Yesterday - A Beatles Fanfic

Chapter The Ninth

"You're pulling me leg!" Ringo laughed nervously. But deep down, part of him believed it to be true.

"Honest to God, I'm not joking." She said, deadly serious. "I swear on Mum and Dad's graves."

Ringo looked at her sharply. "Graves? But I thought ye' said..."

"I know, and I'm so sorry." She said sadly. "They passed away when I was seven."

Wait, was seven? Ringo thought. "Jessie, tell me now, and tell me honestly, how old are you?" He said in what he hoped was a calm voice, putting one hand on her shoulder and turning her towards him.

She held back the tears that were threatening to well up. "Fourteen." She said quietly. "I'm meant to be fourteen."

"Explain." Ringo just said one firm word. "I want the whole truth, okay? You can trust me."

Jessie couldn't express how glad she was that Ringo was taking it so well. "I'm Jessie Alexandra Baxter. I was born on the sixth of November, the year 2000, in New Zealand. I had a pretty sweet life, I s'pose," she chuckled. "Actually, I was basically brought up on you guys' music."

Ringo couldn't help smiling at that.

"Anyway, things went downhill when I was seven. When I was really seven, I mean." She sighed. "We were in a car accident. I made it out with just this..." She shyly lifted her shirt a bit to reveal a thin white scar across her midriff. "But they weren't so lucky." She sniffed. "My Aunty took charge of me, and she brought me back to Liverpool where she and Mum grew up, but I don't think she's too fond of me. I stay at a boarding school called Thornleigh for most of the year."

"Is that ghastly place still around?" Ringo had been past the tall brick building a few times. He didn't like the look of it at all.

Jessie nodded, feeling a lot more comfortable - relieved to get this off her shoulders. "I'm not even sure I quite understand what happened the other day." She said, frowning slightly. "I was feeling really pissed off, and I stormed out of my dorm before bed. I went to the music room and borrowed that guitar." She nodded to the instrument leaning against the wall. "I jumped out the window, went to the park and played a song. When I stopped, everything was weird and old fashioned... And then the rest is history... Literally."

Ringo slumped back against the cushions. "That is just... I dunno what t' make of it..." He ran his fingers through his messy hair.

"Ringo," Jessie looked at him again, and for the first time Ringo noticed how old her eyes really looked. They didn't hold the innocence of a little child. They were full of intelligence and maturity. "You do believe me, right?"

That was when he pulled her into a hug. "Of course I do. Thank you for trustin' me, Jessie."

Jessie was taken by surprise, and blushed, but then hugged back. "Don't tell the others yet, please?" Her voice was muffled by the drummer's shoulder.

"I won't say a word." Ringo whispered back. "But George 'as 'is suspicions... And John ain't dumb. I can't stop them findin' out on their own."

"Paul?"

Ringo let her go and grinned. "All he sees is an adorable kid."

* * *

"So, Jessie."

Jessie looked up at the sound of George's voice. They'd spent the whole day mucking around indoors - it had been horrible weather - and now everyone was lazing around. Ringo was sitting on the floor leaning against the sofa, reading a book. Paul was lying down on the sofa with his notebook, doodling absentmindedly. John was sprawled sideways in an armchair, rapidly scribbling words on scraps of notepaper. George himself was standing, eating a slice of toast spread generously with jam.