The End (Beatles Fanfiction)

Chapter 6

1959

"This is bleedin' ridiculous!" John shouted. "Five quid a week, between the five of us?"

He ran his hand through his slicked-up hair impatiently, and turned to Paul, who looked back with a sheepish look on his face.

"Now look here, boys," the manager said. "Your band ain't exactly The Crickets. The Quarrymen-"

"It's Johnny and the Moondogs," John muttered, staring at the wall.

The stout man looked up at him, and waved the interjection away. "Whatever you call yerselves- anyway, your band isn't in high demand, so your salary isn't going to be high, either."

"Well, maybe you'd change your mind if you heard us play," Paul offered. George stood behind him, fiddling with his fingers nervously. Stu was off to the side, leaning against the wall, his dark leather jacket contrasting with the sterile white paint. Pete stood in a corner, smoking a ciggie.

"I don't have time for this, lads," John said, his voice thick. "Let's we go find a more respectable place." He turned and stormed out. The rest of the band followed him to the street.

"What was all that for, la?" Paul said once he caught up to John.

"We don't need to be playing for blokes like that," John retorted. "We can find a better sort."

"We've been looking for 'a better sort' for weeks," Pete chimed in, speeding up to walk beside John.

"Yeah," George added. "He was just about to cave."

"Cave to what?" John stopped in the street, and the rest did the same. He gestured wildly, near shouting. "There was nothing for him to cave to! We were the ones caving!" He pointed at Paul. "You were the one caving!" Paul stared down sheepishly. John began to walk again, as did everyone else.

"No one in this band will be performing for a quid a week each," he finished flatly.

Everyone else nodded their agreement, and as the five crossed the street, Stu piped up "Ey, John, we've got school, you know!"

"I know!" John yelled back, and turned the corner, away from the art school. He turned around, walking backwards. Paul, George, Pete, and Stu stopped.

"You lads go on to school!" John shouted jokingly, still walking in reverse. "I'll think about joining ye later!"

With that, he spun around on his heel and sauntered away, leaving the four to head their separate ways.

***************

John stepped out of the bar, empty-handed and annoyed. He looked around with tight eyes, and pulled out a cigarette. He quickly lit it and began to stroll down the street, bumping into busybodies on their way to and from work on the docks.

"Watch it!" someone shouted as John breezed by them.

"Aw, sod off!" he yelled back, and continued walking.

He passed a group of young birds, out of school for lunch, and grinned wickedly. They were dressed all proper in their school uniforms, curls bouncing atop their heads. John threw his cig to the ground and stepped on it, extinguishing the flame. He walked over to one girl and tugged at her sleeve. She turned around in surprise,

He studied her carefully. She had a chubby face, simple looks, mouse-brown hair, brown eyes.

She stared at him. Finally she spoke up.

"What d'you want?" She sounded slightly nervous.

John's grin widened, and he dipped down into a bow. The girl stepped back, shocked.

From the ground, John said, "M'lady, I just wished to make your acquaintance."

"Come on, Marcy," another voice, the girl's friend, spoke. "We have to go." It was a confident voice, one that spoke in statements of sureness.

John swooped up from the ground, looking at the owner of the voice. A bird with auburn hair tied back in a ponytail stood next to the so-called Marcy, reaching for her arm. Her eyes shone a deep hazel, and they radiated certainty. Her pink lips were pursed, and her brows were furrowed. She had a beautiful air of dainty strength about her, and it was attractive.

John smirked. "And why do the pretty ladies have to go?" He noticed the girl was the only one not wearing a school uniform. "Mummy has to take her children to school?"

"Well, the children are off to school, but first Mummy needs to throw away the Teddy," the girl replied dryly, referring to John's Teddy boy appearance.

John grinned. "You're a smart lass," he commented. "D'you go to school?"

The girl nodded. "For art," she added.

John's eyes widened a little. "Well, isn't that a coinkidink," he quipped. "I go to the art school m'self."

The girl's eyebrows raised. "Do you?" she asked. "You don't seem the type."

"I am a complicated soul full of many surprises." The girl smiled a little. John folded his arms and slouched, turning to the rest of the girls. They suddenly looked so dull behind the bird. "Where do you lot go for fine Liverpudlian education?" he asked.

The girls responded shyly, "Institute for Girls."

John nodded, feigning interest. "Must be pretty lonely with no boy's shoulder to cry on," he said, and the girls gasped in shock.

"Let's go," Marcy said, "we can't be late," and the girls toddled away anxiously.

The pretty girl waved goodbye to them, then turned to John.

"I imagine you aren't out for lunch," she said, looking him up and down, "so I'll be going back now." She turned, her ponytail whipping around, and began to walk away.

John quickly caught up to her. "How about we walk together?" he asked. "I've got to go, too, you know, having missed most of the morning." The girl smiled, and continued walking.

"Well?" John said, hopeful. "Whadya say?"

The girl looked at him. "I say, we're walking together right now, aren't we?"

John grinned, and the two of them continued on.

"So why'd you go to art school if all your friends are at the girls' school?" He asked.

"Why are you in art school?" she returned.

"I asked you first."

"Well I asked you second," she replied with a smirk.

John looked ahead with a smile. "I went to art school 'cause I'm too lousy to go anywhere else." He looked at her. "Your turn."

"I went to art school because..." she hesitated, and stared straight ahead.

"What?" John pleaded. "Come on, tell me!"

"You'll laugh," she said.

"No, I won't," John replied. "I swear."

The girl sighed, her hazel eyes looking down. They flashed up at John. "I went because I want to work in fashion." She looked back down. "But everyone says it won't happen. Nothing can happen to a girl from Liverpool."

"Ah, sod the lot of 'em!" John answered, and the girl let out a chuckle. He smiled. "You should go follow your dream, and all that. That's what I'm doing. I want to be a musician." He puffed his chest out proudly. "The next Elvis," he joked. He stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I'm in a band, you know. Johnny and the Moondogs."

The pair reached the art school, its looming stature awaiting them. They began to slowly make their way up the stairs to the entrance.

The girl stopped. "So which are you? Johnny or a Moondog?"

"Johnny," he answered. "Well, John, actually." He stuck out his hand, and the girl took it.

"Prudence," she said, and they shook.

{I know, I know, the format completely changed.I hope it doesn't confuse anyone.

PEACE AND LOVE L***}