the book shop > j.l < MID EDIT

twenty seven

thursday 16th july 1959

penelope

penelope woke up at nine thirty in order to shower and get ready to go and see john. charlotte wasn't going to be able to make it to rehearsals until a few hours later so penelope decided to just meet her there later in the day.

penelope put on a midi length purple pleated skirt with silver speckled over it, with a black long sleeve turtle neck tucked in. she put on some black and white shoes and brushed through her hair. she decided been as they'd be going on a date after rehearsals she would make an effort with her appearance. she flat ironed her hair and clipped back her bangs. she applied only a bit of mascara as usual and some clear lip gloss which she put in her purse to take with her. she grabbed her camera bag which held her normal film camera and her polaroid camera.

by the time she was finished getting ready the time was eleven thirty. leaving her just enough time to have a cup of tea and be on her way.

she got to the cavern at ten past twelve and walked straight into the club. as she walked through the entrance she faintly heard paul's voice say "well what the fuck do we do now? we can't play half of these songs without a drummer!"

"come on we'll figure something out, let's have a five minute break to think things through yeah?" an unknown voice spoke up. there were a few mumbles in response. penelope tapped the door that separated herself and the voices and she slowly peeked her head round and walked in to see paul, john, george and an unknown boy and girl that she'd never met before.

"penelope," johns voice boomed as a smile overtook the scowl on his face. she smiled at him as he walked over to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder bringing her deeper into the room.

george and paul greeted her, alongside a new boy whom she'd never met before but had seen perform with the quarrymen on that night.

"hi i'm stu, and this is my girlfriend astrid," he introduced himself pulling the short haired blonde girl beside him. she smiled at penelope.

"i'm penelope, i'm uh-" penelope not knowing how to introduce herself furrowed her eyebrows as john intervened to say,

"shes mine. my girl, or person or whatever," he laughed brushing off the comment as if it hadn't made penelope blush prolifically.

this comment made paul smirk.

"about time johnny."

john and the boys then split back apart, john getting a drink for penelope and sitting her on a sofa they had placed in front of the stage that they'd dragged out of the dressing room. he plonked on the seat next to her and stared at her smiling as she drank her water.

"what?" she questioned smiling at him.

"did you do something different with your hair?" he looked at her quizzically as if trying to figure it out. his arm rested on the back of the sofa behind her and he twirled a strand of her hair between his fingers.