she's leaving home 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒 [𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐰𝐨]

IV

[𝟏𝟖.𝟎𝟖.𝟔𝟐.]

john lennon never would've thought he'd see molly mayweather ever again since what happened. didn't she hate his guts? now, standing in front of him, she stood with extended arms. john-unsure and hesitant, leaned forward to hug molly. it was a surprisingly nice feeling. it was nearly eight pm in liverpool, almost time to get to the venue. they would have to meet ringo right at the hour to get a proper rehearsal in.

"oh, john, i haven't seen you in so long!" she voiced, hugging him tighter. "i heard cynthia's pregnant!"

george's small house was cosy for a cool august night. him, john and molly were waiting for paul to arrive so they could get to birkenhead for their first performance with their new drummer, ringo. george went off somewhere to get snacks, so it was just john and molly.

john nodded, pulling away from the squeezing girl. "she is," he confirmed. "boy, you've... you've grown!" he grinned, surveying her appearance.

"i'm twenty, now!" john would soon turn twenty-two. he loved seeing her in a better, more relaxed state. in her younger days, she was a bit uptight, unconfident. now, she looked great. and she didn't hold a grudge, which was nice.

"i can see tha', same shoes, same handbag, same lipstick." he pointed out. it was true. molly loved the way her shoes, handbag and lipstick already were because it worked for her. "different hair, though. 's longer. suits you, though." she was beautiful. more beautiful than she was two years before, perhaps. still resting his hands on the back of her elbows, john pulled back. his hair was mopped on his forehead, similar to george's, but it was slightly shorter. "but still the pretty, delicate little molly i've known for six years." she blushed. she couldn't believe she blushed. she was truly flattered. after all these years, molly truly still appreciated john.

"and you're..." she glanced at him. he'd gotten rounder. a healthy rounder. "still john!" he snickered at her response.

george came back in with little biscuits in hand. he passed one to john, but molly refused. "i'm full. we had an entire lunch earlier, remember?" she said to george. apparently, george's appetite never changed since molly last saw him. "you had a whole turkey, george. how are you still hungry?"

"and so skinny!" paul's voice came from the unlocked door. it was nice enough outside to where they could keep the doors open. paul opened the screen door, peeking in with his bass case in hand. he dropped it when he saw molly hanging by the fireplace with john. "mary!" he cried.

"james!" molly smiled broadly, giving into paul's hug. his hair was just like john and george's! she sensed a pattern. she hadn't seen him for too long. he and john were supposed to visit her in paris the year before, and they called to let her know, but she didn't pick up the phone. paul's scent reminded her of home. it wasn't like hugging george or john, because molly loved paul dearer than anyone. he smelled like liverpool, just... cleaner. hugging him was a breath of fresh air. hugging him felt like being home. "how are you, dear?" he muttered into her ear.

"oh, i'm fine," she grinned. when they pulled back, george had already scarfed down most of the food. now all that was left was to meet ringo! "what've you all done to your hair?"

she lifted a hand up to paul's head to mess with it. "john and i met this lad up in paris-he cut our hair this way. we told george and ringo to do the same, but all's ringo's got 'tuh do is shave his beard," paul explained. "you'll meet him tonight, soon." paul's hair felt the same, just with less gel.