The Night Before

15. You Like Me Too Much

Monica's head was fuzzy, she didn't know where to go or what to do now so she just started walking toward her room. The whole time all she thought about was the kiss. I can't have feelings for Ringo, I just can't. I have Paul. She tried to convince herself that Paul was the right way to go but the feelings that she had just felt still baffled her. Suddenly Ringo wasn't just her best friend, there was something else there, and that realization scared her and at the same time made her feel butterflies in her stomach.

She thought about how she had agreed to move in with Paul, and now she wasn't so sure if she should. To her is just seemed wrong to move in with him while she had unresolved feelings for his bandmate.

She walked into the hotel room and saw everyone had woken up while she was gone and they were getting ready for the day. Paul approached her, "Where have you been?" He asked.

"Uh..." She tried to think of an excuse, Snogging your mate. No, that wouldn't work. "I was uh... just walking..."

"Walking?" He scrunched his eyebrows.

"Yeah, I just felt like going for a walk I guess..." Wow great excuse Monica. She kicked herself for coming up with such a lame alibi, but she was never very quick on her feet, so she wasn't surprised.

Paul nodded, "Ok..." Paul started to walk away but Monica stopped him. "I need to talk to you."

"Now?" He asked.

"Well, no, I guess not right now but soon."

"Ok, well how about after breakfast, we're all starving."

Monica nodded and walked quickly away toward her suitcase so she could get dressed. She looked through her dresses and caught herself wondering, What would Ringo like? She shook the thought away and chose a tan colored blouse and a blue skirt.

She walked outside the bathroom once she was done changing and saw Ringo and George had arrived. Ringo glanced over at her and they made eye contact. Both of them looked away instantly. Monica's face went red and her insides felt twisted. Are things always going to be this awkward from now on?

They ordered room service for breakfast and ate altogether. The boys were making jokes and laughing, all of them were obviously excited about their show that night. Ringo especially looked extra chipper which was surprising considered how they had left things, but it seemed he was looking on the bright side. He chose to focus on the fact that Monica had admitted that there might be something there and that she had kissed him first, rather than focusing on the many obstacles between them.

As they ate, Monica couldn't help but glance over at Ringo every now and then, she didn't even quite know why. He obviously noticed her behavior as he would smirk each time she looked. She really does like me, he thought to himself with triumph.

Brian Epstein walked into the room while they were eating, to check in on them. "Are you boys ready for the show tonight?" He asked, sitting down with them. All four nodded.

"Good, I want you all on your best behavior, we want to make a good impression while we are here." He continued. The boys all nodded again except for John who shook his head, "I haven't got one of those, a best behavior that is." Brian glared at him but ignored the comment and went on. "The crowds for you are massive, I've never seen anything like it, there are girls waiting outside this hotel for you as we speak. It's nothing you can't handle of course."

Ringo nodded, "Yeah, it's not so bad, all the girls have been pretty great to me so far." He paused and glanced across the table with a sly smile, "Isn't that right Monica?"

Monica was taking a sip of her drink and spit it back up into her cup in surprise at the remark. Her eyes were wide and her face went red. No one seemed to catch the hidden meaning behind the comment except George who looked like he understood, he was smiling, obviously amused.

No one had time to dwell on the remark because Brian began to speak again. "Yes well I'm glad you're all doing well, I suggest you stay inside until the show, unless you feel like being mobbed." The boys nodded and their manager stood up and walked out the door.

They finished eating and Ringo and George got up to leave, "We need to go finish getting ready." George said and Ringo nodded agreement. They walked out of the hotel room and Monica followed them. She stopped them in the hall, "Ringo, can I talk to you for a second?" She asked, giving him an irritated look.

"Of course, I'll catch up to you in a moment George." George nodded with a smirk and continued walking to their room while Ringo waited behind with Monica.

As soon as George was out of earshot she punched him in the arm, "What the hell is wrong with you?!" She whisper shouted.

"Ow! What was that for?" He asked with surprise.

"That was for your shitty little comment earlier, do you want everyone to know what happened?"

"Oh come on luv, I was only joking." He said with a smile.

"Well that joke could have cost me a boyfriend! What if he had caught on?" She argued.

"Maybe you should have thought about that before you kissed me."

She narrowed her eyebrows, annoyed. "You're right, I'll never make that mistake again."

Monica could see that her remark had shrunk his confidence a little, but he kept persisting, "Come on, you and I both know that was not a mistake." He took a step toward her.

She couldn't argue with that without lying so she didn't say anything, just glared at him some more. Ringo could tell he was right by the way she was reacting. He stepped forward again so they were only a couple inches apart. Monica's heartbeat quickened and she froze.

He leaned his head in toward hers and could feel her heavy breaths. He could see that he had an effect on her. She was frozen in place her eyes already falling partly closed in anticipation. He decided he'd leave her waiting and kissed her on the cheek slowly. He whispered to her, "Don't try to tell me that kiss was a mistake. Don't forget, I can still tell when you are lying." Then he stepped backward.

Monica was still breathing heavily and all she could do was stare at him. He smirked and turned around to walk away. As he was leaving, he turned around and spoke once more, "Oh, and maybe try to be a little less obvious with your staring at me, someone might catch on." He winked and walked away.

Once she could no longer see him, she was able to calm herself down. Why does he suddenly have this effect over me? She wondered as she rubbed her head in frustration. Suddenly the door to her hotel room opened and Paul walked out.

"What are you doing out here?" He asked.

"Uhh... I was talking to Ringo about..." She tried to think of something, "Um, the band, we were talking about the band, and uh... the show tonight."

Paul nodded, "Well ok, what did you want to talk to me about."

"What do you mean?" She was only half paying attention to what he was saying, she couldn't stop thinking about Ringo.

"You said earlier you had something you needed to talk to me about remember?"

"Oh! Yeah of course!" She shook her head to snap back into reality. "I was just thinking about what you asked me yesterday..."

"About moving in together?" he asked, scrunching his eyebrows.

"Yeah." she looked at him worried how he was going to react. "Um, well... Don't you think it's a little too soon?"

"We've been together a year now, how is it too soon?"

"I don't know, maybe it's not, but I just don't think I'm ready."

Paul nodded silently.

"I'm really sorry..." She said while trying to read his expression.

Paul didn't look happy at all, but he wasn't particularly angry looking either. He just debated with himself for a moment. "Ok." was all he said before walking straight back into the hotel room without another word.