𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 ❦ (𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗠𝗰𝗖𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘆)

꧁𝗚𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲꧂

Later in the evening, they were finally getting something to eat. Linda would have appreciated the glowing restaurant more if she wasn't so unbelievably hungry. But she was dying for something to chew. At least she didn't have to worry about any unwanted press anyway as the dinner was kept private, the staff going so far as to hide them all in an "only staff" room.

What a way to dissociate yourself from the fact that you're surrounded by famous people.

"The wine could be better," Barbara mumbled, downing her glass. Linda glanced at her glass of water, and then at all the other glasses at the table. It seemed like she was the only one not drinking.

"Barbs..." Susan sighed, being nervous as always. If the staff had heard anything or offered a different type of wine, she would have died in her seat. Confrontation was her worst nightmare.

"To be fair, she's not wrong," Paul added and looked ahead at Linda who was sat opposite him next to Susan, once again preferring to be at the end. "You not drinking Luv?" He asked, noticing the glass of water beside her salad.

"It's Linda." She corrected. "And no, I don't drink."

What.

"That's a lie!" Barbara laughed abruptly. "What about New Years?"

"That was a special occasion." Linda gave Barbara a passive-aggressive smile.

"Well, today's a special occasion so drink." John chimed.

Everyone was staring at Linda with cheeky grins, all of them waiting for her to take a sip of wine. Even Susan had a go on look on her face.

"Drink drink." John started chanting which encouraged everyone else to chant too.

Linda sighed. She knew there was no other way out, and took Paul's glass, quickly taking an impressive swig for someone who didn't drink. She let out a breath of disgust and passed Paul his drink back.

"Happy now?" The others cheered, a sign that they were definitely happy and all took a swig of their own drinks. Except for Paul, who was still staring at her in shock.

What the fuck?

Once the room had calmed down, and everyone got chatting again, Paul decided to investigate.
"I thought you said you didn't drink?"

"I already talked about that," Linda answered.

"What's your favourite? Judging by how you choked on the wine, I'm guessing you're more of a brandy person." He said wittily. "Am I right?"

Brandy? Who does he think I am?

"No, in fact. I'm actually more of a vodka person myself." Paul nodded his head in pleasant surprise.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you." He flirted.

"I'm telling you now," Barbara said and pointing over at Linda. "She's more of an animal than I am. Ain't she Susie?"

"I'm not saying anything." Susan laughed, putting her mouth in her glass.

"Trust me, she goes harder than anyone else when she wants to." Barbara turned to Linda. "Linds we need you to show us how it's done."

"You really don't." Linda monotoned.

"Please." Her friend pleaded.

"Maybe later..." Linda said with a small grin on her face. Linda was a complete academic but that didn't mean she didn't have fun either. At the end of the day, she lived through her experiences and enjoyed a drink just like everyone else.

Acknowledging her grin, Paul could see there was more beneath the empty gaze that she always gave him. A cheekier, naughtier side. The side he wanted to get to know. He was fantasying at this point but maybe she wasn't so quiet and bookwormy after all.

I've got to get her.

꧁꧂

After dinner, they decided to call it a day and go back to the hotel for maybe one more drink before bed. After all, the Beatles were making their Ed Sullivan debut tomorrow.

They all made their way to the room that the Beatles were staying in since it was much bigger. And where all the drinks were held. When John opened the door, with Barbara close behind, they were met with a surprising sight.

"Oh..." John couldn't believe it and turned to Ringo to see his reaction.

Sat with Eppy on the sofa was Maureen. Ringo's actual girlfriend. Susan didn't recognise the girl or know the girl but from the boys' combined expression, it didn't look like it was a good thing.

"Ritchie?" Maureen's lips curled into a sweet smile. Linda's eyes widened.

Oh shit.

Susan stepped back, a quiver in her legs also known as her famous jelly legs.

"Susan!" Barbara shouted and ran after Susan as she ran down the hallway to her room.

Linda sighed and started walking after the two. "Wait," Paul interjected, making her stop and turn around.

"What?" Paul couldn't remember what he was going to say, or if he was going to say anything. He didn't even know why he stopped her like that.

"Nothin." He said after a moment earning himself a displeased look from the girl as she turned away.

Good going McCartney, that really made a difference.

꧁꧂

Linda walked into the room to find Susan sobbing in Barbara's arms.

"I knew this would, I knew it." She cried.

"It's alright." Barbara soothed, rubbing her back in a motherly way. All Linda could do was stand and watch. And try to be sympathetic whilst she knew full well that it was coming.

"This should never have happened." Susan wept.

"Stop it, I'm not having you talk like that just because some girl showed up out of nowhere." Susan pulled away and shook her head, laughing painfully.

"She's not just some girl." Linda braced herself. "That's his girlfriend!" Barbara's mouth dropped and her eyes flicked over at Linda who had the exact same expression.

Girlfriend? Wow, so surprised...

"Serious?" Susan put her hand over her mouth, tears running down her cheeks like waterfalls.

The phone then started ringing. "Don't answer it." Susan quickly spat as Linda went to pick it up.

"Why?" Susan sniffed and took a deep breath, wiping the tears off of her face.

"I will." She finally said. "It's probably my mum anyway." She shrugged and walked over to the phone.

Linda nodded, although having a strange feeling about Susan's excuse to answer the phone. Was her mum really calling this late?

Either way, Linda was already done with the day and was already eager to get into bed. Hopefully, this whole girlfriend business would blow over. And hopefully the Paul business too...