Be my Starr (Ringo Starr)

Chapter 25 part 2: Lost

When the interview finally ended, the boys were rushed out of the room by Eppy, followed by security close behind. However, the reporters must have thought differently as they decided to follow the Beatles and attempted to chase after them.

The girls, including John's suddenly existing wife Cynthia, were far behind, trying to catch up with the hoard of thirsty journalists who were still hungry for more Beatle mania.

The hallways were covered from one side to the other with reporters, all looking for the same thing. Now, even the girls were confused and at this point were following the herd. Cynthia had seemed to disappear, supposedly lost in the array of people.

Bursting into the reception, the sight was amazing and horrifying at the same time. The girls had to hold each other close to stay together since everyone was pushing around and even pulling for some reason. Maybe to pull them behind so they could get ahead?

Slowly, once it was clear the Beatles were nowhere to be found and probably miles away by now, the crowds dispersed and left the building.

Unluckily for the girls, they had no idea what was going on. Wandering outside the front of the building, they stood on the street, dazed. They looked around. Reporters were jumping back into their cars and racing off. The traffic was horrendous and the heat was scorching hot.

Barbara turned to Susan. "So."

Susan shrugged. "So what?"

"So, what do we do?" Susan looked around. She was as clueless as Barbara.

"I don't know." Barbara laughed.

"Great. We're lost."

"No, we're just..." Susan sighed. "Where is this?" They both turned to Linda. She looked back at them, her eyebrows knitted.

"I don't know everything." Their faces looked unconvinced. Linda glanced to the building and back to the girls. "Where the interview was." The girls sighed. "I'm not a human map. We were driven here, remember?"

"Yeah, and now we need driving back," Barbara said sharply.

"They'll come back," Susan said half-confidently.

"And anyway-" Barbara barked abruptly. "Who was that Cynthia girl?"

"You heard, John's wife."

"Obviously lying." Susan and Linda looked at each other wearily.

"I don't know. Sounded pretty official to me."

"Says so. You're boyfriend just left us stranded in America."

"Guys it's fine. I'll go to reception." Linda walked off back into the building, leaving the two girls to burn in the sunlight.

"This is horrible." Huffed Barbara.

"If you keep moaning, it'll only get worse."

"I like moaning." She crossed her arms.

Soon after, Linda returned. Her expression wasn't as positive as two would have liked.

"Anything?" Linda shook her head.

"I tried to get a taxi but. We don't have any money and there was no point in trying to explain everything with... yknow." Susan nodded understandingly. "We could walk."

Barbara's face erupted. "Are you serious?" She boomed. "If you think I'm walking anywhere in these heels, you are gunna be sorry."

"We can't just stand here. It's boiling." Barbara's eyes widened to an extent even Linda thought impossible. 

"And you don't think I know that." She shook her head in disappointment. "We wait."

~~~ 20 minutes later... ~~~

Waiting didn't seem to work so with little to no persuasion and since there was nothing else to do, Barbara agreed to walk a little. Also, Linda suggested going back to the hotel.

However, It didn't stop Barbara from huffing and puffing every 2 minutes. Suddenly, she ordered for a break and sat down on a bench, the other girls happily joining her since they were all so tired and hot.

"Do you think we'll ever make it?" She breathed weakly.

"I don't know."

Barbara rubbed her face and sighed at the amount of sweat on her fingers. "Fuck this." She held her head back and closed her eyes. A moment. "I fucked John."

Susan and Linda shared the same open-mouthed expression. "What?"

"The after-party I was talking about. It was then."

"But-"

"He's married, I know." Barbara laughed. "Now." Her smile fell. It was clear she was hurt.

"I sort of had a feeling," Linda said.

Susan couldn't believe Barbara would do such a thing, but at the same time, she could. And granted, Barbara had no idea he was married at the time. It was more the shock of her just confessing like that. It made Susan think. Especially since she had nothing else to do anyway. Except think.

"I have to tell him," Susan said aloud.

"Who?"

"Ringo." Susan turned to the girls. "That I'm not a photographer. I have to tell him everything." Barbara sat up.

"Are you fucking crazy?"

"I think that's far from crazy." Linda nodded. "You should."

"Oh fuck off, when have you ever been in a situation like this?"

"Aww is Barbs angwy because she's all hot and bothered." Linda cooed mockingly. "Susan, I think telling him is a good idea. Better than letting him find out for himself."

"I hate you." Barbara hissed.

"I hate you too."

Susan didn't really know what to make of that conversation. It didn't help nor not help but it certainly didn't make her mind. Still, she was leaning more on the truth than anything. Surely, Ringo would understand. They were in love, he had to.

~~~ 20 minutes later... ~~~

Whilst walking, Barbara stopped to ask a random guy for a cigarette. He agreed and passed her one.

"Cheers." She said and lit it with his lighter.

"You British?" He asked, she nodded. "Yeah, those Beatle boys are here ain't they? The band."

"Maybe." Barbara shrugged and took a well-needed drag.

"They gunna be stars them." The man said.

A car pulled up and the window came down, revealing Mal in the driver's seat. "You girls need a ride?" He smiled.

Susan and Linda jumped in instantly. Barbara passed the guy the ciggie. "You can have this." She squealed with excitement and jumped in the car after them. "Mal, drive!"