Studio time

As I sat watching John, George and Paul tinker, I felt eyes on me, I smiled at Richie as he wandered up beside me, sitting heavily on the leather couch across from my folding chair, the couch had three Beatles on it earlier so the chair was my solace.

"You should have a kip luv, those three will be tossing ideas around another......." Richie looked at his watch" another twenty-four minutes"

I was intrigued "Why twenty-four not twenty five or twenty three?!"

"Oh, that's easy, they are quite routine. Song bickering and such, you'll see" As Ringo hoped up I grabbed his arm.

"A wager sir, to cut the boredom?" I smirked at Rich and his whole demure turned into a hard-core gambler, rubbing his hands together eagerly, checking his pockets for cash, he pulled out 100 pounds and dropped it on the table.

"No way. I haven't got that sort of cash!" I hissed at him quietly.

"What do you propose" Ringo leaned in conspiringly, twirling two silver rings on his fingers at once. I whispered in his ear and we shook on it. I stupidly chose twenty-nine minutes, the way those three were going at it, I was began thinking I had severely underestimated, so I thought.

"Kassandra, over here NOW" I was dreaming of a milkshake and chips when John sung out, waking me out of my food craving, I had been listening but they played one bit over and over and over; Ringo snapping the timer on his watch beside me saying 'ha-ha' making me groan, I had lost our wager.

As I stood up, Richie pinched my side "Don't forget!"

John's quizzical face made me laugh and I slapped Richie's hand away from my side. I wandered towards the three slowly, combing fingers through my hair, wondering how to get out of this pickle I was currently in with Rich.

"What wasss that, over there with the drummer person" George deadpanned. I turned and stuck my tongue out at Richie as his now constant snickering was very annoying, especially as the boys seemed consigned to agreement in the music for the song, my bed was made, now I had to lie in it.

"Well, ummmm, I, oh it's ok, nothing it was"

Ringo came up behind me and held a hand on my shoulder "We just had a little bet and I won that's all, now she has to pay uP" Ringo popped the P and I grimaced under the stares.

"And the wager was on..." John asked grinning at me. "Haven't you been told about Rings yet... he is a full-on rat with this stuff and he got you!"

Richie spoke up as I was now rubbing my face in pity and dread "We wagered I would have you lot to the minute sorting the music, she was a none believer. I believe Miss Kassandra, you now have to pay uP"

I ignored Ringo and saw the smirks reappearing, I was going to have to pay up, now. "Ok, Ok, Richie don't get your knickers in a knot"

"Gentlemen would you do a run through of Miss Kassandra's tune, I think she has a job of her own to do" Richie laughed in my ear and I poked my tongue out at his receding back, he would tap something on the drums to accompany my insipid singing and the guy's wonderful arrangement. Paul took over the piano, George and John picked up guitars, all looking at me wondering why I was standing there, not sitting, moving or blinking.

Paul played a few bars as a test and spoke "Ok George, mate?" nodding to George Martin in the control box and I was cut down like a tree, George Martin, producer wielder of power, was in the control box with a big record button under his finger. This was not on the invitation, I'm sure John hadn't said Mister Martin was coming in!

"Richie please, now's not the time!" I hissed, blinking furiously and George came forward and held my hand he could see I was about to fall, my incessant blinking being a childhood trait he had picked up shortly after his swimming 'lesson' when he was 7.

"You'll be right. Gotta pay up, luv. Do it and it will be done. I know you can" Ringo hollered from across the room, smiled encouragingly. I needed that last push, I steeled my chin and looked him in the eye, George smiled, seeing me come out strong again.

"Ok, Ok. Which.... Which one George" I pointed to the microphones and suddenly Paul tittered and grabbed the second one to the left, immediately realising what my wagers payment was. John on the other hand was still staring blankly til George grabbed the guitar resting beside the piano, then led me directly in front of them all; in front of the blasted mic.

"Oi Martin, Kass is singing this time, switch on number two" Paul yelled and George tapped my shoulder, his warm hand giving little assuredness to my present plight.

John sure was slow on the pickup of the current situation I was in but as he heard the intro notes and noticed my searching look hold him, he smiled a reassuring comforting smile. I held his eye and sang, sang my words as best I could. I sang how I felt that day I wrote the words in my journal, putting the hurt and the heartache to the fore, using the emotion to carry me to through to the end and it was over. I collapsed onto John and he embraced me close to his firm chest, the guitar flung away as quickly as the music died.

Whispers entered my ears, whispers of men, men that were brilliant in the studio, brilliantly talented men whispered and gave me encouragement for my mind to drink in, like I was thirsty and dehydrated, their words quenched my thirst for a snippet of praise.

I was ok, I didn't die of embarrassment as I thought I would. I smiled up as John pushed me into Paul's arms for his happy words, then George was there grinning like a hyena after a good feed. I laughed at his ridiculously big grin it looked like it would hurt, he held it so long!

"Well that was disappointing" Richie wandered over and George clipped him over the head "No, NO! I meant I thought you would stuff up but you didn't!!" I clipped him over the head too!

As we left the studio, I was euphoric nothing could topple me from the heights, I felt indestructible. It's hard to explain to someone if they have never felt the constriction of self-doubt. I looked a fool I'm sure with the elation and feeling of weightlessness that lifted my feet from the ground that day, I felt on the precipice of new beginnings, I wouldn't turn back and shudder with fear anymore, I would step up and welcome the challenge.