Be my Starr (Ringo Starr)

Chapter 9 part 1: Special

Ringo took a turn down Matthew Street and pulled up outside The Cavern Club. Susan looked out her window.

"Where are we?" She asked, having no clue of where they were whatsoever.

Ringo got out, walked around the car and opened Susan's door. "After you dear." He said in a sweet tone.

Susan got out of the car and looked at the building. Ringo walked over to her. "Come on." He encouraged and walked her into the club.

———

Inside, the club was practically empty apart from only three staff members. Susan was in awe of the place. She had only ever been in a club once and this one had some kind of aura about it that she just couldn't explain.

They sat down at a table and the staff member walked over to them. "Ringo." She smiled as Ringo got up to hug her. "Its been a while." She said as they hugged. "How are you?" She asked, and they pulled away from each other.

"You know me." Ringo joked. The woman laughed and smiled at Susan. Susan smiled back awkwardly. She got nervous when meeting new people. Socially anxiety Linda called it.

"Susan, this is Michelle, she works here at the club," Ringo explained. "Michelle, this is Susan, she's my-"

"Girlfriend?" Michelle interrupted with a grin.

"Friend." Ringo corrected sharply and sat down opposite Susan.

"Hi." Michelle waved. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise." Susan smiled.

"You ought to watch this one." She gestured to Ringo. "He's a handful."

"Ay!" Ringo whined. Susan laughed. She could tell Michelle and Ringo had a good friendship. Maybe they even had a past together?

"I'll do my best." She assured.

"So, what will it be then, the usual?" Michelle asked Ringo.

Ringo nodded. "That's the one."

"Susan?" Michelle looked at Susan. Susan looked at her cluelessly. She didn't have any idea what was going on.

"Hmm?" She mumbled back helplessly.

"What drink do you want?"

"Oh." Susan finally clocked on. "I'll just have what Ringo's having." She shrugged.

"Are you sure? It's a strong one." Michelle warned.

"I'll be okay." Susan smiled. "I want to get the full experience."

Michelle nodded and walked off to prepare their drinks. Susan looked at Ringo. He looked a little off.

"What?" She questioned. Ringo glanced at her.

"You didn't call me Ritchie." He said in a washed tone with sad puppy eyes.

"Are you being serious?" Susan laughed. Ringo looked at her seriously for a moment but he couldn't keep it up for long and grinned.

"No, I'm just joking with ye." He admitted. Unlucky for him, he was only half-joking but he wasn't going to make things awkward because of a nickname.

"Oh." Susan laughed. "So... what's it with this place then?" She asked, eager to know more about this man that had clouded her thoughts all day.

"Well, it's special. It's a special place." Ringo answered. "What do you think?"

"Yeah I think it's nice but what's so special about it?"

"Me and the lads used to play here that's all. You know before..."

"Before all the screaming girls yes." Susan finished making Ringo chuckle. Susan looked around. "Why is it so empty?"

"Oh, it's closed for the day." Susan stared at him for a moment. "I know the manager."

"Is it usually closed today or did you use your special Beatle powers?"

"Maybe.." Ringo grinned. "How else would I be able to get you on your own?"

"There's still the staff." Susan pointed.

"Did I mention I was also a magician. I can make them disappear if you want?" Susan laughed. He was funnier than she had previously thought.

Michelle walked over with their drinks and set them on the table.

"Cheers, Shelly."

"No, bother." Michelle smiled and disappeared in an instant.

"You and Michelle seem to be good friends," Susan said once Michelle had gone.

"You could say that." Ringo took a swig of his drink.

"How long you have two known each other?"

"What is this, an interrogation?" Ringo laughed.

"No, it's just a question." Susan shrugged. Ringo looked at her for a moment, looking over her features.

"She's worked here for as long as I can remember. She was here when we were playing so we just got chatting."

"Oh..." Susan took a sip of her drink.

"Expecting something else?" He stared.

"No," Susan replied, giving him a small smile. She didn't want to believe it was jealously. In fact, she thought it must have been something else. How could she have been jealous? She wasn't thinking about him like that. Right?