-black velvet ; j.lennon

two

1 9 5 9
ও

anna was excited for her move to liverpool for the upcoming school year. she had met holly when they did a tour of the campus, and they instantly clicked. And much to her family's complains, anna finds a certain charm within the grimy, drunken alleyways, and a fondness over the people of the working class.

it was an eccentrically bright day outside, the sun whiter than paper and glowing over the skin of anyone who sought to join in on mother nature's warm parade. as anna passed through town riding on her bike, she saw children of all sorts giggling with each other and playing in the empty streets.

earlier that morning, anna and holly moved into their flat which was a five minute walk to the bus station that would take them into the main part of liverpool where the school was located. it was an older building, and it was only one bedroom which they would have to share.

suddenly her tires came to a screeching halt as she almost ran into a tall, well groomed gentleman carrying boxes from his car, which was parked on the side of the road.

"sorry, miss!" he shouted from behind the cardboard, attempting to move inside quickly. curious, anna hopped off her bike and parked it against the floor to ceiling window, which was decorated in a fresh coat of red paint: 'RECORDS'. a smile released on her lips and she decided to wait for the gentleman to emerge again—he did.

"may i help you?" he was wearing a salmon colored button up with slacks, too professional. anna bit down on her lip.

"y-yes. i was wondering about a possible vocation with your services." she motioned her palms to the shop. the man let out an airy laugh before extending a warm hand to the kind girl.

"we are always in need of new people. my name's brian epstein." he released a gentle smile which comforted anna tremendously.

"anna wilton. art student and vinyl connoisseur."

"great. help me take in the rest of the new pressings and we can work on the papers."

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

john sat out on aunt mimi's porch, guitar pressed against his belly, his black framed glasses askew on the end of his slippery nose, working out some lyrics. a soft breeze brushed through, lightening his troubled heart, and he looked up to notice paul walking through the front gate.

"empty handed?" john stood up, noticing that he didn't bring the records.

"well i thought ye'd like te join me?" paul smiled and squinted through the bright sun, opening his palm to expose the six pence he had. john beamed at such luxury.

"smashing!" john hopped over the chair he once sat in and threw on a shirt over his thin, white vest, practically tripping over himself as he rushed to meet paul.

"john!!" a motherly figured yelled from the entrance, he turned around and smiled admiringly at mimi. "come 'ere!" john gritted his teeth as paul snickered beside him, watching as mimi walked out to assure he looked presentable for the public—she finally released the two boys, waving them off.

"still need a nanny, lennon?" paul teased.

"fuck ye." john spat, cracking a smile and laughing along with him, shoving his hands in his trouser pockets.
....

anna held freshly printed labels in one hand, and a glue bottle with the other, precariously positioning each white strip to its proper plastic bin, while brian worked behind her on the same thing with the more complicated, classical records.

the shop was very small, consisting of four beige walls completely lined and filled with records, with a secret little recording booth in the back, which epstien liked to keep for himself. and despite its small size, anna felt comforted by its music, which emitted from the large, phonograph stand near the register.

people fluttered in and out from time to time, mostly young people like anna, eagerly looking at the newest elvis albums that've come in from America. however what caught her eye was the two boys who walked in, one with an ego bigger than london, and the other quite charming. she recognized the lads immediately and offered to help them, knowing they may cause brian trouble.

"may i help you?" she mustered a fake smile. John smirked and crossed his arms, seemingly accepting an unknown challenge.

"yes. what color are yer knickers? that's if ye got any on." john laughed at himself, however anna found it the opposite of charming, and so did paul.

"stop." paul wrapped his hand around john's arm, but he just looked disgusted.

"whatever. we're jus looking." john sniffed and wiped his lips before walking off with Paul trailing behind, his large fingers tracing the fresh edges to the records—anna kept close by. brian was busy with a young couple that had walked in after the boys.

john quickly looked around, noticing anna's bright eyes, but still deciding to do it, he swiped left to right of three records and stuffed them into his waistline, flapping his shirt over and trying to walk towards the door. "let's come back later." paul hadn't noticed a thing, but anna did.

"hey!" she shouted, running after them and catching the attention of brian and the other customers. john stopped, a seemingly permanent smirk comfortably on his face.

"yes?" he raised his brows.

"is there a problem?" brian interrupted.

"yes! this boy has stolen three records!" she accused loudly.

"and where might they be?" john held up his empty hands and opened up his jacket.

"you-you put them in...your.." anna felt her cheeks flush red as she looked down at the bulge in his region—and it wasn't a record.

"me pants?" john finished for her. "go on, why don't ye look for yerself." he teased. brian silently watched.

"maybe i saw wrong. forgive me." crestfallen, anna apologized before turning away and walking to the register, looking up to see john prance out, with paul provoking him with questions from outside.

"a couple records isn't anything to worry yourself about." brian placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, glaring out at the teddy boys.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

later that evening after her traumatizing first shift, she plopped down on her green velvet settee and reached over for the dansette, placing on the closest 45, and closing her eyes as soon as she heard the scratching fade into a soft melody.

[blue velvet; bobby vinton]

john departed from the dinner table as mimi went to do the dishes quietly, making his way over to the living room and grabbing the top of the three records he took from the shop earlier that evening and placing it on.

it wasn't his first choice for song, but for some reason he fancied its lyrics, remembering the two times that he's seen this eye-catching girl around, and remembering the black velvet she ordered from the bar. he closed his eyes and smiled, resting his chin in his palm and trying his best to ignore the fact he was turning mushy over the new bird as he looked out the window and into the small garden up front of mendips.