⇾ 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 | 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐈

Chapter Sixty-Six: Very Much So!

February 8, 1962

I didn't like being home alone, I had decided. I was used to Brian being home at eight every night, and when he didn't, it put me on edge, whether it was expected or not.

As a result, I'd found myself working down in NEMS on the days everyone was gone. They'd left on the seventh and would be back the ninth, just in time for my last day of school.

Another thing, I'd finished school. I'd successfully kept up with all of the extra work and tomorrow was to be my last day all together. Everyone was happy for me it seemed. I was happy too. Not having to walk those hallways had already become a dream, despite only having been there for six or seven months.

Now that school was practically over, I had a significant amount of freedom. I could now travel to London with the band as often as I wanted while they were away, I could accompany them to their next Hamburg residence in a month or two, and I could finally just slow down to think about—well—me. I had enough time on my hands to think about everything I wanted to do, and what I needed to do to get there. It seemed maybe there was almost too much time on my hands now. If I wasn't so eager, I would have probably felt overwhelmed with it all.

"Donna, can you help me with these boxes?"

I stood up straight, opposed to my last position leaning on the counter of the little music shop, nodding. "What's in them?"

He shrugged. "No idea. Brian told me to leave them outside his office."

"Ah, okay," I answered, going over to lift the other side of it.

"So, they're back in London?" Thomas asked me as we lugged the box back towards Brian's office. The bell above the door jingled and I called towards the direction I'd be there in a moment.

"That they are," I responded. "At another recording studio." The phone in Brian office began to ring. "My God," I said. "This place has never been this alive." Thomas laughed. "How about you get them?" I gestured back towards the main shop. "I'll get the phone."

Thomas nodded.

~~~

"NEMS?" I said into the phone.

"Donna?" Brian's voice was on the other end. I leaned against the desk.

"Hey, Bri! How's it going?"

"It's going great!" he answered. "How was school?"

"As good as it will ever be," I murmured. "So, what happened with that label today?"

"Well," he said. "They advised me to talk to—uh—." I heard rustling paper. "A George Martin. I'll have to set that up, of course. Although, it appears his only time may be while we are supposed to be in Hamburg. I wager I can find a way to be there, though."

"Well, that's awesome, Bri," I said and Thomas poked his head around the corner.

"They're asking for that single with the Beatles," he whispered. "I don't even know if we have any."

I held up a finger telling him to wait. "Hey, Bri?" I asked. "Do we have anymore of those 'My Bonnie' singles?" I asked.

"Uhm—," he said, stopping to think a moment. "There should be a few somewhere. Try under the counter."

"Thanks." I covered the microphone with my hand. "Under the counter," I told Thomas. He gave a thumbs up. "Okay," I said, returning to Brian. "How are the others?"

"They're very excited," he said proudly. "I think I'm doing a good job."

I laughed. "I think you definitely are."

"Ah, yes." He chuckled. "Now, I've got to go now. I suspect we'll be home at maybe four tomorrow. We'll try a little earlier just to see you home from your last day of school."

I laughed. "Get here whenever you can," I said.

"Alrighty, little graduate. I'll see you tomorrow, kiddo," he said, before saying goodbye and hanging up the phone.

"They're having a good time, then?" Thomas asked when I'd made it back out there.

I nodded. "They are."

"Well, that's good, yeah? Hey," he said. "How about we go get some food after we get off. Celebrate your achievements."

I laughed. "That sounds good."

~~~

We closed up at six, as per usual, and Thomas led me downtown to a restaurant I'd never been to.

"How're you and Jooohn. Have you—?" He raised his eyebrows at me as we sat down and waited for a waitress.

I sighed. "Why is everyone so interested in...that?"

"Because, Donna," he said. "It's painful to watch you two with all the blinding tension in the air," he said bluntly.

"You're really not holding back," I said, folding my hands in my lap and trying to hide my blushing face.

"Of course I'm not," he said. "Look at you over there, all flustered." He sighed. "You guys are like Romeo and Juliet."

"Allow me to remind you that Romeo and Juliet killed themselves."

He rolled his eyes. "Way to spoil to mood," he said. "I know that, you moron. I'm using it as an example."

"Does that mean I'm going to pretend to be dead and John's going to kill himself?"

He put his head in his hands. "Donna, c'mon," he said. "I'm trying to make a connection you understand. I'm trying to say that you two were made for each other."

"And how do you know that?"

He frowned. "Should I just stop talking now?"

"We haven't done anything but kiss," I said. "Nothing. Is that what you wanted me to say."

"Not exactly, but y'know—." He leaned back. "It does answer my question."

I nodded curtly and the waitress came up and took our orders.

"So, just kiss, yeah? Where's the fun in that?" He smirked.

"I hate you."

"Oh, but I'm buying you dinner," he reasoned.

I rolled my eyes. "Besides," I said. "Say we had—you know. What makes you think we'd tell anyone? Where's the fun in just telling? It's more fun to watch them work it out on their own."

He rolled his eyes too, taking a sip of his soda. "Yeah, alright then, pet."

"You enjoy watching me cringe, don't you?"

"Very much so!"

I shook my head.