Great Expectations. - Now Complete

Chapter 3

With a weary heart, he climbed down the stairs, her final good bye echoing in his head. He stopped, hesitating, then turned to go back to her. He raised his hand to knock on her door then, shaking his head once more he turned and walked away. Stepping out into the cold darkness hit his senses hard! George rapped on the driver's window, startling the driver awake. He climbed out stiffly and opened the back door for George. He threw himself in and then waited for the driver to be ready.

"Where to Sir?" the driver asked him.

"Just drive around for a bit. I need time to think." George scowled.

"Yes Sir."

The engine started and the car began to move. George stared morosely out of the window, not really noticing anything the car passed. He thought about the evening. Her thought about her. Of Alice. Even her name on his lips felt right. There really was something so very perfect about her. Her warm, sunny nature, even more remarkable now considering how she had been treated by her so called fiancee! There was something about her that stayed with him. She was calming and gentle. She seemed to be able to anticipate his every need. For the first time since the madness of Beatlemania George realised that, apart from when he escaped back home to his parents, he'd felt happy, comfortable  and relaxed. Himself. He could be himself with her. Ironic really because here he was, a man with fame and success, at his happiest in a small flat on a 1940's housing estate eating a Sunday style roast dinner. Because of her. Alice. So why did driving away from her feel like he was leaving his future behind?

He issued the driver a new instruction. He did as requested and once more George found himself stood outside her front door. He stopped, conscious that knocking now could frighten her. He rummaged in his pocket in the hope of finding something he could leave her a note with. Nothing. Deciding his only opportunity now to try to explain his actions was to wait until tomorrow, at the theatre, before their final gig. He retreated down the stairs and back to the waiting car. After giving the driver instructions to return to the hotel, he sat back and closed his eyes.

"Sir."

He was rudely awoken by the driver. He looked around to get his bearings. He was now back at the hotel. Opening his wallet, he thrust a couple of twenty pound notes at the driver and thanked him for putting up with the unsocialable hours he'd kept him for. The driver nodded and thanked him. George staggered to his feet and headed inside. Finding his room, he collapsed fully clothed onto his bed and slept like the dead.

It was 9.15am. The car was collecting them at 10.00am. The change in routine was due to a press conference about the rest of the up and coming tour. Ringo opened the door to George's room and went in. Looking at the state he found his mate asleep, he guessed it had been very late by the time he got back from his date with Alice.

"George," he urged, shaking him gently, "George mate, wake up!"

"Piss off!" George's muffled voice could be heard through the covers.

Ringo heaved him upright and looked at him. "Still pissed or just knackered?"

"Knackered. Just leave me alone!"

"George, come on, we've got a damn press conference this morning before we head to the theatre."

Still not moving, Ringo called in the other lads. They ran a bath, warm but not too warm and filled it with bubbles. Then, pouncing on him, they grabbed his arms and legs and carried the now awake George into the bathroom. He was then unceremoniously dumped fully clothed into the water. John and Paul were hysterical with laughter by this point whereas Ringo showed more sympathy.

"YOU BASTARDS! CALL YOURSELF FRIENDS? FUCK OFF!" George's anger shocking the three of them, they back away and left him with instructions to get a move on or they'd be back with cold water!

Now completely awake, George undressed whilst still in the water, then quickly shaved and redressed. He appeared to where the lads were waiting just 20 minutes later. He scowled at them.

"What time did you get in?" asked Ringo quietly, offering him some toast.

"About 5am." George replied, taking the toast gratefully and began to eat it. He took the offered coffee from Paul and drank it in one gulp.

There was a knock on the door. "That'll be Brian." said John. He turned to George. "You OK mate? Sorry about before but we had to get you up and ready."

George smiled wearily. "I know. Thanks."

"Was it a good night then," John pressed, "you and Alice?"

George felt his heart plummet. Alice. That's all he could think about as he tried to sleep and now she was going to dominate his waking moments too! He was saved by replying as Brian came into the room and began the daily rundown of the now familiar Beatles touring itinery. George knew he could recite it already. For once, he ignored the quips and flashes of humour from John and Paul who inevitably teased Brian rotten during these speeches. Instead he thought about just one thing. Alice.