Chapter 5
"Yes, I will pay! Girl power!" Sydney said digging in her purse.
"Who knows how long I've loved you-" Claire started singing.
Jessica elbowed her.
"What was that?" Paul asked.
"I just make some lyrics up some time" she said quickly.
"Good save" Sydney hissed.
Sydney put the cash on the table and then they all stood up.
"Time to play. Where are we going boys?" John asked.
"To the toppermost of the poppermost Johnny" they all 5 cried.
"Boy we're psychic" Claire said.
The guys gave them weird looks.
"We heard you said it at the last time we heard you play" Sydney said quickly "And we thought it was cute"
"Yeah, that's it" Claire said.
They walked over to the club.
"This is where we split" Claire said.
Paul gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"See you after the show" he said walking behind stage.
"You're pretty cool for a bird" John said to Jessica.
He left behind a bewildered Jessica.
"I have a lot to live up to now, don't I?" George asked "Remember what we talked about Sydney"
"I can't forget" she said.
He kissed her hand and then walked backstage.
"So, what was it you two talked about?"Claire asked giveing exaggerated winks.
"Oh, you know..... cheesecake," She joked." And what exactly were you and Paul doing at the dessert tray?"
"Oh, talking about cheesecake," she replied laughing,"What else?"
"There's Astrid," Jessica said. "Let's sit with her."
"OK," Claire said.
"Hey," Astrid said." Joining?"
"Um..if it's all right with you," Jessica said shyly.
"It'd be great. You know John is much nicer when you get to know him,"Astrid said.
"Um ok,"Jessica said turning a reddish-pinkish colour.
They watched an hour of the show in silence. Then the guys took a break.
"Hello, luv," Paul said as he reached Claire.
Claire turned red.
"Hey! You guys are great,"Claire said getting her pulse back to normal.
"Especially George," Sydney said."Oh, I hope I didn't just say that out loud"
"Say what?" George asked trying to comfort her.
The others laughed.
"Well chaps, time to play,"John said and winked at Jessica.
"Yeah. yeah yeah,"Jessica said as John started to walk away.
"See you after the show?"Paul asked Claire.
"You know it" Claire said.
"The conversation" Sydney said.
George started laughing. The guys walked back on stage.
"You really like Paul don't you?" Astrid asked Claire.
Claire just grinned.
"I'm going to take that as a yes" Astrid said laughing.
The guys finished their set at 2:45. Jessica was asleep on the table. John came up to her and poured water on her face. She sat up startled.
"Rise and shine luv" he said.
"Thanks for that lovely awakening" she said grimly.
"Welcome" he said.
They decided to split up and go their seperate ways for the night.
"Would you like to get some coffee?" Paul asked Claire as they left the club.
"Sure" she said.
They walked to a near-by coffee shop. They sat down at one of the tables outside.
"It's a lovely night isn't it?" Claire asked.
"You're lovely" Paul said.
Claire looked over at him.
"Thank you" Claire said in a tiny little voice.
"No, I'm serious. I've never met anybody like you" he said seriously.
Claire was speechless.
"I broke up with my girlfriend Dot this afternoon" he said.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yeah, it wasn't working out. And then when I met you..." he drifted off.
"I had always dreamed of this" she said.
"Of what?" he asked.
"Ugh...a Romeo" she said grinning.
He took her hand.
"I really like you, Claire, a lot" Paul said.
"I like you too" she said.
They looked into each others eyes.
"I think I should walk you back home" Paul said standing up.
"Okay" Claire said.
They walked back hand in hand.