“I mean, it’s like your fucking famous or something” she blithered “But you’re the same, it’s only when you’re on stage, or when I’m looking at you on an album cover. Then you look famous, you see. So I guess it’s good, yer not getting all barmy and weird and famous on me.”
George looked amused. Paul looked lusty. Like just her babbling about nothing turned him on. So she kept on talking till George finally laughed.’
“Fucking hell Gab, shut it” he sniggered
She thwacked him but fell into silence.
Everything was a bit of a blur, and she wasn’t sure what had happened to them still. They were the same. Nothing was different. Just bigger, madder audiences. That Gabrielle could comprehend. And Paul’s rabid raging lust for her. She was able to see he’d missed her and was dying for welcome back sex.
But she felt like she’d missed a huge chronological chunk out of a book. Where was Arthur? The Cavern? Astrid and Stu? Half information on Cynthia and John’s rushed marriage due to her getting knocked up. Gabby was excited to see baby Julian when she traveled with them up to Liverpool for a few last Cavern gigs before doing some radio and then… god they were busy.
The four Beatles plus Gabby and Brian were smushed into the back of a big black car that was bound, she could only guess, back to the hotel. Gabby sat in the very middle with Ringo on her left, George on her right, Paul, John and Brian facing them.
“So, how’s Mo” She asked Ringo, he beamed at this
“Great, fantastic. It’ll be gear to see her when we go up for the Cavern gigs”
“The last ones” Paul nodded, looking forlornly out the window
“It was more traumatic leaving Hamburg for you” Brian noted, a smirk gracing his kind face “They were so popular there they didn’t want to come back to gray old England”
“Oh, how’s Stu and Astrid. They get married yet?”
A deathly silence fell over the car. The calm smiles that everyone had been wearing turned into somber stares. Gabby felt her pulse quicken “What” she asked “What’s wrong with Stu and Astrid? They split up or something”
John laughed shortly and sarcastically, his eyes black “Er, no luv. Stu’s gone and died on us”
“John” Brian hissed in a low voice while Gabby stared wide eyed at John
“Died? How could he die” she breathed, even though a far off memory that she hadn’t thought for a very long time was surfacing, Stuart being ill. Head aches. “Oh my bloody Christ” she whispered looking at Ringo. His eternally sad eyes looked sorry, he shrugged and gave her a pat on the knee.
“Brian” John spat “He was my fucken best friend, I’ll go speaking about ‘im however I bloody well please”
Brain clamped his mouth shut and stared out a window while Gabby stared silently at John. And then Paul across form her. He was fiddling with his hands again, looking guilty for some reason.
“It was a brain hemorrhage” George finally said after her quiet wondering “There was nothing they could do. He died on the way to the hospital”
“Can we just drop it” John fumed
“He was her mate too, john” Paul sighed “She’s got a right to know what happened”
“And Astrid?” Gabby asked George, her hands going to his arm to prod for more information. “Is she alright? How is she?”
“She’s just a bit torn up is all, luv” Pal said quietly
Gabby settled back into her seat, her mind playing with the idea that she could have died just as easily as Stuart in California. Only hers would have been self induced. Her own fault. Stuart couldn’t help it.
Still, George best friend dead. John’s best friend dead. Why was she thinking about this? About being dead? It was going her head in… and the next thing she knew she was being pulled out of the car by big strong guilty Paul hands.
“Come on, luv” he murmured, placing his arms around her front for a second to hold her and then letting go so nothing seemed out of place. Only a friendly hug. Nothing to see.
Then she played with the idea of telling them about nearly dying. But that would be traumatic and they’d never let her drink again. She shut away those thoughts. Stopped think about nearly dying. About Stuart dying. Her mother dying. John and Paul’s mothers dying. It was sick. Stop dying.
Her thoughts perked up when they were led back to the hotel suit and John (now pouting or grieving, it was hard to tell) pulled a girl back to his room. Ringo and George decided to play who can drink the most without passing out.
“How ‘bout you guys?” George asked, lifting a bottle of schnapps alluringly while wagging his cigarette at them. “Still a lightweight Gabby”
“Hah” she was cut off from telling them about how she could out-drink any of them by Paul.
“Actually” he rolled his eyes n Gabby’s direction “This one’s got in ‘er head she’s going to show me al the pictures she took in the States”
George groaned a Ritchie laughed “Have fun with that one, mate” he sighed, taking the schnapps from George and gulping some down.
“Right” George nodded “If you need us will be near the mini-bar”
“Ok” Paul grinned, Gabby stared at him.
“I’m showing you my picture collection?” she asked once they were gone “Why don’t you just spell it out”
He feigned surprise “I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about darling…”
“Oh sure” she nodded sarcastically “You say that now, then you’ll lure me back to your room. Then what’ll I do. I have no conscience Paul, and no will power either. So it’s…”
Paul looked around and since he saw no one coming down the hallway he scooped Gabby up over his shoulder in one fluid motion and took off for his room while she shrieked and withered more for show then anything.
He set her down outside his room and watched her fix her hair while leaning against the door jamb far sexier then anyone has every leaned against a doorjamb in history.
When she was done he ran a hand through her silk dark locks and cupped her face, puling her close.
“Did you miss me?” she whispered, he eye falling shut.
“Never, not once” he chuckled before pressing his lips against hers soundly.
