Do You Want To Know a Secret?

15. A Hard Day's Night

"Where are we?" George asked after I had just taken his blindfold off and we were in the pitch black darkness of John's house, Mendips. Suddenly, the lights flicked on and an array of George's friends popped up from hiding places shouting surprise. I laughed at the corniness of John's surprise party but was wreathed in smiles watching George's pleasantly surprised reaction as his friends came to greet him.

"This all worked out quite well ay Eppy?" John's breath tickled my ear from behind and I could feel the smirk lighting up his face. I turned around to see him looking quite sure of himself.

"Yeah," I looked over to George who was practically drowning in people. "I'm impressed Lennon." I took a moment to see the decorations he had put around the place didn't look half bad. John's smirk turned into a smile from my praise.

"Bloody right you are. It took me a fucking hour to blow up all the balloons." He gestured to the many multicoloured birthday balloons scattered along the ground. I giggled at his exhausted expression. Abruptly, the sound of a ballon popping made John and I jump.

"Fuckers." John swore underneath his breath with a growl. He looked over behind me and smirked once again.

"You really went all out ay Johnny?" George's voice was joyful as I felt his arms wrap around my waist from behind.

"Yeah well," John shrugged humbly. "This is going to be a nightmare to clean up before Mimi gets home tomorrow." John sighed annoyedly making George laugh. I turned to see George's face right beside mine. He placed a gentle peck on my lips. So much for keeping a secret from John, I internally groaned.

"Thank you." He grinned, his glistening brown eyes boring into mine thoughtfully. I blushed and looked at John who was looking between the two of us with an eyebrow cocked suggestively. I swallowed hard.

"Surprise?" I looked at John which he replied to with a laugh. George let go of me and gave an apologetic look.

"What surprise? I've known something's been up ever since I caught you two watching Cinderella on the couch together snuggled up underneath the blankets. It takes a man in love to watch a princess movie." John teased fixing his leather jacket and shaking his head. I blushed a deep red for a moment, I guess we weren't as good as hiding the whole couple thing as we hoped.

"I thought you said you didn't mind if we watched Cinderella." My face fell as I turned to George.

"Hi Geo!" Ringo exclaimed walking over with his beer can raised.

"Rings." George said hoping to get out of the conversation to greet the drummer gleefully.

As the three of the boys started to catch up I sighed and walked over to the kitchen hoping to find something to drink, now that John knew certainly what was going on between George and I, I would need it. I noticed Paul alone, sitting on the counter looking down at his beer bottle with an empty look on his face. Slowly I walked over to him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, making him jump. He looked up and saw me, his expression lightening.

"Hello Poppy." He grinned dolefully as I sat on the counter beside him.

"What's got you down?" I raised an eyebrow intrigued. Maybe it was about the mystery girl, I thought to myself curiously.

"Ah, nothing really." He shrugged.

"Are you sure Paul? I mean you know you can talk to me," I reached out for his hand that was on his knee but he quickly retracted it awkwardly.

"I'm, going to go find George." He mumbled quickly getting up and walking away from me.

"What did I do?" I asked myself cluelessly sitting there now all by myself.