In My Life

Chapter 14

After catching up with Julia and the girls, she had to take Jackie and Julia back home, and so, John and the boys decided to take their pick at the refreshments set up inside.

"Were we any good Sam?" John asked me hopefully.

"The practice is really paying off for you boys! I can't believe how great you sounded." I chirped to them all, the majority of which had their mouths stuffed with food. "And Pete, you really showed that washboard who's boss." I added, causing half of them to spit their food out in hysterics.

John chuckled too before the two of us were interrupted by Ivan, who had been missing since the preformance ended.

John's POV
"John." Ivan called. "I'd like you to meet a mate of mine from school."

Beside Ivan entered a boy in a classy, white jacket with silver flecks; nothing less of an immaculate appearance.

"This is McCartney." Said Ivan, giving the weedy boy a rather forceful shove forwards.

"Paul." He smiled flatteringly, offering his hand out to me.

I didn't know who this Paul fella thought he was, but he managed to make me feel pretty shabby in my old check shirt and combat boots.

"John." I grunted rather impassively, accepting it and shaking it firmly.

"It's nice to meet you John." Said the boy. "I was just watching you boys play, and thought you were alright."

"Alright?" I snorted.

"Well, you need work, there's no denying." He shrugged.

Cocking his head slightly, having only just noticed her, Paul then redirected his attention to Sam, who had been stood quietly beside me the entire time.

"How rude of me not to have introduced myself to the lady." He bowed apologetically, kissing her hand lightly causing her to giggle. "And what might your name be love?" He winked.

Sam flushed a little as she introduced herself, making me both upset and angry. I couldn't help but feel a little overshadowed by this McCartney kid.

"Anyway John." Ivan continued. "McCartney wants to join the group. Thinks he can bring something fresh to it."

"Oh really." I sneered, handing him my guitar. "Go on then hot stuff! Show us what your made of."

Paul took the guitar nonchalantly, turning it upside down, causing the boys to all break out in fits of laughter. Paul smirked, almost amused by their laughter, and played the right hand guitar, left hand.
'20 flight rock' he played, and though I hated to admit it, he did a damn fine job on it too, perfecting every single note and lyric. Mighty impressive preformance for a junior.

I watched in frustration, as even Sam couldn't take her eyes off him. And when the boy finished, he handed the guitar gently back to me, a look of triumph on his face for us having underestimated him so.

"That wasn't half bad." Clapped Eric from behind.

"Yeh, I say we let him in Johnny boy, wadd'ya say?" Nigel agreed, completely taken aback like the rest of the boys.

I noticed, as they praised him, Paul gave a sneaky wink to Sam, causing her to blush. The sight made my blood boil, and I had to resist the urge to push the boy over to show him who was top dog around these parts.

"What about it John?" Ivan bit his lip, hope gleaming in his eyes.

I scanned the room. It wasn't just Ivan, as all the boys were nodding vigorously at me. It seemed this Paul kid was quite the crowd pleaser, as he'd won over all my boys.

"How old you say you were boy?" I asked coldly.

"Just hit 15." He said, never taking his eyes off Sam, who was doing more or less the same thing.

15 years old. I was being shown up by a 15 year old little boy. The itching frustration of which, was becoming harder and harder to cope with, and as much as my hatred for the boy was increasing by the second, I couldn't let the boys down.

"Be at mine next Saturday- 2pm sharp." I snapped, showing no sign of fondness for the boy.

He smiled as the rest of the boys cheered him on, and gave Sam one last wink and nod of the head before leaving again. The worst part of it all being that she gave him one back, making his winning smile, all the more brighter.

"He seemed nice." Eric concluded.