⇾ 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 | 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐈

Chapter Seventy-Five: This Could be Your Chance to Make it Big

May 9, 1962

John's POV

When I made it back to the room, Donna was nuzzled in the bed, asleep. When she heard the door open, she stirred and turned over, smiling at me.

"I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me," she said teasingly, her voice groggy from sleep.

I chuckled. "I'd never." I shrugged my jacket off and hung it on the small hook by the door.

"Come over here," she whined. "I'm cold."

"Love, I've got to shower."

"I don't care," she grumbled. "I want you."

I frowned at her. "I'll only be a minute?"

"John," she groaned pleadingly.

"Oh, alright," I said, rolling my eyes. I slipped my shoes off and went to lay down beside her. She nuzzled into me and fell asleep instantly.

I smiled down at her for a moment before carefully untangling myself to go shower.

April 10, 1962

Donna's POV

I woke up the next morning curled up in John's arms. He was already awake, I could tell. He was humming something to himself that I didn't recognize. I looked towards the window and the light stung my eyes. I groaned and cuddled up closer to him.

"Good morning," he hummed into my ear, tightening his grip on me.

"Good morning," I responded.

"What happened last night?" I asked warily. "Did you get to finish your set?"

He chuckled. "Only you'd be concerned with that. Yes, I did," he said.

I nodded. "That's good." I closed my eyes, but they popped back open when I remembered Brian was coming back today. "What time is it?" I asked, knowing it wasn't early and imagining the lecture I'd get if Brian happened to show up and this is how we were found.

"Loosen up," John said consolingly. "It's only noon. We've got two hours before Eppy gets back. We're meeting him at a diner down the road."

I nodded and relaxed slightly. "What exactly happened after we left the club?" I asked him, vaguely remembering the encounter with that strange man that wouldn't leave me alone. "And maybe a little before?" I added.

John sighed, fiddling with my hand. "That bloke," he said, his voice darkening at the sheer thought of it. "He wouldn't keep his hands off ye, so I took you home after we got him away. You were, y'know—"

"Having a breakdown?" I finished for him with a dry laugh.

"Yes," he said with a light chuckle. "I made sure you got back here safe and tried to stay, but you shooed me away, telling me my gig was more important." He laughed.

"Oh, c'mon," I grumbled. "I don't like getting in the way."

"Oh, my love," his voice was desperate. "You never get in the way."

I frowned. "No, I do," I answered. "No need ta lie." I smirked up at him. He frowned back.

"You don't though."

"I bet all the others were mad that I got in the way of their show," I said sadly.

"Donna," John whined. "They weren't mad at you," he said desperately. "They were mad at that bloke with his hands all over ye. You didn't ruin anything. It was that drunkard that ruined it, not you."

I nodded. "Alright."

"Now," he said. "Would you like to lounge around all day or find something to eat?" he asked. "I'm starving."

I smiled up at him. "Let's eat, but stay here just a little longer." He grinned and placed a kiss on my lips. I curled up even closer to him.

~~~

We got dressed and tidied up the room after about 45 minutes of talking. We met the rest of the band outside of the building. The air was chillier than usual, I noticed as I pulled my jacket snugger around me, my hair blowing in the slight breeze that blanketed the atmosphere. My eyes were still slightly sensitive to the light, so I'd chosen to pair my simple sweater and jeans ensemble with some cheap sunglasses I'd found at a shop down the road from the hotel.

With ourselves put together, we'd set out towards the diner we were supposed to meet Brian at.

"Wait," I said, stopping the group before we went inside. They looked at me skeptically. "You won't tell him about...last night, will you?" I asked sheepishly, my face blushing scarlet. John's face fell and no one responded. "Please don't," I added pleadingly.

John nodded finally. "Of course we won't, love," he said with a sigh, opening the door and leading us inside.

"I'm sorry," I said when I heard his tone. "I just don't want to worry him."

John and I were the last in. "No, love, I know you don't. It's okay." He gave me a reassuring smile. We looked around briefly to find Brian waving from a booth in the corner.

"How were things here while I was gone?" he asked as we all slid into the booth around him.

"It went well," John answered assuredly and with a sincere smile.

"Good," answered Brian. A waitress came up to take our orders.

"So?" asked George quickly, eagerly, after she'd left. "How'd your day go?" All of us stared him down in anticipation.

"Well," he responded, showing mixed emotions. The table fell silent. Then, he broke into a wide smile. "You're recording with him next month. He'll decide if he wants to sign then."

No one really knew how to respond at first. They were perhaps too excited to think of anything to say. Finally, John broke into a wide smile, letting out a joyous laugh.

"Where are we recording?" asked Paul, laughing along.

"In London," Brian responded. "In a little studio called Abbey Road."

George nodded, beaming happily. "So he liked the recordings?"

"Of course he did, Geo," laughed John. "He wouldn't have us recording if he didn't."

George nodded, blushing. "Of course."

"This is it," said Brian. "This could be your chance to make it big."

John squeezed my hand under the table. I smiled at him. His face was the happiest I'd seen him since Stu had passed. I'd missed his genuine smiles more than words could express.