Be my Starr (Ringo Starr)

Chapter 27 pt 2: A day at the beach

Susan admired the bright shy as the sun glazed across the horizon. Her eyes then locked onto the sea as another wave came in. It was the best time to go to the beach. The boys were here only a day ago for a photoshoot for the Miami press but Brain advised the girls not to go since they'd be a lot of attention around the boys, saying "things are probably going to get a little wild." Of course, the girls were understanding. Again. Susan just couldn't get her head around all the girls chasing and kissing her boyfriend. She felt insulted but then again. They had no idea she existed.

Susan took in a warm, refreshing breath of air and laid back in her recliner, sipping slowly on some lemonade. The boys were splashing around in the sea, laughing in general whilst Barbara laid peacefully on a lilo. Susan told her what would happen but she didn't listen and sure enough, the boys all turned their attention to the lass and shared a grin as if they were schoolboys. To be fair, they still are at heart.

John, being the ring leader of this ambush, took a deep breath and ducked underwater. Within the next minute, the lilo was tipped on its back and Barbara was dunked under. The boys all broke into laughter as Barbara rose from the sea with a very angry look.

"Right. Who did it then?" She questioned furiously, giving all the boys their own death stare. John rose beside her and smiled innocently. "I hate you." She hissed.

Susan and Cynthia chuckled to themselves as Barbara lashed out on John, grabbing her lilo and swatting him over the head with it.

"They're so childish." Susan laughed.

"It's John, he starts it." Susan glanced at Cynthia, smiling at the madness. She couldn't help but feel bad for her. Knowing Barbara had hooked up with John and were flirting most of the time, in front of Cyn too. It must have been hard for her. Sometimes Susan felt guilty for being Barbara's friend when she was doing things like that.

"Here we are." Dan chirped, appearing with a crate of beer and a bag with whiskey, wine and vodka inside. Funnily enough, the boys all came running when they saw him, knowing Dan was always the supplier of the beverages.

"Nice one Danny boy." George gave Dan a friendly nudge on the arm before grabbing himself a beer.

"What you got in there?" John asked curiously, trying to get a peek into Dan's bag. Dan quickly pulled it from his grasp.

"Ay!" He barked. "No one touches the bag." He gave John a comedic warning look.

Once all the boys had had a quick refreshing beverage, they were eager to get back in the sea, John and George racing each other and passing Barbara as she joined the others for a drink.

Ringo sat down beside Susan and rubbed her leg lovingly. "You coming in?"

Susan nodded. "Yeah. Just as long as you boys don't harass me." She joked.

"I can't make any promises," Ringo smirked.

Susan took his hand and ran with him down the beach to the sea. The water was cold but the air was hot and warm, balancing it out. Ringo wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in, their noses brushing and leaned in for a sweet kiss. Susan ran her hand up to his back and scratched his hair, embodying the moment.

Back on shore, Barbara sat down on Susan's recliner beside Cynthia and poured herself a whiskey vodka. She glanced over at Paul talking to Linda who had her book open on her chest whilst she spoke to him and rolled her eyes. Surprise surprise.

"You alright?" Cynthia smiled as she took a swig.

"Yep." Barbara forced a smile. "It must be terrible being married to that man." She gestured half-jokingly to John who was interrupting Susan and Ringo's passionate make out with a splash.

Cynthia chucked. "It's not that bad. John's a laugh. He can be also - believe it or not - very sweet." Barbara held her breath and decided it'd be best if she kept her mouth in the whiskey. It was John she had a problem with, after all.

On the lounger next to Cyn, Linda was talking to Paul. After their stroll out, Linda got to know Paul for more than she had heard on the radio. And frankly, she liked him.

"Have you ever been in the sea before?" Paul asked, a small reserved smile on his face. Linda had become quite the apple of his eye.

"Not really. Never had the chance." She replied.

"Oh. Well, this is your lucky day." He effused.

Linda laughed, looking down at her book. "I'm alright thanks."

Paul, giving her a no choice look, grabbed her and picked her up as he did back at the Hotel. Linda clutched to her book as her head hung over Paul's shoulder.

"Paul! You've done this twice now!" She fumed, Paul, ignoring her and running them down to the sea. "No! I know what's coming and I'm telling you now!"

"What are you telling me?"

"Paul!" Linda screamed but it was too late. Paul had geared himself up and sent Linda into the sea. The boys all cheered and clapped as Paul joined them.

Linda rose, the same expression that Barbara had painted her face. But, a smile slowly crept in and a small laugh escaped her. Paul laughed with her, surprised and overwhelmed with joy. That was until Linda's book plopped up in different pages in the sea, completely drenched and destroyed. Everyone went quiet. Susan knew things could only end badly from here.

Paul looked at Linda guilty, his smile dissipating. Linda stared at the pages. "Linda." Paul started. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean- I'm-" He exhaled. "I'm a dick." He finally said. He looked down, withdrawn and sorrowful.

"It's just a book." Susan's mouth dropped, along with the boys'. Paul looked up at Linda who gave him a small smile. "You can buy me a new one anyway." Paul laughed and nodded.

"I can. And I will."

Back at shore, Dan and Barbara had gotten themselves tipsy whilst chatting with Cynthia. Chatting as in, Barbara being very passive-aggressive and Dan stirring the pot.

"So, do you reckon he's the one then?" Barbara asked, taking a swig.

"Well, we are married." Cyn laughed.

"Yeah but you can get divorces."

"Woahhh." Dan gave Barbara a playful eyebrow. "You hear that Cyn?" Cynthia just laughed like it was nothing. Barbara glanced at Dan and took another swig.

"She's not wrong. Anything could happen." Dan and Barbara both shared a look. Barbara grinned into her glass.

"Anything."