Growing Up Beside You [John Lennon/Beatles Fanfiction]

13. Look who it is (2)

(Continued)

"Calm down, Chetch," John chuckled. "Don't get ya knickers in a twist. Give her a ciggy, Rodders."

"Why me?!"

"Just give it," John snapped.

There was no way he was gonna give the girl one of his Marlboro's just to watch her cough and splutter and waste a damn good cigarette. He was running low and they weren't bloody cheap that's for sure, not that he paid for them. He blackmailed Eric into handing them over. Though, John wasn't actually gonna tell Eric's new bird that Eric wanked over another girl the day before they got together. But Eric didn't have to know that now, did he? John wasn't that much of a git.

Anyway, John didn't have to ask Rod again. He simply tutted and mumbled something under his breath, handing a ciggy over to Celia. She thanked him with an extra appreciative smile that seemed to read 'much appreciated' and 'sorry your mate's such a prick'. The girl placed the cigarette between her lips, and Rod was quick to give her a light, though he examined her face as he did it.

"You look different," he stated, putting the lighter back in his pocket.

John watched Celia like a hawk as she took her first drag. He waited for the choking noises to begin so he could mock her but she didn't even so much as pull a face. She smoked it effortlessly like she was used it and perhaps she was, John didn't exactly know her well.

With a slightly amused smile, Celia said to Rod, "Do I take that as a compliment, then?" There was an element of sophistication to her as she balanced her cigarette between her small slim fingers.

"Far from it," muttered John.

"Yeah, it's a good different," Pete said.

Celia thanked him with a hint of pride in her voice and then added, "You haven't changed much, though, Pete." He frowned at that and Celia chuckled. "You're still the chatty, blonde, curly-haired lad I've known since the first year of Quarry Bank."

"Well, you could at least tell me i've grown a few inches." His lips stretched into a smile and this time she returned it.

"Not his cock, that's for sure," grinned John. "The size of that ain't changed since his mother pushed him out." Pete furrowed his brows at John and his forehead displayed those four wavy wrinkles that John loved to tease him about. He traced over them with pen one time when they were kids, and it didn't end well.

"You've seen his cock then, John?" Rod asked with a wry smile, leaning forward in the chair.

"Not as much as you have, la'."

"Shut it, Lennon," Rod laughed, reaching out to kick John. John jumped out the way giggling, despite the fact that Rod wasn't even close enough to actually hit him.

Suddenly, Celia let out a few short coughs and John saw his chance to throw her a comment.

"Tut tut, nasty habit that."

"Tell that to yourself and the millions of others who smoke. Or you could write to the newspapers, whatever you prefer."

"Alright, mouthy, maybe I will."

"Don't call me mouthy," Celia scowled. "I'm not."

John laughed in disbelief. The girl had more mouth on her than any bird he'd ever known.

"Oh, yeah?" he questioned. "Tell me the reason why ya got kicked out of class and thrown into detention again." Quoting Mr Taylor in an exaggerated posh voice he said, "You've got quite a mouth on you, Miss Pooley. Insolence will not be tolerated."