Hi! New chapter!! FINAALLYY! Im a little nervous about it to be honest.
I made some tiny changes. I remembered that the scouts were 16 when the show ended...and the begining of the story takes place about a year after the last season. so the scouts are 17...and will all be turning 20 in 1965.
Im pretty sure I confused myself changing it, so if you see any errors with years and ages please inform me so I can correct it!
Now reaaaad!
The inside of the Plaza was amazing even if it was the small back entrance through the kitchen. She looked around and marveled at the retro state of the art ovens and odd colored kitchen fixtures. Serena felt a firm hand pushing her from behind, ushering her into a small musty hallway.
"Hurry up, lassy." The voice didn't belong to a Beatle or Brian, she assumed it had to be the driver, Neil; maybe he was in the band too? Serena swore she saw him holding a guitar when Ringo and she zoomed past the stage. "Once we get to the service elevator will get back to the 5th floor, then we'll run for the next elevator down to our left." Neil was obviously talking to the boys as they briskly walked threw the hallway. "Its going to say out of order or something, that's just to make sure its free for our use…I hope they did a half way decent job clearing it for us." He sighed and shoveled the gang into the large service elevator.
It smelled of something fierce, and had stains and finger print smudges all over the shiny surface but Serena managed to kept a tight lip, she was nervous now more than anything…and oh what she would do for Darien's strong warm arms to be placed around her. The thought alone almost made her gag with regret.
Tension filled the air. The boys just stood there, poised and heads held high, as if they were about to walk on stage.
It was the first detail Serena made sure recorded in her brain; if she was going to hitch hike along the Beatle trail to stardom, then she better start getting to know the boys, and unfortunately…they would get to know her.
Now why would that be a bad thing? Serena thought, her eyes still studying the three men at her side. When had she become so guarded all of a sudden? As if she were on her own and exposed to the world? Serena lowered her head in thought. Was it because she was on her own now? No Scouts or Darien to come to the rescue and guard his or her princess? For the past four years guardians protected Serena's back, and now, it was time to protect theirs. The 'Idols'.
Ringo, John and Paul continued to stand perfectly like soldiers, waiting for their next instruction.
"Lets take a left now." A voice so American emitted from behind, it made Serena jerk around to face the impostor. Brian stood there and winked as he pushed the boys through the golden walls and peach carpet into the broken elevator.
"This is fun." Paul spoke breaking the silence as the doors closed once again. Shifting, he pulled out what looked like a small portable Pepsi radio.
Now the boys seemed relaxed, Paul didn't even turn the radio on, he just held it in his hands flipping it over and turning it on and off.
Slowly the group ascended to the top of the hotel.
"Tis fun Paul." John didn't smile, only nodded his head and rested his eyes on the arrow that slowly ticket its way threw every floor they climbed.
A moment later the thick golden doors swooshed open revealing a tiny hallway that divided into three parts. With out hesitation the boys made a beeline to a pair of brown double doors.
Brian stepped out swiftly, briskly walking to the door. The room key slid into place and the door clicked open.
One by one they piled inside, each male sighing the stress off their shoulders.
John plopped down onto the couch and Paul fell over into the sitting chair. They both reminded Serena of lazy cats the way their arms and legs hung off the sides.
"Brian?!" Another British voice rang threw the room. "Brian damn it!" The voice sounded urgent, and then without warning a man with thick black-rimmed glasses clad in a blue colored shirt rounded the corner coming from a hallway. He stopped short in front of the manager. "The phone has been non stop! I've tried just about everything to get her to stop calling-"
"Her?" Brian's face looked pale and stricken. "What does she want?"
The man shook his head. "She says she's calling from Mick Jagger's phone, looking for someone named Serena Toooskun- I can't even pronounce it!" His skin was a hue of red as he flustered his way threw sentences.
"Jagger's phone? Well…we have a Serena here…" Brian slowly turned towards a blushing Serena, extremely confused. "Did…do…are you familiar with the Rolling Stones dear? Are you expecting a call?"
"How did they get this number?" Neil shot up, and joined the circle. "We just met this chick 30 minutes ago!"
"I don't know! But with all the appointments we've made, we can't just change the number or not take the calls its suicide!"
"So what does she want?" Brian repeated, looking visibly ill. Paul and John were sitting upright and following the conversation closely.
"She wants to talk to her." Mal pointed towards Serena. "Fits the description…20 something, blonde hair blue eyes…" He shook his head. "She didn't even care about the boys; I kept telling her there was no Serena but she was like cement!"
Brian shook his head and sat down. "Pour me a scotch Mal?"
"Say now, how's Serena here getting all the phone calls?" John asked raising an eyebrow. "I bet she's in on some plan, think so Paul?"
"Dunno John." Paul mumbled, he staring at Serena, his face unreadable. "Say lass, how'd you meet our Ritchie?"
Ringo walked over to Serena. "Hey, hey!" He grabbed onto her shoulders. "I ran into her, and I swear she didn't have the slightest clue to who we were, promise, I know a fan from a fan from a fan."
"And I know a liar." Mal spat, he grab Serena's arm from behind. "Come on now, back out side with the rest of the lot."
"Just wait a minute now!" Ringo laughed, his words strained in disbelief. "Your making her tremble with fear!" He tensed up. "She's a nurse, right luv?"
Serena waited a minute and took all her strength to nod her head 'no'.
"Told you." Paul sneered. "Did'nt have to lie love. Goods like yours and anyone'd pick you up--"
"Bloody fucking—shut up Macca!" Ringo yelled, visibly starting to lose his temper. After calming himself with a quick deep breath he turned to Serena. "Okay love why are you here, tell the truth." When he first didn't get an answer he gently rubbed her shoulders. "Come'ead now."
"Body Guard." Were all the words the petite blonde could muster before breaking into her loud trademark wails. "I was suppose to protect a group but I got all mixed up and…and--"
"You lied dear, keep it quiet, George is resting!" Mal snapped.
"You did lie luv." John said looking extremely uncomfortable at her sudden outburst of wails, tears, and tension. "Said you were to cure a virus, hey? Init what she said Bri?" He laughed a bit through his words trying to make the best of the moment.
"Somewhat…" He muttered. "God I need a drink…Mal, my scotch?"
"Here." He passed the glass of alcohol to the manager and returned to his seat on the barstool.
Serena had to temporally pull herself together, she wasn't getting anywhere with all this nonsense. "I am here to cure a virus! I have two of my best friends protecting the Stones." She took a shaky breath. "They probably knew I was at the Ed Sullivan Theater…and with you there…She must have put two and two together…" she bit her lip trying to keep more hot tears at bay, but she was failing miserably.
"See love!" Ringo cooed. "Now you nasty bunch, told you she was innocent, and even if she was lying I'd keep her here anyways."
"Rich--"
"Brian stop." He shook his head. "This little lass needs me, I can't really describe it." He shook her softly. "I'm quite attached, you see…and I'm not letting go until she's all fixed up...at least till I buy her a new coat."
Serena stood there astonished. What the hell just happened? Ringo was sticking up for her? This kind man who wiped a chilidog off her sleeve with his bare hands had just stood up against his friends and manager for her, to make sure she was happy? She felt her heart swell with relief! Yes, indeed she had befriended a Beatle…at least her foot was in the door.
"Right Ritch." Paul snorted. "She's this chick from Japan who's got connections with Mick, and I'm a monk with a pet zebra." He chuckled to himself and cocked his head. "We've known the Stones for awhile now Richie, why haven't they talked about her?"
The phone rang as Paul's voice started to rise. The room suddenly grew into an annoyed silence. Everyone turned their heads to the ringing black telephone.
"Bugger tha' I'm not getting it." Mal huffed. "Deal with this Neil, I'm checking on George, his fever hasn't gone down any."
"Wait Mal!" John reached into his pocket and pulled out the flag shades. "Deliver the package to Georgie willya?"
Mal caught the sunglasses and walked away.
"Answer it lovey." Paul sneered again. Seconds later Ringo was on top of him and gave him a good 'wack' with a small seat cushion.
Serena huffed and inched over to the phone, eying everyone for encouragement, and then picking up the receiver.
"Hello?" She whimpered.
"Serena!" Came Mina's cheery voice from the other side. God she sounded like her mother, and was loud enough for the whole room to hear!
"Moshimoshi…Mina-chan? Mina God is that you?" Serena choked, unaware her tongue had clicked to a different language.
"Hai! Hai! Oh babe it's been so long!" Mina cried excitedly.
"Not long enough." Serena sighed. "I still have a splinting headache from this morning."
Serena could almost feel Mina frown. "Oh girl…" she sighed. "I remember that morning so well…it was a bloody bitch…until I met Keith…"
"'Bloody'?" Serena sneered. "Geez Mina-chan, you sound like…" Serena turned her head to eye the listening Beatles. "One of the Idol's…."
"You mean those Beatle Boys?" Mina laughed in a sing-song voice that filled Serena's heart. "That Paul is a fucking babe on fondu!"
Serena couldn't help but laugh at her quirky remark. "He's not so nice you know." She huffed and leaned against the wall. "Quite the pain really." She paused a moment. "His dark hair reminds me of him you know?"
"—I know." She sighed. "Just wait till you see George." Serena feared the depression in her voice.
"Why…does he look like him?" Serena asked sadly, thinking about her lost lover. She suddenly found twirling the telephone wire between her fingers a lot more interesting than the conversation she was faced with.
"Just the face you know…the shape and maybe the shoulders, maybe even the eyes…"
"I don't want to do this anymore Mina." She sobbed, trying her very best to maintain a decent front. "I already feel so stupid and lost with out him." She took in a shaky breath and tried to relax. "What was I thinking? This is all my fault…"
"No! Hush now, oh you'll see." It was quiet on the line for a while. "It will get better…you know, its tough …I still got a year before Rei comes…at least Ami had Lita now."
"Yeah, at least you have Rei coming, I'm stuck by myself with this group of jerks." She mumbled into the phone. "Cept Ringo-sama…I think he might be my only friend in this one." She turned quickly to see a confused drummer who barely understood anything but his nickname in the foreign language.
"Ah, they'll come around." Mina laughed. "Feeling better? I'd visit you but it's practically impossible…every day there's something new to do…you dig?"
"I dig?"
"Understand?"
It was silent on the phone again, until the reason of the entire mission popped up in Serena's head.
"OH! Hai, I have a feeling its like that with me too…" She bit her bottom lip and lowered her voice to barely a whisper. "He was going to ask me you know, he was going to propose…and I think…"
"Yes?"
"I can't talk much about it...Have you heard from Ami?"
"She's wants to talk to you, Lita too…but I understand completely…Oh hey!" she nearly yelled into the phone. "Turn your communicator on, set your watch to twelve and press your thumb over it, the rest is easy to figure out, basically though, when you pick up a phone, it will ring the nearest land line phone when you try to contact us, and well, that's how well keep in touch."
"Uhck! Through phone?"
"Your lucky you're not in '61 my love. Now, go and make George all better, tell the dear I said hello as well!"
"I'm surprised your not playing nurse Mina." Serena smiled, and heard the boys mumble in uncertainty.
"Oh believe me…I get plenty of nurse time with theses Stones." Mina laughed.
"Catch you later?" Serena sniffed.
"Yeah babe, now go and fix that boy up!" Mina giggled, exchanged goodbyes, and hung up the phone.
Serena stood still against the wall and almost jumped when she felt a warm hand swallow her shoulder.
"Hey! Rena you know Mina?" Ringo laughed nervously. "That was Mina right?"
Serena turned and looked at him as if he had three heads. "I think I said her name enough times to make it obvious…"
"You were speak'n in bloody tongues over there!" John yelled from the couch smirking, almost as if he had enjoyed listening to Serena. "Couldn't understand a spitt'n word."
"Cept me name…you did say my name right?" The drummer asked.
Serena raised a brow. "Yes, I gave you a complement, that's all…" She smiled finding herself somewhat confused. "Are you sure I was speaking Japanese?" she whispered.
Ringo studied her face, trying to figure out if she was joking or not. "Uh, yes well…it certainly wasn't English…are you feeling alright babe?"
"—I really don't even know anymore." Serena sneered sadly and smeared an unshed tear from her eyes. "I've known Mina for quiet awhile, she's a life saver, they all are."
Before the boys could get up and ask any more questions Serena got up and walked into the direction Mal went earlier and guessed it to be where George was.
The room was dark and stuffy when Serena entered. The floor was covered with unzipped suitcases, dirty glasses, and men's clothing. The thick velvet red curtains were drawn slightly only letting a thin beam of sunlight pierce through the room. Serena's eyes wandered from the connected bathroom to one of the twin beds, where a lone body was buried under the weight of several hotel blankets.
Serena took a quiet step forward in hope of getting a better look at the Beatle in question.
"Can you keep a secret?" A thick accented voice whispered quickly.
Serena stopped dead in her tracks, and was suddenly very aware of Mal's body curled up in bed 3 feet away to her left. She swallowed thickly. "What?" she hissed back.
"Is he asleep?" George whispered in response.
Serena nodded. Mal had seemed so stressed today he had probably passed out on the the second he sat down. "Yes." She replied nervously.
"Good." And within a flash the covers on the bed were peeled back, revealing a grinning George Harrison. "It's so hot in here! Mal over there wont let me get out of bed." He smiled weakly, and rubbed his neck. "Its just me throat, I dunno what happened really…and yewhno, I'm not really in a position to say, 'Sorry lad's I cuun't sing today!' They'll eat my liver." He took a breath and gave her a once over, nodding his head slightly in approval. "Hi, bird."
Serena raised an eyebrow and sat down next to him on the bed. George scooted over to make room. "I thought you had a fever. You lied?" She stated, slowly as if she were talking to a preschooler.
"We all do." He took a breath and studied her sitting in front of him "And If you must know I did indeed have a fever, but I feel better now."
"I'll remember that." Serena smiled continuing the whispered voice. She feared the moment she saw George's face after hearing about his resemblance to Darien, but that toothy lopsided grin of his threw any 'Darien' trait out the window. "Open your mouth." She ordered.
"Who are you?" He asked doing as he was told. "Because, no offense or anything miss, but I'm not in a snogging kind of mood." He whispered rather hoarsely.
Serena nodded and looked into his throat. "I'm Serena, and I'm suppose to make you feel better." She pinched his chin lightly and stretched his mouth open wider. "Yeah…it looks a bit irritated."
Georges face turned into a frown. "They have doctors for that…"
"I have no intentions on fucking you Mr. Harrison I can assure you that much." She shook her head. "Your throat looks inflamed, are you allergic to any foods?"
"Not that I know of."
"Do you like Orange Juice?"
"Nope." George smiled. "Can't stand that bloody shite."
Serena marveled at how comfortable she felt around George and giggled at his accent and foreign slang. "Hot Chocolate?" she tilted her head to the side, letting her mass of hair tumble to her right shoulder.
George's thick and long eyebrows shot up like firecrackers making their way to his hairline and his mouth formed a surprised smirk of approval. Serena knew she had stuck gold.
"I take that as a yes?" She assumed through a smile.
"Fuck yes!" He whispered. "It's been so long since I've hada mug." He let his smile stay comfortably on his face as he flopped backwards onto the bed. "My Mum can make the best coco, she really can you know it's like some super power she has…like Mrs. Harrison the cocomaker"
"Coco-maker?" Serena repeated. "Like a pun on exterminator?"
"Yeah," George shook his head. "…She exterminates all the bad hot chocolate in the world and replaces it with a cupa hers and a smile. I swear its like she was a coco plant or something in her past life."
Serena placed a blanket over George. "Sounds like you miss her."
"Aye…I do. It's been awhile since I've called home." George shrugged. "But me sister Louise is suppose to be visiting soon while were in the country."
"You know what?" Serena asked. "I think I like you and Ringo the best."
George let out a croaky laugh that made the blonde next to him cringe. "No Lennon/McCartney love?"
Serena laughed sadly. "They're pretty bitchy for a pair of grown men if you ask me." She turned to face him completely, sitting cross-legged and relaxed. "So why aren't you asking me to leave? Aren't you famous?"
"Last time I checked I was George Harrison." He whispered with a grin. His eyes slowly traveled down from her face to her legs…He wondered if she forgot she was wearing a skirt, or if she was trying to make a pass at him. George didn't mind and he certainly wasn't going to say anything.
"Last time I checked you were ill."
"I lied remember?" He sat up again and giggled returning his eyes to meet hers. "So are you the same Serena Mina talks about?"
Serena stretched her eyes wide. "So you have heard of me, what all has she told you?"
"This and that you know, always telling stories and how fun you are." George grew another great smile and scooted closer. "Says I'm just like you when I eat." He placed his long fingers on her leg and made an eye connection. " Says you're exactly like John in the morning, laugh as much as Ringo, and yer chummy like Paul when you get excited." George slowly felt his hand being brushed off and took the hint with interest. "I'd be scared if you eat like I do, & I'd be terrified if an innocent thing like yourself were like Johnny in the morning." He winked.
Whatever George was doing to her gave her killer butterflies the size of Texas, was he flirting with her? Just messing around? Serena quickly thought of her boyfriend and tried to maintain the pleasant atmosphere…plus that comment made Serena smile even more at her new friend. A wave of relief washed over her, she had somewhat befriended two Beatles! Two! She was crossing the threshold now! All that was left was convincing them to let her stay. George was the defiantly the key right now…they would do whatever it took to make sure he could sing…Serena felt confident.
"I love food, its either a weakness of a sign of strength." She stated, leaning back on her arms.
"Weakness!" They shouted in unison before breaking into a fit of giggles. George followed Serena and laid back and rested on his forearms.
"And are you a grumpy sod like Lennon?" he said quickly taking another peek at her skirt, her new position made for an even better view. He whistled mentally and cursed whoever invented pantyhose.
"I would have the sun rise at 12:00 every day if I could." She smiled. "So how about that hot chocolate, think it will make you feel better?"
"Depends if it's a cuppa chocolate or a cuppa crap." He said hoarsely, his voice cracking reminding him how he should be resting instead of talking.
"I'll melt a chocolate bar in there…and we can eat some ice cream too." She said hungrily, and looked at the phone. "With whip cream…oh! And cherries…"
"Sprinkles!" George barked. "And strawberry sauce."
Serena darted her eyes to the mop top in front of her. "Wait!" She raised a finger and shook it slightly back and forth. "Strawberry syrup can only go on one flavor..."
"Vanilla!" George pounced up and down excitedly, making the bed squeak something awful. "Unless you mash it up in-"
"Chocolate!" Serena gasped with enthusiasm. "Its like you're my other stomach!"
"Were soul tummys!"
"Siamese twins attached at the belly!" Serena suddenly stopped bouncing. Her eyebrows thinned, her lips tucked, and eyes narrowed. "What do you think of…granola?"
"Grawhata?" George raised an eyebrow.
"Nuts. Peanuts, walnuts, almonds…"
"I hate em!" George bit with similar distaste. " They ruin the texture and taste of whatever your eating…'cept Planters…they're yummy."
"I prefer my Planters salty."
"Salts good."
"Not as good as sugar." Serena countered.
George smirked. "You can be my sugar."
Serena picked up on his humor and pushed him playfully. "I'm not going anywhere!" She beamed. 'Count on it.' She thought.
A few minutes passed, Mal awoke and ordered the food, waving his hands trying to shoo away all the extra last minute details the two adults wanted on their desert.
"Yes that's all…"
"Don't forget the cherries!" Serena shouted.
"Christ Mal, the cherries! And chunks of chocolate too!"
Serena bounced so hard on George's bed she nearly toppled over. "Jelly beans Malcolm! God don't forget the jelly beans!"
George's eyes widened, babies! Christ, how could he forget jelly babies? It was like chewing on sunshine with every bean!
"…Yeah, don't forget the cherries, uhum yes…yes-"
George sprung from his nest of blankets like a rocket and snatched the phone out of Mal's hand. "BABIES!" He shouted, he put so much force into the word it only came out to a hoarse squeaky whisper. He cleared his throat. "George wants Jelly babies!"
Serena was howling with laugher, mostly at the fact that her new friend sounded like a greedy toddler, and then some at Mal's traumatized face. Serena was sure getting tackled and phone robbed was last on his list of things to do today.
"Gemmeh that!" Mal laughed shoving George back onto the bed. "That's ALL! Thank you!" and quickly hung up the phone. "You two…" He chuckled and looked at Serena. "Sorry 'bout the 'tude earlier, Rena." Mal said slightly embarrassed. "But you have to-"
"Oh I understand completely Malcolm, don't worry about it." Serena smiled and watch George fold himself on to the tiny bed.
Mal had awoken shortly after the granola discussion. He was ready to beat and hang who ever was making George cough and strain his voice, but as soon as he saw his employers red face and gapping grin and Serena's identical expression his heart only melted. He had been coughing and sleeping miserably all day, not many birds made George laugh like that…hardly any body outside the circle did.
Naturally though he had to put up a tough front and mean mask. Mal quickly ordered George save his voice and started lashing out to Serena who had 'carelessly let George's voice get so raspy'. It was then that George took the blame and gushed about the blonde being his other stomach…whatever that meant. It was in a way…cute, and Mal dropped the fight. He'd never admit it, but the blued eyed blonde girl was quickly growing on him, the way she wrinkled her tiny nose when she smiled and stretched her huge eyes made her seem years younger, child-like and innocent. Mal suddenly understood Ringo's feeling to guard the little lass. It was something about her that demanded protection, something he couldn't exactly pin down. She indeed gave off a different vibe than any other girl he'd met.
After all the excitement, George was told to lie down and seriously rest. At first he was resistant, and was against the idea of being locked up inside his hot dark room all day, but softened up when Serena suggested watching 'telly' on the couch, Mal thought it was fine and George couldn't complain. They sat on the couch, Serena resting against the arm idly flipping through her 'magazine', and George lying across her lap, both laughing at American accents and cheesy commercials.
'God I can see why the world turned to violence and drugs…' She thought after seeing a man drive, yes drive his boat out of the water and into a picnic scene, where he then delivered a pitcher of Lipton Tea to his pear clad wife and sweater wearing son.
"Mom! All the hamburgers are gone!" The teen whined from the television.
"Try some Lipton Ice Tea! A meals not complete with out Lipton Iced Tea!"
George started to howl but was quickly muffled by Serena's firm hand placed across his mouth.
"You'll get me in trouble again!" She hissed, her body slightly shaking trying hide a laugh. Serena flipped back to the first few pages and checked to see if any changes were to be made any time soon.
"What's all the giggles for?" John walked into the living area fumbling with his tie. He stood trying to make the knot, and was failing miserably.
"Trouble?" Serena asked smiling. She gently picked up Georges head and made her way over the singer. "My brother has a hard time with the skinny ones too." She flicked his heavy-handed hands away from his chest and fixed his tie. "There, done!" Serena patted John on the chest before looking up at him. The man practically towered over her!
"Thanks luv! Dunno whats wrong with me today." he patted her on the head like a pet and made a point of messing her hair. "Where'd yah learn to do that so fast with such tiny hands?"
Serena shrugged. "You know, practice…"
Johns cocked an eyebrow and smirked. "You can practice on me anytime luv," He whispered. "…don't wantcha to get rusty." And before she could reply, he ducked his head and raised his brows and smirked slightly, giving Serena the completely original 'Lennon look' and walked swiftly into the kitchenette.
She shook her head in disbelief and walked over to the couch, shoving George, who while Serena was up, made sure the entire sofa was kept warm by his sprawled body.
George wouldn't budge.
"Move Harrison!" she whined, shoving him again. The guitarist just laid there, 'sleeping'.
"'S alright lass, come on over to Johnny and keep me company." He was grinning at how uncomfortable and red he was making her.
She was pink with embarrassment, and tried to keep her rising temper down. "Lennon I know you better than you think I do, I'd watch your back." She peered down at the magazine. " And take off those shoes!" she shouted and ran over to inspect his footwear. "Where are your boots?"
"They make my feet sweat officer, please don't lock me up ma'am! There boots, just with laces I promise you!"
Serena sighed. "Cute." She bit. "Boots, now. Last thing you want to do is have someone step on a lace and you fall and chip your tooth."
"Hey who are you to…"
Just then Brian walked in the suite, Neil and an unknown man following behind. He was observing everyone. "Good, George, are you feeling better?"
Doing as Serena instructed him, he didn't speak; he just raised a thumb up.
"Oh splendid!" He laughed. "I couldn't get him to shut that mouth of his for the longest time…Boy's are we ready?"
Soon Ringo and Paul came out of their room, raking combs threw their mop tops and doing some last minute things before they walked out the door.
"Paul and Richard are wearing boots John." She stated nodding her head to the boy's boots.
Puzzled expressions crossed the other Beatles faces. "She think's I'm going to chip me tooth." He explained.
"You really think he will?" Brian asked.
"I know he will, trust me."
"I'd like you three to be somewhat matching, change your shoes John." Brian motioned to his bedroom. "Quickly."
"Yes mother." He mumbled getting up.
"Is everyone set?" Neil asked coming out of the kitchenette.
Serena looked everyone over. Matching ties, white shirts, combed hair, boots…something was nagging at Serena though, quickly she walked over to her magazine and flipped the page, and as if on queue…
"Shit I'm out of ciggies!" Paul cried patting himself down. "There's a drug store across the street…"
Serena's heart raced and she suddenly felt all jittery. Quickly she lunged for the pack on top of the coffee table and tossed it in Paul's direction like some pro football player during the super bowl. "Paul!" she called.
Ringo caught the pack right before it hit Paul's face. "Here mate!" He chuckled. "Nice toss 'Rena!"
"I try…last thing we want is for Neil to be in some drug store when it gets robbed!"
They stared…all three of them just stared, before any of them could make a comment John came out of his room and to the group.
"Got my boots, now lets leave I'm tired."
Paul smiled. "But John were in New York! And we get to go outside and enjoy it!"
"I'm SO THRILLED!" John grabbed Paul and shook him back and forth excitedly before planting a loud smacking kiss on his cheek.
Paul shoved him and wiped off the saliva as Neil opened the door.
A small man complete in a hotel uniform stood on the other side, his hand raised high in mid knock. "Uh…Room Service?" He began to laugh nervously and entered the room.
"I didn't order anything…" Paul said slowly. "Fella's?"
They shook their heads 'no' and looked in George's direction. He was standing up on the couch trying to peer over at his desert.
"Two hot chocolates…6 candy bars and our ice cream sundae?" The worker asked slowly after seeing everyone's confusion.
"Yes!" George confirmed and made his way to the food cart. "I ordered it thanks mate!"
The hotel employ smiled, satisfied with just seeing the Beatles and turned around and left.
"I liked that one, yeah?" Ringo laughed and shut the door again. "Watcha order, care to share?"
The lead guitarist shrugged and pulled the cover off the large salad bowl. His eyes were wide with amazement.
Three layers of thick ice cream, divided by an entire vanilla cake: chocolate, vanilla and strawberry mounted to the top, and was submerged with inches of whipped cream. Jelly babies, cherries, chocolate chunks, strawberries, crushed cookies, sprinkles, brownies and banana slices were littered merciless upon the top and covered with hot chocolate fudge and even more cherries.
"What the bloody fuck is THAT!" Paul cried, stepping away from the tower of ice cream.
"It looks like a fucking volcano, cor what the fuck!?" Ringo shouted, his mouth hanging open. The bowl itself was the size of a sink and ice cream was towering a good 4 inches out of it.
John stuck his finger into the mass and quickly licked it. "Eh…its good, but they're no nuts, where are the nuts man?"
"Ask Brian." George said numbly, eyeing the bowl of cream like it was a golden guitar signed by Christ himself.
Within seconds Serena was by Georges side with a spoon full of the desired substance. "Open!" she giggled and shoved the spoon inside his mouth. She did the same with everyone else patting their cheeks as they swallowed. "You're going to be late! So leave now, and have fun."
Brian smiled warmly at Serena and leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"She's right lads, were late."
Richard gave her a kiss where Brian had and said his gentle goodbyes. Paul simply waved farewell, but not before demanding another spoon of ice cream was fed to him, he was warming up too. John was last and made the motion of kissing her cheek, but quickly moved his face and gave her a loud playful kiss on the lips.
"Remember luvy practice makes perfect!" He grabbed a hand full of whip cream and strawberries, and flung it at George making a direct hit.
"HAHA THAT'S MY BABY!" he barked and jumped.
"Fucking bloody-" George cried confused as he tried to comb the confection substance out of his hair and ear. "Save it for the plane you tosser!" He laughed.
John shrugged and wiggled his fingers. "Don't practice without me." He winked and skipped out of the room.
Serena walked over to the cart and pulled up a chair besides George, and began eating her weight in ice cream. She chewed happily at the food and toppings and it wasn't till she was washing it down with hot chocolate that she felt eyes on her.
"What?" she turned her head to the side and looked at George.
"You don't eat like me at all…" He was gaping slightly. "You eat twice as fast, and twice as much…and you have a chocolate mustache."
"And…?" she giggled licking the chocolate off her lip.
"Marry me?" He laughed and fed her a spoon full of soggy cake infused ice cream, which she consumed with pleasure.
The two new friends laughed and giggled and made small talk about the plane across the Atlantic as they continued to dig their way threw the mound of dessert.
30 minutes and an empty bowl later the two waddled to over to the couch.
"Feel better?" She asked lazily, idly rubbing her bloated belly. George was resting against her like before.
"Hit the spot twinny." He moaned. Again the two started giggling, at nothing in particular…just enjoying each other's company and resting. "Serena?"
"Yeah?"
"You know your wearing a skirt right?"
Serena was quite for a moment as she thought about the question, now why would George ask her something like that? "Am I flashing you or something?" She asked slightly nervous with what the reply would be.
"Well…erm, yeh." He laughed and looked up at Serena from her lap. "Not that I mind, I like you…and your body," He winked. "…Just thought I'd tell you..." Friend to friend he finished in his head.
Serena felt herself choke. Her face was burning bright red with embarrassment. "Ohhhhh…." She whined in humiliation.
George sat up and rubbed her arm. "I have some sweats in my room, they might be a little big on you if you wanna change."
"Please!" she cried softly, not daring to look at George.
He chuckled and rolled off the couch. "Be back in a sec."
And he was. Serena went into the other room and changed out of her tweed pink skirt and into George's navy blue sweat-pants. Like he said, they were slightly big on her, both in the waist and in length…George towered over her too. She was uncomfortable in her itchy sweater and grabbed one of the folded T-shirts out of what she thought was Georges suit case. Walking out Serena caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Before she was too worried about her clothing, but now she could really look at herself. She walked to the mirror and took a long hard look at herself.
Indeed she had changed, not very much…but she did look older. Her eyebrows were slightly thicker and higher, her cheeks more defined, and her face slightly longer than it was a day ago. She took a step back and looked at her body, her hips were wider and her breasts larger and more settled and mature than before, her waist remained tiny and firm like she remembered. She noticed her eyes were somewhat larger, and a lot deeper than they had been previously.
Serena smiled in the mirror, she'd aged two years in the blink of an eye and was now nineteen, and was technically only about a month away from turning eighteen. She wished a certain someone could have seen it.
She again realized that this would be an ideal time to set her communicator. She scrolled the hands of the watch until they both reached a twelve and pressed her thumb over the face like Mina had instructed. Within seconds the face faded and a digital screen lit up and buttons magically appeared on the sides. She studied the buttons, a blue one on the right had and 'A' engraved, a green with an 'L', and an orange with an 'M'. It didn't take Serena long to figure what that meant, what surprised her was that Lita had already arrived, the year was still fairly new; all that was left was Rei. After pressing a button on the left side Serena found out it showed the time and dates of what she assumed to be where the 'corrections' in time need to be fixed.
"'Rena bird, are you still alive?" George asked lightly tapping on the door.
Serena jerked her head up from the watch and looked at the door. "Yes, George hold on!" She checked her communicator again, it had amazingly retuned to the old hand watch. "Do you have a brush? My hair is getting tangled."
She could feel George leaning against the wall. "Yeh luv, I don't know about a brush but a comb is in there somewhere."
Serena sighed, a comb might hurt but it was better than nothing. She quickly retrieved it and brushed all the tangles out. She felt content now that her hair wasn't a mess of curls and tangles, and her bangs were parted their usual way. Though because it had dried it was still somewhat wavy and thick…but her hair had always been thick hadn't it?
George was knocking again. Serena quickly took a hair tie from her wrist and pulled it into a low ponytail on the side, and then tied the pink ribbon around it.
"Coming, coming!" she laughed opening the door. George was leaning aganst the wall just like she suspected.
"That's Paul's shirt." He stated simply. ""s okay though, Ringo and I wear It all the time."
"Good to know." She smiled. And roughed up his now wet hair, she assumed he had tried to get the whip cream out. "I saw Malcolm sleeping, he must be tired."
"Jet lag love we flew in early this morning...afternoon…whatever." He yawned loudly and took Serena by the arm leading her to the couch where the television was playing quietly.
"You look sleepy too…" She said, her words soft and tender.
George climbed on top of the couch and rested on Serena's lap, his hand holding hers, drawing tiny circles in her palm with his finger. "God am I ever."
"Sleep." She suggested resting her head on the arm of the sofa.
"I want to talk to with you though." He yawned and snuggled deeper onto her lap. "You look really comfy by the way, in my clothes and all and your hair pulled back." He was quite. "You look nice."
Serena blushed at his sincerity, George wasn't flirty like he was before, and his words were kind and sweet.
"You know I've haven't known you for even 3 hours right?"
"Yeh," he yawned. "But we connected you know? Your this pretty little bird who will an elephant intestine is someone told you it was covered in chocolate-"
Serena gave him a playful tap on the head. "Hey!" she laughed.
"Its true though!" He chuckled. "When you were eating that ice cream it was like you didn't care how many calories it was or whatever girls think about when they eat…you just did it because you enjoyed it…plus you do this sexy little thing with your lips when you chew."
"Thanks George." Serena didn't blush, she was getting used to his flirtatious humor.
"And…" he yawned into Serena's stomach. "Your tiny you know? This tiny little person…" George stopped himself from continuing. What was he afraid of saying? He didn't know…but didn't want to risk it coming out either, they might have connected but she was still a stranger. For all he knew it was just some bird he'd never see again after they left the hotel.
"Hmm?" She giggled above him.
"…Who can eat twice as much as I can." He laughed. "When you came out of that bathroom I had to really look at you. I like you better when your dressed like this."
"Dressed in men's clothing you mean?"
"Yeah I suppose, you look so normal…every girl we see is all dolled up in mini's and tiny shirts…" He glanced up at Serena and laughed. "Not that I don't mind…its great really…your just a, breath of fresh air." He settled again. "Its nice."
"I'm glad I metcha Georgie, for a second I thought I would be tossed out into that screaming mob out there." She rested her head on the arm again. "We did hit it off well didn't we?"
"Yeh…" George mumbled. "Were tummy twins right?"
"I wouldn't want to eat an elephant intestine with anybody else."
"I wouldn't want to eat one period."
"Touché!" She giggled. "Go to sleep George, I'll stay up for the boys and watch the television."
He mumbled something in agreement and was out before Serena knew it. She stayed up for about an hour after George past out, studying 60's slang and fashion trends and hairstyles. And just when she thought she couldn't take another Lipton Iced Tea commercial, she feel asleep, content with a man's warm body pressed against hers. She felt like she had really done it. Befriending two Beatles, and Mal close behind. She could tell Brian was next, and then John and Neil…Paul would be the hardest, that appealing face seemed pretty resistant to even get close to her after the conflict earlier this afternoon. She sighed in her sleep. If only Paul knew just how much he affected the band…if only he knew.
Hmm? Did ice cream really do the trick for George's throat? What chaos will the Bealtes endure on the Ed Sullivan Show?Will she make friends with everyone in time before the Beatles leave for Washington? Will Pauls heart melt? When will John give up on the 'practicing' bit? And where the heck is Luna?!
I'll update sooner I promise, this story nags at me too much for me to abandon it.
PS. Reviews help with the motivation!