fanfic7

The guys came back, minus Stuart. She knew right away that John was
upset about leaving Stu in Hamburg,
but she didn’t say anything because she knew that is she did, he wouldn’t admit
it.
Paul took her out to diner the night after he got back and just after their
ordered their meals, he pulled out a
small black velvet box from the inside pocket of his dark-brown leather jacket.
He placed it down on the table in
front of Emma.
She looked at Paul then down at the box and then back up at Paul. “What is
this?” She asked, confused.
Paul laughed. “Open it!” He encouraged her.
Emma pick up the little box and slowly opened the lid. Her eyes grew wide.
Inside the box was a ring. It
was a silver band with a three tiny sapphire stones in bedded in the band. “Oh,
Paul,” she breathed, looking up into
his chocolate brown eyes.
“There’s an inscription.”
Emma tilted the ring. “With you I am complete,” she read out loud. That did
it. Tears slowly slipped down
her cheek.
“This wasn’t supposed to make you cry!” Paul laughed, reaching across the
table and gently brushing away
the tears with his fingers.
“It’s just so beautiful,” Emma breathed.
Paul took the ring from her and then lightly slipped it on to her ring finger
on her left hand. “A perfect fit,”
he murmured, kissing her lightly on her lips.

When Emma got home that night there was a letter addressed to her sitting on
the table by the door. When
she saw the return address in the upper left corner her heart began to beat
faster.
“It came for you while you were out,” her mother said, entering the hallway.
Emma tore it open with shaky hands and pulled out the letter. She almost
fainted when she read it.
“Well?” Her mother asked, anticipating her daughters answer.
Emma couldn’t speak so she just handed her mother the letter.
“Dear Miss. James. Congratulations and welcome to New York University!” Her
mother looked up at her
daughter and let out a scream “You got in!”
“I got in!” Emma cried, throwing her arms around her mother.

Emma couldn’t wait until morning to share her good news so she hopped onto her
old five speed rusted
green bike with the ripped up leather seat and rode all the way to Mendips.
Once there she threw her bike down on
the ground and ran up the walkway, pounding on John’s front door.
Thankfully it was john who answered her knock and when he opened the door, Emma
flung her arms around
him. “I got in!” She cried.
John pulled Emma away, laughing. “Calm down! Take a deep breath and then tell
me again what you just
babbled.
Emma took a deep breath. “I was accepted to NYU!”
She watched John’s eyes widen and it was his turn to throw his arms around her.
“This is fucking brilliant!”
He cried lifting her off the ground. “I am so bloody proud of you!”
Emma laughed. “Put me down!” When John obeyed, she showed him the letter.
“When do you leave?” He asked.
“I have to be there for January 6th. I want to get there a bit early I guess,
so I can get accustomed to the
city. Oh my god! I can’t believe I got in! This has always been a dream of
mine!”
John smiled. “I’m glad your dream is coming true, Emmie,”

Paul didn’t take the news quite as well as John had. He got quiet and stared
at the ground.
“It’s not that far away,” Emma tried to make light of the news.
“New York City is that far away,” Paul stated.
Emma sat down on an empty park bench. She twisted around the ring on her
finger. Seeing Paul like this
frightened her. “It’s not like we will never see one another again.”
Paul sighed and sat down beside Emma on the bench. “I know.” He grabbed her
hand and gave it a
squeeze. “We can work this thing out.”
Emma rested her head on Paul’s shoulder. “I don’t want to leave you, but this
is something I have wanted
since I first picked up a paint brush.”
She felt Paul sigh again. “I know. I know how important your art is to you
and you have totally supported
my music career.” He turned his head and Emma looked up at him. A smile broke
across his face. “Maybe you’ll
turn into one of those Beat freaks and start wearing barrettes and smoke
cigarettes and hang out at coffee houses
listening to people read their bad poetry while jazz plays in the background.”
Emma lightly punched Paul on the shoulder. “Stop knocking jazz! I just got
Chet Baker and I am in love!”
Paul pouted. “What about me? Have you sworn off rock n roll?”
“Of course not,” she smiled, kissing the tip of his nose. “It’s just moved
down a number on my list of good
music!” She quickly jumped off the bench, getting a head start as Paul came
charging after her.

Dear Stuart,
I’VE BEEN ACCEPTED TO NYU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s crazy! I’m still in
shock I think! There has
been mixed reactions from the crowd though, I can’t tell if they are really
happy for me or are disappointed that I
will be leaving them. Oh, I hadn’t given that much thought. I am going to be
thousands of miles from my closest
dearest friends, not knowing a soul in New York. What am I going to do? This
is too much to absorb at the moment.
Let me go into another subject before my head explodes! Don’t tell Paul this,
but you’re bass playing was way more
effective. It’s just not the same seeing Paul play your instrument! You can
paint and play bass you know. . .

Dear Emma,
CONGRATULATIONS! You are going to be fine in New York and don’t worry about
everyone else. They
will come around. I’m sure it was quite a surprise. You are going to wow those
Americans with your paintings and
you’ll adjust in no time. I guess I will have to get up to Liverpool before you
leave. Christmas. I am bringing
Astrid up to meet mum. Oh, Astrid says hi and congratulations. As for me
returning to The beatles . . . I have
honestly thought about it! But I know I made the right decision. I’m doing fine
though I have been having these
headaches . . .

On Paul’s 19th birthday Emma gave him a silver ID bracelet that had Paul in
scripted on the front. On the
back it read You have my heart, love Emma.
A week later a big box wrapped in gold wrapping paper appeared on Emma’s front
step. Her name was
neatly printed on a small white card that was attached to the lid of the box.
She carried into her house and stet it
down on her kitchen table. She tore away the gold paper and removed the lid.
It was full of white tissue paper. She
began digging through it until her hands grasped a lang narrow box. She pulled
that out and removed it’s lid. Inside
was a silver ID bracelet with Emma in scripted on the front. Flipping it over
she read the back, You have my heart,
Paul.

The Beatles got a new manager in 1961. Brian Epstein. He worked at a record
store where the boys often
frequented. One day he came into the Cavern and before you knew it he was their
manager. And did he have
influence over them! He got them out of their Hamburg leather and into dress
pants and ties.

Stuart and Astrid came in December. It was a heartwarming reunion, though
Stuart didn’t look very well.
Astrid And Stuart’s mother did not get along too well. Both loved Stuart to
pieces and wanted nothing
more than to make him happy. Both were hard headed, strong women and they
clashed.
Two days before Stuart and Astrid were to return to Hamburg, Stuart took Emma
out for a walk.
“Are you sure you are alright?” Emma asked Stuart for the hundredth time since
he got to Liverpool. They
had walked down by the river, near the spot where they had first met and hopped
up onto a wall that ran along the sea
walkway.
“I’m fine, for the hundredth time. It’s just these headaches. The doctors
can’t find anything.”
“Maybe you should go to the States or something where they have good doctors.”
Emma suggested,
leaning her head against his shoulder. “I don’t like to see you in pain.”
Stuart wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry about me. You have
too much to think about.
You leave soon.”
“Don’t remind me. This is so bloody scary.”
“But you will do fine. I knew from that first day I met you that you were
going to become an amazing
painter. And every year you get better and better.”
“When we are both really famous painters, we should have an exhibit together.
We can get John and Cyn
and Paul and George and even Pete to all do paintings. We all are in this
together. I will not leave anybody behind.”
“To the toppermost of the poppermost, as John would say,” Stuart quoted.
After that they sat in silence for awhile, just enjoying one another’s company.
Stuart nudged Emma’s shoulder.
“What?” Emma asked, nudging him back.
“Nothing,” then he hopped off the wall and faced Emma. “Come on. We’re going
to be late.” He reached
out his hand for her to take.
“Where are we going, Stuart?”
“It’s a surprise.”
Emma laughed, took his hand, and hopped off the wall.
Emma tried guessing where they were going as they walked down the streets of
Liverpool, but Stuart would
not give in.
After about ten minutes of walking, they stooped in front of the Waterfront
gallery. Emma looked at Stuart.
“Are we going in there?”
Stuart nodded.
“But it’s ten thirty at night. It’s closed.”
Stuart walked up the steps and opened the front door.
“What is going on?!” Emma cried.
He just smiled and motioned for her to come inside.
She laughed and climbed the steps. It was dark inside. Stuart led her down a
hallway. At the end of the hall
was a door. Stuart opened the door and they entered another dark room.
“Stuart!” Emma laughed.
Just then Stuart flicked on the lights and a chorus of ‘Surprise!’ came from
around the room.
Emma stood there shocked. There stood John, Paul, Cyn, Astrid, George and
Pete. They started laughing
at the surprised expression on her face.
“What is going on!?” Emma cried.
Cyn came up and hugged Emma. ‘We’re having a going away party for you now,
while Astrid and Stuart
are here,” she explained.
“I can’t believe this!” Emma shouted.
John stepped forward and took Emma’s hand. He lead her to the middle of the
room where a chair was
positioned in front a white screen. He had her sit down on the chair. “George,
the lights.” He instructed. George
turned off the lights and the room was illuminated by white Christmas lights.
Then a picture of Emma when she was a
baby came up on the white screen.
Emma spun around in her chair and saw Pete at a slid projection. She turned
back around and started to
laugh, covering her face with her hands.
John began to talk. “Emma Lynn James was born on April 10 1942 in London
England to proud parents,
Kate and David James. As a young child, Emma was shy and quiet and often found
comfort and joy with her box of
crayons. It was a look into the future of things to come.” A picture of Emma
covered in paint, smiling at the camera,
came on the screen. Her friends laughed while Emma’s face turned red. “In
1951, Mr. James’ work took him and his
family to Winnipeg, Manitoba. There Emma matured into a young woman and also
her art career unfolded.   She
won several art competitions,” a picture of Emma standing beside a painting of a
horse, holding a blue ribbon, flashed
on the screen. “In 1958 Emma and her mother arrived in good ol’ Liddypool.
Here Emma was immediately accepted
into the Liverpool College of Art. Here she befriended the ever so handsome
John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe.” A
picture of the three of them standing in front of the art college came up. That
picture brought tears to her eyes. John
continued. “She became part of the ‘beatle gang’ as it has become labeled.
Even found true love.” Paul and Emma
appeared on the screen, smiling lovingly at one another. “Emma will be leaving
us in a few weeks for the big city of
New York.” John looked Emma straight in the eye. “Though she will be thousands
of miles away, her spirit and
presence will forever remain in Liverpool and our hearts.” He stepped away from
the screen, stepping into darkness
so no one could see the tears streaming down his face. Just then home movies
came up on the screen. Movies shot
by Pete. There they all were in Hamburg. Art School. The Cavern. How was she
going to be able to leave?
Everyone gave Emma small gifts to remember them buy. Pete got her a new
portfolio to carry all her art
supplies in. George presented her with a black leather bound journal. Cyn had
gotten Emma a new dress to wear her
first day. It was a black A neck that went just below the knees and was covered
in tiny blue flowers. Astrid and
Stuart gave her a camera, ‘so you can document New York City for us,’ Stuart had
said. John said she couldn’t have
her gift until later and Paul had already given her his gift, a romantic evening
two nights before with dinner and
dancing and later they made love for the first time.
The party kicked into full swing after she had opened all her gifts. There was
food and music, even a bit of
Jazz. Paul and Emma slow danced to Nat King Cole’s ‘Let’s Fall In Love.’
“This will be our song,” he whispered into her ear as they moved across the
floor.
Around one am, Stuart and Astrid got ready to leave. Emma went up and gave
them each a hug, thanking
them for the amazing night.
Not long after Stuart and Astrid left, everyone else started to leave. Emma
thanked everyone again and then
left with Paul.
“You’re awfully quiet tonight,” Emma observed as they took a shortcut through
an ally.
Paul stopped walking and looked at the ground.
“What’s wrong?” Emma asked.
Paul kicked at a stone, his hands shoved in his leather jacket pockets.
“Paul?”
He looked up at Emma. “I don’t think I can do this, Emmie.” He confessed.
“Do what?” Emma whispered, here heart pounding in her chest.
“You’re going to be so far away. I don’t know how am I can deal with that.”
Emma stared at Paul in disbelief. “What do you mean ‘you don’t think you can
do it’?”
Paul wouldn’t look her in the eyes. He kept his gave down at the ground. “I
don’t know if I will be able to
trust you.”
“What!?” Emma cried.
“New York City is a big place with lots of people. How can I believe that you
wont find someone else?”
“This is a joke, right?   What’s wrong?”
“No. No it’s not,” Paul answered in all seriousness. “You’re moving away to
another country. There will
be an ocean separating us! How do you expect me to be? In a happy mood? If
that’s what you want, then . . .”
“Stop it!” Emma cried. She was almost on the verge of tears. “Jesus, Paul!
What is your problem? You
think this was an easy choice for me? I had to decide if I wanted to leave
behind the life I was used to and start a new
one, leave the people I loved.”
“And you made that decision.”
“I have to do this, Paul. It scares the hell out of me, but I have to do
this.”
For the first time since they began talking Paul looked Emma straight in the
eyes. “I’m just worried that
things between us will change.”
“Change?” Emma questioned.
“We’ll be so far apart from each other. We’ll have to keep a long distance
relationship going. I don’t think I
can do that.”
Emma felt like she had been slapped in the face. “So this is it?” She
whispered. Then she got angry.
“You’re saying you wont be able to trust me!   I stuck with you every time you
went off on one of your gigs! Every
time! Not once did I question your trust! And now you are standing her telling
me you don’t think you can trust
me!” She twisted off the ring that he had given her. The sapphire ring with
the inscription, with you I am complete,
and threw it at his feet.   Looking him straight in the eyes she whispered, “Now
you won’t have to worry about
trusting me anymore.” Spinning around on her heel, she walked away from Paul
who had just stood there, and didn’t
look back.

Emma said goodbye to Stuart the next day. She didn’t mention anything when
John questioned where Paul
was.   Stuart and John could sense that something was wrong but didn’t say
anything.
“What happened?” Stuart whispered into Emma’s ear as they hugged goodbye.
“We broke up,” she whispered back. Tears streamed down her face.
“Oh, Emmie.”
“It’s okay. I’ll be fine. Take care of yourself Stuart.”
“I love you Emma James and I always will.”
“Goodbye Stuart.”
John and Emma stood and watched as Astrid and Stuart disappeared behind the
terminal.
“He broke up with you, didn’t he?” John asked as they walked out of the
airport.
“No, I broke up with him.”

Emma sat cradled in John’s arms on the couch in her bed room.
“Maybe I shouldn’t go.”
“You’re going.”
              “But what if . . .”
“Emma, you’re going to do fine. You’ll have the time of your life. Take this
opportunity.”
Emma was still amazed at how John knew her so well.
“I know you so well because we are so much alike.”
Emma laughed. “You’re too much, Lennon!” Then she got quiet. “God, I’m going
to miss you so bloody
much.” A tear slid down her cheek.
“I know. And I’m going to miss you, but this is how things are. This is the
direction our lives are going and
unfortunately, we’re not going in the same direction, but we need to accept
that.”
    “Don’t get all philosophical on me now, John!”
John laughed. “If people only knew!”
(*note* this next little part is taken from back beat. Yes i stole some text,
but it fit here and i am going to
use it. You can criticize me all you want but i am going to keep it here. It’s
not like i will be having this published!)
Emma snuggled deeper into John’s arms. “Tell me something, John Lennon. When
you are rich and
famous, when you are number one, when your name is in lights and everybody wants
to be your friend and somebody
asks you, ‘do you remember Emma in Liverpool?’ what will you say?”
“I’ll say she was the girl I always wanted, the girl of my dreams. I might
have fallen in love with her, but she
fell in love with my best mate.”
She closed her eyes. “I’m not in love with Stuart like that.”
                               “I’m talking about Paul.”
Emma knew he was talking about Paul but she didn’t want to think of him. “He
doesn’t love me, though.”
she pulled herself out of John’s embrace. “He doesn’t trust me.”
John watched as Emma got up and pulled a sweater over her head. “Paul doesn’t
trust himself.”
“I should never have allowed myself to fall in love with him,” she scolded
herself. “But I never thought I
would be moving thousands of miles away. That’s just like me, though. I always
fuck things up in the end.”
John got up from the couch and walked over to Emma. He placed his hands on her
shoulders and looked
her in the eye. “You didn’t fuck this up. You can’t help the way you feel and
if Paul doesn’t love you back, then
forget about him. You’re a beautiful girl,” he gently brushed away a tear that
had escaped and slid down her cheek.
“Think of all the cute American guys you’ll be meeting.”
Emma smiled.
John pulled her into a hug. “You’ll be fine, Emmie. You’ll be fine.”