George was hanging off his bed, the phone cord twisting around his body as he held the phone under his chin.

"Paul?" George whined

"Is he picking you up?" Paul asked.

"No, I'm meeting him there....how did the John thing go?"

"No premature asking Geo! I'll tell you when we meet for chips and you'll gush about your date!" Paul smiled.

"I'm nervous." George whimpered.

" you don't have to be, Ringo is great."

"Yeah but-" George looked at the clock and noticed that he should be on his way by now. He rolled off the bed, almost getting caught in the cord in his rush. "I gotta go, I gotta go, I gotta go " George ran about his room

"Don't forget to meet me afterwards!" Paul chuckled as he listened to George run around his room.

"I know, I know! Bye" George was hopping around on one foot as he attempted to put his shoes on.

"Bye!" Paul hung up the phone and sighed. He had lots of time to kill and nothing to do, he dragged himself back upstairs to his room. The room was quiet and sort of empty, he thought about what John had told him and began to look through his records. He easily pulled out his Buddy Holly album and put it on its place. He carefully set the needle in its place and the music played. Paul curled up against his bed, closing his eyes to relief his small but powerful headache.

As the words drifted in his ear he thought about being straightforward and telling John exactly what he felt but since when did Paul do the smart thing? He thought about John, of course he did.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

George nearly fell into the diner, Ringo was there waiting for him with the food in a more private booth area. George didn't think he could be any more nervous but as soon as he laid eyes on the booth, he nearly passed out.

"Hello" Ringo smiled

"Hello" George grinned. "I'm incredibly nervous" George leaned over the table, he was going to be completely honest with Ringo.

"Oh me too" Ringo waved his hand around. Ringo must've been his version of nervous though because he seemed very calm and collected. George was a very quiet person, he mostly kept to himself apart from when he was with Paul. Ringo also seemed to be a quiet set person so this could be a very hard conversation to start.

But as the date progressed, it was beautiful. Ringo was cool and a kind of a dork, George had his legs set on Ringo's side of the booth and was listening to the end of Ringo's story. George swallowed his food and chuckled.

"You know I thought you'd be suaver" George wiggled his feet a little. Ringo pulled back and laughed.

"Suaver?"

"Yeah, well I mean, you're older and kinda mysterious" George shrugged and Ringo could barley hold in his laughter.

"Oh I'm very mysterious, am I walking you home?" Ringo began to stand and George waved his hand about for Ringo to pull him up.

"Of course, I'd never be able to find it otherwise" George pitched his giggle a little higher than usual. Ringo happily escorted George out of the diner and down the street. They wandered for a bit down the quiet streets before Ringo turned to George. "So did you have fun?" He asked, somewhat nervous for the answer. George hummed and noticed the street was dim and there wasn't any one around so he laid his head on Ringo's shoulder.

"Yes, I did. I'd love to do it again" George felt Ringo nuzzle closer. They approached George's porch and stopped to face each other.

"You would?" Ringo smiled.

"uh-huh." In a sudden act of confidence, George reached his hands around Ringo's shoulders. Ringo stood on his tiptoes to reach comfortably to George's level. Their faces were inches apart and they'd stay that way until one of them had the courage to move in. That person of course was Ringo.

The kiss was slow and sweet and perfect, it was exactly what George had hoped for. Ringo pulled away and they stayed wrapped around each other though. "Goodnight" Ringo smiled.

"Goodnight" George returned the happy glow and watched Ringo dart down the street in a happy bound. As soon as Ringo was out of sight, George bounded down the street in an eager run down the opposite road.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paul thrust past his dad and his brother and out the door. George said his date would probably be over around this time so he needed to get to the diner on time. He was basically running down the street and almost tripped up the steps to the diner. George was inside, heaving for breath just as Paul was doing except he was sitting and Paul was jealous. Paul sat down violently and they both caught their breath.

As soon as Paul was able to relax, he was asking about the date. "Did he kiss ya?" Paul chuckled.

"Yes, yes he did." George shook his head with a smile.

"Oh was it magical?" Paul laid a hand over his chest and George punched his shoulder.

"How was John, then?" George asked. Paul frowned

"Well, he kissed me again"

"Again?!" George almost chocked on his food. "Like as in he kissed you before?!"

"We're up to seven times now, I think" Paul tastefully tried to count the number of times John had kissed him in his head, he had his fingers out to count. George narrowed his eyes and slapped Pauls hand down.

"And you told me about none of them!" George huffed.

" well, you hate him and I didn't know how you'd take it" Paul was snow spiraling into a rapid concern that George was going to be extremely mad at him.

" I tell you everything, don't I?" George was fuming.

"Maybe...I'm sorry, Geo. please don't be mad at me. I'm really confused right now" Paul whimpered. George really did want to be mad but he'd have to let it go, Paul really did seem to be very vulnerable.

"Seems like I'm always forgiving you because I have to" George huffed and Paul smiled, grabbing at George's face.

"Or its because you love me!" Paul giggled and let go of him. "So he was very drunk and he said he wanted to be more than friends and kissed me" Paul was biting at his nails again.

"You think he really feels that way?" George tapped against the table

"I think he's just frustrated about Stu since he's found a bird.-"

"This is confusing" George shook his head.

"Yeah it is. You know, I really like him" Paul sighed, he felt his headache start to inch its way back and he gripped at the bridge of his nose. George reached over and tapped at Pauls hand.

"Yeah, I don't know why but I know you do. Maybe John really does mean it?" George wanted Paul to be happy and seven kisses did seem like he wanted more from Paul than the friendship thing. But Paul didn't seem to believe that, he was really putting himself down.

"I don't think so...he loves to tease me, doesn't he?" Paul was now close to tears and George was really feeling for him.

"Paul darling?" George was about to cross the booth to sit next to him. Paul whimpered and looked up.

"I don't know what do in this situation. I've never been in anything like it, I like a boy. A boy." Paul now had his head in his hands. His forehead was almost burning his palms.

"Hey, hey. You know I do too?" George finally did cross the booth and sat next to Paul, pulling his hands from his face so he could look at him. "There's nothing wrong with that" George rubbed his arm.

"Yeah but yours likes you back" Pauls eyes were red and rimmed with tears. George's chest clenched a little at that comment and he reached out to hug Paul.

"I think yours might too" he whispered. Paul nodded into his shoulder.m

"Yeah right. Johns, well he's John. He couldn't like me"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Johns head was pounding the following morning. He lit a cigarette and trotted off to school. He wasn't sure he'd see Stu today. He had been talking about skipping with Astrid yesterday. He couldn't remember a lot from yesterday but he was eager to find out.

School wasn't exciting but John was putting up with it. He had yet to run into Stu or Astrid so it was safe to say their plans went through. John was looking for somewhere to go during lunch, the lunchroom was way too loud for him to enjoy. He bumped right into someone though.

"Oh sorry" the small man chuckled, it was Paul and George's friend, Ringo. John smiled.

"No issue, you're Ringo?"

"And you're John" Ringo pointed at his chest. "You spilled George and I's secret." Ringo was suppose to look angry but to Johns surprise, he just seemed calm.

"Oh yeah, I did do that" John chuckled and then they began walking side by side, away from the lunchroom. "You talk to Paul recently?"

"Oh yeah, this morning. Told me about what happened yesterday" Ringo chuckled. John furrowed his eyebrows and crossed his arms.

"Well I was very drunk, so if I uh I don't know did something-"

Ringo walked in front of John and stopped him "I'll get Paul" and then he left. John didn't like being ordered around and Ringo had swayed away from the actual demand and just told him where he was going, to get Paul. So John decided he'd stay because he wanted to not because he was told to.

Paul looked as if he'd been pushed around the corner but he was alone and clueless and it was really funny. John chuckled.

"Ringo didn't tell me-" Paul looked back down the hall

"What did I do last night?" John asked and Pauls stomach dropped. He didn't want to tell him at all. It'd be easier to just forget it then to relive it and be rejected. "Paul?" John poked at his side.

"Well uh, I walked ya home" Paul shrugged.

"Very sweet of ya but what did I do?" John smiled. Paul was trying to come up with something to satisfy Johns questions but there wasn't anything to say but the truth so

"You kissed me two more times" Paul blurted and tried to laugh it off. John didn't seem too shocked or mad even.

"I didn't do anything else right?" John asked and Paul shook his head.

"No, that was all" Paul said vaguely trying to understand Johns attitude.

"Oh well, good" John tried to turn on his feet but Paul walked after him. John smirked a little.

"John? That's seven times!" Paul huffed

"Seven times of what?" John asked. Paul was angry. He didn't remember or he was just teasing Paul again and it was making him extremely angry.

"You've kissed me seven times John. I've been racking my brain trying to figure out what it meant and telling myself over and over that you were just frustrated with Stu and Astrid. I can't do it anymore John! Quit the teasing and do something!" Paul barely finished the spiel before John swept him into the same empty classroom where he had kicked John in the face.

"Paul stop yelling that around the school, will ya?" John huffed as he shut the door. Paul nodded quietly, that had been a bad idea. "Now Paul. I've kissed ya seven times now, right?" John asked. Paul went to count on his fingers again but John pushed his hand down with a chuckle.

"I've told ya, I could be your first queer experience and said that we could be more than friends, haven't I?" John had yet to let go of Pauls hand. Paul looked at it bashfully.

"Maybe..."

"So you could assume that I was interested in you?"

"Yeah but-"

"You denied me, so as far as I'm concerned, I was upfront about it" John tossed Pauls hand around.

"Well you always made it seem sexual, last night you were drunk, and your thing with Stu-"

"There's not much of a thing with me and Stu anymore though."

"I don't want your default second choice John" Paul mumbled and watched John toss his hand around. John nodded

"Stu was barley a first choice, I lusted for him sure but what did that last me? One time in the loo" John shrugged. Paul pulled his hand away.

"I'm not gonna be any good time in the loo and that's for sure" Paul narrowed his eyes, John laughed again.

"No you're quite different, Paul. For god sakes I wrote you poetry on the back of an album" Johns tongue poked out a little from the corner of his mouth. Paul smiled a little,

"Yeah, ya did you queer sap" Paul laughed.

"We share a cig nearly every time I see ya, said you look like Elvis." John kept listing things and it made Paul blush a little.

"You didn't Actually say that-"

"Well you do" John kicked his leg. Paul stood up a little straighter

"So?"

"So" John teased him again. "Let's have a cig then?" John sat down against the wall and Paul sat down next to him as he lit one for them. they passed it back and forth for a while in silence and Paul absorbed the comfortable quiet. Paul took a leap of action and laid his head on Johns shoulder. John chuckled and gave him the cig, he pushed his glasses on his face.

"Think I'm gonna go" John went to stand but looked down at Paul who scoffed. He rolled his eyes and leaned over and melded their lips together.

"That's eight. And now I'll be off" John helped Paul stand up with him. "I'll let you have your bird talk with George about this with the last half of lunch" John pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Already had a bird talk with him about ya last night" Paul swayed a little. John quirked his eyebrow and rolled his lips together.

"Oh yeah? What'd ya say about me?"

"That I thought you were a teasing jerk" Paul smirked. "Made me cry, ya did"

"Oh that breaks me heart" John put his arm around Paul. Paul rolled the cig over to his right hand.

"Sure is tearing ya up" Paul twirled Johns arm out from over him and stopped at the door. "I'll see ya later I guess" Paul was trying to be cool about the vagueness of their relationship now. John didn't even have to try, he was naturally careless it seemed.

"Bye Paul"

"Bye John"

Paul smiled a little and walked out of the classroom, he felt his face heat up as soon as he left. John stayed behind to finish the cig.

Paul went to find Ringo and George at lunch, they were waiting for him. George left half his lunch untouched for him and Ringo was smirking at him as he sat.

"How'd it go?" Ringo asked very smug.

"Well I think it went well" Paul shrugged.

"You think?" George asked and shoved Paul's half of his lunch to him.

"Well John was very vague but I'm thinking we're good" Paul smiled, mostly to himself. He was on good standing with John and it felt nice.

Paul looked at George and Ringo, who seemed very content and all felt good.
~~~~~~~~~~~

John met Paul again after school, he was smirking at him. Paul flocked up to him, leaving George and Ringo at Paul's locker.

"Hello" John grinned in such an odd sunny way that Paul was sure he had never seen before.

"Hi" Paul flushed every time John looked at him. John could see George and Ringo staring at them over Paul's shoulder, making John very uncomfortable.

"Lets go huh?" John urged Paul to follow him.

"But what about-"

"They see ya everyday Paulie" John smiled and Paul waved at them and then followed John.

"Where are we off too?" Paul asked. John was leading him out of the school and down the street.

"The park" John shrugged, as they entered the typically empty park John pulled Paul by his hand. Paul blushed at the contract.

John pulled Paul down by the tree and into his lap.

"Hello" Paul smiled as he pressed his forehead to John's.

"Hello" John reached up and kissed Paul slowly.

"Nine" Paul whispered against his lips.

"You gonna count them all?" John asked as he pulled back.

"Oh yeah" Paul nodded

God, Paul was so over the moon right now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ringo was holding his beer over his mouth and George teasing tipped it further. Ringo choked a little and pulled it away and slapped George.

They were at a party again, even knowing how well it went last time. But John invited Paul who invited George and Ringo. George was slightly dazed in a dizzy inducing drunk state of mind. Ringo was whispering things in his ear as George played with the rings on his fingers. They watched Paul and John accidentally bumping into each other.

John needed to keep his status or something. The whole idea sickened George.

What was he going to continue to bully them but get the sweet stuff from Paul on the side? 

George was sure this would end up with a hurt Paul and he didn't like it. Ringo had even agreed, though they were glad Paul seemed happy now, they were thinking about the long run.

"Hmmm" George hummed into Ringo's side distastefully as John seemed to whisper something about them from across the room to his mates.

"He's just doing it to avoid the torture you and Paul went through" Ringo tried to remind him.

"Yeah, Paul's still going through it though, ain't he? He's selfishly avoiding it himself, I ought to say something!" George put down his drink and it was too late for Ringo to grabs him.

George stomped up to John while he was alone at the drink table.

"I think it's very selfish of ya to avoid all this torture that Paul is still enduring!" George slurred.

"It's not selfish! Paul doesn't want me to say anything either, and for someone that follows him around like a lost puppy, you should know that!" John was angry. It didn't help that he was drunk either.

"You just want Paul for sex!"

The accusation was enough for John to punch him but having his fear for people hearing gave him that much more eagerness. George flinched back but came tearing back at John.

Paul heard the commotion before he saw the fight. He turned and saw George and John having a toss at each other. He went into fight or flight mode.

Ringo heard the punch before he saw it. But he caught the sight of George holding his face for half a painful second and then he jumped at John. He threw his drink down and went to get the drunks away from each other before they really hurt each other.