𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬 | george harrison

eighteen

after paying ringo and nancy ten dollars to get lost for a bit and convincing john he doesn't need to protect me from my own boyfriend, ex boyfriend, the three of us were finally ready to talk about the... situation, like civilised adults.

i sat across from george, next to paul at the fold out kitchen table.
george refused to make eye contact with me, and i wasn't exactly thrilled to be speaking to him either.

"very well. since neither one of you are going to speak up, i suppose i'll have to." paul began in a low voice. "george, what the fuck is your problem?" he asked, clearing his throat.

george's eyes shot up with anger and the rest of his body followed. "my problem?!" he exclaimed.

paul stood up as well and gestured his hands down at george. "whoa whoa, let's stay calm, yeah?"

george grunted angrily and slowly sat back down, paul doing the same. i had enough.

"why are you being such a twat?" i blurted out.

"ask paulie."

"what do you mean, harrison?" paul questioned.

george rolled his eyes and placed both hands on the table.

"i know you're sleeping together."

paul and i both looked at each other at the same time, utter confusion washing over our faces.

"have you been drinking or something? smoking pot?" paul asked.

"i'm not an idiot."

"really? well, why in god's name would you believe paul and i slept together?" i stopped for a minute. "we didn't, right?" i asked paul quietly through gritted teeth. he shook his head, trying his best not to make too much movement.

"you were moaning his name in your sleep, michelle." he ran a hand through his hair. "i know you have feelings for him."

my brain began to run a million miles per second.

when did i do that?

did paul and i shag?

was i attracted to paul?

"chelle?" paul spike quietly. "is that true?"

i looked at george, who appeared to be seemingly heartbroken, and then back at paul. i felt like my world was spinning. my face became sweaty and my hands grew clammy. my stomach turned, causing me to clutch my core.

"if george said that's what he heard then... then it must be." i answered, feeling my heart sink.

paul placed his hand on my thigh. "do you have feelings for me?"

"unbelievable." george scoffed, standing up once again.

"george," i started, pushing past paul and grabbing ahold of george's arm. he quickly pulled out of my grip.

"don't touch me." he stated, finally meeting my eyes. he looked back at paul who was now standing beside me. "you two deserve each other." he announced, grabbing his jacket and heading off the bus.

i stood in shock, not even bothering to gather with paul by the window. he watched george walk away.

he watched george leave me.

"he just needs a minute to cool off. you know how he gets." paul attempted to comfort me, even though i could tell he was uncomfortable.

"i don't know how it happened, paul. really." i explained. i took a deep breath and decided that my main concern at the moment wasn't to comfort paul. "that's what i hate about him. he can't talk about anything. he just runs away when things get hard."

"michelle," he gave me a look that read you can't be serious.

"what is it?"

"the last time you felt overwhelmed you ran away and scared us all half to death. ringo was right. you two are messes." paul said, crossing his arms.

"that's yet another thing i hate."

he raised an eyebrow.

"when you're right." i groaned, placing my face in my palms. i plopped down on the couch and a moment later another beatle emerged.

"where is the dog? we do have a show in about four hours, remember?" john smirked, making himself comfortable next to me.

"bloody hell." paul said, pulling a jacket over himself. he ran back to the bunks and recruited ringo and nancy to go manhunting for george with him. the three of them gave me sympathetic looks before exiting. nancy even pulling me into a hug and signalling a girls night.

once the trio was off the bus, i turned to john. i looked at him, feeling the tears burning in my eyes.

"come here, chelley." he said, pulling me into his chest.

"it's just too complicated, john. i love george, i do. but i'm starting to wonder if it's w-worth," i sniffled in his shirt. "worth it."

he rubbed my back and kissed the top of my head.

"if you love him, dear... it's always worth it." he stated. "i promise."

i looked up at him. "a thousand?"

"a thousand and one." he gave me a toothy grin, causing me to laugh.

"oh, christ! here i've just had a big fight with george and you've got me laughing!" i complained jokingly, still wiping tears from my eyes.

"that's what best friends are for!"

i looked down and thought about what he said. a moment later, i had let out another small giggle without realising it.

"what's so hilarious?"

"it's nothing."

john rolled his eyes. "well humour me."

"it's just," i ran a hand through my long knots. "i've realised i'm almost always wrong and the four of you are almost always right. it's like you know me better than i've ever known myself."

he smiled softly and stood up, holding his hand out for me to take. "we've got a bit of time to kill before showtime. what'd you say we go check out that record shop?" he asked in attempt to change the heavy conversation topic, pointing out the window.

"i don't even know if i'm going to your show tonight, let alone joy walking through town. it's best for me to just go to bed." i sighed.

he picked up my bag and heels. "please? besides, it's christmas eve and i still haven't gotten any gifts."

"neither have i, johnny. you're not hot stuff." i laughed softly.

"well then clearly, you need to experience the joy that is watching me try on clothes for a number of hours."

you're not gonna be any less miserable in here than you would be out there, michelle.

"alright. you're buying me a record though."

a/n: hey loves! super sad to announce this but, the next chapter is the final chapter! i'll write an epilogue as well, and this chapter was really like a filler chapter. this next one is christmas day, and it'll be significantly longer than the rest. thank you for being so supportive. <3
xX, emily