Paul raised his eyebrows and tuned one of the strings on his bass that was off a bit. "I dunno" he said at last "Me Dad’s home, was thinking of having just sort of a quiet night, d’you know what I mean?"
George nodded and grinned "Daddy’s little boy" he cooed
"Shut up, yer just as bad" Paul rolled his eyes "Yes Mum could ask you to wear her knickers on yer head and you would, son"
"I would not!" George said indignantly "And if she did I would just say they belonged some bird I pulled"
Paul busted up laughing and George looked a bit confused.
"I didn’t mean I would actually wear them… Fuck! Bloody Christ" he looked down and saw Shaz pulling at his foot "What *is* it Shaz, and how did you get here?"
"Peter drove me" she said simply
"He drove you in *what* exactly?" Paul asked suspiciously "He has no car"
"Yeah but George’s dad does and his Mum and Dad aren’t home"
George blinked in surprise "They aren’t?"
"Well no" Shaz shrugged "I doubt you’d notice they left anyway, what with passing out in my living room at three in the morning, remember that Harrison?"
"Er… sort of" George admitted sheepishly ‘I mean... I remember being here and then… well going to the pub with everyone"
"Yeah" Shaz laughed "But seriously, remember it’s yer cousin Janie up in Ireland, it’s her wedding"
"Oh fuck, My cousin’s getting married? What’s goin on Shaz?" George asked
"Oh so now you’re gonna be nice to me" Shaz nodded "After all that-"
"Shaz!"
"Sorry" she giggled "Eh, um, yes. Well what’s yer…"
"Wait a tick" Paul interrupted "Wedding? Janie French’s wedding?"
"My cousin’s getting married?" George repeated bewildered
"We’re playing there." Paul nodded "Neil was driving us all to the ferry"
"Ferry? What?" George turned to look at Paul "What’s goin on?"
"Janie, yer cousin mate, marrying that Irish bloke, remember, they want us to play at the reception, fifty pounds split between us."
George still looked clueless.
"How long are we playing for?" John asked, he stepped away from the side, a girl had her hand curled in his "Have we got a break or sommat soon?"
"We’re done in five" Paul murmured checking his watch "No, John, mate, remember the whole wedding thing"
"Ah yeah," John sneered "George’s cousin, free drinks fifty pounds and the Irish. Should be fun"
"George doesn’t remember"
"Where have *I* Been" George asked blankly "I have no recollection of a wedding"
"Gabby’s goin" John grinned "It’ll be fun,"
"Yeah" Pete grinned "She may be fucking annoying when she opens her mouth but she’s not bad to look at"
"Shut up Pete" George rolled his eyes
Paul elbowed John "Gabby, big frilly bridesmaid dress, and alcohol, what d’you say this will be interesting"
John laughed "I like the combination of Gabby and alcohol"
"We all do" Pete laughed "As long as she shuts up. D’you know what I mean? She’s the kind of girl you wish was mute because-"
George cut him off with a snarl "Shut *up* Pete, before I knock yer fucking block off"
"Oh you shut up" Pete leaned back on his drum stool "It isn’t my fault your *blind*"
"I’m not" George sighed, obviously tired of hashing over this same conversation time and time again.
"You are" Pete countered "And it’s ridiculous, you’re the only one who doesn’t want to fuck her"
"I don’t want to fuck her" John said unexpectedly. The other three Beatles looked at him in surprise "What?" he shrugged "It’s Gabby, you know. Not just some bird anymore. I like her as…"
"A sister" George and Paul echoed
"Well this is just me," said Shaz, they looked down at her in surprise "I don’t particularly want to fuck her either"
Pete sneered and stood up and walked off
"Wanker!" Shaz called after him, just for good measure.
"No" Paul groaned "I don’t want to play drums"
"Sit down McCartney" John ordered "We’re doing Mr. Moonlight George play Bass"
George made a horrified sound but resigned eventually.
"We need a new drummer" he hissed vengefully at Paul as he looped the bass around his neck. Paul was left handed, and George was not. That just made it ten times as hard. Normally when this happened he would sort of bounce up and down and shake his head and try to just go off of that and wing the bass upside down.
***
"What’s happened?" Mr. Epstien asked, curiously as Pete stood up and stalked off. There were a few moments of confusion and then Paul slid behind the drums and handed George his bass. Gabrielle giggled
"George is going to be livid. It’s a good thing they’ve only got one more song left"
"What’s the drummers name?" asked Mr. Epstien
"Pete" Gabrielle said, unable to keep the disdain out of her voice
Shaz busted through the edge of the crowd. She looked around manicly, her blonde curls flying wildly. Linda giggled and elbowed Gabrielle "Here comes Shaz"
Gabrielle chanced a look at Mr. Epstien. He seemed thoroughly engrossed in the Beatles. Shaz stumbled over to them.
"George forgot about the wedding" she said sullenly and then looked at Mr. Epstien "who’s this?"
"Brian Epstien" Gabrielle said, rolling her eyes "Sorry Mr. Epstien. She’s quite rude, this is out friend Sharon."
"Hello, pleased to meet you" Brian smiled, extending his hand. Shaz took it and shook it energetically. "Glad to meet you, and sorry to have interrupted and all. I’m *not* rude. This one lies, she does." Shaz turned back to Gabrielle "Have you packed? You need to pack. George’s parents left earlier today with Harry because they’ve got some pre wedding stuff to take care of"
"Is someone getting married?" Brian asked politely
"Yes" Gabrielle smiled "My cousin"
"George’s cousin" Shaz corrected
Gabrielle rolled her eyes "Same thing"
"Whatever. You’ve got a ferry with the lads and Peter on Friday and it’s Wednesday and I want to have a er… you know. A … DND"
Gabrielle and Linda laughed
DND= Drunken Night of Debauchery
"George’s?" Linda asked, "Will Arthur be there?"
"He will, I think. I’ll ring him when I get home. But I must go now" Shaz made a sweeping bowing movement "Because Neil wants Mike and I to help load thingies. Must go" and with that she whisked herself away.
Brian chuckled "She seems interesting"
"She is" Gabrielle giggled "But not in a bad way"
"I’ll tell you what Ms. Gallagher" Brian said and pulled out a card "Why don’t you write your phone number on here and I’ll get in touch with you soon. Let the boys know of my interest but I’m afraid I really must be getting back to the store"
