~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
Paul's new found lady friend abandoned him after her ex came looking for her.
"Well....that was short." Paul sighed and ordered a margarita.
"Very dry, with no olive," He said. Suddenly, he felt a light tap on his shoulder.
"Hello there, cutie. What's your name?" asked the all too familiar face. It was the Britney bird....again.
"Oh, um, 'ello, luv, me name is Paul. And you are B-"
"Britney Spears, appraised singer, accomplished dancer! You know, I have lots of fans that are just DYING to get to know me, but you caught my eye," she said, rather seductively.
"Yeah, I know what you mean all too well." He said, sipping his margarita. "Fans are a crazy lot, they really are."
"Are you a fan?" Britney asked, gazing into his eyes.
"A fan? Oh, I don't know, I really don't look at myself as one."
"I am a fanatic...a fanatic for guys, you know? And you're at the top of my list." Paul's brow furrowed. Wasn't HE supposed to deliver the pick-up line?
"Oh...oh, well I-"
"We have a lot in common, you know, Paul," Britney said.
"What? We just met? How could you know what we have in common?"
"Do you like girls?" Britney asked. Paul chuckled.
"Well, yeah-"
"See, we're perfect for each other!"
"But then....doesn't that make you...a.." Paul stopped. Her pick up line had spoiled out on her...how entertaining.
"How old are you?" Paul asked.
"Twenty-four," Britney said.
"NUH-UH!!!!! She's 18!!" Ashley broke in to their conversation.
"No I am not! 19!!" She yelled back. Ashley laughed and rolled her eyes at the obvious stupidity that inhabited her brain. "Superficial bitch," she said under her breath.
"So, anyway, you wanna get out of here?" Britney asked.
"I can't. Not tonight," Paul answered, clearly amused.
"Oh, I see. Tomorrow? Or later tonight, that's even better!" Paul laughed at her attempts to get him in bed. And while he really didn't like to admit it, he hadn't gotten any in a long time.
"I don't think so-"
"Please? I'm not that innocent. That's a line from my song!! Haha!! What a coincidence that I would use a line from my hit song that sold millions of copies to seduce you into sleeping with me!!!" She laughed. Paul's eyes grew wide.
"Well..."
"Come on....can't we at least go out? Wanna dance?" He sighed at her final plea.
"Oh alright."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Operation-Nuke-The-Whore!!!" Ashley said quietly, watching Britney giggle at every facial expression Paul made, which basically made her sound like a rabid hyena.
"What are you talking about?" George asked.
"HER! She is the biggest whore known to man, and she's got Paul joined to her frickin' hip! I say we unleash nuclear war on the bitch. Lord knows she's got so much silicone in her that a nuclear blast will probably just cook her slightly brown. Agh, this disgusts me, but I know that I can't get it through Paul's head. It probably doesn't matter to him anyway. Look at him, he's looking at her with googly eyes. Can't take his eyes off her boobies. That's so wrong. I mean, that woman/child/IT just doesn't have any morals or respect for herself. Have you ever seen such provocative dancing? That has a place on the SPICE channel, not here so that I can see it! Can't they just put her in a strip joint or something? She'll be right at home there! I mean-" George held a finger to her lips.
"You talk to much," he said, smiling. Ashley smiled back.
"You can stand to watch these events unfold right before your eyes?"
"I'll call the government tomorrow....they can take care of it." Ashley laughed lightly.
"Hell, why don't you get parliament in this. Lord Knows she's taken over Britian too. Not to mention France. You know, the other day, I turned on the French radio to listen to some french music, and Britney Spears was on the radio? YOU CAN'T ESCAPE HER EVIL CLUTCHES!! She's everywhere!! There was a rumor for a long time that she was dating Prince William! PRINCE WILLIAM!! I wonder what Prince Charles thought of THAT one!"
"Prince Charles? Son named William, eh? Anyway, shhhh! You are getting all bent out of shape about this!! She must be the demon!" Ashley laughed.
"She IS a demon...and seeing as I am already the Demonic Angel, she better get her priorities straight, 'cause there is no way in hell...or heaven for that matter, that she is taking away my position! There is only 1 demonic angel, and that's m-" She was once again cut off with a kiss.
"You know, some day, I am just going to keep talking right through your kiss!"
"No you won't," George said.
"Oh no?" Ashley said with a laugh.
"You like it too much."
"Thank you, Ashley, for telling me your feelings on the subject," Ashley said, shaking her head.
"You're welcome."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Do you want to dance?" Ringo asked Lucy, taking her hand.
"Sure!" Lucy replied, just happy to be with him.
They were listening to a DJ now, since the band had retired for the night. The song was a fast, cheesy poppy song that made Lucy's stomach want to curl up in a ball, but she danced to it anyway.
"You're a very good dancer," Lucy said to Ringo.
"Me? A good dancer? NEVER! I live to party, baby!" Lucy laughed as they cascaded across the dance floor. Then Lucy caught the sight of the moment.
"Oh Lord, please forgive me of my sins, I do not know what I have done to deserve this, I never meant it...but make THAT go away!!" Lucy said, watching the grotesque sight.
"Wha-OH!" Ringo said, catching sight of the spectacle that was Britney and Paul. Britney was trying to teach Paul how to "dirty dance," and, while Paul was doing a good job of it, SHE didn't want to see it.
"What if he takes that back with him to the '60s? What if he tries to do that! They'll ban him from clubs forever! Oh well, that's his problem, not mine!" Lucy said with a laugh.
"Yeah. Wanna have a go?" Ringo asked playfully.
"Oh, come on, Ring, do you want me to look THAT stupid?" she laughed.
"Of course not, darling!" Ringo laughed. They danced a little while longer, until a new song came on. A loathed song.
"Oh Lord," lucy said. She could see Ashley start her lecture to George again.
"I think I did it again I made you believe, we're more than just friends-"
"OOOOOOOHHHH!!! IT'S MY SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Britney screamed with glee. Paul laughed...he was drunk. "OOPS I DID IT AGAIN!!!! I PLAYED WITH YOUR HEART!!!!!" She yelled as loud as humanly possible. Lucy covered her ears in horror.
"Good Lord someone just shoot her now!" Ringo commented, watching the sick display.
"Well, that would be all fine and dandy, but I don't want you to go to hell!" Lucy said.
"Yeah, you're right," Ringo said. Then he looked at her.
"How did you die?" He asked bluntly. Lucy blinked.
"Excuse me?" She asked.
"Oh, I'm sorry! How DAFT of me, I shouldn't have asked!" Ringo said.
"No, it's okay."
"I am really really sorry."
"I don't remember," Lucy said quietly. Ringo looked up.
"What?"
"I can't remember how I died. I don't remember anything. I remember my mother's voice...it was so sweet. I remember my father and my brother. I remember their voice, and I can hear it in my head. But I can't remember they look like. I can't remember anything about them. They took it away from me, because I might try and change something about their life. I don't even remember where I am from. I can't remember what I was doing, or how I died. I can't remember who my friends were...I can't remember anything," Lucy said, her voice shaking slightly. "It's kinda sad. The only thing I know is that I died in the 20th century. but I don't know when, and I don't know where. They are very protective up there in heaven. But, I'll get my memory back when I become a Superior Angel. That's a long way away." Ringo Pulled her closer and hugged her.
"I'm sorry for asking."
"Don't be sorry. I'm not," Lucy said, offering a meek smile.
"You know I love you for who you are," Ringo said quietly.
"I know...I know."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"So, how well do you know Ringo?" Candy asked.
"Quite well, I'd have to say. Being in a band with him and all, you get close."
"Yeah, you do," Candy said quietly.
"I love the color of your hair. It's very groovy. What did you dye it with?"
"Oh, it's temporary. My real hair color is blonde, but I don't like people to know. You know how people stereotype blondes," Candy said with a smile. John nodded, even though he had no clue what she was referring to. "Do you think I should go with blue next?"
"Uhm...I think red is your color," John said with a laugh.
"Red? oooh, that's racy! That's sounds bitchin', I think I will try it!" John smiled.
"So, how do you like 2000?" candy asked.
"Oh well, I mean...it's a lot different from the '60s. I mean, here I am, 27 years old, but I would be turning 60 this year! I am not even half way to 60!" Candy grew quiet.
"Oh,I know I am dead. I died 20 years ago this year...that's really scary. I mean..20 years ago I was 7 for God's sake. " John sighed. "But it doesn't bother me, it really doesn't. I figure everyone has their time, right?" he smiled. "Mine just came early."
"Yeah.. I couldn't imagine what that would be like. I can barely remember it...I was really little. I was 3 when you died. I remember it. I remember it like it was yesterday. Everyone was devastated. You are something special, John. You are. Just remember that when you go back." John smiled, and they danced some more.
"When are you going back?" Candy asked.
"To tell you the truth, I don' t know. I don't even know how I got here. I just know that I miss my home, but I really like it here. It's nothing like all the hype everyone was making it out to be. The planet isn't ruled by apes, people don't live on mars-"
"But we have machines living on mars. And man has been on the moon." John stared at her.
"No shit?" he asked after a while. "Damn. well...People don't openly live in space. And...people wear half way normal clothes. What do you call what you are wearing?" John asked Candy.
"This? These are pink fish net stockings, A tight leather mini-skirt, a purple tube top....and platforms? Surely it's not that different."
"Oh I don't know...." John laughed softly.
"So, have you had a chance to explore the music scene?"
"Not really. I mean...I was in a band for a while. Metallica?"
"YOU played with METALLICA? Well, you lucky sonuvabitch!! I LOVE Metallica!! I wanted to go to their concert the other night, but I had a meeting with the manager. Were you playing?"
"Yeah...and it was really gear, I loved it...but I know where my home is, and that's with the Beatles, and I am not going to deny that. No matter what kind of problems we've been having lately, we are still a band." Candy smiled, knowing all too well what was going to happen to them a few short years.
"OOPS YOU THINK I'M IN LOOOOVE!"
"Oh mother of GOD shut her UP!!!" John said, hearing the out of tune voice ring out, and Paul's hysterical laughing.
"You hate her too? Good God she has got to be the most revolting thing on the face of the planet! And her music!! If that's what you want to call it!" John laughed.
"I understand. Ugh... there aren't many out like that are there?" John asked.
"I hate to burst your bubble, but not ONLY is there Britney Spears, but there is Christina Aguilera, Mandy Moore, AND Jessica Simpson...It's all over MTV...and I hate it. I mean...everyone is so superficial these days. If you thought it was bad in the '60s, it's even worse here. It's not about peace and love anymore...it's about who has the most money and who looks the best. If you weigh over 150 pounds, forget it, honey, you'll never make it in music. Oh, you don't have long flowing blonde hair? Terribly, terribly sorry, you just don't look good enough. And of course, there are exceptions...but hardly ever. And I guess it's just what is popular, but it gets worse. BOYBANDS have taken over the world, and you will never believe my amazing knowledge of boybands. Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, 98 Degrees, C-Note, 5ive, Take Five, No Authority, Westlife, and there are so many more! It's terrible!" John nodded.
"Musical frustration. Well, I mean, there are always copycats, and we had our share of problems. It is the same problems every decade...just in a different form every time. It's all about power, and it always will be," John said. "You know, you are really smart." She smiled.
"No I'm not, I just know music."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"You know, you are very amazing, Britney,"Paul said, dancing with her to a slower song after a few more drinks.
"Oh I KNOW!!!!!!!!!! Tell me....and be honest.....do my boobs look to small in this light? 'cause if they do, I'll get them re-done! Just for you, Paulie!"
"Oh no, they look lovely," he said.
"PAUL!!!!!! ARE YOU INSANE?!?!?! DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO???!!!!" Ashley said, trying to snap Paul out of it.
"Oh, come on, baby, leave him alone! If he wants to get laid, that's his own thing!!" George said, putting his arms around her.
"Oh fine...but this just disgusts me!! This just disgusts me!!"
~**~~**~~**~~**~~
John excused himself from Candy for a moment, dancing his way over to Paul
and...it.
"Paul, WHAT are you doing?"
"Whadus it look like? I'ma dancin'!" he slurred, practically falling over.
Paul noticed, in his drunken stupor, that the more he drank, the better
Britney looked. John sighed, then threw Paul over his right shoulder.
Britney was too busy trying to figure out why her boobs looked so small to
notice.
John dumped Paul into a booth, then ordered a glass of ice water to dump
over his head. Paul sputtered for a moment, then sat up, looking astonished.
"Where am I?"
"The bar."
"Oh, yea...where's Britney? Damn, she's a hot chick..." John smacked him
hard across the face with the back of his hand. "Well, she's fake and all,
but she can sing..." *smack* "Ok, not really well, but she can dance!"
*smack* "Well, not really I guess. But she has an ok personality!" *smack*
"Hmm...maybe not, but I don't think she's that bad all around..." *smack*
"Well, I suppose I like her PURELY on a sexual level..." *smack* "Well,
maybe not even that..." *smack* "In fact, I don't really like her at all!
She's a raving seductive bitch only out to get some and swindle people's
money by convincing them she's got talent!" Paul spat out in one breath.
"That's better," John said matter-of-factly. "Have you got it now, Paulie?"
Paul shook his head vehemently, rubbing his cheek. "Yea, thanks John, I
needed that..." John nodded curtly.
"And don't you forget it." John returned to the dance floor to find Candy.
Paul took a seat at the bar, ordering a cuppa. He argued with the bartender
for a minute because they didn't sell coffee at that time of night, but
eventually Paul explained his situation, and the man handed over the
steaming drink with great sympathy. Paul sipped it slowly, rubbing his
reddened cheek. Luck was not on his side, alas, and Britney eventually
stopped studying her "charms" and found him at the bar.
"Paulie, where'd you go, hon?" She slurred. Paul found this rather amusing,
because she hadn't had any drinks; she was under aged.
"Somewhere away from you, HON." He spit out the last syllable disgustedly.
She didn't seem to notice.
"What, don't you like me?"
"Uh oh, here it comes..." Ringo and Lucy had been watching with interest for
some time, and now they eagerly awaited Paul's answer to that unwittingly
loaded question.
Paul inhaled deeply, preparing himself.
"No, I don't. I find you most revolting, in fact. You're a sugar-coated idol
for a sugar-coated teenybopper world. People imitate you and manage to make
money, as you do, but you don't make money for your singing, oh no. You have
your own ways of clawing your own way up the popularity ladder. Did you ever
happen to notice that you have more boy fans than girl fans? Didn't that ever spark some tiny thought in your anorexic
shrunken perfectly painted little head? Probably not. But that's nothing
new. I suggest you take your bleach-blonde hair, your tight, catty little
clothes, and your plastic little boobies and leave."
At this point, Paul noticed that everyone had been listening to his little
oration; even the music had been stopped. Now, people started clapping,
louder and louder. Britney stared at him in astonishment, mouth opening and
closing like a fish.
"My boobs are small? Really?"
@@@@
98 Degrees left the hotel in a froth, stomping after their deserting
ex-band mate.
"Maybe he realized that we just aren't going anywhere."
"Shut up, Drew."
"Well, I mean, if you think about it, are we ever going to be better than
the Backstreet Boys?"
"Shut UP, Drew."
"Or NSYNC? They're pretty good, too..."
"SHUT UP, Drew!"
"If you think about it, we're really number three on the list. Maybe we're
trailing behind by a considerable amount, but at least we're better that
some others..."
"SHUT UP, DREW!!!"
"I'm just trying to enlighten you all on the gravity, or lack thereof, of
our situation. We can't be all that bad off; we do have quite a few female
fans, especially Nick..."
"Well, yes, but SHUT UP, DREW!!!!!!!!!!!" Nick cuffed Drew's ears, and they
continued off down the street in silence. Soon they came upon a loud
nightclub, but a young woman was sitting outside, sobbing loudly. Nick
walked up to put his hand on her shoulder comfortingly.
"What's wrong, babe?"
Britney lifted her head, her mascara creating deep, dark lines on her
cheeks. "Are my boobs small?"
RNick quickly withdrew his hand, wiping it on his pants. "Well, I, uh..."
"SERIOUSLY, though!" She jumped up, shoving her chest in his face. "Do these
look small to you?"
"Well, no, but..." Nick shot his mates a pleading look.
"Who told you they did?" Jeff cut in. Britney sat down again, collapsing
into tears.
"The love of my life!"
"What's his name?"
"*sniff* Paulie. My little Paulie! *sniff*"
"PAUL???" All four boys screamed at once.
"Ooh, Paul's gonna pay for this...big time." The five teenybopper idols
huddled together to discuss a solution.
@@@@
Inside the club, things were winding down for our four heroes and two
heroines. Ashley was splayed out in a booth, her shoes off, complaining of
foot problems. George was massaging her feet.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Luv, if you're an angel, can't you just...snap your feet better? You
know...instant fix?" George stopped massaging her feet.
"Don't stop!" Ashley sat up quickly.
"Oh, I get it. Blisters, my arse. You just want a foot massage."
"Well, I..."
"Yea, that's what I thought." George grinned teasingly and continued to
massage her feet.
Candy had left with Clint and Sam to discuss a record contract. Ringo had
explained that he couldn't go with them, and luckily, the record executive
happened to know a lead guitarist looking for a band. With many wishes of
good luck and hugs goodbye (Lucy noted jealously), they parted ways. Ringo
sat at the bar, Lucy resting her head on his shoulder softly.
"You all right, luv?" Ringo asked, planting a kiss on her forehead. Lucy
smiled sleepily, her eyes shut.
"Yuh-huh..." Ringo laughed softly to himself.
John was sitting with Paul at the bar. "My god�I can't believe I ever found
her attractive..."
"Well, with enough beers, anyone can look attractive, I suppose."
"I had QUITE a FEW beers..."
"There we are then. C'mon, lad, let's round up the others and find a place
for the night."
With much poking and prodding, John and Paul managed to wake up Lucy, get
Ashley to put her shoes back on, drag George away from Ashley, and get Ringo
to take his eyes off Lucy. The motley six-some stumbled out the back way
into a dimly lit alleyway. Little did they expect what happened next.
"HALT!" A voice boomed. Immediately, Lucy and Ashley dropped to one knee,
motioning hastily for the others to do the same.
"What's going on?" Ringo whispered to Lucy.
"The superior angels! Shhh!" She hissed back. Two bright flashes of light
lit the alleyway, and two figures appeared. One was that of a forty or
forty-five year old woman, wearing a white robe. To her left was a tall,
gray-haired man dressed similarly. They both held staves with golden doves
perched on top. A halo hovered above each of their heads.
"Ashley, Angel 8403, and Lucy, Angel 8404, you are to be relieved of your
current assignment." The woman said plainly, looking at them down her nose.
"WHAT???"
"SILENCE when an elder is speaking!" The old man bellowed. "The high
committee believes that you have become far too involved in this project,
which has caused far too many violations of the strict Angel Order. You are
to hand over all responsibilities for these four mortals to us."
"Hey, don't we get some say?" George demanded, standing up.
"George, KNEEL! You have NO idea what you're dealing with!" Ashley hissed
pleadingly. George didn't move.
"I mean, these two angels have been caring for us in the best way possible!
Not one thing has gone wrong in MY opinion! In fact, I love Ashley very
much, and I'll be damned if you're going to take her away from me!" He
declared.
"Amen to that! Lucy's been there the whole time for me! If she hadn't been
there, watching over me, I don't know WHAT would have happened!" John
declared, also rising. Paul agreed, also standing defiantly, as did Ringo,
who was strangely silent. The superior angels glared at the four in
bemusement.
"Thus is the problem. They have gotten too involved in the lives of these
mortals, in particular one George Harrison and one Richard Starkey. I
repeat, hand over your responsibilities."
Ashley and Lucy rose, keeping their eyes to the ground. Ashley walked up to
the man, and pressed her palm to his. Instantly, there was a flash of bright
light, and Ashley could no longer hear George's thoughts.
Lucy rose to trade off her responsibilities, but Ringo grabbed her wrist.
She looked at him with a tear-strained face, and shook her head slowly. He
released her, and she touched her palm to the old woman's, Ringo's worried
thoughts fading from her tired mind.
"Now you are to return with us to Heaven, where the Superior Angels will proceed with your assignment." Ashley's lower lip trembled. "You will have NO contact with these mortals. Attempts to contact them will be dealt with accordingly by the Superior Angels."
"NO!" George yelled. "Don't you take her away from me! Don't you take her away!!"
"But I love her!! How can you be so cruel? I thought you were sent from GOD!!!! HOW can you be so cruel to the lives of us? Lucy was the best thing that ever happened to me....how can you take something so important to me away? How can God do this?" Ringo asked the angels.
"He works in mysterious ways, young Richard. As Superior Angels, we are bound by the word of God to control everything that goes on in the lives of mortals. You have been sent messenger Angels. It is absolutely FORBIDDEN by the book of Angel Laws to fall in love with a mortal." The woman looked at Ashley. "Don't ask such insolent questions, girl." She had read Ashley's mind. "HAD you been in Heaven long enough to hear the news, it was added 2 moons ago. You have just broken a forbidden law...that's an offence. Angel 8403, you will officially lose your license as soon as we re-enter paradise, and Angel 8404, you will be assigned your offence, which puts you at high risk to lose yours, having an offence and a half." Ashley began crying at this news, and it broke George's heart, as well as Ringo's, to know that the two women they loved more then anything, were going to be taken away from them for a natural emotion.
"MORTAL Emotion!" The man's voice boomed. "I hear your thoughts, young George. You are a mortal. Angel 8403 is not. She is an angel. There is no way that this can work. Mortals do not fall in love with Angels."
"WHAT IF I DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THIS RELIGION, EH, SUPERIOR ANGELS? What if I choose NOT TO BELIEVE THIS BULLSHIT?!?!?!"
"Then you do not believe in her. And she no longer exists to you!"
"You can't do that!" He said.
"You must have some faith then. If you have no faith, George from Liverpool, Angel 8403 will cease to exist in your world. So if you love her like you say you do, have faith in God, and maybe one day you will be together. But, the day is not now. The sun rises soon. If you want to talk to these angels, PRAY." The Superior angels narrowed their eyes at the messenger angels. "Pray hard." The angels began to descend up to heaven. The Beatles, powerless against the awesome wrath of God, watched two tear-streaked faces disappear into the desolate glow of the New York City lights.
"He....He....He can't DO that!! He CAN'T!!!" George yelled. Ringo shook his head and sat down. "He can't do it....He can't take my Ashley away...no.....oh GOD!"
"I love her.....Lucy...I love her so much....did I ever tell her well enough? Oh, I hope she knew! I hope she knew!!" Ringo beat the hard pavement with his fist. He beat it until it bled profusely. "I didn't come to 2000 to get my heart broken...she was different, Lucy. She was something special. If only I knew her in her real life. If only I knew her. "
"OH LORD!!!! We can't beat the Beatles up, what the HELL is your problem!!" A loud voice rang out.
"'EY!!! We are SO the Beatles!" John yelled loudly. The fivesome snapped to attention.
"Drew, for God's sake, do you ALWAYS have to talk so loud? You blew our cover!" four males and one slightly disgruntled looking female stepped out of the shadows.
"We are the Beatles....time traveling is a great way to get around these days," John said, half seriously. The two grief stricken Beatles paid no attention to the menacing group.
"Wow, they all really look like the Beatles, though!" Drew protested.
"WAY TO STATE THE OBVIOUS, bitch boy," John said. he was very perturbed and irked to know that he'd never see Lucy again.
"John, back off," Paul said quietly.
"Oh, I know you. YOU are that guitarist for Metallica."
"Correction. Was."
"Paulie!!!!" Britney waved vigorously. Paul sighed.
"Look, we ARE the Beatles!" John said, walking closer.
"Yeah right, and I am part of the Rolling Stones," Nick said with a laugh.
"Oh, you young ones know the Rolling Stones? Is Mick Jagger still alive?" John asked.
"Uhh...yeah...?? Look, 2 million dollars says that you are not the Beatles," Justin said.
By this time, Paul and John were clearly amused. George was still on the ground, most likely praying to God, and Ringo was staring sullenly at the mildewed wall.
"Alright, you are on! 2 million dollars says that we ARE the Beatles!" At that point 98 Degrees started to become a little nervous that they would bet 2 million dollars on who they really were. "Two million dollars is no dent in OUR pocketbook," John said truthfully.
"Guys, I like you...I really do. But my home is here, with the Beatles. I can't be a part of something I am not, and I am not a part of 98 Degrees. You guys are too close for someone like me to intrude."
"Close my ass!" Justin said loudly. "You signed a contract!" Paul's eyes wrinkled.
"No I didn't!"
"Yes you did! Read it and weep, PAULIE," Jeff said, holding the tattered paper in front of him. True, he did sign a contract.
"But...when did I sign this?"
"We didn't get you drunk for nothing, Paul," Justin replied.
"That's....wrong!" John laughed.
"They got you drunk, Paul?" Paul began to get irritable.
"Someone that just meant a lot to me....just died. In heart, she DIED to me. I don't WANT to deal with your shit right now!" Nick stepped up and punched him as hard as he could. Paul's head flew back, and a trail of blood ran from his nose.
"Well, I don't want to deal with YOUR shit either, but you just couldn't hold off, could you, Paul? Well, that's fine. But you are bound by THIS contract, so be prepared for a battle!" Paul could taste his blood, and he was livid.
"Well, I am NOT part of your group anymore, I QUIT! This is who I belong with. And if you DO sue, I'll pay you back with the two million dollars you OWE us now because we ARE the Beatles." Jeff suddenly noticed George and Ringo.
"Hey, what's wrong with him? He got an obsession with the wall or something? Go on, you're close enough, why don't you start making out with it." Ringo got up, glaring at Jeff. Jeff stepped back, sorry he had ever said a word. But Ringo was too quick, and he tackled Jeff to the ground, punching him as hard as he could.
"RINGO!" Paul yelled, mortified. But Ringo was oblivious. So much had happened to him that he didn't care anymore. It wasn't like he would ever formally meet him. Technically, in Ringo's world, this sonuvabitch wasn't even THOUGHT of yet. Paul finally pried Ringo off of Jeff, who was beat rather badly. Ringo had a long scratch across his face.
"Lucy wouldn't have let this happen. She would have stopped this."
"Ashley would have, too," Paul said quietly, remembering all the times she had just popped in, and how much he was going to miss her.
"And who is this Ashley chick? One of your whores, there, Paul?" Nick asked. That snapped George's head up. Paul's eyes flared, and both of them attacked Nick at the same time.
"Whoa!" John said, watching the display. "Guys, whoa, get off," he said, trying to liquidate the situation.
"Ashley will mean more to me then ANYTHING that you will EVER consider VALUABLE! I always will for all eternity! AND I DON'T GIVE A FUCK WHAT THOSE STUPID ANGELS SAID, I KNOW SHE IS WATCHING ME FROM HEAVEN, DAMNIT!!!!!! We HAD TOO MUCH FOR IT TO DIE!!!!" George yelled in Nick's ear."I KNOW IT!!!! Don't you EVER call her a WHORE again, Or I SWEAR TO GOD I will-"
"George," John said softly. "George, come on..." tears welled up in his eyes. "I give up. Fuck the world, I hate everything. What's the use of living if I am just going to die in the end anyway?" 98 Degrees had obviously hit a sore spot in the lives of the Beatles.
"Look....I can't do this right now. How about we have a battle of bands. Whoever wins, gets me," Paul said quietly. Bloody as they were, 98 degrees nodded.
"PAUL! You can't just make decisions FOR us! We have to talk this all over!" John said, stunned.
"Well, JOHN, what do you SUGGEST WE DO INSTEAD?" Paul asked.
"Um...sounds great to me?" John said quietly, sighing.
"You'll be hearing from us soon," Justin said, turning on his heel.
"BYE PAULIE!" Britney yelled. She had been watching all the carnage quietly for once, thank God. They left the Beatles in the alley. They felt empty and fatigued. But none of them could sleep. None of them spoke a word. All that played in their minds was the tragedy that had occurred, and how in the world they were going to get their beloved Angels back.
"Angel 8403, you are charged with breaking rules #0273 and #9362. How do you plead?" Ashley stepped up in front of the highest rank of Superior Angels.
"Guilty," she whispered.
"YOU WILL SPEAK WITH A DIGNIFIED VOICE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SUPERIOR ANGELS!" one of them yelled loudly. Ashley cringed and sighed.
"GUILTY!" She yelled back.
"The punishment for breaking two rules, one from section AAGE and the other from section GGMA, is having your licence revoked for no less than a month and no more than a year. You lose all angel powers, and cannot return to earth until your license is returned. Do you understand?"
"YES!" Ashley yelled.
"Your sentence will be carried out on account of your behavior in the next month. If an offence of any value is committed, it is an additional month. Please hand your angel card over to the angel on your left. You are dismissed." Ashley turned and walked out the doors. Lucy was waiting for her outside. Ashley broke into sobs.
"I got my license revoked...I can't return to Earth...and I lose ALL my powers until I get my license back!" She sobbed into Lucy's shoulder. Lucy bit her lip and did her best to soothe, but there was little she could do. She had never had her license revoked before. They walked home, because Ashley had lost her ability to just blink wherever she wanted to. But the most painful thing was that she couldn't look at George at all. Lucy still had viewing powers. She could check up and look at Ringo, she just couldn't communicate with him. Ashley couldn't even watch George. That made her cry harder.
"Please...please tell me what he's doing," Ashley choked out when Lucy left to go see what was going on with them. They lost their crystal ball, and Lucy had to use a public one. When she came back her look was solemn.
"They are fighting. The Beatles and 98 Degrees...they are fist fighting...." Lucy said quietly. "And none of the angels are down there taking care of it...because none of them care enough to look after them!"Lucy shook her head. Lack of contact was killing her. It was killing everyone.
~~**~~**chapter 8**~~**~~
~~**~~**index**~~**~~