Changes

Chapter Five - Drink Up

The Beatles had just finished filming for the movie Help! promoting the album coming out in a few months after. The following week was the premier and we were all very excited to watch it.

John had suggested we go out and celebrate, and so we did.
"First round's on Joj!" John called out.
"Why me?" George chuckled, as we walked into the Cavern Club.
"Because I don't feel like paying for my first one." John shrugged.
"Fine, but you pay round two!"

We all quickly drank both rounds, and then I had a fun idea!
"Why don't we play Beer Pong? Lads against lasses." I suggested.
"But then we're one odd." Maureen pointed out.
"Oh, that's true..." I trailed off.
"Too bad George can't get his dream woman." Jane whispered to me, and then winked.
"Jane!" I punched her arm lightly. "I am not his dream woman. Besides, don't forget I am married." I assured her.
"I wouldn't be too sure. Look now, subtly." Jane told me. I stepped to my side so I could do as Jane said. George was staring at me, his eyes warm and loving. Could Jane be right? Am I really George's dream woman? No one has looked at me like that other than John, so I knew the look well. If George had been looking at me like this for a long time, it was about time I get an eye check because I was so blind to not notice this. Suddenly, George snaped out of his gaze and looked at where Paul and Ringo were looking, to their left. I looked there too and noticed John walk in with a fit blond woman.
"Girls, this is my - friend, Cynthia."
"Cynthia." I muttered to myself. Meeting her finally gave me the realization that I was the Cynthia of this universe. I became John's wife and the only thing I had to prevent was my marriage falling apart and having a (or the) Yoko Ono come into our lives.
"I wouldn't call us friends, John. We haven't spoken since we broke up and then one night you see me at our local club and ask me to play beer pong with you and your friends." Cynthia replied to John with sass.
"Fair," John nodded. "Ladies, this is my ex-girlfriend, Cynthia Powell."
At that introduction, I couldn't help but feel a little jealous that John had introduced me to her as his ex and never told me about her. I had thought that in this universe they never got together.
"Nice to meet you." Me, Jane and Maureen all said to her.
"You as well." She sighed, smiling at us. "And you three are?"
"This is Maureen, Ringo's fiancé, Jane, Paul's girlfriend and I'm Y/N, John's wife." I said as I pointed to each of us. We put out our hands for her to shake.
"Wait, wife?" Cynthia questioned.
"Yes," I replied, my head held up high and my posture changing from slightly slouched to perfectly straight. Cynthia studied my face, and suddenly broke out into a laughing fit, dragging everyone in the club's attention.
"Wow!" She took a deep breath in, trying to regain herself. I caught John, standing behind her rolling his eyes.
"You know what, Cyn? This was a bad idea inviting you to play with us. We'll find another lady who is actually respectful and won't make a scene." John said, sternly. He touched her shoulders, trying to guide her away from me and the girls.
"Wait!" She said, getting out of John's grip and calming down. "Sorry, Y/N, it's just very shocking that John could actually get a wife! The closest he's come to is a short-term girlfriend, also known as me. I guess it's a good thing that I thought wrong." She shrugged at me.
"I promise, she isn't this rude, girls. She's just had too much to drink, I think." John said to us, annoyed at her.
"It's alright." Maureen spoke up. I could tell she was a little uneasy, though. Jane seemed to be enjoying this scene, and I couldn't help but feel jealous and confused. Why didn't John tell me about her? I asked myself. "This is a drinking game, afterall!" Maureen said, after a pause, breaking the very obvious tension between John and his ex.
"So, you ready to beat the boys?" Cynthia said to us, enthusiastically.
"You bet!" Jane said, matching her energy.

During the time John and us girls were talking, Ringo and George took the time to set up Beer Pong for us. Ringo set up the cups on the table and George used Paul's cash to buy beer to pour into the cups. He then found a ping pong ball on the ground and cleaned it off.
"Ladies first." George said, making eye contact with me and tossing me the ball. I caught it in a swift motion and immediately bounced it on the table, carefully. I got lucky and got it in a close cup.
"Awesome, Y/N!" Jane cheered, giving me high fives with both hands.
"Nice one!" Maureen congratulated me.
"Drink up!" Cynthia told The Beatles. They each took a swig from the glass until it was empty, then got put to the side.

This went on for a good ten minutes with hits and misses and taking turns. We were all starting to feel lightheaded and were slurring our words when we spoke. Since Cynthia apparently drank a lot more than the rest of us had (two shots) before the game started, she was almost considered fully drunk. Both teams were down to one last cup and we all kept missing. Paul threw the ball way off, and Cynthia caught it in her hand. Cynthia spread an evil looking grin across her face. She fixed her gaze on John, prepared her aim and threw the ball right in the centre of his forehead.
"'Ullseye!" She called out, her voice cracking as she brought me into a hug. I accepted it, not realizing what was happening because I was tipsy.
"Get ur hams off my woman!" John yelled, pointing to Jane across the table. He clearly meant to point at Cynthia, though.
"My turn!" Ringo called out, taking the ball from John's hand. He threw it, and missed. Maureen got the ball, threw it with very little effort and surprisingly got it in. We all started screaming as loud as the fan girls attending a Beatles concert, jumping up and down. We went in for a group victory hug and then looked at the boys.
"Drink it up!" Jane started to chant, pounding the table to the beat. We started to copy her as we watched them take swigs of the beer in the last glass from their table.
"It's closing time, guys. Would you like me to call a taxi or are you okay to drive?" The waiter asked us.
"OKAY!" John yelled, slamming the now empty glass on the table.
"Clearly." the waiter sighed, going to the telephone.

We all got home safe and sound, not excited for tomorrow's punishment after drinking. Bring it on, hangover!