George Harrison

“All of us…" 

“You don’t have to live this way.” George narrowed his brow, but otherwise remained perfectly still. “No one should.... and you least of all...” 

Pattie nodded in agreement, although rather quietly, a hint of shame in her eyes as she decided to speak. George was right in his point, but she couldn’t help the feeling of betraying her mother by letting someone know. It was as if they were all pretending it did not happen, in the first place.

George could feel his ears stir at the word.

"I don’t want to keep secrets…" she muttered, a little calmer now that she figured out George wasn’t angry at her. She rested her head on his shoulder, quietly, her skin beginning to shiver from the cold that was outdoors. The way with which he petted her hair, so affectionately, made her gradually calm down a little bit, her head lifting from his shoulder after a while to plant a few kisses on his lips.

"I won't say a word." He whispered, the air of promise in his voice. "Tell me here, and we will leave out here, and the wind will sweep it away."

As he left the room, Pattie felt an utter sense of loneliness overcome her. It was not going to be easy if he insisted on knowing about everything. But she didn’t want him to give up on her because of that. Prior to meeting him, her life was probably even worse: she’d feel so unloved inside that environment, even if he had met her only a few days before, he’d been the only one who had ever treated her like an actual human being, with feelings and everything that’s natural.

The small arms that embraced him from behind startled George somewhat, but the words Pattie said alarmed him even more.

As he began to ask questions, Pattie lay back on the bed on fetal position, pulling a blanket over herself. Of course she wanted to be honest with George. And she would tell him anything if it was just her matter. But her mother wouldn’t accept or admit the kind of man that Bobbie was. They all had to pretend that he was normal. His inquiry made her feel terribly exposed, and utterly uncomfortable.

George sighed, accepting her stone silence. He crawled over her huddled body, off of the bed, cigarette still dangling from his lips as he shut off the light.

At his response, Pattie sat uncomfortably on the bad, both of her hands now holding each other and the tip of her thumbs pressing against each other nervously, her muscles tensing up. All this time he had noticed everything! Pattie could understand how he realized Bobbie was not her father: She looked nothing like him, and very little like her mother, as did Colin and Paula. Jenny took after Diana more, but the other actual Boyds were just like their father. But about him being a tyrant… In front of George, he had behaved quite well since he got there.

"Are you afraid of something?" George reached out and gently took hold of Pattie's chin, turning her head to face him. She was troubled, this much was obvious, but over what? "You can be open with me. You must be open with me. What is it?"

Pattie only nodded in response to his comment on the pack of cigarettes. She seemed distressed at the idea: If not because of her mother, the main reason were her siblings. The bond between them all, especially the 4 oldest, was way too strong and she felt it a huge betrayal of their trust on her. Before she could answer to his question, though, Pattie lifted her head a little so she could watch him, one of her hands reaching for his own and caressing the back of it with her thumb.

George laughed, though not because it was humorous, but because it was tragic. It was a laugh that you hear from someone who can only laugh at his own upsetting past.

 ”You mean forever?” Pattie asked as her head moved a few inches away from his neck, lifting her chin so she could look at his eyes while she spoke. Suddenly, it seemed, she had become serious, as the subject was.

"Of course," George shook his head in concurrence. He realized suddenly how silly he must have sounded in expressing an interest in 'running away.' Reaching across her, George took hold of the pack of cigarettes and put one between his lips before lighting it. "I'll buy you some more tomorrow."

The lack of a verbal response from George did not concern Pattie at that moment. Despite her age, she had the notion to comprehend that what she was saying was rather early, and probably wouldn’t have said it if he wasn’t being such a sweetheart. Silently, she hoped, he would be happy to know, instead of scared.

"I'm worried." George spoke suddenly, releasing an exasperated sigh. "We won't be able to continue this forever, Pattie...." His words trailed off as he closed focus on the sensation of her lips against his skin. Running his fingers through her hair, he loosened the braid that he has twisted out of her locks, pulling away and looking at her rather seriously. 

George responded, but only with silent confusion. There was no way that what she was feeling for him could be anything like love. They had only just met, and in George's experience, Pattie seemed to have just become attached, understandably, considering he had only just deflowered her. It was common, especially in a girl so young, for her to become attached to a man for such a reason. George suddenly began to develop an anxiety towards this, his mind in a flurry once again over whether or not he had made some sort of grave mistake. 

  "As you wish, mr. Writer…" she spoke, feeling quite happy about his answer. Pattie turned around more, so she was truly facing him now, her legs moving, each placed at one side of his waist. She kissed his lips a few more times, her soul soaring at the feeling that he now seemed to look at her more like an equal than a mere child. "I hope our babies take after you, then…" she joked with a soft laughter, tickling his sides as if to let him know she was joking — otherwise he might think her a little creepy.

George leaned back on his pillow, inviting her kiss with fervor and a tightened grip. 

"Only I can tell what I want…" she answered, her eyes looking at the sky through his window as she slipped into some sort of reverie, considering their conversation. She had seen enough of George to want him more, but it’s not like she was about to push him into anything — especially under the condition that they were now, it was pretty much impossible. But as it was, no one in her whole life had given her as much affection as he had in the past few days. Of course, it might be part of his charm, but it still enchanted her.

A disgusted scoff answered the last bit of Pattie's sentence as George was taken back out of his ruse. 

Aww.. I didn’t mean it like that,” she spoke, almost immediately after his response, her arms clinging tightly onto his body as if to console him. “Its just that.. My mum married my dad when she was 17.. And he was 18.. I suppose that’s kinda normal around here..” Her voice was sweet as she spoke, not ceasing to plant kisses all over his face despite his distance.

George began to soften, a gentle laugh escaping his lips. She couldn't possibly be serious, but he allowed Pattie to drabble along with her fantasy.