A Day In The Life (A Beatles Fan-Fiction Story)

Chapter One: Welcome to Liverpool

I felt my knees wobbling as I got off the boat in Liverpool. I grabbed my two suitcases and looked around for my grandparents. I've never met them, but the firemen managed to save a picture of them from the house fire. Why were they able to save a stupid, old, coffee-stained photograph, but they couldn't save my family? The picture was dark and blurred anyway, and the two elderly people shown could be anyone at the pier. Maybe they'll recognize me and I won't have to find them. But with all these people roaming around, I may never be found.

I sat on a bench and took out a book titled The Wizard of Oz. I might as well wait for some of the people to leave to make finding my grandparents a bit easier, and why waste time if I can read such a wonderful book? I was almost finished reading it. I was at the part when Dorothy wakes up from her dream and sees her family again. It became too much for me to handle, so I closed the book as I started crying. When will I wake up and see my family again?

I took out a different book, The Catcher in the Rye, and I read it for about two hours. When I saw the sun starting to set, I put the book away and stood up on the bench. I kept looking at the photo and then bach at the now smaller crowd of people. I saw no one that resembled my grandparents. I felt someone tap my leg.

"Looking for someone?" I heard a British accent say.

I looked down and saw a handsome teenaged boy. I hopped off the bench and looked up at him. "Yeah," I grinned. "I'm looking for my grandparents.Could you help me find them?" I showed him the piicture.

He looked at the photo, then back at me. "Eleanor!" he exclaimed, and wrapped his arms around my waist. I hugged him a bit awkwardly in return.

"Pardon? Have we met?" I asked.

He gripped my shoulders. "I'm your cousin!"

"I think you've mistaken me for someone else-"

"No, no. You're Eleanor Whitby, correct?"

"Well yes, I am-"

"I'm your cousin, Paul!"

"I have a cousin?" I nearly shouted. "No one told me that! I've never had a cousin before!" I smiled from ear to ear.

"Isn't it exciting?" He hugged me again. "Here, let me carry thoses for you," he said, picking up my suitcases.

"Oh, thanks, but you don't have to-"

"I got it," he smiled.

We started walking down the pier in silence. Then Paul said something. "I'm sorry about your mom and dad," he said sympathetically.

"How did you know?" I asked. I completely stopped walking, confused as to how he knew about my family.

"You're parents died in a house fire, that's why you're coming to live with me," he said, as if I should've known.

"No, I'm living with my grandparents."

"Who do you think I live with?" he chuckled.

I was going to say something sarcastic, but I knew nothing about this Paul or his family. For all I know, his parents could've also died in a house fire. I shut my mouth and continued walking.

"I know how you feel about losing your parents," he said, catching up with me. "My mother died two months ago from breast cancer."

I turned around and looked up at him. I saw the pain in his hazel eyes. "I'm sorry, Paul. You must be devastated."

"I am. It's been two months, but I'm still not over it. I don't think I'll ever get over it."

I felt tears building up in my eyes. Suddenly I wrapped my arms around his neck. He was obviously confused by my reaction, but he hugged me back in return. "I'm sorry, Paul!" I cried.

"What are you sorry for?" he chuckled.

"Well, I just met you, and I'm already complaining about losing my family."

"Don't be sorry, Eleanor. I understand how you feel."

I hugged him tighter. When I let go of him, he decided to change the mood. "Welcome to Liverpool, Ms. Whitby. I'll be your tour guide. You can call me Mr. McCartney. Are there any sights you're interested in seeing?" he asked, holding out his hand.

I put my hand in his. "You're the tour guide," I said, imitating his accent, "Take me to the most spectacular place in the city."

I grabbed one suitcase, Paul took the other, and he pulled me down the pier. We ran and ran on the streets until we got to a park. It had pretty flowers and bushes and the most beautiful fountain.

"Wow," I said.

"Wonderful, isn't it?"

"Yeah." I looked around at everything in amazement.

"But it's getting late, so we need to go home."

"What? Why did you take me here then?"

"To cheer you up," he grinned. "We can come back tomorrow after school."

"What school do you go to?" I asked as we started to walk to his house.

"The Liverpool Institute."

"Is it a nice school?"

"It's alright."

"Will I be going to that school?"

"Possibly."

We continued walking on a long and winding road. There's a lot of trees on this road. Tall trees. They were bare because of the almost-winter season. The road was a quiet one. I thought Paul lived on this road, but we turned onto a much busier one and he led me up the stairs to the front door of a blue house. He held the door open for me.

"After you, love," he said politly.

I smiled and walked inside. I set my suitcases down and looked around the room in amazement. It was marvolous. I can't believe I'm going to live here! It's huge and beautiful--so much better than my old house. My old house! Here come the tears...

"Are you alright, Eleanor?" Paul asked.

"Yeah," I sniffled.

"Well, come inside and meet the rest of your new family." He led me into the living room, where I saw two elderly people, who I assumed were my grandparents, and a boy who looked a bit younger than Paul.

"Oh, welcome to Liverpool, sweetie." The grandmother walked over to me, hugged me, and kissed my cheek. "I'm your grandmother, but you can call me Nana. That's your Poppy," she pointed to her husband. "That's your cousin Michael," she pointed to the boy on the couch, "And you've already met Paulie."

I fakely smiled at them all.

The grandmo-Nana-noticed my fake happiness. "I know you're upset about your family, but you're going to have a wonderful time here in England, really," she tried to comfort me.

I smiled at her.

"Paul, would you like to show Eleanor to her room?" Nana asked.

"It would be a pleasure," he said. "Come, Ms. Whitby, follow me."

I chuckled a bit and followed him up the spiral stairs. There were six doors in the hallway, three on each side. I was led all the way to the end of the hall, to the door on the left. "This room's yours," Paul told me. "My room's right across the hall. If you need anything, just come ask me."

I thanked him and walked into my room. I took a quick shower in my bathroom and I borrowed some of Paul's clothes to sleep in, being too tired to unpack my own clothes. I layed down on my bed, a bit anxious about tomorrow.