⇾ 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 | 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐈

Chapter Twelve: You and Me! We Go Together Like Honey and Tea (Hey, That Rhymes)

August 13, 1961

The next day, I woke up confused.

Why wasn't I in my own room? Did I not go home last night? I guess I hadn't because, upon further inspection, I realized I was in John's room still, even worse, I was in his bed. Luckily, he wasn't next to me and hadn't been, it seemed. I sat up, dazed, and looked around. He was on the ground. I frowned. I should be on the ground, not him. He seemed to still be asleep, so I laid back down, recounting the events that had brought me here.

John now knew my entire life's story, I now knew (at least most) of his, and he had seen me depressed and vulnerable. That's a lot of firsts.

Suddenly, John sat up. I jumped.

He grinned. "Sorry to startle you, love."

I sat up. "Why are you on the floor?"

He shrugged. "Cause you're up there."

"But I wasn't up here."

"I moved you there?"

I shook my head. "I could have stayed on the floor."

He frowned. "You don't treat a guest like that." He stood up and plopped on the bed. "Especially a bird."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."

He shook his head a moment, looking down with a smile, and someone knocked on his door.

"John?" came a female voice. John looked at me, frantic, and pointed to the closet. I jumped up and closed myself in it quietly as John opened the door calmly. I guess I shouldn't be here. Oops.

"Is someone in here, John?" I heard the voice, that I now suspected was his aunt, ask.

"No," replied John, his voice even and convincing.

"Are you sure?" She sure wasn't sure.

"Mhm," John just sounded bored now.

"Alright—." She still sounded skeptical. "Well, I'm leaving. I'll be back later."

"See ye then," said John closing the door.

I released the breath I hadn't realized I was holding in as he opened the door and I went to steady my shaking hands.

"Sorry, love." He looked at my hands and caught me clasping them. "You okay there?" He grinned at me.

I nodded with a smile. "She seems scary," I noted.

He shook his head. He was way too close to me. "She's a doll." He dragged the word out, rolling his eyes, and, thankfully, stepped away.

"What time is it?" I asked, suddenly remembering I wasn't at home.

"6?" John replied.

"I—uh—I need to go home. Y'know, Brian is gonna be up in fifteen minutes and we don't want him to freak out, do we?" I laughed.

He nodded. "Hey, why don'tcha meet me at the diner down the road in an hour?" he asked pleasantly.

I smiled. "I will."

"I'll invite Paul and George. Dunno if they'll show up, but it's worth a shot, isn't it?" I nodded. "See ye then, Donna," he said with a glance up and down.

"See ye," I called as I left.

I made it back to the house at 6:15 on the dot and was sitting in my room, breathless, when Brian's alarm went off. I let out a deep sigh, overcome with relief.