Robin loved the Cavern, but what she loved the most was the Quarrymen. She wasn't expecting to feel so passionately about them so soon, but they were really good. They felt like the sort of band that she'd listen to in her room whilst working on an art project, music that would help her concentrate because it just seemed to feel like a part of her.

It wasn't just the music, though they were all good musicians, but the way they interacted with the crowd, much more rough and ready than most bands, though that wasn't surprising to Robin given how John was in day to day life. John's terrible vision meant Paul was the one who mostly interacted with the crowd, taking requests and flirting any time a girl shouted something at them. When John did interact, he was his usual cocky and confrontational self, though everyone clearly found him hilarious. She certainly did, not that she planned on telling him and giving him that satisfaction, but she couldn't help but grin whenever he cursed or sang.

Their set finished after nearly an hour, and even from the back of the club Robin could tell all of them were exhausted, despite their grins of adrenaline. Robin felt someone elbow her in the side and turned to see Connie, John's cousin going almost forgotten as she had been so focused on the performance. The blonde girl nodded her head in the direction of the stage, signalling that they should go over and rejoin their friends.

Connie was just like her cousin, her face remaining mostly unreadably serious, though there was a proud glint in her eye, something that made sense completely given the band's performance. George was just as good a guitarist as Stuart had made him out to be, and so was Paul, the two teenagers talent extending far beyond their years. They were just as talented as they were good looking, and even if they were young they had the sort of looks that Robin knew they would continue to grow into. A lot of the young teenage girls had spent most of the concert whistling to them and calling out professions of love, something that made Connie roll her eyes in annoyance, especially whenever any audience member shouted their devotions to Pete. Compared to the others, he wasn't as musically talented, though the audience either hadn't noticed or didn't care, deciding to focus on his good looks instead. Stuart had been right, as even he managed to carry a tune better than the drummer.

To Robin though, none of them seemed to compare to John. He was captivating, and there was something about his confrontational manner that just seemed to make her smile. His whole demeanour was so cocky, yet to her she found it endearing. That probably wasn't what he was going for, wanting to be seen as the intimidating figure that cast a shadow his audience would be in awe of, but Robin had learnt in the last few weeks to see past it. She'd been under the shadow initially, but whenever she looked at him whilst he was performing, all she saw was her neighbour, the one who nicked her art supplies and owed her a lot of cigarettes, and she felt almost special that she of all the people in the audience was allowed to know that version of him, and not just the hardened musician he wanted people to think of him as.

Connie led Robin past the stage, under one of cavernous arches into the backstage area. There through the poor lighting and smoke, she could make out the five lads all stood about, laughing with each other, the smell of cigarettes thick in the air. The exhaustion she'd noticed on them all from the back of the club became even clearer as soon as she saw them up close, sweat glistening across John's forehead, and though none of them had noticed the two girls yet, Connie was determined to make themselves known. She bent down, picking up a towel that had been discarded to the side, and threw it at John to the extent it flopped across his face. The whole band turned to face them, and as the blonde girl snorted out a laugh she was pulled into a tight hug by Paul, whilst Stuart set aside his bass and crossed over to Robin, grinning at her.

"What did you think?" he asked her, a little enthusiastically.

"You were brilliant!" she grinned, though as she spoke she couldn't help but wonder why both Stuart and John exchanged a glance.

In truth though, it was because that was the happiest either of them had seen her. She was usually quite a stoic person, her smiles few and far between, and when she did smile they were always small smirks, barely lasting a second. This expression though lit up her face, and she had the most beautiful smile. It made John think about how desperate he was to make her smile again, just to feel the satisfaction of making her that happy.

"You can say if you thought it was shit," John told her, but she laughed and shook her head, and there was that smile again; mission accomplished.

"You weren't shit though, I thought you were really great!" she told them sincerely, before adding, "Not bad for a first gig,"

"This was your first gig?" Paul called surprisedly, and Robin looked over from John and Stuart to see he still had his arm around Connie's shoulder, though the girl was instead smoking with George.

All eyes were on her, and she shrugged slightly, not wanting them to think she was uncool. She wasn't used to feeling like that, wary of what people thought and perceived her as. That was one of the problems of finally integrating herself into a friendship group, as she now felt inferior in her lack of experience. This whole group seemed to be so tight knit, not just the band but John's cousin too, and they all made Robin feel as though she was lacking something, that something being the fact that she'd never really had a proper friend before moving to Liverpool.

John noticed a look cross Robin's face, as if she was suddenly self-conscious, crossing her arms across her chest tightly. Maybe it was because he'd felt so thrilled to see her grin, not to mention he was still running on an adrenaline high, but he suddenly felt protective of her. He moved to stand next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, and he was that bothered about making sure she felt included and not isolated that he barely noticed how she shivered slightly upon his touch.

"She clearly wanted her first gig to be the best gig," he stated with a shrug.

The rest of them took his word for it, going back to their own conversations, but Robin felt as though everyone was still looking at her, or at least thinking about her. It was an uncomfortable feeling, one she'd encountered a lot since moving to Liverpool. She'd never felt like it back home, but that was probably because she'd never really been out of her comfort zone like that back home. She didn't want to be that isolated person she was at home anymore, so she forced a small smirk and tried to relax a little.

The conversation went on around her, and though she was engaged in listening she didn't weigh in herself, instead just taking in the group around her, admiring the close dynamics. Though she was still a little jealous she hadn't ever had a friend group like this, she couldn't help but think about how she used to hate the idea of being in a group. This group seemed to challenge everything she'd thought about friendships, making her almost want to belong.

That was until the topic inevitably shifted onto what they would be doing the rest of the night.

"Me dad's doing nightshift again, he won't mind us going back to mine," Connie suggested, looking round at the group until her gaze settled on Robin. "You coming?"

"I'll give it a miss tonight, Con, I've got a piece to finish early tomorrow," Stuart spoke, much to Robin's relief as it gave her time to think of her own excuse.

"I think I'm gonna head home too," Robin said before she could regret it. "Thanks for a great night all of you,"

She expected to leave alone, but that was okay. She could remember the bus stops she'd need  and it hopefully wasn't that dark out so she'd be able to find her way home, she knew she'd be alright on her own, but as the group headed up the stairs out of the cellar club and back onto Mathew Street, most of them heading off in the opposite direction to her for the other bus stop, Robin realised John was following her, his guitar case on his back and a small smirk on his face. He called goodbye to the rest of their friends, waving with crude hand gestures before he turned to Robin, seeing her confused frown.

"I thought you were gonna go off with the rest of them? You don't need to come back with me if you'd rather be with them," she told him, making him let out a short, sharp laugh, one that she would have thought rude if she didn't know him.

"You'd get lost on the bus without me," he shrugged, biting his lip to hold back another laugh until he saw her flash him a small glare before she could stop herself. "Alright, I was having a laugh with ya'. Seriously, Rob, I'm not leaving 'em cause of you, don't be daft,"

"I'm not being daft, and I'm not stupid enough to miss my stop on the bus!" she exclaimed, ever so slightly frustrated, especially by the rollercoaster of emotions John caused her to endure; one minute awe and adulation, and the next pure annoyance. "Why are you leaving then?"

"Cause I'm bloody knackered," he said simply, and by that time they had reached the bus stop so he flopped down onto the bench, moving his guitar case onto his lap as she leant against the signpost. "Last time I went to Con's after a Cavern gig I didn't make it home till the next afternoon. Mimi wasn't best pleased with that,"

Robin hadn't really heard John talk about his family much, especially not his aunt who he lived with. She'd not met Mimi herself, despite being her neighbour, and so other than the gossip Jenny had given her at college she knew literally nothing about John's home life. Hearing him mention his aunt was like a weird insight into his life that she'd never been given before.

"Was she really bothered? I mean, isn't she related to Connie as well?" Robin asked, raising her eyebrow slightly as she tried to figure out his family dynamics.

"Not technically," he shrugged, scratching the back of his head and ruffling his hair, as if he was trying to figure out how to explain it. "Mimi's me mum's sister, and Connie's mum was me dad's sister. It's a bit complicated, but doesn't really matter, family's family at the end of the day,"

"I mean, if you want complicated you should look at my family," she joked, hoping it would reassure him that she understood what he meant, but decided to change the topic quickly before he could ask her exactly what she meant. "You were really good tonight though, really good,"

John let out another quiet laugh as the bus pulled up, and the two of them got on. It was completely empty, so the two of them took the back row, Robin sat on one side and John on the other, placing his guitar between the two of them. Silence fell between them, Robin looking out the window, propping her elbow up on the window ledge and resting her chin on her fist. Even though it was dark outside, she was fascinated, trying to memorise the details of her new city. She didn't even notice, despite his reflection on the glass, that John was staring at her, studying her once again.

He'd never tell her, but as soon as he got up on stage and realised she'd be stood right at the back of the club, he'd regretted not wearing his glasses. He'd wanted to see her face, her reactions, he felt as though he needed to know how she thought they were doing. At the end of the gig he considered asking one of the other lads if they'd noticed how she looked, but didn't want to draw attention, not in the mood for any of them to suggest he had feelings for her. He certainly didn't, but he was still fascinated by her. Even being severely short-sighted, he could still tell the other women in the crowd looked at him with adoration, and their cheers up to the stage affirmed that. He just wanted to know if Robin was also one of the girls looking at him and cheering for him.

"Did you think we were gonna be shit?" he asked suddenly, remembering her previous statement.

She didn't answer, though he could see her small smirk in her reflection of the glass. He leant over and prodded her arm, making her spin around in her seat with a small scowl.

"No, I didn't think you were gonna be shit," she rolled her eyes, digging in her inside pocket for her packet of cigarettes and lighter, though as soon at they were out John looked at her expectantly. "Do you do these gigs for free? It'd explain why you're always taking my bloody cigarettes,"

"Sharing is caring," he shrugged, flashing her a grin as she finished lighting her own up, handing both the lighter and packet to him. "What did you think to the other lads?"

"They all seem great," she said casually, taking a long drag off her cigarette, remembering how she felt earlier. "I've never had a friendship group like it,"

She'd said it so simply, and before she could regret it, but it caught John's attention. Cigarette between his lips, he cocked his head to the side slightly, his eyebrows furrowing together. Robin noticed and laughed quietly, trying not to roll her eyes yet again, knowing she'd messed up by mentioning her past, even if it was only a subtle statement.

"I kept myself to myself a lot back home," she decided to add, looking down at the floor for a second before meeting John's eyes again, noticing he was still frowning. "What?"

"Well, it's not exactly surprising," he said, gesturing over to her, and she tried not to scowl as she struggled to figure out what he meant. "You're not the most sociable of people, Roberta,"

"Yes, thank you, I'm not," she tried not to laugh, because as insulted as she initially was, it wasn't like he was lying. "I'm trying to change that though, alright,"

"Why'd you not have friends though? It's not like you're a terrible person," John asked, taking one final drag of his cigarette before he got up, tossing it out of the bus window.

"Again, thanks, and I just didn't, you know, I just couldn't be arsed with it all," sh explained, again not meeting his eye as she expelled a puff of smoke. "I had more important things to focus on, like art and my school work and stuff. It started off as me just being a bit shy at school, but you turn down enough invitations out and people start leaving you alone, and then they start poking fun out of you, and nicknames stick, and suddenly you're the outcast and all the friendship groups that have formed around you find you weird. I mean, I wasn't bothered, I like me own company so I was fine, and to be honest I didn't really see the point of friends after a while,"

"Proper lone ranger aren't you?" John raised his eyebrow, trying to hide the fact that he actually felt sorry for her, because as much as she said she didn't mind it seemed like a pretty lonely way to live. "What d'you mean you didn't see the point?"

"Well, I just didn't understand teenagers really, while I'd be going to the football with me dad or in me room doing art, all the other kids around me would be off chasing each other and going to parties and stuff," Robin shrugged, and when she noticed how John was still watching her she tried to supress a nervous laugh. "I never got the whole love and relationship thing,"

"You never had a steel city lad then?" John asked, trying not to sound surprised; how did someone as beautiful as her not have any romantic experience?

"If I didn't have friends then I clearly didn't have lads interested in me either," she pointed out bluntly, tossing her own cigarette out the window.

"So you never shagged anyone then?" it was John's turn to be blunt, and when Robin sluttered out a laugh and a scowl at his coarseness he let out his own laugh. "What? It's just a thing of life! You never even kissed someone? Doesn't have to have been tongues or owt, no one ever kissed you on the cheek?"

Robin couldn't help but smirk, not really wanting to answer the question. The way he worded it all made it sound like he had a lot of experience in the ways of love and relationships. It wasn't like she was intimidated by that thought, but she didn't want him thinking she was just some silly little girl who was scared of boys and sex, and the truth that no one had ever expressed such interest in her would definitely make him think that. It was bad enough telling him she'd never had friends before, but now she was really making herself out to be a loner. She was desperate to change the topic, which was when she looked out the bus window and recognised their street.

"Oi, come on, we'll miss the stop!" she called, leaning over and hitting his arm as she hit the bell for the bus to stop. John squinted out the window almost obliviously, taking Robin's word for it as he scooped his guitar up. "That's the last bloody time I let a blind man look for home in the dark,"

"You never answered my questions!" John exclaimed after her as she walked down the aisle, following her closely and noting how she politely thanked the driver as she jumped off onto the path.

"And I don't think I ever will!" she told him, flashing a smirk at him as she pulled her jacket closer around her, looking down the dark street towards their houses.

"Fine, answer this one at least, what you doing this weekend?" he asked as they began to walk down their street.

"I've got some coursework due Monday morning," Robin said simply.

"Gear, bring your sketchpad with you, you can come to band rehearsals with me," John insisted, and Robin decided not to fight it.

Maybe he was just inviting her along because she'd made him feel sorry for her. That was never her intention, and she knew for a fact she wouldn't be able to get any work done whilst at their rehearsals, but it'd be fun. Completely out of her comfort zone, but so was a lot of the things she had been doing since moving to Liverpool.

By the time they'd gotten to their houses, John had told her the full plan. He'd meet her at the bus stop as usual at ten, and they'd head over to Paul's house where they were going to rehearse until they got bored or hungry and then see where the day went. The lack of solid plans for the rest of the afternoon bothered Robin a little, but she wasn't going to make it a problem. Instead she nodded along at John's plans until they reached their homes, and as they stood at their gates, Robin glanced over at John's to see the front room lights on, and the curtain flicking slightly, as if someone was watching out for him. A woman's face appeared briefly from behind the curtains, and she quickly flashed the woman a polite smile before nudging John, making him look over.

"Bloody hell, she'll be wondering why I'm home early so she can't resent me for waking her up in the middle of the night," John joked, hitting Robin's arm as he took a step back towards his house. "See you tomorrow, Roberta,"

"Goodnight, John," Robin called, fighting off another smile of amusement at him as she headed down her own path.

The front door was still unlocked, as promised, and as soon as Robin was inside and shutting the door quietly behind her, she realised her mother had beaten her home, her high heels placed on the shoe rack and her thin white coat hung up by the front door. The living room door was shut, blocking any view from the hallway, but Robin could quite clearly hear both her uncle and her mother in the room.

"She's just a kid, Rit, let her go out and have fun," Albert was quietly reasoning, most likely lowering his voice because he'd heard the front door, not wanting Robin to hear them talking about her. "There's no harm in it, she's just settling in and making friends,"

"Exactly, that's the problem!" Robin's mother's voice was much louder, and Robin knew she'd been drinking. "She doesn't 'do' friends, she's not good with people, and I don't want her suddenly going out and getting herself involved in people, cause she's either gonna get herself hurt or in trouble, and I don't want her throwing her life away like I did!"

"She's hardly throwing her life away with one concert," Albert tried to reason, but her mother let out an unattractive and patronising laugh.

"Well if she doesn't screw up by ending up like me she's already far too much like her father," she said, and robin struggled not to flinch at the mention of her dad. "Poor kid's screwed, her dad always thought she'll end up the same, maybe even worse off,"

Robin didn't know how to respond to that, but she was only eavesdropping on the other side of the door. She wasn't really meant to hear any of that, so she fought against her sudden urge to burst in the living room. It wasn't like there was anything she could really say anyway, since she understood exactly what her mother was saying and it wasn't like it was something she'd never heard before.

Trying not to let it bother her, Robin headed straight upstairs, taking each step carefully, dreading one of them creaking and alerting either her mum or uncle that she was there. There'd be no doubt Robin's mother would say all that to her face, she'd definitely said worse before, and she wasn't in the mood for it. She tried instead to think of John and what he'd said about his aunt, trying to think that maybe he was at least in a similar position.

It was surprising to Robin how comforting she found the thought of John.

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