The Nearest To My Heart -John Lennon Fan Fiction - Paul McCartney Fan Fiction - Beatles Fan Fiction

Chapter Twenty One - Why Don't We Fall In Love?

Charlie had trouble hearing The Beatles performance from backstage over the screaming fans. They were an incredible live act, but you wouldn't know it because it was difficult to hear them. She enjoyed watching them perform though, but the one who caught her eye wasn't John or Paul.

It was Ringo. He was quite energetic behind his drum-kit, garnering the attention of the crowd right along with his three mates. Ringo couldn't seem to sit still on his stool, his body moving to the beat, and his head bobbed back and forth. 

The Beatles began to play the opening chords of Twist and Shout the final song on their set-list that evening. The noise level in the venue grew, the fans screams drowned out the sounds of the Beatles amps and microphones.

Goose bumps briefly raised up on Charlie's skin, and she rubbed her bare arms. The audiences excitement bordered on hysterical. She felt that The Beatles could've stood on stage for half an hour, not playing or singing and the fans would've still screamed and cried at the sight of them.

Charlie stepped back, no longer feeling like there was a point in watching when she couldn't hear them. There was more to it though, and she was having trouble acknowledging her need to speak with John.

She couldn't become involved with him, but she wanted to try and have a friendship. The idea of approaching John, and proposing they stay in contact with one another was something that made her anxious.

She viewed herself as being in a vulnerable position, and she'd always tried to avoid that. She'd counted on John turning up with George to The Debutantes dressing room before the start of the show, but only George had stopped in.

Annette was watching from backstage as well, eyes focused intently on George. Charlie didn't think she could ever be like her friend when it came to relationships, but it brought a smile to her face, seeing how happy and content Annette was with watching him.

John purposefully avoided Charlie. It was easy. He stayed in The Beatles dressing room, feeling like a bit of a coward for being unable to approach her as if yesterday hadn't happened. He didn't have it in him to put on a pretense of bravado for the sake of attempting to save face. John thought that he could successfully hide out for the next three days. It was unlikely that Charlie would go to him. She'd proven to him to not be the sort to do that.

He was genuinely surprised when Charlie stepped into The Beatles dressing room after their set. He tried to appear casual, smoking his cigarette. John assumed that she was there for Paul, but after a brief exchange of words with his mate, she walked over to him.

A smug look appeared on John's face, Charlie was standing over him, but he felt like he had the upper hand. He knew saying anything to suggest that would be pushing it. John resisted the urge to give her a hard time, following her out when she'd asked to speak with him alone.

That feeling of having the upper hand all but disappeared when she'd lead them to the spot where John had confessed wanting to be with her, and she hadn't returned his feelings.

Charlie crossed her arms over her chest, thinking of how she could tell John what she wanted to without feeling helpless. She couldn't bring herself to do it. "Let's go out tonight." She proposed, feeling more comfortable with suggesting they go on a date than sharing her feelings.

John understood that Charlie wanted to forget about yesterday. He should've felt relieved that she was willing to do so. Yet he felt slighted by her willingness to ignore what happened between the two of them. He wasn't keen to address it, but she hadn't given him a say in the matter. He wasn't use to being in this position in his personal relationships. "Alright then." He'd planned on going home to Cynthia, and stay in for the evening, but spending time with Charlie was far more appealing.