My Fair Lady

Chapter 14 - 1960

A/N: The last two flashback chapters are gonna be a little long. And eventful too! So I hope you like them:)

Flashback

The golden retriever's fluffy tail formed beneath the tip of Eliza's graphite pencil as she sat by the pond overlooking the joyful pair. The boy had been running in circles with his dog for a while, giggling with joy & she was glad she had come to Oakhill early in the morning. There was more activity at this time & she could draw inspiration for her sketches.

Iris had left two days ago for a ballet audition in London. She'd be back in a few days. So Eliza found a lot of spare time on her hands & decided to come up to Oakhill regularly to sketch. She always came alone, knowing the boys had their full days of band rehearsals & club gigs. 

In the past year, they had tirelessly worked to establish their musical prowess in Liverpool & were steadily rising to prominence. They hadn't met her since Iris left & she found out why when a lanky figure plopped down beside her on the grass.

"Did ye know Iris had left for London?", George breathlessly asked. He must have ran here all the way from her place. She turned to him in surprise.

"Yes of course I did. I thought she told everyone before she left considering how excited she was."

"Well I didn't know. Paul came over for breakfast today & he told me about it."

"Oh...that's weird. I guess she forgot to tell you."

He didn't look very bothered as he pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, his breaths steadying & his brows furrowed in concentration. Eliza sighed as she turned to her sketch again.

"Isn't it too early in the morning to be smoking George?"

"Nah not all." He took a light drag before continuing, "Ye should really try having a ciggie some time Lizzie. Iris smokes all the time. And so does Jake. It's just ye who doesn't."

"I'm not really interested in killing my lungs."

"Fair enough", he remarked. "I'm sorry we haven't met for a while. We went to audition for Larry Parnes to support Billy Fury in his next tour. I thought the audition went well but we didn't make the cut."

"That sucks. But you're smiling so I'm guessing there's more to it...?"

"Yes actually. We got offered a chance to support Johnny Gentle on his tour of Scotland. It's not a big break but we're gonna play somewhere other than Liverpool & that's a start."

"Wow! That's such good news. Cheers to the Quarrymen."

"Thank ye Lizzie. It's the Silver Beetles now", he corrected. "It's pretty exciting for us 'cause we stand a chance to get recognized by labels around England. We 'ave been practicing day & night for the tour."

"I see. So Iris not telling you about London doesn't bother you?"

"Funnily enough, it doesn't. I'm not even surprised by it. Ye do know that we 'aven't been the chummiest couple in town as of late, right?"

"Erm...well not really. I mean Iris doesn't talk about you much these days but I figured it was just because you guys got busy again."

"No, it's not that. I think we are finally sorta...drifting apart. There are no hard feelings as such. I think she knows that I know it's not fair on both of us to continue this. We 'aven't gone on a proper date for months. We just hang out at her place or meet at the club & somehow that's enough."

"Oh...", Eliza mulled over the unaffected tone of his words. Iris' tone was noticeably different from his. She had resorted to tears the first few times over his lack of attention.