I Saw Her Standing There: Book 1: A Paul McCartney love story

Chapter 10: The Day Before Hamburg

      Sunday morning was unusually bright. Analeigh got out of bed letting Evelyn sleep, and went across the hall to her dark room. She had loaned one of her old cameras to Ringo and let him take pictures while they showed Evelyn around yesterday. They had gone to the park, and though Analeigh hadn't noticed, Ringo had taken several pictures of her and Paul. The first, once developed, was her laughing in Paul's lap while he looked down at her with a smile on his face. Well, we're just precious, she thought. There were several of them all standing around talking or just being silly, a few of John making his notoriously hilarious faces, and then the last one came out as a photo of John, George, and Paul standing grouped together, while Analeigh and Evelyn stood several feet away. Analeigh and Evelyn were standing close by a tree smiling and talking and the boys were all facing each other, but Paul had his head turned watching his girl. This made her smile so she made copies of all the photos. One for her, and one for Paul's album.

    In the next room Analeigh heard the door open and close, while someone plugged their instrument into the amp. At first chord she already knew it was Paul from the low key of his bass. She sat in her room for another five minutes to let the prints dry, then walked to the large music room next door, pictures in hand.

     Her light knock was followed by a clear of the throat and a "Come in!" from Paul.

  "Good morning." said Analeigh with a smile on her face.

  "Good morning, love." replied Paul with an even bigger smile. "What's that you've got there?" he asked while setting down his guitar.

  "The pictures Ringo took when we went to the park yesterday. I thought you might like to see them."

  "Of course I do!" said Paul, taking the pictures from Analeigh.

She had put the two of her and him in the back. Saving the best for last.

  "These are great!" said Paul flipping through the pictures. "Rings isn't too bad at photography, is he?"

  "No. He's actually pretty good. I was impressed." said Analeigh.

  "Oh." said Paul coming across the last two photographs. "Wow. Well, we're just precious, don't ya think?" he laughed. "I really like these two. Hah. That last one is a bit embarrassing though."

  "Nah. I like it. It made me smile that you were looking at me." she said honestly.

  "Is it alright if I take this one to Hamburg with me?" asked Paul holding up the one of her laughing in his lap.

  "Duh! It's yours. Do you want a frame or something for it? I have tons."

  "Yeah, that'd be great."

Analeigh walked back to the dark room, grabbed a sturdy, black frame and went back to Paul. When she walked in, he was still looking at the picture. Hearing her entrance, he stood up and walked passed her to shut the door. He then led her to the little window seat.

  "Will you put it in the frame for me?" he asked her looking up through his black lashes.

She nodded and slid it into the frame, then set it on the little, brown table beside her. They both looked at it and smiled. Paul turned and looked out the window. The sun was streaming in, and so she studied his features. His hair wasn't black at all when in the sun, it was almost light brown. And his dark brown eyes gave way to gold, much like hers, no green in sight. His lips were pink and not as thin as most boys', and she knew they were rough from picking at them with his hands and teeth, but they could be as gentle and soft as a feather. His jawline was beautiful and smooth, rounded, and he had a slight dimple in his chin. The sun made his skin appear as pale as flour against the white t-shirt he wore. Feeling her eyes on him he turned to look at her with a grin forming on his lips.