Maureen gasped one last time as I collapsed on top of her breathing heavily.

"Oh Richard that was amazing!" She breathed fixing her hair. I rolled off of her and laid back on the bed looking at her. I was about to tell her I loved her when she interrupted me.

"I'm gonna need some money today Richard."

"What?"

"I need money. I want to go shopping with a few friends."

I sighed and sat up. "Fine." I shook away the thought of wanting to tell her that I loved her. I don't know why I was going to say it in the first place. That's all she wanted from me anyways. It's always just sex or money. We got dressed and a short time later I got a call from me mates telling me they were ready. I offered to take Maureen for lunch but she insisted that she'd eat out with her friends. We were walking out the door as the housekeeper arrived.

"There's a mess in the kitchen. Make sure that's taken care of. And don't forget to have my dress cleaned and ready for tomorrow night. Oh and please make sure my Ritchie has his suit in the right wardrobe so were not running around at the last second. Thanks." Maureen told the housekeeper as she walked passed her.

"Yes Mrs. Starkey." I heard her say as she walked inside.

Maureen gave me a kiss and we soon went our separate ways.

As soon as I got to the studio, I was yelled at for being late.

"Ringo we called you over and over again!" John yelled at me while putting his headphones on.

"Oh yeah sorry I was in the middle of something."

"What? Shagging Mo again? That's all she uses you for ya know. That and whatever else you can offer." He added making me angry. I was about to defend myself when George stood up for me.

"Aye. Leave Ringo alone. Let's just get on with the song yea?"

And with that everyone kept their thoughts to themselves. George looked over to me and nodded and I nodded back. I sat behind my drums putting my headphones on. In the middle of playing, John stopped and looked over to me.

"Ringo what are you doing? Play what we gave you to work with! Don't improvise or that sort."

"I'm sorry John it just sounded like we could use more soun...."

"We don't need the crashing sound of your Cymbals anytime Paul is about to open his mouth." John interrupted.

"Hey. I don't just open my mouth. It's my song I wrote just about all of it." Paul went on.

George stayed silent as usual. I looked over to him as he took his headphones off. He glanced at me and shook his head as John and Paul argued.

"Ringo!" John yelled. "You lose your hearing now too? We don't even need drums in this part of the song."

I just about had it. I was tired of being casted out. I was tired of always having to argue then apologize just to keep my place here in this group. I stood up and tossed my drumsticks to the floor.

"Ya know John I got feelings too! I know this is just business but what I do always gets pushed aside. I have ideas and they get turned down. I want to improvise now and then I get yelled at. I even get lied to when you all tell me you don't need me in for the day. Then I end up finding out you used Paul or some other bloke on drums. If you don't want me here anymore just at least have the balls to tell me!"

Everyone looked at me in shock. Paul and George had their mouths hanging open. John looked at me shaking his head.

"Fine then Ringo! Maybe we don't need you in here every day bothering the lot of us! What makes you so damn special!?"

"John please we need Rings..." George cut in.

"George stay out of this! It's true. It needs to be said. We don't even know what you do around here Ringo. Me and Paul do most of the writing. George is the lead guitarist. You? YOURE JUST THE DRUMMER!?" John laughed and waved his hand at me. "We can replace you in an instant. I know many lads who will take your place in a second. One who will have the sense to keep their opinions to themselves."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. And to think I thought we were all friends. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. But I held them back.

"Do you feel the same way Paul?" I asked biting my lip. Paul just stood there looking away. Him too.

"George?"

George looked up at me and bit his lip. I could see the tears in his eyes. I knew he didn't want to take sides but he was young and was probably scared to stand up for me. He knew John would probably kick him out too. He had a career and his future to think of.

I shook my head and kicked my drums. Leaving a hole where the band's name The Beatles was. I grabbed my coat putting it on.

"Ringo please don't leave." George begged. Tears running down his cheeks. "We can work this out somehow."

"George let him go. He wants to just walk away then let him."

"George I'll be alright." I assured him ruffling his hair. "And I'm not walking away from the band. Or the music. I'm walking away from you." I said pointing at John. He just rolled his eyes and laughed sarcastically. Paul just looked at me without a word and walked back to the recording booth. I scoffed and walked out of the room down the hall. I stopped in the small office Brian was in. He was on the phone when I walked passed. He called out.

"Ringo? What's wrong?"

"I'm leaving." I said stopping in the doorway.

"Is the session over that soon?" He asked

"No. I'm leaving. As in I quit the band." I said and walked off. I didn't want to hear anything else from anyone. I just want to go home. I was almost out the door when I heard someone running behind me.

"Ringo wait!"

I turned to see George panting and stop right in front of me.

"Well?" I said looking down. I looked at him to see his red eyes from crying. I sighed. "George you should go back."

"I know Rings. I don't want you to go." He hugged me and I hugged him patting his back.

"I'll be fine Geo. I'm just tired of being let down ya know." I looked down and George nodded.

"I'm sorry about John. But John is John. He speaks his mind. Either he'll regret it later or..."

I interrupted. "Or he meant what he said." I nodded. "I'm sure he meant it George. I know it, and so do you."

"Ringo..."

"I have to go George." I said and patted his shoulder. "I'll be fine I promise. And don't you go about starting something with John because of me. You're young. You need this right now. Don't be stupid."

He nodded and smiled. I smiled back and hugged him one last time.

"Ringo?"

"Yeah George?"

"Will I see you again?"

I thought for a second and shook my head. "No." He frowned and nodded understanding. I felt bad but that's how it had to be. I took one of my rings off and gave it to him.

"Here."

He smiled and put it on. "I think it's too big."

"You'll make it work somehow." We laughed and he nodded.

"See ya around George." I said opening the door.

"Bye Ringo."

And with that. We turned and went our separate ways. I looked back to see George walking down the hall. His guitar around him. I knew he wouldn't look back. He didn't want me to go. But the sooner he let go, the sooner the pain would go away.

..............................................