𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬 | george harrison

sixteen

"i'm not sure about this." paul said, standing in front of the nightclub alongside the five of us.

"quit being a pussy. let's get plastered!" john remarked, raising a fist in the air. i rolled my eyes at him and turned to george.

"why don't you take them all in? i'm gonna stand out here for a minute with paul."

he smirked.

"what's so funny?"

"you ever notice we're always playing mother and father?"

"perhaps it's because we're the only sane ones around these parts." i pushed him lightly towards our group as they filed in, getting carded one by one.

i looked to paul who was now sitting on the curb across the street picking at his nails. i knelt down and took a seat next to him on the pavement.

"you don't have to do this, michelle. i'm fine out here. i'll come in when i'm ready."

"how many times do i have to tell you? i'm not leaving you alone with your horribly depressing thoughts." i said, giving him a sympathetic smile. he returned the favour and placed his arm around my shoulders.

"can i tell you something?"

"anything."

"i thought i was going to marry her."

i looked up at him, debating on if i should say what i really wanted to.

"why did she do it?" i choked out.

he sighed deeply and tossed his head back.

"i fucked up." he started. "i met another bird, an american, and i got a bit closer to her than i originally anticipated. i never had a shag with her though, really. you have to believe me chelle, because no one else does." he pleaded.

"i won't, paul. i swear it." i promised, giving him a reassuring look.

"i really don't know how the lads and i got along before you. it's like you're the glue keeping all us together or somethin'."

i smiled at his comparison, realising how true it was.

"now, will you tell me something?" he questioned again.

"what is it?"

"when you left before, was it because of john?"

i felt a wave of nerves take over my body. like there was something tugging at my heart. a little person living in there constantly beating at the walls with its fists.

"i don't know. i mean after he kissed me, i couldn't process anything. i just knew it was time for me to leave because i needed a minute to... think. do you ever feel like that? like you're holding your breath and you can't exhale until you're alone." i began to ramble.

"i get it. but... do you have feelings for john?"

all of a sudden i felt angry towards paul. how could he ask me something like that? i couldn't believe he would assume i had feelings for anyone other than george. i didn't, that i knew for sure.

"no, god no. john is my friend, i love him dearly. and i love you. but i'm beginning to love you a little less each minute we spend wallowing out here when we could be drinking in there." i laughed forcefully, trying to change the subject. it was the most uncomfortable thing to be discussing.

he laughed and stood up, reaching his hand down for me to take. i grabbed ahold of him and the two of us made our way in.