Be my Starr (Ringo Starr)

Chapter 4 part 1: Pack of lies

Barbara laughed again through yet another one of George's jokes. Susan didn't want to seem rude but she didn't think they were that funny. Yes, amusing but not funny. They were two completely different things. Yet, she still laughed to avoid any unwanted attention. She glanced at Ringo. It was hard looking away. He just had something about him but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Either way, he didn't look very interested in anything including this dinner. She watched him take a swig of his drink and looked back at Barbara and George.

"So what do you do for a living Nancy?" George asked. Susan looked down every time she heard him call her that. She felt guilty for letting Barbara go on with this facade. She hoped Ringo hadn't noticed her shady behaviour.

However, Ringo saw her looking down alright but didn't think much of it. He thought she was a nervous girl but it was strange to see a nervous girl casually drinking scotch and coke like it was water. He was still trying to figure out just where she fitted in the food chain that he called women.

"I'm a model," Barbara answered proudly. Barbara wasn't a model she was a barwoman. Susan was trying her best not to cringe but it was getting harder. Everything Barbara said was just lie after lie.

George smirked. "I'm not surprised. He flirted. Barbara smiled and took another sip of her drink, her face didn't scrunch up like last time.

George looked at Susan. "What about you?" He asked.

Susan looked at Barbara. Barbara was giving her the lie eyes which was a gesture for Susan to make up a convincing lie. The only problem was, Susan wasn't so good at lying. She was frightened of what the boys would think if she told them she was training to be a journalist. They'd probably think she was using them to get her breakthrough hit or something.

Susan opened her mouth to speak, uncertain of what she'd say but - "She's a photographer." Barbara spilt. Barbara gave Susan a go along with it look and Susan nodded.

"Wow." George looked impressed. "How long have you been a photographer for?"

"A few months," Susan answered. She could see Ringo glancing at her in the corner of her eye. "I like my job. I take a lot of photographs." She added.

"Do you take photographs of Nancy?"

"Yes, she does." Barbara nodded. "She's really good."

"Maybe she could take photographs of us eh Ring?" George smiled at Ringo.

"I dunno." Ringo monotoned, putting a cig between his lips and lighting it. George turned back to Susan.

"We could talk to the lads and you could take some photographs of us if you wanted?" He offered.

Susan smiled and shook her head. "Nah it's ok. I'm not that good." She joked.

"Nonsense." George countered. "We've got this thing coming up soon and we need someone to document the happy memories. Don't we Ring?"

Ringo took a drag and looked at Susan. "Do you think you could do it?" He queried.

Susan glanced at Barbara again and saw her smiling devilishly. It was obvious what she wanted her to say. George seemed like he really wanted her to say yes too. Ringo didn't seem bothered at all.

"If you want me to." She replied slowly.

"I'll have a word with the lads." George smiled and looked at Barbara. "You would have to come too of course." He smirked. "If you're up for it?"

"I'm up for anything." She grinned.

Whilst Barbara and George flirted back and forth, Susan watched Ringo take a drag of his cig. "Can I have one?" She asked without thinking. Ringo looked at her.

"Have you ever had one before?" Susan shook her head. Ringo pulled out a cigarette from his pack and gave it to her. She took it and looked at it closely. "You know how to use a lighter right?" He asked, hoping she would say yes. Susan shook her head. Ringo sighed. "Put the cig in yer mouth and lean over ere." He said.

Susan did as she was told and leaned over towards him. He pulled out his lighter and lit the cig for her. "Drag on it slowly," Ringo advised. Susan prepared herself. She was about to take her first drag. "Don't drag too much though." He warned. "You don't wanna get nici rush." Susan started to smoke the cig. She didn't even know what nici rush meant. "And remember to inhale," Ringo added. Finally, he was starting to enjoy himself.

Susan followed the steps except for the main one and took a big drag. She took the fag out her mouth and started coughing uncontrollably. Barbara and George laughed.

"I told you to go slow." Ringo laughed. Susan coughed again. "Bloody ell Luv you aren't dying are ya?" Susan handed the cig back to Ringo and calmed herself down.

"What's nici rush?" She managed to cough out.

"You're about to find out." He grinned.

Susan finally stopped coughing and took a swig of her drink. Looking back up, she felt it. Her vision started to swirl and her head started to hurt. This nici rush really was something.

"I think I need to go outside." She said weekly, putting her hand on her head.

"I'll take her out," Barbara said.

"No, I'll do it," Ringo interjected quickly and stood up before Barbara could even reply.

He walked around and helped Susan stand up. "Do you need me to hold you?" Susan shook her head.

"No, I'll be fine." She said and attempted to walk on her own, only to stop and lose her footing. Ringo got her before she could stir anymore and put his arm around her shoulders.

"Lean against me." He said. Susan laid her head on his shoulder as he guided her out the backdoor.