George

"Evenin' miss" George stood tapping lightly on the back of her seat, uncomfortable and out of place yet still he had negotiated his way from the baggage car to here, the carriage toward the front of the steaming train.

She let her eyes wander all over him. Scrawny he was, they thought I was fifteen he looked like he was thirteen or even ten. He jiffled where he stood. "Sit down, you're making a scene"

George lowered himself beside her, all gangly and gorky he wasn't at all comfortable with girls, especially not pretty ones that he had, not four hours ago, had to put her shoes on. His eyes settled on the tile like design on the carriage floor, filth was ingrained from thousands of dirty soot covered shoes.

"Are you really a prostitute" What the hell!! George pounced up from his hunched over position and waved his arms about wildly "No. NO! I. Sorry..... Can I start again.... Please"

"I've been bought and sold. My body has been touched by men that pay for what some say is a privilege" Lily shrugged then looked out into the darkness of the night, the train powering through toward the city of London, somehow she was here on it. It was almost too much and too confusing to think about. Her suitcase nestled under the seat, the few items that said who she was, inside. A couple of pieces of her mother's jewellery she had managed to hide.

"I know a few prosties in Hamburg. That's where we're off to" George watched her for a flicker of something, anything, a sign of life. Perhaps a wee smile. Deciding to jump in with two feet he went and opened his gob "Lost my virginity to a prostitute last year, well early this year but yeah-"

Shocked, her eyes widened. Was this what he approached her for? Was this some sort of request for her services?

"Do you want me to have sex with you"

"Noooo! I was just making conversation, that's all. Making a right royal balls up of it too, may I add" George cackled with embarrassment. He had been with a prostitute and a few girls since, he was trying to talk but the words fell short and sounded mean and rude.

"Relax, I'm still a girl. I just.... have grown up a little quicker than most"

"Sorry"

"It's ok. Was she nice to you? Need someone nice for your first time, don't you" Lily smiled, dusting a piece of lint off his shoulder and tucking a stray sticky gob of hair back into his do.

"She was ok. Old though, like maybe twenty five-"

"So old" Lily teased, she nudged him a little he was just shy and young and silly. He finally relaxed beside her.

"Had an audience I did" George rolled his eyes at her and nodded toward, perhaps, the other boys Paul, John and the other lad she hadnt met yet; although they weren't there with them in the carriage. "Ha! They clapped when I was done, the tossers did!"

"Wow"

"Wow in a good way or bad way?"

"What's your name. I'm Lily but I think John told you that already, didn't he?"

"Yea he told. I'm George Harrison, lead guitarist for the Beatles"

"Well George Guitarist, does your Ma know you're going to Hamburg again?"

"She bought the ticket"

"You have a very awesome mother George. Hold onto her tight" Lily sighed, he was so lucky to have a mum.

"Oh, I know that alright. After Paul then John.... Well I say a prayer every night for my luck" George turned in his seat, now comfortable because she was nice to talk to. Better than Louise his bloody sister. Louise was a girl ok but being a sister, you just can't go 'round saying any old thing.

"What about them?" Lily idly wondered, just passing the time. It was interesting delving into someone else's life, she hadn't had a chance to be a person who chatted idly and gossiped over milkshakes with friends before. Never had a friend since her mother passed... Well there was Ophelia and Lily was headed toward her currently; even if Ophelia didn't know it yet.

"You know, ummm, Pauls mum passed from a disease of some sort and John ohh that was pretty terrible ... Julia, that's her name, she had a nasty accident"

"Oh, poor boys"

"Don't say anything though, they get a bit strange if it gets out. Don't like the look of pity those two"

"You're a good friend"

"Hmmmm ..... would you like me to fetch you something? A packet of crisps, sandie I think ther-"

"No thank you but thank-you anyway, George guitarist. I think, perhaps, you should go before they send out a search party" Lily grinned and all of Georges features lit up in response. "Thanks for taking the time to sit with me"

"No problem Lil. Can I call you Lil"

"Sure"

"See ya at the platform then, when the train gets in"

Lily waved a little unsurely at the boy and turned back towards the night, head lightly tapping against the window.

Paul

"Fancy meeting a pretty thing like you in a ghastly place like this" Paul flirted royally. Now in the lit compartment of the train he got his first full look at her. And she didn't disappoint, just seventeen... wow. Radiating sadness was something she shouldn't be doing though. So, with that singular thought in mind, Paul was going to singlehandedly make her smile, if only for a little while.

She couldn't help it. Finally, a boy her own age was flirting with her, without money laid from greasy palm to greasy palm. She smiled softly as she gazed down at her hands laced in her lap.

"Flower for a proper smile" The poppy from his front garden may have been the last of the season, a little bedraggled and sad but her eyes came alive, she looked up and gave him what he wished for.

"Perfect" Paul gave her a sly smooth wink, but she missed it completely, so enamoured by the red petals of the poppy.

"It's so pretty"

"Like you"

"Stop it... Paul?"

"Yeah Paul's me name. John's the other boozo and Geo you met I think earlier when he slipped away from us in the baggage car. And no, I won't stop... you're smiling and its glorious, like an addiction now, doll. I'll keep wanting, then getting, you to smile"

She bit her lip and Paul was a goner.

John

"Jam sandie?" sandwich held high he waved it twice then fell down beside her, he had been quite blunt and nasty but he was just covering up the panic that began engulfing him. The father hadn't moved an inch, not one. All of them had skirted around the lump by the road just to make sure it was still there... and it was. What does she think of me, I killed... her father....

Lily shook her head slowly, worried about John. What was he doing here. He seemed hard as nails and seemed ready to punch anyone, even his so-called friends.

"Come on, half for me half for you. I made two to share wit ya" He grinned sheepishly and shoved the offending sandie in her hand. When her lips parted, her mouth opened in an 'o'.

Watching her pull tiny pieces off and place them in her mouth with shaking fingers he scowled at himself for making her scared. "I'm sorry.... You know... bout before ... bout down the you know"

Whispered response was all she could give currently. A warm drink would be wonderful she thought. A cup of warm tea, settle the nerves... that's what her mum would have said, well if she could have. "I'm not"

"You're not? .... Well still, you're steaming to London town at close to midnight and that's partly my doing isn't it. He might be, ummm, ummm-"

"Dead" Lily scooted up taller, little stronger under his gaze. "I've wished it since my twelfth birthday" Lily looked to the ceiling holding the sandwich tight "Most every night I was sent to lie with a stranger... every night I wasn't, he used me himself" Lily shrugged too easy this was, she was a horrid girl for wishing "I wished... and my dreams came true" She dropped her gaze to his, dark eyes holding him mute "Well then! Guess I should thank-you!" Lily smiled brightly, a little too brightly, tears came but she swiped them away quickly. "I'll not say a single word ever. Not one. You have my word for what it's worth. Not much I'm sure being a ... what did you call me... prosti"

"Sorry about that, luv"

"Don't call me luv"

"But it's just a moniker like missus"

"It's a word like the real one and you don't... so, don't say it to me"

"Ok Luv" He teased her, she was lowering her guard and he pushed his luck.

Lily glared back at him with a hint of a smile but she needed to push the point, stop him forevermore saying that word to her "Don't call me that"

"Alrigh, Alright!" Hands up in surrender he looked up at the shadows that now swayed over them.