As I awoke the next morning I could still feel the soreness from the bruises and scratches. Turning to look for John, I saw that he was gone and looking at the clock I saw that it was almost one in the afternoon. Getting up to go to the bathroom my knees were wobbly and weak. Looking at myself in the mirror I was ashamed. I looked horrible, I had never seen such a black eye, and I could feel the knot on the back of my head where I had been punched.
Walking out into the living room to find the guys, they were gone. I suddenly felt very alone, and very scared. Grabbing some water, I sat on the couch and curled up with a blanket. I was all of the sudden startled by the doorknob being jiggled, the door opened to reveal Paul carrying some bags of food.
"Hope you're hungry, I brought lunch." Paul said.
"Yeah, I could eat a little something. What have you got?" I asked him.
"Hamburgers and fries." he answered.
"Where is John?" I asked curiously.
"He said he had some things to take care of, he should be back anytime now." Paul replied.
Not even two minutes later, the door swung open to reveal John with some shopping bags.
"Hey, sorry I didn't tell you I left, but I thought you needed rest." he said, apologizing.
"It's OK." I told him.
"Harmony, what size pants and shirt do you wear?" He asked out of nowhere.
"Seven pants and shirt, why?" I curiously replied.
"Great, here; I thought you could use these so I went down to a shop I saw the other day and picked you up some clothes." John said.
"Oh John, you didn't have to do that, really, but thank you very much." I said, attempting to smile feeling my lip becoming sore.
He handed me the clothing bag and I opened it to find some stonewashed boot cut jeans, and a dark green soft knit sweater that was just beautiful.
"Wow, this is a nice sweater, you have nice taste, this is actually something I would buy for myself." I said with appreciation.
"Well, when I saw it, I just thought it had your name all over it, so I bought it for you." he replied happily.
"I'm just gonna go change real quick, do you mind if I use your shower?" I asked shyly.
"No, go ahead, there's clean towels in the closet." John answered.
So I grabbed the clothes and headed for the bathroom. I found some towels and hotel soap, which I hated, and hopped in the shower. Washing my hair I realized something.
"DAMN IT!" Now I can't report anything about the rape, the injuries could be reported, but now there would be no proof of a rape.
I quickly finished my shower and towel dried my hair and hurriedly dressed.
When I walked out into John's bedroom I found him sitting on his bed.
"What's up?" I asked wondering what he was doing.
"Can we talk for a minute?" he asked me seriously.
"Sure, where's Paul?" I asked.
"He went to the bar downstairs." he replied.
"Oh."
"Come over here and sit down." he said patting the bed.
As I sat down he looked at me seriously, but said nothing for a minute as if thinking of the right thing to say.
"Harmony, do you remember the other day when I was in a bit of a bad mood and I didn't want to talk about it?" he asked.
"Yeah, why?" I replied.
"Well, I was upset because my girlfriend and me broke up." he said.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." I said wondering what this was all about.
"Well, I have something I want to ask you." John stated.
"Shoot." I replied.
"Well, I want to know what really happened last night, you don't have to tell me, but it would help me to understand so I can help, I really want to help you." he said sincerely.
"Well, I will tell you the truth, I don't remember much because I passed out, but what I do tell you, you have to promise me you won't tell a soul." I cautiously said.
"I swear it." he said putting his hand on his heart.
"OK, well, I was at the Tavern, and there was this guy who kept staring at me..................." I started telling the whole truth. For some reason, I trusted him.
"And......then....I woke up in the alley..I didn't know where to go......so I came here." I finished between sobs.
I could see pure rage in his eyes. He just sat there with his fists clenched as if he were strangling someone.
"I'll kill him." he said bluntly.
"John, I just want to forget about this." I told him still sniffling.
"How could you just want to forget this, if we don't get him he will do it to someone else, do you want someone to go through what you did?" he asked sympathetically.
"No, never, I just don't want anyone to know." I replied, trying not to cry again.
"Well, do me a favor." he said while taking my hand.
"Sure." I answered.
"Please, please think about reporting it, for me, just think about it." he said.
"I will, I will seriously put some thought to it." I told him honestly.
"OK, now, let's cheer up and do something," he said trying to smile that silly smile he always did so wonderfully.
"OK, what can we do?" I asked wondering what he had in mind.
"Well, I did see a park not too far from your 'ouse, can we go there?" he said giddily.
"Sure, but won't you be recognized?" I asked worried.
"No m'dear, you will see, go into the living room, I'll be out soon." John replied secretively.
Getting up I walked into the living room and plopped on the couch wondering what he had planned. While reading a magazine I could see him come into the room out of the corner of my eye.
I looked up to see him dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with his hair slicked back, he was wearing his glasses, and had a thin moustache glued on his lip.
"Very good Lennon, almost wouldn't recognize you." I said stifling a laugh.
"Oh, chatter on, girl, let's get goin." he replied while grabbing his coat.
As we entered the elevator, it started going down, when it stopped suddenly and two teenage girls got on. This made me very nervous; what if they recognized him?
"Bonjour ladies." John said in a bad attempt to sound French.
I had to try my hardest not to laugh. They obviously had no idea who he was, they didn't say a word.
"So, Alice, did you hear the news?! The Beatles are supposed to be coming back to America!" one girl said to another; I just wanted to laugh at he irony.
"Yeah, I heard, they are so dreamy, especially John, he's so cute," Alice said to the other.
"Oh, I think Paul is." she returned.
"Who are you two talking about, those bug people?" I asked them.
"It's the Beatles, and yes we are," one replied.
"Personally I just don't see what all the fuss is about them," I teased while I had the chance while catching a sideways glance from John and the girls.
"Oh, how could somebody say that, you don't even know them, miss," one girl told me.
"Well, and I suppose you know them so well," I countered.
"Well, not personally." she said, slightly embarassed.
"This is our floor, Leslie." one said to the other as they got off the elevator without another word.
As soon as they were gone John and I just burst into laughter.
"So, you don't like us eh?" he asked teasingly.
"Well, maybe just a little." I said smirking.
The elevator doors opened to the ground floor and I stepped off before he could make any comments. We made our way to the car and I searched for my keys.
"I can't seem to find my keys." I told him while reaching in my pockets.
"That's because I have them." he said holding them up. When I reached to grab them, he snatched them away.
"Let me drive." he asked with a smile on his face.
"I don't know, John, are you a good driver?" I asked cautiously.
"Of course, silly!" he replied.
"Well, all right, but remember we're in America, got it?" I answered.
"It'll be fine, just get in the car." he stated in a distracted voice as he jumped in the driver's seat.
So, I got in the car, buckled my seatbelt, and readied myself for the ride just in case. When he took off, he was surprisingly driving pretty well.
"Wow, not as bad as I thought." I complimented.
"See, I told you!" he replied sticking his tongue out at me.
"Oh pooh, just drive." I said while flipping throught the radio stations 'til
I found something worth listening to: it was "Ticket to Ride." I was beginning
to like them more and more each day. I just smiled the rest of the ride.
Written by Jeanna. May not be reproduced in any form, by any means, without the permission of the author. Permission may be obtained by e-mail.