Time After Time

Chapter 21: Where The Boys Are

Just as Paul informed Lauren, Mal Evans, the Beatles' assistant, and bodyguard arrived to pick her up right at five in the morning.

Lauren grew up reading so much history on The Beatles, especially Mal's involvement in all their lives. As he assisted and carried her luggage to the car, she realized that 'Big Mal' was as nice and gentle as they all said. It was no brainer they selected him as their bodyguard - even standing next to him made her feel small compared to his height.

"Only three luggage this time, Lace? You understand we'll be gone longer than the world tour," Mal pushed up his thick black-framed glasses on his prominent nose after loading the first one in the back seat of the car.

She handed him another one, careful not to drop it, "I'll be fine. I only packed one suitcase of film this time," she said, as a little smile appeared across her face.

"Alright then," he grunted, shutting the car door. After loading all her luggage in, he adjusted his glasses and snatched a glimpse at her, "You sure you don't want to change? Ya know Brian doesn't like you attracting attention.

If Mal was saying something about her outfit, she knew the rest of the boys wouldn't be able to ignore her, especially John. She was still a little bitter by the way things ended yesterday but remembered she couldn't let his decisions affect her emotions. This was the time she yearned to be in and she was going to dress and enjoy it, and maybe show someone just what he was missing.

While packing, Lauren discovered that Lacey has a massive wardrobe of beautiful clothes she probably was never able to wear because of always on tour. A lot of them were pretty plain and simple, but she decided this tour would be her opportune moment to break them all out.

"Oh, come on," she smiled, "I guarantee there are four men that everyone will be paying much more attention to."

Mal huffed, raising his eyebrows, "I wasn't referring to the fans, ya know," he chuckled, shaking his head as he got into the driver's side of the car, "Come 'ead, in we go. Best we get there before the lads do."

An hour later, Lauren sat peacefully in her window seat on board the Pan Am Boeing 747 jet airliner, struggling to stay awake. She spent most of the night making sure she packed enough for a month's trip, which gave her anxiety - she felt there was no way she remembered everything. But that wasn't the only thing that kept her tossing and turning last night - it was her thoughts about John.

Lauren did her best to be as understanding as she could be when he wanted nothing to do with Lacey. It was evident there was another woman, besides her and Cynthia, but what was with his attitude? Reminiscing on Lacey's memories, he was never this foul with her before, so what was the deal?

While fiddling with the Canon camera in her hands, the sudden noise of multiple footsteps on the airplane ladder distracted her thoughts, glancing up and seeing The Beatles emerge through the entrance door of the plane.

The first person to walk through that door was John, and she immediately averted her eyes back down to her camera, furrowing her eyebrows as she messed around with it. After last night, it was evident John wanted space away from Lacey and she was too damn tired for any confrontations. His footsteps slowed as he drew close to her aisle, feeling his eyes on her.

And she was right. Once Lacey was in his eyesight, he stared at her and the deep wrinkle at the bridge of her nose. John felt somewhat terrible for the way he raised his voice at her last night but he wasn't willing to admit it, especially after having dreams of Lauren last night. He couldn't get her out of his mind and yet, her physical twin was here on the same tour as him. Without a word, he turned to his left, sitting next to the window seat the row right across from hers.