Be my Starr (Ringo Starr)

Chapter 25 part 3: Misery

Back at the hotel, Ringo was extremely unnerved and worried about Susan, pacing the room rapidly. The others were worried too but found it easier to stay calm.

The door opened, and Susan walked in, Ringo immediately rushing over to her.

"Susan." He sighed with relief.

Barbara and Linda followed as Mal closed the door behind them.

"I'm fine." Susan smiled, Ringo taking her in a warm, protective embrace.

"Are you alright?" Paul asked Linda.

"Yeah." She replied calmly.

"Anyone gunna pour us a drink?" Barbara sat down. "We've had such a terrible time." John approached her, a prepared scotch and whiskey in his hand. She looked at him. "I'm alright." She monotoned. John shrugged and took a swig.

Ringo sat down with Susan on his lap, his hand tightly entwined in hers. The last few hours were the scariest of his life, an experience he never wanted to go through again.

"What happened?" He asked.

Susan sighed, shaking her head. "I don't really know. We just got caught up in the press whirlwind."

"They're animals," George said sharply, taking a drag on a cigarette.

"You're not hurt, are you?" Ringo's expression was more adorable than anything Susan had seen before.

"No." She looked down, blushing uncontrollably. "I'm fine, honestly. Just a little dazed that's all."

"Here." John passed her the glass he made for Barbara. "That'll do it." Susan laughed and took a swig.

"Like getting girls drunk then?" Barbara jested, her dagger eyes aiming for his soul.

"What's up with you?" The Beatle scoffed. Barbara gave him a look and turned away.

"Anyway," Paul interjected. "Who's up for a night stroll?" The boys all looked at him with questionable stares. "No one?" He exhaled. "You lot are sad." His eyes turned to Linda sitting by the window, a cup of coffee in one hand and a book in the other.

"What?" Linda said, even whilst reading, she could feel Paul hovering over.

"Do you like walks?" Paul asked.

Linda sipped on her tea. "It's a bit late isn't it?"

"No." She looked at him. He'd never be able to guess in a million years what she was thinking. But he hoped it was something good.

"Ok." She finally said and stood up. "What about you? Won't people notice?"

Paul grinned. "Oh don't you worry about me." After quickly changing into his incognito outfit, the same clothes he had on except matched with a big hat and a fake moustache. Linda sighed, shaking her head with a grin and followed him out.

Ringo turned to Susan. "Why don't we go out?" Susan froze up. She still wanted to tell Ringo the truth about everything. It was pushing her to the edge with guilt how hard she was leading him on.

"Maybe later. Can we talk?" She whispered softly, another way of telling Ringo she wanted a private conversation away from the others.

Ringo nodded and they both went into the bedroom. Susan closed the door whilst Ringo sat down on the edge of the bed. He could tell something was up.

"Is everything ok?" Susan gave him a half-smile in response. Oh no.

"I have to tell you something." Susan could feel her jelly legs on the rise. Suddenly, the room was closing in on itself.

"Ok." Ringo smiled, an attempt to calm his girlfriend and a bigger attempt to calm himself. He noticed the jelly legs as soon as they arrived but now they were impossible to ignore.

"So... You know..." Susan breathed deeply. "You know when we first met?" Ringo nodded. "And Barbara said I was a photographer."

"Freelance."

"Yeah, that." She thought for a moment. It wasn't easy trying to come up with a reasonable answer on the spot. "Well..."

"I get it." He said, Susan's eyes widening to the size of balloons. Did he know? "You're not taking enough pictures. That's it, isn't it?" Susan's expression fell. It would have been easier if he had guessed himself."You've still got plenty of time." He said cheerily.

"No. It's not that." She sighed. "Look, there's no easy way of saying this."

"It's because of today, right?" Ringo interrupted. "I'm sorry." He said sincerely. "I shouldn't have left you. I promise it won't happen again."

"I'm not a photographer." She blurted.

Ringo looked at her. "Eh?"

"I'm not a photographer." She said again. "I don't take pictures. I lied." Ringo still looked confused.

After a moment of processing what Susan had just said, Ringo averted eye contact. It had just set in what she was saying. "So..." He began slowly. "You're not a freelance photographer. And you've been lying this whole time." Susan nodded. Ringo laughed pathetically. "So, what are you then?" He turned to her.

She swallowed. Her whole body was trembling, not to mention her mouth. It was hard enough just trying to say a simple sentence without choking on herself. "I'm... I was." She corrected. "A trainee journalist."

Slowly, Ringo's expression began to change. Now, a look of anger and betrayal wore his face. All this time, the woman he loved and thought he knew about, was actually someone entirely different.

"You're a journalist?" His tone was accusing and vicious. He wasn't so calm anymore.

"Not anymore." Ringo raised an eyebrow.

"What? And that makes it ok? You lied to me, Susan."

"I know..."

"No, don't tell me." He stood up, Susan taking a cautious step back. "You never actually liked me in the first place and you were actually just using me for your daily scoop?"

"I haven't used you." Susan defended herself.

"Oh yeah?" Ringo looked at her coldly. "What else are you here for?"

"For you..." She whispered.

"Really?" He shouted. "And as a "trainee" journalist, I'm supposed to believe you, yeah? Even after all the lies you've told me." He scoffed. "I wouldn't be surprised if you're name wasn't even Susan."

"It is. And I only lied about the photography thing because-"

"Throwing the blame?" He spat mockingly. "Why don't you save all the crap and admit you're just a selfish witch." His words cut Susan deep, right down to the core. This was the last thing she wanted to hear from someone she loved so dearly.

"You're not letting me explain!" She cried.

"I don't want you to explain!" Ringo yelled back, in a rage of emotion. "I want you to get out of my life! He stormed, fighting the sea of tears from balling out of his eyes.

Silence.

Susan stared at him, gob-smacked, the floodgates too strong to keep in. Inevitably, the tears rolled down her cheeks and didn't stop.

"What?"

Ringo sighed tiredly. "You heard me." He wouldn't dare look at her. He only realised what he said after he had said it. It was one of those in the moment things. He knew he was sure to regret it. But he couldn't go back on it now. She had betrayed him.

Another moment later, and Susan saw it clear as day. It was over. She took a breath, looking at Ringo one more time as he stared down at the floor. A sniff escaped them both as Susan wiped the tears off her face and left the room.

Walking quickly to the door, she left the boys' hotel room and ran to her room to pack. She was leaving.

Tonight.