She was invited to one of the first "official Quarry Men sessions" one day in July. They didn’t tell her that meant cramming seven people into a smoky bathroom. They were using John’s when his Aunt Mimi wasn’t home because it was bigger then George’s washroom. Plus there was enough room in the bath for a drum.
Besides Paul and George, John had managed to find a new drummer named Malcolm. Briggie and a new guy that Gabrielle had never seen before named Stuart Sutcliffe were there on guitars as well. Gabrielle decided she would complain about the smoking until they kicked her out but unfortunately she had no such luck.
"You all smell fucking terrible" she commented from her crammed position in the corner of the bathroom counter. "I mean really fucking grotty, you know"
"Where’d you find this bird John?" asked Malcolm, balancing a cigarette between his lips while he fixed his symbol in the bathtub.
"She’s me mate so you can sod off" said John, he grinned broadly at her and hopped up on the counter next to her. "So," he said making a big show out of blowing smoke in her face, "Have you heard from the ugly bird who walks around in ‘er knickers?"
Gabrielle didn’t have enough energy to be indigent for Lucy and just sighed shaking her head "Can I please leave?"
"No," Paul came over smoking as well. "You are going to hear us first."
"You should be honored" added John, the bathroom door opened and George appeared holding his Rickenbacker under his arm. "Oooh Georgie, did you tell Gabby about yer dance yet"
Briggie, Malcolm and Paul promptly dissolved into giggles while Stuart looked amused and George looked embarrassed
"No" he mumbled "Let’s just do this ok"
"Aw Gabby, it was too good" said Paul as if remembering a fond memory "He’s fookin pissed right…"
"And we got to ‘Twenty flight rock and Paulie was stuck behind the drums…"
"Which is never happening again" added Paul with a slight glare in John’s direction
"Right" said John "Anyway he’s a bit pissed so we can’t be to hard on him and he gets to the solo and…"
"He starts dancing!" laughed Paul
George started scowling at everyone except for Gabrielle. He came and sat next to her mumbling about his ‘bloody fucking wanker’ mates. She patted him on the knee comfortingly while John and Paul kept on about George’s dance.
"All of a sudden!" yelled Paul "he’s like shuffling his feet and going all ‘awww aww aoooooh’"
Gabrielle saw a small smile tug at George’s lips while he started tuning his guitar. She was surprised he hadn’t left in a rage yet. "Did you really do that?" she whispered, trying not to giggle. Paul and John had launched into their own rendition of George’s ‘dance’ locking arms with each other and skipping in circles in the confined space
"Foot shuffle!" announced Paul and they began kicking their legs out to the side in unison.
"Yeah" George grinned down at his guitar and then looked up to catch her eye. "It was kind of fun… but I was pissed so you know…"
"Oh yeah, " she nodded and giggled.
Eventually they got down to playing. And John and Paul started fighting… again. Malcolm quit after the fourth fight over who got to sing.
"You know what" said John, he looked amused "I think three hours is the shortest time anyone’s been in this band"
Stu rolled his eyes "The way you two carry on who wouldn’t quit"
Briggie nodded "Sorry mate" he said to John "I’ve got to skive off, got a hot date tonight"
"With who" quipped John "Yer mum"
"No, Cynthia Powell" said Briggie, as he packed up his guitar.
"Oh she has nice tits" said John, making an effort to have his friend stay "What d’you think Gabby?"
"Of her tits?"
"Yeah"
"I like Tracy’s better" she shrugged
"See!" exclaimed Paul, "Did you hear that, she likes yer girls knockers John!"
"Paulie" said George dryly "Knock it off"
Paul sent Gabrielle an over done knowing look that sent her into a fit of giggles "I know… believe me" he said nodding "I *know*"
Gabrielle shook her head and got hopped off the counter "I’m going home now" she announced
"Wait I’ll come with" said George, and he followed her out of the bathroom. "Gab?"
"What?" They got out of John’s house in time to hear the sound of John and Paul’s arguing through the bathroom window.
"Do you think I’m a right cunt for putting up with them?"
Gabrielle sighed and put her arm around his shoulder "Course I don’t George" she said encouragingly "As long as you enjoy it and don’t go mad from those two buggers…" she winced and directed them away from the house when there was the unmistakable sound of glass breaking.
"I know Gab…" he paused "Why don’t you yell at me for calling you that anymore by the way?"
Gabrielle stopped walking long enough to think and shrug "I dunno, I reckoned you were just to lazy to say all three syllables so I wasn’t going to bother anymore"
"Oh ok" he nodded and grinned "Guess what?"
"What’s that?’
"I’m going to be a rock star when I grow up"
Gabby snorted, they reached the bus stop and sat down at the curb "Oh really?"
"Yeah" he nodded "What the fuck else am I going to do?"
"Er… " Gabrielle wasn’t sure what to say. Truth be told she hadn’t really thought about much of anything except for getting out of school. "I don’t know… what *are* we going to do George"
He shrugged and leaning back on his elbows, watching the sky turn a pinkish orange color. "A rare and pretty sunrise in gray old fucking Liverpool" he laughed quietly and shook his head, a tuft of dark hair fell into his face "I tell you what, we better get out of here"
"Yeah" Gabrielle agreed "And we’ll never come back"
George shifted his guitar underneath his knees and then stretched his arms lazily over his head "When I’m a rock star" he said "I’m going to buy a huge house in London… and I’ll have-"
"Lots of promiscuous sex and alcohol binges?"
George laughed and cocked his head to the side "Well I was thinking more a long the lines of a swimming pool and a guest house for you but…"
"OY!" she whacked him on the shoulder and they laughed easily "I though you were living in my bloody guest house… what happened to your dull fucking mood"
"Er… I sort of didn’t tell you something Gab…"
She stared at him for a few seconds and then a huge grin spread out over her face while George just looked at his feet and smiled "You made it? With who?"
"Amanda Scotts"
"You bleeding wanker…why didn’t you tell me?"
He shrugged and grinned lazily "I dunno"
Gabrielle giggled and suddenly felt immature, she scrunched her face up "Was it good?"
George looked down at his feet again but she could see the huge smile on his face "Uh huh… well as good as having it off in a closet can be I guess"
Gabrielle started giggling "You… you lost it in a closet?" she laughed. He nodded and she started laughing harder before dropping her head on his shoulder and sighing "Oh Georgie, what am I going to do with you…"