𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 ❦ (𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗠𝗰𝗖𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘆)

꧁𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗔 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲꧂

Linda was in peaceful sleep when she was suddenly shocked awake by Barbara who had grabbed her by the shoulders and started shaking her violently until her eyes popped open.

"Hey!" Linda yelled. Barbara backed away laughing and a concerned glance was given from Susan who was on the phone talking to her mother.

"Get up," Barbara said.

Linda rubbed her groggy eyes. She could have done with at least an hour more of sleep. "Why?" She yawned.

"Because we're going out." Barbara went to the mirror to brush her hair. Linda had wondered why the two others were fully dressed. She looked over at the clock. 8.

Fuck. Off.

Linda stared down at the bed, her eyes still adjusting to the light. Last night was horrible. Barbara was as reliable as ever and wiggled around the bed nonstop. Linda was pretty certain that a leg was also thrown in her face at one point. The heat wasn't any help either but as they say, you can't have everything.

"That's ok. I'll call you later." Susan smiled, putting the phone down. Then, her expression dissipated, morphing into a melancholic gloom, similarly matching Linda's expression. She must have missed home, poor girl. Linda sure was.

"Are you ready Susan?" Barbara asked, sticking on a coat of lipstick. "We're leaving in like a minute." She shoved some foundation and blush into her bag.

"That's not true." Linda protested, her voice drained into some sort of gravelly sound.

"Yeah, I'm ready." Susan nodded. Linda rolled her eyes. No escaping now. With a final yawn, she forced herself out of bed.

"What did your mum say?" She heard Barbara laugh as she locked herself in the bathroom.

Catching a glance of herself in the mirror, she sighed heavily. Her eyes were two full bags of ugh and her face looked as worn as a 10-year-old jacket.

A shower will fix this. It better...

Linda stripped down and stepped into the shower, turning on the water and quickly moving away to avoid the cold burst. She dangled her hand in the ray until she could feel the water beginning to heat up and stepped into its fire.

Bliss.

She'd be top-notch in no time. "Linda hurry up, Mal's here!" Barbara banged on the door.

"I'm coming!" Linda shouted, cursing under her breath. She had barely any time in the shower and now she was expected to get ready. Nice one.

꧁꧂

The girls met up with the boys and they all got into this minibus that was privately booked by Eppy, the Beatles' manager who decided not to come and stayed at the hotel to discuss business with various investors who were interested in the band. They were all going on a tour through New York and possibly to eat at a nice restaurant. Linda was starving, she hadn't eaten any breakfast.

Getting on the bus, Linda was one of the last to board and passed Susan and Ringo who were sitting together canoodling like she expected. Barbara was sat next to John which was, interesting. Barbara had been very fond of John recently, even after her little tiff with George.

Linda then smiled as she found a nice quiet spot at the back and sat by the window. The view outside was exquisite.

And short-lived when her eyes were suddenly caught by Paul who was vastly approaching.

No, no, no, no. What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck are you doing?! God, god, GOD!

It seemed her internal cries for God were not successful as Paul sat down next to her and passed a warm smile as he did.

I've got you now, Brown.

꧁꧂

It was awkward. Very. Linda didn't dare look away from the window and Paul kept daring to glance at her. He was still in two minds about the whole thing. He was only doing it to prove a point. Or maybe, deep down... No, definitely to prove a point. Once he had won her heart, it would all be over, and he would be victorious.

"Have you always wanted to go to America?" Paul asked, breaking the 10-minute silence they had just endured.

"I thought it would be nice," Linda replied.

"You seem different than the other girls." He pointed out. "Quieter."

"I prefer to blend into the background." Paul found this very contradictory. If anything, she's putting a big red X on her forehead.

"Well, that's not true is it?" He grinned. Linda was once again bamboozled.

"What are you talking about?"

"You. Blending into the background and shite. You understand that makes you more noticeable right?" He laughed.

I hate him.

"No one's ever noticed me before." She stated, averting her eyes to the view outside.

"Not anymore." She heard him murmur.

Paul took a sharp breath and turned away.

Why the Fuck did you say that? Damn, she's gunna think you're desperate now. And you're not.

"Where's your book?" He blurted, compensating for that mess of an ending.

Linda glanced at him. "Back at the hotel." She was now regretting this decision.

"Funny, I thought you two were glued together, or summet." Linda shook her head.

"No." Once again, it all fell flat. She wasn't cooperating or even trying to make friends.

Paul could see Ringo and Susan looking over in the corner of his eye too. Nosing as always.

"Here we go, Romeo and Juliet are off again." George teased the two love birds. Linda lifted her head to see what was going on.

"Driver, we seem to have two stowaway love birds on board." John jested.

Everyone laughed, and the two love birds pulled away from each other's embrace, completely embarrassed. Linda sighed to herself.

Why the fuck am I here?

"They're funny," Paul said to himself. Linda looked at him.

"You think?"

"Love ain't all that." He said.

Linda looked back out the window, a curious look growing on her face. Paul McCartney, discrediting love, who knew.

"And what would your girlfriend have to say about that?" Linda asked with a grin.

Got you now.

"I don't have one." He answered, his lips curling into a smirk.

Linda's expression remained placid until she turned away to the window, her face melting into an ignorant stare.

Prick.

She knew his game. She knew what he was after. Restoration to his ego. His reputation. All because she didn't pay him enough attention. Well, fuck him. Linda was going to teach him a lesson.