John laughed and unplugged from his amp “Go get some from the bar will you George?”
“Do t yourself” said George dejectedly
“Ah come on Harri, I’ve just spotted something I’d like to chat up” said Paul, he bit his lip and waved into the crowd of transvestites and sailors. “Yes, that’s a woman I think. I’ll be back”
George sighed heavily “I’ll go get prellies.” he turned to Pete who was fooling with his cymbals “Wanna come Petey?”
“No”
George looked slightly taken aback but shrugged it off and hopped off the stage. He pushed past the people, already accustomed to the men dressed like woman that tended to wink at him. At least he didn’t have freakishly long girly eyelashes like Paul. They always seemed to call attention to them.
“Hullo Benny” he said to the man behind the bar. Actually, he didn’t know what his name was. Probably something he couldn’t pronounce. But they all called him Benny anyway and Benny didn’t seem to mind. Benny nodded at him and gave him a smile. “Prellies and a beer Benny?” said George
He got another nod and Benny set to getting him a beer while he shoveled around under the bar and finally came up with an envelope of small white pills.
George peeked into the envelope and raised his beer to Benny with a grin “Danke Benny”
“Ja, now you get up and play music.” said Benny, resting his elbows on the bar and quirking his head at the stage.
“Yeah I’ll play” said George turning to go back.
**
“Oh Christ, I look like a tart”
Astrid laughed gleefully and clapped her hands together. “No, you look lovely Gabrielle”
Gabby looked at Stuart “Do I look like a tart Stu?”
He grinned and shook his head “No. You just don’t look like a secretary any more”
“What do I look like then?“
He hesitated and then looked at Astrid “Like an X-ie” (((existentialist, what Astrid and Klaus called each other)))
She sighed “Ok but if someone mistakes me for a hooker I’m just going to punch them and you can deal with the aftermath”
Stuart shrugged and they piled out of the Astrid’s car and into the Kaiserkeller. Gabrielle was constantly fidgeting with the leather mini skirt Astrid had outfitted her with. That and newly coiffed bangs that seemed not do much besides obscure her vision with their length, and a tight fitting black turtleneck. She fit right in now except for not being bisexual or a beatnik.
There wasn’t any music at the moment so the Beatles must have been on a break Gabrielle supposed. Well, all of them but Pete who was sitting and staring stonily with a pint in his hand from behind his drum kit. John was sitting on the edge of the stage with George talking and drinking while they waited for thes et to be over. Paul was no where to be seen.
“Dear god what are you wearing Gabby” John said as soon as the approached the stage.
“See” she said to Astrid “Tart-ish”
John laughed “Luv, have you seen the other birds round here?”
This was true.
“Good point” she grinned “Well, does it suit me then?”
John and Stuart shared a look. You know. One of those looks they were always sharing. “I know I’m just going to get a slap so I won’t say anything” said Stu
John winked obviously “She’s a dolly bird she is” he said
She looked at George and he winked as well. She laughed
“Let’s go sit somewhere, we’ve still got twenty minutes to slag of and get smashed”
“Mmm yes” John said rubbing his hands together “Over there I should think, big empty table”
They filed over to the table, John slung his arm over Gabby’s shoulder. “Getting to know that Beatniks then?” he grinned as the walked. She pulled a face that she’d seen him mke before . “Shut up. I like those beatniks”
“Mmm” he nodded “One of them stole me bassist so you know…”
“Ah” she said shrugging out from under his arm “You know you love her”
“Yeah” he sat down next to George in the little booth and looked up at her “Get me some beer will you luv?”
She sorted “Get your own fucking beer”
“Ah come ‘ead, I’ll give you some prellies, I’m too ired to get me own” he turned to George who was sitting by himself lining up empty shot glasses in front of him since Astrid and Stu were so immersed in each other and he ha no one to talk too. She instantly felt bad because technically, as his best friend, she should be here for him, and not to be drinking with john.
John whacked George on the back of the head, getting a rightfully deserved snarl in return “Oi, Harri. Give me the prellies I think I might fall over.”
George shook his head and pulled out white envelope. He took out two little white pills and set them on the table top in front of him and then seemed to try to decide what alcoholic beverage he should use to down them.
John shook out two as well. He looked up at Gabby’s questioning look and smiled “I assume you’ve heard of prellies m’dear. Well this is them. Amazing innit”
Gabrielle leaned her hands on the table and peer down at the pills “What is it then speed? Keeps you up”
John nodded “Basically. Wanna try some?” she shrugged and he looked over at George “Can she have some?”
George looked up “Why are you asking me?”
John gave him a look “You know why you bloody git”
George shrugged “Don’t give her too many” he added the last bit with a look up at Gabrielle and another wink. She winked back.
“Ok luv” John started shoveling pills out onto the table and scrapping them around a bit. “I’ll give you one ‘cos your tiny” he held one out in the palm of his hand
“OH come on” said Gabrielle abashed, “I’m basically the same size as George, how come he gets two”
John laughed and shrugged “Because you’re about three feet shorter then him”
“I don’t care”
“Fine, you can have two’ he dropped two into her open hand and grinned “But when you can’t sleep and are bouncing off the walls don’t tell me it’s my fault”
Gabby dropped the pills down her throat and took a swallow of John’s lager to wash them down. “Mmm” she said pulling her lips into a straight line “Bitter German piss, my favorite”
“As long as it gets you pissed that all you car about” said John taking a swig off his beer
Someone clamped their hand around her wrist then. She prepared to swing around and hit whoever it was. But instead found it to be just Paul.
“Gabby?” he asked incredulously “What the fuck are you wearing, girl”