Lipstick Lily

There's a Place

.......Hands up in surrender he looked up at the shadows that now swayed over them.

Four lads

"Alright Paulie, G, Rings! Hey Rings met Lily" John put a hand by his mouth as if to keep a secret from her "Just don't call the girl luv she'll have your tackle"

"Hello Lu- arrr nearly said it didn't I!... Lily- Richard" Richy grinned, holding out his hand which she shook gingerly. He'd been hearing about this bird for the full train ride, ever since they stood metres from her at Liddypool's Lime Street station. Metres between them they nudged and told him bout her but they acted like strangers, even her, he never would have guessed that they all had met, however terrible, previously. Now, here she was in the flesh. Very pretty, and the grin she'd gifted John was sad but wonderful for evoking pleasant thoughts. "Ummm the lads and I decided you needed security guards so here we are. Ta- da! The fabulous Beatley security detail ready to serve and protect pretty solo travellers... at your service"

"Gee cut it out Casanova" Paul smirked, clipping Ringo behind the ear "What do you say Lil, room for some raggedy musicians? Shift over Lennon"

Paul hustled the fastest, knocking Richy aside, to sit by Lily. So Lily now had Paul one side and John the other. "English rose between two thorns, eh" Paul nodded to their seating arrangement with a wink directed at Lily.

"Is he always so...." Lily squirmed, this was much too close to be sitting like this, the seats were made for two not three. George and Richard sat opposite. George lit Richys fag that sat perched between the drummers lips.

"Flirty? Yeah lu- Lil, it's a very bad problem actually. Flirted with the ticketing officer last week and the bloke near booted him off the train" George cackled, first looking at her shoes, then darting his eyes up to see if she got the joke "You see the tic-"

"Was a man I get it, I'm not thick George just loose" Lily retorted sarcastically, it was quite uncomfortable for them to see her laughing off her trade, if you could call it that, but it was better than bogging herself down in it they all supposed to themselves.

"You're not loose, is she lads. Nice straight girl this" Paul lifted an arm and slung it over her shoulder, Lily squirmed a little more. Only one thing desired when a mans arm wrapped around her shoulder.

Did they want something from her... Were they now wanting payment for services rendered...

Lily glanced carefully at them all. John with his head cast up but still eyeing her carefully, she watched him back unnerving him, he was measuring her so she measured him, and all of them. George sank a bottle of Pepsi- Cola in under a minute and was spluttering and coughing with 'excuse me's' thrown her way.

Richard, Rings? Oh Rings he has rings on. Lily lent forward a touch to look a little closer at them, Rings wiggled his fingers making her hiccup a laugh and lean back from her close inspection of his hand.

"That's there's a present from me Ma. That one's me granddads, that one's a pressy for me birthday just past"

"You sure do like rings" Lily smiled with a small amount of ease this time. Rings' blue eyes, the bluest she had ever seen, stared steadily back at her sombrely, warm though, like a friend or someone you could trust.

"Lily"

"Yes Rings" she whispered, but they had heard her call him Rings, they all cackled with laughter, John hooted then nudged her.

"His name isn't Rings its Ringo with an 'o' like cheerio or dumb-di-o, Lils"

"Dumb di Lennono mate, watch your tongue or I'll make a run for it with me bloody drum kit I will. Dragging me back to that humpy of a town. Bloody Hamburg I'm over that dive" Rings oops Ringo countered smartly. John scoffed, lighting a cigarette making Lily waft her hand about, they were all lit up now.