Be my Starr (Ringo Starr)

Chapter 26 pt 2: Posh wine

Stepping out of the elevator, Susan and Barbara walked through reception into the lounge area. There, sat a young lad smoking a cigarette and wearing sunglasses, a small suitcase by his side.

As they approached him, he saw them and pulled off his sunglasses, a grin smearing across his face. "Ladies." He greeted.

"What are you doing here?" Susan asked bluntly.

Dan rolled his eyes. "Hello to you too."

"Does mum know you're here?"

"Duh, how else would I get here." He replied mockingly and took a drag.

"Where'd you get them?" She questioned.

"The shop."

"You don't have ID."

"I do." Dan pulled an ID out of his pocket and wafted it in front of his sister. "See."

"It's fake."

Dan sighed. "Do you have to be like this? I'm on me holidays."

"I'll ring her." Susan threatened.

"Come on then." Dan stood up and wrapped his hand around the suitcase handle. "Show me to my room." He walked past Susan, grinning. "Alright." He nodded to Barbara.

Susan turned to Barbara who had a massive grin on her face. "What?"

"Finally," Barbara said with relief. "Time to have fun." She chuckled and walked after Dan.

Susan sighed. Now she had to take care of two kids.

~~~

They walked into the girls' hotel room. Dan threw his sunglasses to the bed along with his jacket. He scanned the room, an unsatisfied look appearing on his face.

"This is your room?" He grimaced at the kettle. "Where's all the posh wine?"

"That's in the lads' room," Barbara said.

"Well then. Let's go there."

"No," Susan said quickly. Dan looks at her suspiciously.

"Why not?" He grinned. "Scared I'll embarrass ya? Don't worry I won't say a word." He mimed himself zipping his lips.

"It's not a good time," Susan said quietly.

Dan huffed. "It never is with you." He looked at Barbara who wore a similar expression to Susan. An awkward, someone's not saying something expression. "What is it?"

"Susan's leaving," Barbara answered immediately.

"Barbara!"

"What?" Dan bellowed. "You can't leave now, I've only just got here. And, we've still got another 5 and half days." He pointed out.

"How'd you pay to get here anyway?" Barbara asked curiously.

"Oh, Ringo paid." Susan's mouth dropped. "Yeah, I've had the ticket for a few days. Was to surprise ya." Dan grinned. "And you look very surprised so, deffo worked." Susan's face dropped as if she had just been told someone had died. "What is going on with you?"

"Ringo and I... We've had a falling out." She said.

"Go on."

Susan exhaled. "It's a long story."

"Well can you make up with him? It'll be well awkward if I'm getting pissed with his mates when he ain't even with me sister."

"It's not that simple."

"Look, whatever it is. I'm sure you can work it out between the two of you. For now." Dan opened the door. "Let's get drunk."

"Here here." Barbara cheered following after Dan. "Follow me, I know the number."

"Guys!" Susan ran after them.

~~~

In the lads' room, John, George and Cynthia were having a little drinking session of their own. Then the door opened and Barbara and Dan waltzed in, Susan following meekly behind.

"Here we are." Barbara grabbed a bottle of wine.

"Thought you were Ring," John said, taking a swig of his scotch. His eyes darted to Dan. "Who's this?"

"Nah, I'm Dan," Dan said, taking the wine bottle from Barbara and pouring himself a drink.

"Where's Ringo?" Susan asked.

John shook his head. "He went out. Looked a bit off. Eh, what did you two talk about earlier?"

Susan didn't respond to John's question, instead shrugging her arms and sitting in the corner.

"Hey." Cynthia smiled, beckoning Susan over.

Barbara stared at the two chatting. Of course, the man she had a thing for was taken.

"Barbs." Dan's voice was distant, slowly getting louder as he continued to say her name. "Barbs!"

Barbara flinched and turned to him. "What?" Dan looked over at Cynthia and Susan.

"You've got a problem with her," Dan noted, discreetly gesturing to Cynthia.

Barbara scoffed. "You don't know the half of it." She took a long sip of her drink.

"Promise you'll tell me?" Barbara grinned.

"Of course."

"Eh, where are Paul and Linda at?" George asked out. "They've been gone ages an all."

"That's odd," Susan said. "She's usually in bed by 11."

"They went for that walk dint they," John stated.

Barbara laughed. "Probably fucking in some bush."

"As if. Linda wouldn't let any man near her."

"I dunno." John grinned. "Paul can be very sexy when he wants to be." John and George shared a look.

The door opened, Paul and Linda walking in. The room went into an awkward silence, every face wearing a grin except theirs.

"What?" Paul asked blankly.

"Seen any nice bushes?" Barbara couldn't even finish her sentence before breaking out into laughter.

"Eh?" Paul ignored Barbara's question and looked at Susan. "Rings outside said he wants speak to ya." Susan's face fell.

"Oh, ok." She stood up slowly, meeting Barbara's gaze worryingly. Barbara gave her a reassuring smile although Susan felt no reassurance.

As she made her way to the door, she couldn't help but think the worst. Maybe Ringo would be angry that she was still there, expecting her to have already left.

She stepped out into the hallway, meeting Ringo's eyes as stood a few feet away. Susan tried to smile but her lips wouldn't move making her expression come off as more afraid than anything.

"Can we talk?" He asked calmly. "Not here. In your room, if you don't mind?"

"Of course." She agreed and walked ahead to her room which was just a corner away, Ringo walking behind.

Walking into the room, she waited until Ringo was in to shut the door, and shutting it, wished that she was on the other side. There was no way out now. She had already faced her truth head-on once. Could she really do it again?