⇾ 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 | 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐈

Chapter Thirteen: Pourquoi Tu Ne M'aimes Pas?

August 13, 1961

"Oh, c'mon, just give it a shot!" John was still whining to me about saying no to playing guitar for him. I hadn't played in years! There's no way I'd remember anything decent anyway.

"No," I groaned in reply. "I can't play anything anymore."

"That's why I'm here. Just one thing, please?

"Forget it, John. Not happening." I gave a very fake and forced smile and he frowned.

We were sitting on my porch, him in a chair and I in a swing. He stood and came to sit next to me, looking at me teasingly, a smile gracing his features.

"Vous et moi," he said and I looked at him skeptically. He smirked and continued. "Sont des mots qui vont bien ensemble." He put his arm around me. I cringed. "Pourquoi tu ne m'aimes pas?"

"What the—," I tried to ask, but he put a finger to my lips.

"Ma douce Donna," he finished and paused.

I rolled my eyes. "I can't reply if that's what you're wanting. Can't respond to something I don't understand." I shrugged.

He refused to wipe the smile off his face, just shaking his head and looking away. I followed his gaze to the horizon. I could vaguely see past the houses lining the roads ahead of us. The sun was beginning to set and, impossibly, the air was becoming slightly chilly. I peeked at John's watch and saw that the time was only 6:30.

"Hey, Donna," I heard John say. He still had his arm around me and it almost bothered me that I hadn't tried to get him to take it away, but I found myself unable to bring myself to do it.

"What's that?" I asked him.

"Fancy meeting me at Penny Lane tomorrow at noon?"

I looked at him skeptically.

"Please," he added. What a sap.

He peered back, his eyes boring themselves into mine. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't.

I sighed. "I'd love to." I smiled genuinely and he smiled smugly. I rolled my eyes, pausing. "You're not gonna tell me what those words mean, are you?"

He peered at me expectedly. "Nope," he said shortly. I nodded, looking away, almost annoyed.

"Figures," I muttered.

"What?" he replied bemusedly.

"Nothing," I replied, smiling at him innocently.

He looked me up and down, confused, a moment, but then shrugged, tightening his grip around my shoulders. He sighed dreamily. "Oh, Donna, you and your secrets."

"I like to keep 'em," I said in a playful and knowing tone.

He shook his head, smiling at me stupidly. I couldn't help but smile back.

We stayed on the porch for a few more hours, and right as John had left, Brian showed up. I guess we couldn't have timed it better.

I fell asleep that night confused. I had been with John all day and, for the first time, I felt something. Butterflies? Was I nervous?

Only time will tell, I thought.

August 14, 1961

The next morning, I woke up peppier than usual. For the first time, I actually thought long about what I would wear, as if I cared. I finally decided on a maroon blouse and some simple pants. After dressing, I found myself in my bathroom, looking deep into my own eyes through the mirror. I decided, after longer time than I'd like to admit, to leave my hair down and then turned and leaned against the counter, looking out on my dresser where I had the only picture of me and my parents. I'd managed to hold onto it since it was given to me by my grandparents back when I was about five. It had always sat on my nightstand then, and when I went to the children's home, it found its way into my dresser, where it only came out at night, finally, it had wound up here, on my dresser. I often found myself stopping and looking at it.

I bounced off the counter and went to sit on my bed, taking in my mother's soft features. She really was beautiful, and my father had a stern look on his face that he somehow managed to make soft as he smiled slightly down at the bundle in my mother's arms: me. They seem like they would be so lovely to know. If only I had known them. Maybe they'd have been proud of me. I hoped they would have.

I sighed, looking down at my lap, then I turned my head to the window where I could see John's curtains drawn. Perhaps he had already left. It was 11:30, so that made sense, I guess. I gave one more look at the haunting expressions in the photo and smiled slightly, standing to leave at last.

Penny Lane wasn't horribly far from where I lived. It took me about fifteen minutes to get there, and it was a peaceful sort of walk, what with not having a bunch of guys walking by my side, laughing loudly at some wild joke. Being alone, I was able to fully take in all Liverpool had to offer, something I hadn't managed since moving here.

Liverpool may be viewed as a dingy site, but it really was quite beautiful, if you could catch the right parts of it. The docks offered you a beautiful view of the water stretching out as far as the eye could see. There was the low hum of electricity, if you listened hard enough, and the light chirping of birds overhead, and even the quack of a duck, should you be near the parks. All in all, it was a nice little city, as long as you knew the correct places to go looking.

Penny Lane was about as fairy-tale as it got, I quickly noticed as I made it up to where I had spotted John from far off. He was dressed a little different from usual, dropping the usual leather apparel and taking on a white button-up and some black jeans. He had his hands in his pockets, looking almost nervous. He smiled and gave a little wave when he saw me. I smiled and waved back, picking up my pace to reach him quicker.

Penny Lane had loads of people bustling about, all looking happy and pleasant, laughing and greeting and waving. It was a happy sight to see. All in all, it seemed like a lovely place to settle down and have a lovely little evening.

It was funny, I'd seen John nearly everyday since we met, and somehow today felt...I don't know...different? Up until now he'd been with Emily, so everything he'd done had been in a playful, friendly manner, but now he seemed to be, almost, advancing on me? He just seemed more amicable than before. Before he was just a nervous and cold-shouldered wreck, but now he had softened up immensely.

In conclusion, I was excited to hang out with this "new and exciting" John, I suppose.