fanfic4

“Don’t hurry home. Eat out tonight.” Her mother encouraged.
Emma laughed and left the kitchen returning to Paul. “All set.” She said to him, grabbing a sweater. “Let’s go.” She followed Paul outside and they stood on her front walkway.
“Do you want to walk to Strawberry Fields?” Emma asked as she opened her gate.
“Sure,” Paul replied. He followed Emma. They walked in silence for a while and then Paul spoke up. “Strawberry Fields is where I first met John.”
Emma nodded. “Yeah he told me. He was piss drunk and you played him twenty flight rock and could tune a guitar!”
Paul laughed at the memory. “Yeah, that’s about right. So, how did you meet John?”
“I actually met Stuart first, who then in turn introduced me to John one day at a pub.”
“Okay then,” Paul said. “Let me rephrase that. How did you meet Stuart?”
“I was painting by the docks when he came up to me and started talking to me and then he found out I was going to the art college and we just kind of ran into each other.”
“You must be some girl then!” Paul remarked.
“John said that too! Why is everyone so shocked when they hear that?”
“Because Stuart is so shy when he is around girls. It’s just so hard to believe that he made the first move.” Paul explained.
“Well he did and the rest is history. He is one of my best friends and I am glad that he came up to me that day.”
They had come upon Strawberry Fields just then. Paul took Emma’s hand and led her around the back where they hopped the fence and found a small area to sit down on.
“God, I could sit here for hours!” Emma cried, falling back onto the grass.
Paul laughed and fell down beside her. “It’s nice to get away from everything once in a while.” He remarked.
“I know what you mean. Sometimes I just want to trough away all my art supplies and just for once not have the pressure of trying to be the best.” It wasn’t until after she said it that Emma realized what she had said. “I mean . . .”
“Do you have a lot of pressure put on you because you are so good?” Paul asked, turning his head so he could look at Emma.
“I shouldn’t complain. I’m lucky, but, well, it’s my parents. I’m always worried that if I don’t do well they won’t be proud of me.”
“How could they not be proud of you? You are a bloody fantastic painter?”
“Can we change the subject?” Emma asked. “How is the band going?”
Paul sat up enthusiastically. “We may have a chance to go play in Hamburg.”
“Hamburg, Germany?” Emma asked. “When?”
“Sometime in August. Shit, Em! We can make so much money off of this!”
Emma sat there, absorbing this sudden bit of information. “How long will you be gone?”
“That hasn’t been arranged yet. It’s not a for sure thing that we are going, but they seemed pretty excited.”
Emma sat up and looked at Paul. He started back at her. Their eyes locked and she could see the excitement they held and smiled. “I’m really happy for you.”
Paul smiled back. “Thank you. I’m really happy for me too. It’s just so fucking great that this band is finally doing something. I really think we can go somewhere with it and even farther if . . .” He stopped himself there.
“If Stuart wasn’t in the group.” Emma finished for him.
Paul lowered his eyes and started pulling grass up from the ground.
“He’s a nice guy,” Emma spoke. “He doesn’t deserve the shit he takes from you lot.”
That got Paul’s attention and his head snapped up. “He doesn’t take any shit from us.”
“Yes he does!” Emma cried. “You’re always at him about his bass playing. He knows he can’t play! But he tries really hard.”
“Maybe that isn’t good enough,” Paul muttered under his breath.
“Hey! Just leave it! He won’t be in the band forever. He’s a painter at heart. He’s only in the band because John wants him there. You don’t have to constantly pick on him.”
“I don’t.” Paul defended himself. “Look, Stuart is a really nice guy. I’m sorry I said anything.”
Emma lay back down on the grass and Paul remained sitting up. It was getting dark. Stars started darting the sky. Emma didn’t like that she had just got into an argument with Paul when she didn’t even know him.
“I didn’t mean to get angry at you,” she apologized. “It’s just that Stuart is one of my best friends and I don’t like to see him hurt.”
“I understand.” Paul accepted. He laid back down beside Emma, propping his head up with his elbow so he could look at her.
Emma tried to ignore the fact that he was staring at her. “I love the stars.” She told him, trying to get him to look at something else besides her. It worked. He turned his attention to the star scattered sky. “When I was little,” Emma started to tell him, “I would lay in my back yard for hours looking up at the stars and imagining another life up in the sky. I wanted to be with the stars.”
“My mum used to tell me that if anything ever happened to her I could always find her in the stars. I used to laugh at that until something did happen to her . . .” He let his sentence drift away.
“I’m sorry about your mum. It must have been hard.”
“It was. That’s why John and I are so close. We share that bond of losing a parent.”
“Sometimes I worry about John. He keeps too much inside.”
Paul turned his head to look at Emma. “That’s what he says about you.”
“I suppose I do. I’m just scared to get it all out there.” This time Emma sat up. “The divorce really screwed me up. I wasn’t ready to deal with it and then to suddenly be moved halfway across the world. It was scary. I was lucky to have found John and Stuart. They’ve helped me in more ways than I think they realize.”

“You were amazing!” Emma smiled when they came out of the dressing room. She turned to Stuart. “Very moody, Stuart. Loved the glasses.”
Stuart hugged Emma then held her out at arms length. “Are those leather pants I see you wearing, Miss. James?” He asked.
Emma did a little twirl to show off her outfit. “That they would be, Mr. Sutcliffe. I’ve decided to change my look. For tonight anyways.”
“Emma,” John interrupted. “I want you to meet George Harrison and Paul McCartney.”
“So this is the infamous Emma James,” Paul smiled, sticking out his hand.
Emma took it and laughed. “Emma is fine. You guys were really good out there.”
“Thanks. We try.”
“We’ve heard a lot about you from John and Stu.” George jumped into the conversation. “They say you’re a really talented painter. I’d love to see some of your work.”
Emma laughed. “You can’t believe everything you hear. Which reminds me. I have to finish a painting for tomorrow so I must bid you all farewell. You were amazing.” Turning to George and Paul she said, “It was a pleasure to meet you and I hope we can have a longer visit in the near future.” She waved good bye and then started to walk out of the club.
“I’ll come with you.” Stuart ran after her.
They walked down the street in silence for a while. Then Stuart spoke up.
“What did you really think of the set?”
“What?” Emma laughed. “Did you think I was lying when I said it was good?” She linked her arms with Stuart. “I thought you were all fucking brilliant. I mean that. Someday you will see your name in lights.”
“No.” Stuart commented. “Not mine anyways. It’s fun now, but I don’t see myself making a career out of it. I’m a painter not a musician. John thinks I’m in it for the long haul.”
“John just wants you te be happy. He looks up to you even though you don’t think so. We all look up to each other. He doesn’t want to leave you out of this.”
“I’m having fun.” Stuart admitted.
They had reached Emma’s house. She gave her friend a good night hug.
“It’s Paul’s birthday tomorrow and we are throwing him a party at the Cash Bah Club. You’re invited. Will you go?”
Emma thought for a moment. “Sure. I’m not doing anything.”
“Okay. I’ll come by around eight and pick you up?”
“Okay. See you tomorrow.”
“Bye Emma.”
Emma let herself into her house and made her way up to her room. What was she supposed to get Paul for his birthday? She didn’t even know the guy. Then an idea hit her and a smile spread across her face.

“What is that?” Stuart asked Emma the next night.
Emma emerged from her house carrying a small think rectangle package wrapped in brown paper. “It’s Paul’s birthday present.”
“You got him a present?”
“Well, I thought it was the nice thing to do. Did you get him anything?”
Stuart nodded his head. “John and I chipped in and got him a really nice watch. What did you get him?”
Emma beamed. She was ver pleased with her gift. “It’s a surprise.”

They arrived at the club and the party was already in full swing. Emma set down her gift on the table with the rest of the presents then scanned the club for John. He was sitting at a table with Cyn and George. She grabbed Stuart by the wrist and dragged him over to the table.
“Hey!” She greeted everyone. She sat down on and empty chair beside Cyn. “Where’s the birthday boy?” She asked.
“Mingling with his guests.” Cyn answered. “He was asking about you. What took you so long?”
Emma glanced over at Stuart and started to laugh. “We had a bit of trouble on our way over here. I broke a heel and we had to walk all the way back to my house and then I couldn;t find my other pair of black sandal’s.”
“It’s always like that, ain’t it George?” John remarked. “Always waiting on the woman.”
Cyn playfully punched him in the shoulder.
“Shut your mouth John. I can name a few occasions where I was waiting on you.”
Everyone at the table laughed.
“What sis I miss?” Paul asked, sitting down at the table, across from Emma.
“Just another Lennonism.” George laughed.
Paul laughed as he was re-told the story. He looked across the table then at Emma. Their eyes locked for a few quick seconds and the Emma quickly looked away and turned her attention to a comment Cyn was making.
Emma enjoyed herself for the rest of the night, dancing with everyone. At 11 she had to leave so she went looking for Paul. She found with a group of guys and waited until thy had finished talking.
“I’m going to go, but I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and thank you for inviting me.”
“You’re leaving already?” He asked, disappointment in his voice.
“Yeah. My dad is calling at midnight. I don’t want to miss his call.”
“Well, can you just stay for one last dance?” He looked at her with large brown puppy dog eyes.
Emma laughed. “Alright. One dance!”
She let Paul lead her out to the dance floor, and just as they got there Nat King Cole came on singing Unforgettable.
“I love this song,” Emma smiled as Paul took her in his arms.
“I don’t know what it is about Nat King Cole, but whenever I hear his voice it takes me to another world where everything is perfect.” Emma whispered to Paul as they swayed to the music. She leaned her head on his chest and just let herself get lost in his arms.
When it ended, Emma looked up at Paul and smiled. They locked eyes for the second time that night and this time Emma did not look away. “Happy birthday, Paul McCartney.” Then she slipped out of his arms and left the party.

The next day Emma was up in her room working on a painting when her mother knocked on her door.
“There is a young man downstairs,” she told Emma. “He says his name is Paul.”
“Paul?” Emma asked surprised. She put down her paintbrush.
“Should I tell him to come back?” Her mother asked.
“No! Just tell him I will be right down.” Her mother left and Emma tried her best to make herself presentable. She took of her paint stained sweater and put on a black tank top then decided to keep on her black petal pushers. Looking one last time in the mirror, Emma ran downstairs.
Paul was standing looking at all the pictures on the fireplace mantle.
“I see you have found my embarrassing pictures.”
Paul put down the picture and turned to look at Emma, a smile spread across his face. “You were cute when you were young.”
Emma blushed then quickly changed the subject. “So what brings you here today?”
“I just wanted to thank you for the present. It is really good.”
Emma had painted a picture of Paul performing on stage.
“Thanks.”
“Do you want to go for a walk with me?”
“Sure. Just let me tell my mum.” Emma went into the kitchen where her mother was doing dishes. “I’m going for a walk.”
“This one is a cutie.” Her mother whispered, nodding her head towards the sitting room where Paul was waiting.