Be my Starr (Ringo Starr)

Chapter 13 part 1: Naughty

The club the gig was at was packed when Susan and Barbara got there. She was lucky she knew a special someone who had given them backstage access.

As they were escorted by a member of staff that worked there, Susan noticed that they were security guards everywhere especially standing in front of the stage. Presumably to stop the tens of obsessed teenagers from getting up there and tackling the boys to the ground.

The staff guy led to them a door and turned to them. "Just through here." He said and walked off. Susan turned to Barbara.

"Well, shall we?" Barbara looked a little nervous. "What's wrong? I thought you always wanted to get backstage?"

"I do, I'm just practising my nervous face." Susan raised an eyebrow.

"Your nervous face?"

"Yeah. I need to look innocent." Susan couldn't help but laugh.

"Barbs, you're everything but innocent." Barbara shrugged to herself.

"They don't know that. Come on." She urged.

They walked into the dressing room where all the boys were preparing themselves to go on stage. By preparing themselves, they were drinking a lot of scotch, rum and whiskey.

Ringo was sitting in a corner and he noticed Susan straight away as she walked in but was too late as John had thrown himself in her face.

"Hello, you." John gave her a grin. "You must be our Ringo's lass."

"And you must be John." Susan smiled. "Pleasure to meet you." John took her hand and laid a soft kiss on the back of it, knowingly teasing Ringo.

"Ay!" Ringo shouted in the back. John pulled away slowly, Barbara catching his eye.

Susan walked over to Ringo, he gave her his lap as a chair and gave her a warm smile. "I missed you." Susan blushed, his smile was everything.

"I missed you too." Now Ringo was all red too. He could see Paul throwing him glances through the dressing table mirror.

"What do you think you're looking at?" He questioned. Paul sighed and carried on combing his hair.

John scanned Barbara from head to toe and gave her an intrigued look. "And who might you be?" He asked.

Barbara grinned. "Whoever you want me to be." John rolled his eyes and yawned.

"I've got a wife y' know." Barbara shrugged.

"And?" John blinked and looked at her. She bit her lip suggestively. He grinned.

"You can sit with me." He took her hand and pulled her down on the sofa with him. "Scotch?" He started pouring a drink. Barbara took it and sipped on it slowly while he watched.

Ringo had one of his fingers entangled in a strand of Susan's hair as they talked.

"How long is the show then?" Susan asked.

"Bout an hour." Susan's mouth dropped.

"An hour? How do you cope?"

Ringo picked up his glass of scotch and took a swig, answering her question.

"You're not an alcoholic are you?" Susan queried.

"What if I was?" He grinned. "What would you do about it?" She couldn't think of how to answer his question and stared him with nervous eyes. "Susie-"

"Not here." Paul interrupted him and stood up, putting his comb in his pocket. "There's a cupboard around somewhere if you're eager." Ringo kicked Paul's leg as he walked over to the scotch to pour himself a drink.

"Where's your wife?" Barbara asked John. John took a swig of his drink.

"Where's your husband?" He asked back.

"Sitting right in front of me." She answered back straight away. John gave her a look before putting his glass back on the coffee table.

"You're naughty." He smiled devilishly. Barbara leaned in towards him and titled her glass slightly.

"Have some more." She practically ordered, John, obeying and letting her tip slowly into his mouth.

George walked in suddenly and his eyes stuck to Barbara and John.

"What's?" He realised who it was and his eyes widened. "Nancy?" Barbara turned her head and forced a smile, her face was red all over.

Susan zoned out of her conversation with Ringo and stared at Barbara and George. The room had suddenly become very tense and cold. Ringo stopped talking when he realised Susan wasn't listening and turned to George.

"Alright, George?" He asked. George was still looking at Barbara. She was looking back at him, her eyes telling him all he needed to know.

"I'm fine." George finally said and poured himself a drink. "I need to talk to Mal bout summit." He walked out.

John looked at Barbara. "What was that?" All eyes were on Barbara.

"I need the toilet." She said and quickly walked out of the room to find George. John looked at Susan.

"What was that?"

Susan went to speak but stopped. She had no idea what to say. "She..." Susan took a quick breath and pulled a pitiful look. "Don't tell her I told you okay?" She asked. John grinned. "Don't tell her," Susan said in a sharper tone. John shook his head.

"I won't."

"If you do I'll wipe that grin off your face and do something very unforgettable." She warned, not knowing what she'd do and just wanted to sound threatening. John nodded. "She's on her reds."

"Is that it?" John shrugged and refilled his glass.

Susan went to stand but Ringo quickly pulled her back down. Susan jerked her head at him.

"What are you doing?"

"Don't get up." He whispered, almost begging.

"What? What are you talking about? I just want to go see if Barbs is ok."

"She'll be fine." Susan raised her eyebrow. "What is it?" Susan was worried now. He was being quiet and weird and it was scaring her.