why’d I have to be so rough and spontaneous? I looked behind me a couple of times and saw John watching George and me, and how close we’d become. He looked kind of strange, but at the time I didn’t really pay much attention. I was too wrapped up in George to care. Life was very exciting after that. My date with George wasn’t anything spectacular, but at least we got to spend some time together. I went to all of their performances. Oh and I finally got some clothes that I felt more comfortable in. I began to wear jeans and leather pants, unlike most girls, and Carrie gave me a hard time about what I wore. I decided that when I went to Hamburg with the boys in a month I would get a few choice articles of clothing like mini skirts. I’m sure that George would have appreciated the thought. I also bought a guitar and a bass. I even gave Stu a few pointers (which he needed badly). Stu really should have stuck to art rather than let John talk him into joining the band. Not to be mean or anything, but Stu couldn’t play for shit. I was glad to know that Paul would end up as the bass player. I really couldn’t have imagined the band otherwise. I couldn’t wait to go to Hamburg, because that was where Ringo Starr, their future drummer was.

All in all I was doing great, I had four new best friends, yes, John came around, because he liked my “who gives a bloody fuck” attitude. We had a lot of things in common. We liked the same things and we could argue about anything, not only that, but right after an argument we could get along like nothing ever happened. We were like brother and sister. I was definitely closest to John when it came to friendship, but I stuck with George. I never really knew what caring for someone was like until Geo came around.

I’d been in England for about a month now and I’d been with George for the same amount of time. I found myself missing certain things that I would’ve had in the future, like a laptop to begin with, and I always missed my old band. Sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night from dreaming about them. I would always remember Jonas with the most clarity. Every once and awhile George and I would find ourselves at Stu’s flat. Of course we always had the place to ourselves. John knew when we wanted to be alone. In only a couple of days we would be headed straight to Hamburg. Hamburg was like Liverpool, only darker, drearier, and with a whole lot more crime and sex to offer.

I was already packed. I met John over at his house. It was kind of strange, but John and I had the same birthday, the ninth of October, except that he was a year older. As I said we had a lot of things in common. His Auntie Mimi answered the door. She was one of those women that abided by all that was proper, in other words she highly disapproved of me. Of course John made up for her disapproval, because he absolutely adored me.

“Hello, is John in? I must speak with him about his trip to Hamburg.”

She called up the stairs and soon John came charging down. He swung an arm over my shoulder and then said, “Auntie, what do you think of me best mate and one of the best bass players in all of Liddypol? She can actually out play Paulie!”

She sighed, “Boy, you aren’t working class. You’ve had good upbringing. Least you can do is give me that much credit. Why must you hang around all of those working class scruffs in that band? You’ll never go anywhere in that dead end band.”

“Not to be rude and all that, but they will make it far beyond anything they’ve ever imagined. I think you should support John rather than cut him down. Sure there have been times where I’m certain that he has disappointed you, but have faith in him yet. He will give you the shock of your life. Begging your pardon, but we have to head out to meet those working class scruffs in that band now,” I smiled sweetly at her, took John’s hand and we headed out of there.

“Bloody hell, Liv, she looked blown away! ‘ow’d you have the guts to do that? Hell for a bird you sure have balls. Come ‘ead luv, let’s be on our way, don’t we have to meet Paul and that boyfriend of yours?” John said.

“He was your mate before he was my boyfriend. Why can’t you accept it. You didn’t win this time Johnny,” I sighed and lightly touched his cheek.

“I haven’t lost yet either!” He whispered fiercely and then his lips fell hard on my mine. I didn’t really know that I was responding until it was too late. I hungrily gave into the kiss. My hand grabbed his hair and brought his lips down harder on mine. My tongue hungrily explored his mouth. His arms were wound tightly around me, with one of his hands in my long auburn hair pulling it back to lean my face up as his lips beared down on mine. My hands were inside of his jacket. We both came up breathless. His eyes met mine with a fierce hunger burning brightly in them. He kissed me again.

When we came up for the second time I was completely breathless. I looked up at him and something changed in his face. His sharp features softened with his expression. Some realization dawned on his sharp handsome features. He kissed me lightly and then smiled, an actual friendly awestruck smile.

“I love being with you. You’re a part of me. I mean look at us. We are exactly alike. I’ve finally found meself in a bird. I’ve liked you from the moment you played my guitar, the moment you put me in my place, every moment that we’ve ever been together.” As he spoke realization of what he spoke reached him as well. He now understood why he was so jealous of George and why he always held back something every time we were together.

I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to break through (damn why is it that women can cry at the drop of a hat, but a man’s first mechanism is either shock or anger?). The tears broke through though. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Why did you have to wait until a few days before we leave? What am I going to do now? George is going to be in Hamburg with us and damn John. How can you like me? I’m just one big fuck up.”

He held me as the tears began to subside. He rubbed my back and gently kissed me. His kisses led down my throat. I leaned my head down and nuzzled his ear. My arms wound around his neck and I hung there. When I finally realized that we were only a block away from John’s home. I put my hand on his chest and pushed him back. I was so worried that his aunt might walk out and see us. He had his arm over my shoulder and we headed towards the café where we were supposed to meet the others. Paul and George were already there. I sat in between John and George. George held my hand and we ordered tea and talked about everything. What the guys expected to achieve in Hamburg, but the main topic of discussion was how I blew off John’s Aunt Mimi. They all got a good laugh at that and agreed with all that I’d told her.

I was beginning to get really confused as I watched John and George. John was acting like normal, which I thought was amazing and George appeared to be completely oblivious to the guilt that I knew was written all over my face. I didn’t really know what I was feeling, but I knew that I felt the same way about both John and George. How would I ever explain this if George found out, and what would I do about John? I didn’t want to hurt him. Christ how’d I get into a situation like this? I noticed John kept stealing glances at me. I kept trying to look away and avoid his gaze. This was going to be an interesting trip to Hamburg. Where was I going to stay, because now I couldn’t stay with them. If I slept with George I would have to face John daily and I wasn’t even going to begin thinking about sleeping with John. I could picture the look on George’s face. This was it, the day that decided everything.

John and I ended up walking home together later that night. We were just walking, keeping our distance, not touching. We headed toward the park rather than to Menlove Avenue though. I felt like I should join him, because he looked like he wanted to talk to me. We went to the railing that gave a wonderful view of the Mersey. He was standing by one of the viewers and looking out over the river and then glanced at. I went to stand by him. He put his arms around me and rested his head on my shoulder. I leaned my head against his and then I felt something warm and wet sliding down his cheeks. It was a tear and he let it slide freely down his face.

“You know me mum and I used to meet at this very spot. Hell it’s been two bloody years and I still think about her. One of the first songs she ever taught me was ‘Love Me Tender’. Now I’ve brought you here. I didn’t even know that I was going to come here. This was far from my plans. Now I have more memories here,” He smiled and then something changed in his face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I’ve just been wondering what it was like for you before you showed up that night. You aren’t like the other birds and although you speak like us, you aren’t like anyone from the ‘Pool. I never thought I’d meet a bird like you. I’ve been watching you a lot lately and you just aren’t from here. You barely know your way around Liverpool. Don’t feed me that shit about you being sick. That can’t be all of it,” John said and then got a ciggie out his pocket and lit up. He let his hand rest on my shoulder near his face, I turned my face up and took a drag.

“How did you figure it out? It’s hard to explain and I doubt you would believe it, any road,” I sighed.

“So who are you really, because you aren’t Olivia Kenton. Liv Kenton would be above all of this, I know, I met her once before you came,” He continued.

“Olivia Kelley, that’s who I am. I from Los Angeles, California, and I used to be a bass player, sometimes during practice I’d give a sitting at the drums and play, but you see the Silver Python is a band in the nineties and I’ll never see them, or Jonas ever again. When I died I was brought back here amazingly enough. I don’t know what happened to Liv Kenton, but I’m here now. So tell me I’m crazy, tell me this isn’t real and I’m back living in a bed, with my sister Hannah waiting on me hand and foot because I can’t even get up without fainting. Tell me this has all been a dream and that I’ve found the two men that I love most in the world, and let me wake up with one of them being dead and the other living in some isolated mansion.” Tears broke through as memories of all the pain and how weak I’d been came back.

“You aren’t crazy, Liv Kelley, you’re far from that. How’d you die? What’s it like in the future and which of us is dead?” John asked.

I could tell he really believed me. I could see it in his eyes. He knew I wouldn’t lie about anything. I wanted to tell him everything, but I couldn’t tell him that he’d die at the age of forty, after all that was only twenty years away. “I can’t tell you everything, but the future is absolutely grand. Promise me that you won’t tell anyone what I’ve told you, and whatever you do, John, don’t let me wake up from this dream, this new life,” I said through my tears. I held on to him as though my very life depended upon him. I couldn’t let him go. He kissed me, and I felt every reassurance and longing that was hidden in him in that kiss. I continued to cling to him, and when we surfaced from the kiss I knew that I could never let him go no matter what.

“You aren’t dreaming. I’m here and I’m real and you’re real and we are together. You and I will always have that. You’re mine and nothing will ever change that. I finally found someone I can live with, because I found myself in you,” He whispered in my ear.

“You were searching for yourself in a bird?” I asked in mock surprise.

“Bloody hell, you had to know as much.” He laughed and then kissed me. I closed me eyes and felt his lips fall gently on my eyelids. I sighed with contentment. Why did he have to fall for me? I wasn’t anything at all and he was and would be so much. He took my hands in his and kissed each of my fingers.

“I’ve liked you from the moment I heard your albums. I just never imagined that I would meet you under these circumstances. I was always an admirer of your musical talent, but I never knew that I would meet you, nor did I know that I would stand a chance at being with you. Oh, the stories of you and your women, the stories of the Beatle wives and the stories of your many infidelities. Why should I trust you, and why should you like me? Hell, this is so spontaneous,” I sighed.

“That makes it even more appealing, now we don’t know what to expect! I like that, because now you don’t know everything. We are going to change history and make it work for us! You will be mine and we’ll make it work! Can’t you see it? A beautiful future is what we shall aim for. The sky will never be a limit and the rest of it is all dick. What does the world matter? We are together, fuck the rest of it!” John picked me up and spun me around and I laughed, from the joy of the moment, from the sheer happiness that filled my heart.

I heard someone cough and I looked up to find Stu staring at us. I blushed, and John gave me a quick kiss and Stu smirked. I had developed a good friendship with all of the guys from the group, but Stu was still a mystery to me, although I felt that I’d known him all my life, and I could tell him anything. This moment of discovery felt awkward to me, but Stu gave me a reassuring smile and wink. I began to relax.

“So, when are you planning on lettin’ George know that his bird really belongs to another man?” Stu asked.

“When we damn well please!” John and I said in unison.

That caught Stu off guard and he had to grin at that. We headed to a pub and ordered a round of beers. We had quite a good talk. I was beginning to think it an awful shame that Stu was going to die within two years. The least I could do was try to get him some help, but I could enjoy his company while he was still around. We had a few rounds and got stinking drunk, but rather than go home, to a disgruntled aunt in John’s case, and a worried older brother and cousin in my case, we headed to Stu’s flat. John and I ended up falling on the bed seeing as Stu couldn’t get past the couch. We fell on the bed together laughing and giggling. John’s arms found there way around me and our lips met and locked together in the kiss of a lifetime. After an eternity of unending kisses we felt content just to lay there and stare at each other.

“Ya know usually I would have been in a girl’s knickers by now, but with you this feels different. Bloody hell, I’ve never felt this way. So tell me all that you know about me, tell me about how successful we’re going to be. How long are we going to last, more than just a couple of years I hope!” John sighed and drew me closer to him.

“I’ve been with a lot of men before, you know what I mean, and I’ve never felt like this before. Not even with George. Maybe with George things are different you know, like maybe I just fell in love with the idea of love, but with you its all confusion, not knowing where its headed, yet I want this to last forever, and I feel you, really know you. Oh, John, the world will love you forever. You will want to get to people, change the world millions at a time. You will last longer than your wildest dreams, and your success will live on. All of you will inspire the world, and you won’t be just another band. You will change the world of music and the tight ass beliefs of an entire generation. Your songs will continue to inspire future generations to come and you and Paul will write wonderful songs together. There will be hard times when you feel like you’re trapped and can’t go on, but it will well be worth it. Of this I’m certain. You will be headed to the toppermost of the poppermost. You know that you are the best fucking band in the world and the world will discover that soon enough,” I sighed at the memories of the hundreds of books about John and the Beatles that I poured over for hours. Now I was going to live it all, and I would be among friends. All of this felt so right.

John kissed me and then fell back on the pillows. After awhile his grip slackened and I felt him begin to relax. I could feel his breathing slow down and become bearly audible. I laid my head down on his chest and soon I headed off into my own world of dreams, but this dream wasn’t about Jonas or those I’d left behind, this dream was about the future of the Beatles and about my future with John. I was going to have a long life and I would see to it that John got to live a long happy life no matter what and he would see his grandchildren and have the family that he’d never had.

I awoke the next morning sometime before dawn. My left arm was asleep because John’s head rested on it. I leaned over up and kissed him. He stirred but didn’t wake up. My eyes were growing heavy again so I let sleep over take me. I suppose I’d woken up to make sure that this was real, that I was with John and that he liked me.

When I woke up again it was because someone was touching me. John had unbuttoned my blouse and was tracing my stomach with his index finger. When he noticed that I was awake he kissed a trail from my stomach to until his lips finally met mine. My arms wrapped around his neck and I drew him closer to me. I wanted him to kiss me like he had the night before. When he broke away from the kiss he had this mystical look on his face. I was just smiling a happy and content smile. Stu came into the room and noticed our very comfortable position and the fact that my blouse was indeed unbuttoned. He put his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing as John began to button my blouse, my cheeks were definitely rosy.

“What ‘appened last night?” Stu asked.

“Just got to know each other a little better…” John began and then I finished for him, “Any road nothing happened between us last night, except that we found out that we like each other, we like each other a whole hell of a lot.” I grinned and kissed John. My hands found their way up John’s shirt. John grinned evilly and Stu rolled his eyes and sighed.

I got up and amazingly enough I was fully clothed in my leather pants and my light blue blouse although a bit of a wrinkled mess, it was buttoned thanks to John’s quick hands. I pinched Stu’s cheek and gave him a friendly kiss. He looked a bit bewildered and John looked a bit stunned. I turned to John and said, “This is the way things are back where I’m from. If you don’t like it find yourself another Ms. John Winston Lennon!”

He grew red when I mentioned his middle name. Stu was overcome with shock. “Bloody hell, when did you find out? How far a long are you? When did you go to the magistrate’s office? Does George know?” Stu was bursting with questions.

“Fuck, see what you’ve gone and done now Liv?” John sighed and then continued, “We’re not bloody married. She just meant that we are exactly alike. Damn it Stu we’re going to have a tough enough time telling George without him thinking that I got her preggers and we got married. I best not hear that again, mate. Christ what the hell is the world coming too. Ah, its all dick!”

“Oh, yet another day of Lennon philosophy. All the world is against my poor Johnny. How can he cope? My Johnny lies over the ocean, my Johnny lies over the sea!” I began to belt out in a horrible mocking voice.

It got Stu and John rolling on the floor bursting with laughter. I walked out of the bedroom and I noticed an easel and some freshly opened paint. I decided to see what future painting Stu was cooking up. I’d seen some of his artwork in an art museum in LA, but this was even more thrilling, I got to see the paintings as they developed! I was amazed by it. I couldn’t believe it. It was a vivid abstract and the main color in it was red. It had amazing texture and although the colors were in complete contrast they blended perfectly. I was in complete awe. It was beautiful and full of so much emotion that made up Stuart Sutcliffe. How could a man this passionate be able to handle all of John’s biting remarks?

After awhile it began to get late and John and I headed towards our “respectable” homes to begin packing for the trip of a lifetime. John came over to my home and I took him up to my room to share with him a bass line I was working on. He was very impressed with it. He added a bit and we harmonized my bass and his guitar. It sounded great. We jammed for a couple of hours. We face each other the entire time. This must have been how he and Paul were going to write songs. I could just imagine it. He helped me with my packing, but mostly he was just examining my knickers. I would snatch what under things that he picked up from my drawer, and throw it in my suitcase. He eventually tired of getting me all in a tizzy over my knickers and laid down on my bed. He patted the spot beside him, but I didn’t feel like laying down at the moment. I was looking for something. I had a letter somewhere in my room and it was for John. I’d written it a couple of days ago. That was when I realized that my relationship with John was more than just friendship, but instead of telling him about it I’d written it down and hadn’t had the guts to give it to him. Now that he already knew I decided that he could read it, but I couldn’t find it. Where could it have gotten too? Maybe Carrie had found it or something. John saw me looking about the room.

“Hey, love, what’re ya looking for. Someone take something important?” He asked.

“Yes,” I blushed and then continued, “As amazing as this may sound to you, I realized that I liked you a bit more than friendship was concerned a few days ago and I had written a note to you, telling you about how I felt, but I just didn’t have the guts to give it to you until now. I know we already have everything out in the open, but I thought we could get a good laugh out of it, but its not here anymore. I don’t know where it could have gotten off to. Oh, well it doesn’t really matter, now does it?”

I laid down beside him and he pushed the stray strands of hair out of my face and kissed my forehead. I leaned against him and his arms were soon around me and he was holding me close. He climbed on top of me and had me straddled. He began to unbutton my blouse. I sighed and I felt him growing somewhat aroused. I might have been a forward girl of the nineties, but I wasn’t ready for this yet, I hadn’t even gone all the way with George and I still wasn’t ready. I did want John, but I was ready to finalize my relationship with him yet, because George was still my boyfriend. George, sweet and innocent, what was he going to think. I pushed John away and felt his surprise and then he understood. He rolled off of me and just laid there beside me. His hand absently stroked my stomach. I sighed feeling completely confused. How was I going to break this to George? Should I do it now or once we got to Hamburg. If I did it now though, I doubt that he would want to go to Hamburg. Only two more days and then we, John and I, could tell George everything, and maybe I would even tell him about my “past” and some of his future.

“Need any help packing Johnny?” I asked.

“Would you be so kind?” He batted his eyelashes. I smiled and soon we headed over to his house to face his aunt and get him packed. We were holding hands when his aunt opened the door. John had forgotten his keys, again, one of those bad habits I suppose. She looked disapprovingly at our entwined fingers.

“Auntie, I’ve come to get packed for the trip. Sorry I didn’t come home last night,” John said. Obviously when he’d come home he hadn’t seen her or talked to her.

“I don’t know why you’re going to Germany. You won’t make a decent living by being in a band and playing a guitar. You’ll end up in the streets, mark my words John. Why must you hang around such working class people. Be true to your up bringing. I swear you are turning out to be just like you mother,” She sighed exasperated.

“At least mum knew how to have fun, and how to live,” John shot back.

“How to live? She was my sister, but I have to say this. Do you call what she did living? Did she raise you since you were three? Did she feed you and care for you? No, all she did was bring that troublesome guitar into this house, and you and this girl won’t last either, what makes you think that she is good enough for you?” Mimi continued.

John was really beginning to get upset by then. I was about to say something, but John beat me to the punch, “Mum loved me and she cared for me as best she could. She stopped me from going with dad! Remember Blackpool? That guitar is the only thing that I’m really good at and I love it, and I love being with this girl, and we may even end up being married someday! We are good enough for each other. She is just like me Mimi. Is that what scares you? I’ve finally found someone exactly like me. My equal, someone who can care about me and understand me for me. Quit dragging my dad into everything. I know he bloody left, and I’m thankful that you took care of me, but quit bringing it up for Christ’s sakes!”

This time when John stormed out of the house I grabbed his keys. I followed him to some pub and we sat down and had a pint. John was shaking his head and looking down at the bar. I put my hand on his shoulder and he looked up. Just then the beers arrived and he downed his in four gulps. I took a sip of mine and then he grabbed my glass and downed it. He was about to order another round, but I stopped him.

“Getting drunk isn’t going to help this. Hell what do you expect? She grew up listening to elevator music on those BBC stations. You can’t expect her to understand your love of music. Come on, let’s go back and get you packed. I’ve got your keys so you won’t have to see her whenever we get there,” I said.

He nodded and soon we were back at his house and we were in his room. He was just throwing things in his suitcase. I took the things out and folded them. He’d gotten six pairs of pants, seven shirts, lots of underwear (mostly briefs except for a couple of boxers, I was thrilled with the briefs though), and a few odds and ends. When I got his things organized in his suitcase he came up behind me to look and see what I was doing. He shook his head grinned. “I never would’ve been that careful, hell I just throw things in,” He said.

“I know, so just be lucky that you have me here to pack you up. Oh you are such a child. You can’t even pack an organized suitcase. Hell, John, that was the first thing my group learned with that bastard of a manager we had,” I sighed and made tsking noises.

“Aye, I might be that, but you still love being with me anyway!” He grabbed me from behind and we fell back on the bed laughing. He kissed me and held me down on the bed. He continued to kiss me and then his kisses led down my throat. I stopped him before he began to unbutton my blouse again. He sighed and then leaned back. He’d gained some control and then tilted my chin up and leaned my head back and planted his lips down on mine. I was the one to escalate the kiss. My tongue met his lips and I explored his mouth. His tongue met mine and we were exploring the other’s mouth. We both came up panting.

“How are we going to do this? What about George?” I asked.

“Fuck it! It’s all dick any road. What can he do? He can’t stop me from loving you. Hell nothing can stop that. Face it love, you’re stuck with me for life,” He breathed into my ear.

I smiled at him and knew what he said was true. I would be stuck with this man for the rest of my life. I was going to be there for him as best as I could. I knew what he was going to be feeling having been there myself, and I knew how to communicate with him. It wasn’t going to be easy, because I’d read a lot into John’s relationships, as well as the others. I would deal with what I had to and I would always be there for John. I wouldn’t make those past mistakes that Cynthia would have made and I wouldn’t have him riding on a leash as Yoko had him. I would be just as strong as him and I would put him in his place when he needed it.

“And what about you getting stuck with me? Don’t think I won’t be hell to live with. I mean it would be like living with yourself I suppose, only I do like some things in their proper places. You’re a messy bloke as I hear it. How would you stand me? You always say that you are looking for yourself to love, well now that you’ve found that in me what are you going to do?” I looked at him expecting anything, but what he said.

“Getting stuck with you is going to be one hell of a ride! I would just stand you by being as impossible as I can be and do this constantly!” He grabbed me quickly, and then kissed me until I was breathless.

“I suppose that would be my ticket to ride then, eh?” I grinned.

That comment got me a few more kisses and we were both breathing heavily. We talked for a bit after that and then got bored and left his room and his house for awhile. We still had yet to face Mimi again. We went to a pub to get smashed. We had a couple of rounds and then we went for a walk. It wasn’t surprising that we found ourselves in the park by that viewfinder again. John put his jacket around me, because I’d begun to shiver a bit. His arms were soon around me and he drew me closer in his arms. The night was cloudy and foggy threatening rain. We looked out over the Mersey. I sighed. I didn’t care about the view I was just content to be in John’s arms.

We walked back to my house, hand in hand. When we reached my door he kissed me. I gave him the keys to his house, which I’d taken with me yet again. That way it would save him from a confronting moment with Mimi. He smiled at me and was then on his way two houses down to his own home. I unlocked the door to the house and was met by Carrie, my proper and decent cousin. She didn’t like my new style and thought it rugged and she certainly didn’t like me keeping company with the likes of that scruffy band, especially George and John. She was about to complain about my leather pants, when she noticed that I was wearing someone’s leather coat.

“You’ve been out with that teddy boy boyfriend of yours haven’t you? Liv, you never used to be like this. Why did you change? Look at all the things that have changed. You are wearing leather pants and jeans and you are always out with that band. That first night you picked up that guitar and played like you’ve been playing all your life and then you go out and buy two guitars. Now all you do is play and go out with that teddy boy band. What’s gotten into you? Are you pregnant, and trying to break it to him gently? Do you know what your brother is going to say when he finds out?” She chided.

“I’m not pregnant for Christ sakes. I’m living now. I’ve felt dead for years, and now I finally have a life. I do believe that I’m entitled to love anyone I want and if John fits the bill, then so be it! I don’t care what Phillip thinks about any of this. Hell I’ll tell him myself!” I yelled.

“Tell me what, Olivia?” Phillip said as he walked into the room.

“I’m in love with some teddy boy, and I love dressing the way I dress! I’m finally alive and I’m going to live my life the way I want to live it. I don’t care what you think about me. I won’t let you control my life. I want to be happy and I’m going to Hamburg,” I stated.

“Fine, and if you feel that way leave. You aren’t obligated to stay here. In fact you aren’t welcome here anymore. Leave. Get all of you things out of here and don’t ever come back. I want you out by the end of the night!” Phillip said through clenched teeth.

I called John and Mimi picked up the phone. I sighed, “Hello, Mrs. Smith, is John there? Please give him the phone.” I sounded so desperate. After a few minutes John came to the phone.

“What do you want?” John said into the receiver. He wasn’t expecting me to ring him.

“John, I’m moving out. Do you think you could help me get my things? I think I can stay with Stu for awhile. What do you think?” I asked.

“I’ll be right over. I think Stu’s flat will be the best place for you. I’m on my way,” He said.

I cradled the receiver and went to my room to begin packing up my things. A few minutes later I heard the door open and then Carrie came to my room followed by John. She looked disapprovingly at him as he walked into my room and began to gather things out of my closet and I was furiously packing my underthings in a bag. I sat down on the bed and was close to tears. John put a reassuring hand on my back and kissed my cheek.

Realization dawned on Carrie’s face as she really looked at John. “Hey that isn’t your boyfriend. That’s the singer in the group, where is that guitar playing scruff?” She asked.

“None of your damn business!” I shot back.

When all of my things were packed John rung up one of his friends, Neil Aspinal, and got him to drive over with his van and soon we were loading up my things into the van. The last things that I loaded into that van were my bass and guitar. I slammed the door to the house then Neil was driving to Stu’s flat. I knocked on the door and Stu answered the door. He looked a bit surprised, but nodded when I asked if I could stay with him. We unloaded all of my things and I ended up with the bed and Stu took the couch again. I felt really bad for doing that to Stu for the second night in a row. Neil took off and John stayed behind with me to make sure I was all right. I fell down on the bed completely exhausted. John joined me and held me while tears slid down my face. I had a new family now, Liv Kenton and her awful family wouldn’t haunt me now. My family consisted of the Beatles and Stu and my future with them. Of course to me John, Paul, and George weren’t the Beatles they were close personal friends, and John was definitely going to be more than just a friend.

“You know, I think I know what I felt whenever I kissed George. I was overwhelmed by the fact that I had a second chance at life and he liked me, but with you it feels different, it feels real,” I sighed and laid my head down on his chest. He ran his hand through my hair.

“I can’t believe it, we really are going to make it that big aren’t we?” He sounded mesmerized.

“Yes, John, and you’re going to change the world. All of you will change the world and leave a very big mark in the music business. You are going to set so many things in motion the music business. You will still be remembered in the future, as legends bigger than Elvis, you will never be a has been.

“I’ll start with you though!” He said and then began to tickle me. We thrashed around on the bed for a bit and then he had me pinned down beneath him. I hadn’t face this situation since the last time that I’d been with Jonas. John leaned down and I felt something animal like in that kiss. I put my hand up, and pushed him away a bit.

“I’m sorry if you feel like I’m leading you on and teasing you, but I’m not ready yet, I mean what if we start this and George walks in on us. I don’t want to hurt him. I have to let him know gently, besides I wasn’t meant for George, I was meant for you,” I whispered softly in his ear and then I began to nibble on his ear lobe.

He moaned and then pulled me away. I was driving him wild. After he cooled down we settled for holding and cuddling. I snuggled in close to him and was out like a light. It was the most comfortable place I’d ever been in my life. Wrapped up safe in his strong arms. I woke up the next day to a door slamming. I scrambled out of bed and ran out of the bedroom. I faced Stu blocking the door and George trying to get out.

“George,” my voice was barely a squeak. “Please listen to me. I didn’t mean for this to happen. Christ I didn’t know what was going on or how it happened until a couple of days ago and then I was kicked out of my home and had to stay here and John…”

George cut me off, “You didn’t fucking know? How could you not know? You wrote that bastard a note to tell him how you felt! What were you going to do? Be with me and fuck him? You lied to me. I thought you loved me, because I sure as hell loved you!”

“You’re young yet and you will find someone worthy of you, I promise that. I’m not good for you. You would’ve gotten hurt later. Wait you found the note. How the hell did you get into my room? Oh, well, its all for the better, I suppose,” I couldn’t look him in the eye. My eyes kept falling to the floor. I felt so guilty leading him on like that. Sure he was a great kisser, but I wasn’t what he was looking for. He was looking for someone drop dead gorgeous who knew how to party, like his future wife Patti Boyd, or someone strong like his second wife Olivia.

He dropped to the floor and sat there with his head in his hands. I knew that tears were sliding down his face. I knelt down beside him and put my arm around his shoulders and drew him to me. He buried his face in my shoulder. I patted his back and he looked up at me. I kissed his forehead gently like a mother would.

“Right now, you’re only seventeen, you shouldn’t be looking for love, look for a good time, but don’t fall in love yet. That will come soon enough. Usually when you don’t look for love it will knock you off of your feet, trust me, I’ve been down that road quite a bit,” I whispered to him. I was rocking him a bit.

I noticed John standing in the doorway. He looked disturbed by seeing George like this. I knew that he was feeling guilty. George began to come to his senses and then he asked, “You’re only nineteen, so how can you know so much about love? How many times have you been in love?”

“I’ve been in love before, it was a long time ago, or maybe sometime in the distant future, but I knew a man who was a hell of a guitar player, although nothing like you, we had our moments, but now that I really look back, it never would’ve worked, even if I had survived, we just weren’t right for each other, even his brother knew that,” I felt like I was about to break down and it was George’s turn to hold me, and John was holding me to, it was like one big group hug.

“Are you going to tell him love?” John asked.

I told them everything, except the part about John dying. I still didn’t want to worry or scare them. Stu and George were amazed and John already knew it. I’d told them everything about my life. Those moments with Jonas, my death, how it felt, how I woke up in this strange place and grand time.

“That explains your style, and your skills with the guitar, bass, and drums. How old were you when it happened?” Stu spoke up. He showed a definite interest in the subject and George couldn’t help, but be intrigued as well. John’s ear perked up to the question as well, because I hadn’t told him how old I’d been.

“I was nineteen. It was a couple of months after my birthday. I died on the eighth of December in the year two thousand. My birthday was the ninth of October.” John looked down at me in surprise, but I stopped him from speaking by continuing on. “Strange enough Olivia Kenton was born on the same day as John, the ninth of October only a year later than John, which makes me nineteen, and a year younger than you. My real name, if you can call it that, considering I was really born in nineteen eighty-one, is Olivia Kelley, and I was born in Los Angeles, California. I don’t know why or how this happened, but everything has its purpose and I finally found someone that I can love, who can understand me completely, and I can actually understand him as well.”

I grasped John’s hand. “George, can we be friends, I don’t want to throw away a good friendship, but my heart belongs to John,” I took a deep breath as I waited on George’s answer. He gave a nod and I let out the breath that I’d been holding.

After a bit of talking and telling them about my time in the various studios that I’d been in George left. Stu began to paint and that left John and I to ourselves. At that moment all I wanted was a bath though. I told John, and then I went into the lavatory and began to draw myself a bath. The tub filled quickly and I took off my clothes and got in. The water felt good and warm. I let out a relaxed sigh and began to lather up my legs. I heard the door open and John came in to use the toilet. When he finished he’d turned around and was now left facing me, his cheeks flamed up to a bright shade of crimson. Of course that didn’t stop him from taking in the full view of me. I laughed and told him to help me wash my back, his face grew redder, but he obliged.

His hands kneaded into my back as he lathered me up. He let his hand slip and touch my ass, but I didn’t mind too much. I moaned a little, because his hands felt so good. His left hand slipped a bit and it brushed my left breast. I moaned and then turned around. I took my wet hand and grabbed the back of his neck, forcing him into the kiss. His lips came down hard on mine. He wasn’t very unwilling and soon I had him in the tub (with his clothes on unfortunately). We were laughing and both of us were sopping wet. I was helping him strip. I started with his shirt and then I worked my way down to his pants, but Stu walked in and noticed us. I was completely undressed and John was in the tub with me with only his briefs on. I managed to get behind John so Stu didn’t see too much, but it was still embarrassing. He grinned and shook his head at us.

“I have some extra clothes if you need them, John,” and then he walked out of that awkward situation.

I burst out laughing and soon John joined me. We finally got dried after a bit of towel snapping. I went into the bedroom and put on some knickers, a bra, one of Stu’s black tee-shirts and a pair of black jeans. I pulled my long hair back into a ponytail and put on my black boots. I put on a bit of make up and then I was out of there. I heard John and Stu talking and John suddenly burst out laughing.

“What is going on?” I asked.

“Stu was wondering if you’d pose for one of his paintings,” John gasped after more laughing.

I just popped John on the back and then said, “Yes, I’ll pose, but strictly art. I only shag with men I like, sorry Stu you’re just a friend. I like you and all, but I belong to John.”

That really got John going then. Stu seemed please that I’d agree to pose for him. I looked at his latest creation, it wasn’t done yet, but it still looked amazing. Stu was such a visionary. I liked what I saw in him. He would be a friend I would definitely value in the years to come. I would have to do the best I could to try and save him, I promised myself.

We all headed over to the Cavern, and there we saw Paul and George. George must have told Paul that I was with John now. Paul arched his eyebrows when he saw us together and I couldn’t resist kissing John. George was taking it really well, but he did flinch a little. We ordered a round of drinks and George soon had a girl to “chat up” as John and Paul called it. Paul was really watching John and I. Then something occurred to me.

“John, do you know Cynthia Powell?” I asked him.

“Yeah, she’s in one of me art classes. I was seeing her, but I quit seeing her when I met you. I guess that night held a lot of promise, so I let her fly free,” He said.

“Blackbird fly,” I whispered.

‘That’ll be the Day’ began playing. The band that was on stage, wasn’t that bad, but they wouldn’t make it. I got up, and then said, “Let’s dance.”

John grimaced. “I thought I already got you chatted up love.”

He got up and we danced though. After a couple of fast songs ‘Love me Tender’ came on. John wrapped his arms around me and drew me close to him. I put my head on his shoulder, and we swayed to the music. A fast song came on, but I could care less, I was in John’s arms and we were dancing to our own music. He kissed me and then we came back to the real world. We headed back over to the table and Paul had a busty brunette sitting in his lap. George was off in the back according to Paul. I thought it just as well. George was better off, because he wouldn’t want to be tied down when he finally did meet Patti.

John walked back with Stu and me to Stu’s flat, but he wanted to go home that night, because he was sure that Mimi wanted to talk to him, and he didn’t want to be completely on the outs with her. I told Stu that he could have the bed until I could find a bed, but he insisted so he stayed on the couch for the third night in a row. I fell asleep with thoughts of John swimming through my head.