He's So Fine [Beatles / George Harrison FanFiction]

Chapter Twenty-One: Autumn 1950

'Oh,' said George. 'Alright then.'

Della glared at him, betrayed, shocked, furious. The next time she got him on his own she was going to kick his shin so hard he'd have a bruise for a month!

George's mate grinned at them, triumphant. He was missing two teeth at the front, one on either side making him look like a horrible rabbit with greasy ginger hair. His name was Edward, though they all called him Eddie, and he was three years older than George and Della.

George liked him, God knows why, although that probably had a lot to do with it. He was older, he knew more swear words and he had a Raleigh bike that he went everywhere on. All George had wanted to do all summer was hang out with him and his mates. They never let Della come with them or play their games. They'd built a den somewhere in Speke woods and wouldn't tell Della where it was, never mind let her go in it.

'Soz, Della, no girls allowed! Go play with your dolls!' Eddie said, with a sneer of a smile.

'I don't play with dolls,' Della mumbled but Eddie just laughed. She set her jaw and bit her tongue, determined not to let him see her upset. 'I don't want to go, anyway.'

'Come 'ed, George,' Eddie said, still laughing.

'Nah,' George said. 'Y'alright, ta.'

'Wha'?'

'I'm stopping here with Della.'

Eddie furrowed his brow, trying to compute what George was telling him. He wasn't the brightest button. That's how George knew him. He should be going on to the big school soon, but they already knew they were keeping him back at Dovedale, George's school, for at least another year.

'You said you were comin' to Oglet Shore,' Eddie said, eventually.

'Nah, what I said was, I'd go if Della could go.'

We don't let no girls in our gang!' Eddie snarled, like even the idea was disgusting.

'Yeah. Alright then,' George agreed again with a shrug. Eddie still looked confused so he clarified, 'Alright, no girls, no Della. I won't go then.'