Borrowed Time: Saving John Lennon - A Beatles Fanfic

Chapter 13 - A HARD DAY'S NIGHT

February 11, 1963

The afternoon may have been cold, but the evening was even colder. Holly had been waiting outside the studio for only about ten minutes, but she was already shivering. She paced the open space in front of the main stairs, occasionally jumping up and down in an attempt to get her blood flowing and warm herself up.

After a few minutes Holly heard some voices nearby coming from around the left side of the building. She heard a car engine start, then more voices, and she began to walk towards where all the noise was coming from. As she approached the corner a figure suddenly burst forth from the other side of the building running full force around the corner.

"Oh my God!" Holly yelled, and she held both her hands out in front of her to prevent a collision.

"Bloody hell!" the figure spat back, barely missing a direct hit. Holly recognized the voice as belonging to John, although it sounded a bit raspier than usual. "You're still here! I was afraid you'd be gone. We kept pissing around and doing more takes. I didn't even know how late it was until we finished."

Holly smiled and gave a small laugh. "I've only been out here waiting for maybe fifteen minutes. 'Twist and Shout' really tore your voice up, huh?"

John sighed and shook his head. "You just know everything then, do you?"

"John! Come on, mate!" a voice boomed from around the building.

"Come 'ed," John said to Holly. "Follow me."

The two of them walked around the corner to a side lot where a maroon Commer van was idling. Neil and the other boys were loading guitars, amps, and other musical accoutrements inside it. Holly saw a larger man she hadn't met before also loading things into the van, and as he turned around she recognized him as Mal Evans.

"Where'd you run off to? Tryin' a skip out on loading up, are you?" Paul asked, as John approached the van. Noticing Holly again, he added, "Oh, 'ello again, luv."

"I didn't run off anywhere," John responded.

"Who's the bird?" Paul asked in a hushed voice. "She's the one from the canteen, yeah?"

"Her name's Holly," John answered. "She's, er.... an old friend."

"Old friend, eh?" Paul raised his eyebrows. "If you say so..."

"Don't take the mick, Paul. She's an old friend, all right? A friend of Cyn's from back in art school."

"Yeah, fine, all right. Just grab an amp or something, would ya? We gotta get this bloody van loaded up. It's monkey balls out here."

Holly laughed at that phrase as John picked up a guitar case. "She's coming back with us so leave room for her."

Paul raised his eyebrows again and shook his head. "Sure, mate. Whatever."

Once the van was loaded everyone crowded in and attempted to find room to sit amongst the copious amounts of musical accessories. Mal wasn't joining them since he was heading home to Liverpool to see his wife.

"Budge up," George said, smooshed between Ringo and one of the cases containing a drum. "Anyone want a bite? I could go for a pie or a buttie. Maybe the pub 'round the corner?"