A week seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye. Spring break had been over for nearly three days and, faced with no alternative, the four girls found themselves preparing to go home. Andrea checked out of the hospital that morning and met everyone at the hotel they had been staying in.

She knocked hesitantly at the door, still feeling uncomfortable around her friends after everything she had put them through. For a moment, she convinced herself that no one was home... but that was the same moment that the door to room 1209 swung open.

"Damn."

Kara chuckled. "Glad to see you too."

"Just let me through, huh?" She pushed Kara playfully out of the way. "The train'll be here in an hour. You guys have to check out in, well... now would be good. Not everyone gets a nearly private midnight train. I don't even want to think about how many favors Paul had to call in to set this up."

"Even if it was mostly for his convenience as well? He picked a time when he knew the station wouldn't be terribly busy. Anything to avoid the crush of the fans." Kara closed the door behind Andrea.

"We know." Renee walked out of the bathroom with her hair laying in wet strands on her shoulders. As she flopped down on the couch she feigned despair. "And we'll check out! Promise! I just don't want to leave the lap of luxury!" She spread out full across the couch, back of her hand pressed against her forehead. "Paul paid for this too, after all."

"Did he have a choice?" Jess glanced out the window at the glittering, midnight city skyline. "We know about John. And like it or not, we're a part of all this."

Kara began straightening up the pile of clothes on the floor, once more silently thanking Renee for bringing everyone a few changes of clothes along with her bags. If it had been her in Renee's place --- rushing down to New York City to check on her friends who had just been in a shooting-- she knew she wouldn't have had the presence of mind to bring a duffel bag of clothing along.

Still, in spite of all that, she had to chuckle at how well things had come off. When her mom had called at the hospital, Jess took over, 'explaining' quickly that they had met up with Paul McCartney at the concert. He had seen that Andrea was hurt, and insisted that he take them to the hospital. It didn't hurt that Paul had personally taken the phone to authenticate the story. ("Mom's been a fan for years." Kara had explained with a wink.)

"But we also have to get back home... and to school." Andrea spat out the last word like one would a slice of lemon.

"Summer vacation will be along soon enough." Renee tied her hair back and picked up her luggage. "Now, come on."

Andrea stopped. She wanted to go. Hell, she needed to if she hoped to graduate. Still... Here was safe. Away from home. Here with people who hadn't known her her whole life and didn't rush to pronounce judgment. George knew about her, and, alright, so her deceased baby brother wasn't her whole story, but it was enough. He hadn't needed to know the rest to be a friend. In the past, supposed "friends" had wanted to know absolutely everything about her. Maybe they were trying to get some explanation for her appearance, her love for the occult, the tattoo she had gotten at twelve years old... 'What was it all supposed to mean?' they'd wonder. Her response? None of their damn business.

No, she didn't want to leave George. He showed her that there were some cool things in the world, and you didn't have to nearly kill yourself to experience them. "You guys go on. I'll be there in a minute." She raised her voice and waved the other girls on, turning her face to the wall.

* * * * *

"So this is goodbye." Paul jammed his hands in the pockets of his flannel gray hooded sweatshirt.

Kara glanced up at John. She felt like she was leaving a very best friend. Or a brother. And what was she leaving him to, anyway? Sure, Paul claimed he had everything planned out: Ringo would "surprise" the world by joining up with Paul for the remainder of the tour... George would work behind the scenes with John... But everything was still up in the air. Would John actually show himself to the public again? Did Heather know more than she was letting on? Not to mention the threat that another tabloid, or even worse, a more reliable news source, would pick up on the fact that all four Beatles were working together-- including the "dead" one. "Maybe we'll run into each other again. You know. Over the summer." She spoke awkwardly.

"Ah'd like that." John smiled at the three sullen girls. "Aw, cheer up. Somethin'," he glanced briefly at Paul, "makes me sure that we'll see each other again."

The bus station speakers squalked noisily at that moment.

"That's us.... I think." Jess chuckled. "Sounds more like the drive through window at McDonald's to me." She scratched her head. "Andrea show up yet? She said she'd meet us, and---"

"So you just sat there? For eight hours?! Complete silence?!"

"That's the general idea of it."

"I'd go crazy."

"That's just because ya've nevah tried it before. It's actually quite nice. Calm."

"And too damn quiet." Andrea reiterated as she turned the corner.

Jess chuckled. "Never mind." She turned, practically crashing into Andrea and George as they made their way toward the group. "Welcome back. We were afraid we'd have to leave without you, Dree."

"The bleedin' Monks return. Felt like usin' yer voices for a change?" John quipped. "Or are the telepathic lines just down for maintenance right now?"

George shot John a look.

"Don't give me that, Geo."

The look turned blank.

"The 'Ah ain't done nothin' wrong' look. Ya look so innocent, but those that know ya best---" John was surprised to see everyone wearing George's blank stare now. "Ya don't mean ta tell me that ya spent time alone with the bird an' ya never once thought a'snoggin'---"

"Sick!" Andrea exploded, the other three girls laughing at her.

"Do I even 'aveta answer that question?" George blushed a bit. The idea was ridiculous. "Of course, if she really wanted---"

Andrea made a face. "Not interested."

Now it was Paul's turn to get in on the act. "But 'e's a famous man an' all. Why think of the story ya could sell ta the papers! 'Ah Locked Lips with THE George Harrison!'. Front page stuff."

"And would that be published before or after Olivia murdered me in my sleep?" Andrea smiled apologetically to George. "Nothing personal, it's just you're over three times my age, and---"

"Old an' wrinkly, am Ah?" He curled his lips over his teeth and made puckering sounds. "Cmmmere an' givphh us a kissphh."

A blast from the station speaker system was nearly drowned out by the laughter.

"Alright, alright. All non-Beatles aboard!" Kara waved to John and mounted the stairs to the conductor. The middle aged man stared at her for a moment, then at John, then back at her. "What?" She smirked. "Never seen a famous dead guy before?"

John, safely concealed in one of the many disguises he and the others had dreamed up-- this time a floppy felt hat, dark glasses and raincoat--- hobbled over to the window and waved his prop walking cane around.

Grabbing the cane in midair before it conked her on the head, Jess guided John back to the group. Returning to the engineer, she explained, "My Uncle. He's gone a bit--" She swirled a finger near her ear for emphasis.

"Hey!" John nearly shouted, but was hushed as Ringo's hand shot up to his mouth. He glared. "Watch yerself there, Ritchie. 'Less ya want that thing bitten off."

"These 'ands are worth millions. Ya wouldn't dare." He winked and patted Renee on the shoulder as she climbed aboard the train.

My turn. Andrea's heart sank. When George had shown up at the hotel room, she had wanted to take it as a sign. He wouldn't force her to go back home, no, he had instead come to tell her that she would be coming along with them on the tour. She'd see the world, not the inside of her same old High School, facing the same old collection of jerks and jocks whose lives seemed to revolve around making her life miserable. Take me with you. She sighed.

Ya know Ah can't do that. Ah'm not even supposed to be officially part of the tour. Just behind the scenes.

She smiled. George had managed to sneak up behind her. I thought you said you didn't eavesdrop on people's thoughts.

Couldn't 'elp it. Yer practically radiatin' depression. He dug into his bag and pulled out a book. Take it.

What---

It's just a few meditations an' readin's, but Ah thought ya might like ta give it a read. George gave her a hug. Maybe it'll show ya just 'ow Ah manage ta "Sit there. For eight hours. In complete silence." Ya might even like it. Ya never know.

You never know.

A loud guffaw came from behind them. "Sure ya ain't snogged 'er even once, Georgie? Must be a good snog for ya ta keep cuddlin' like that an'---"

Quietly slipping out of George's hug, Andrea turned and walked over to John calmly.

"Oh you're in trouble now, Johnny." Paul taunted. "She'll get ya good. Turn ya inta a toad or somethin', she will."

Placing one hand on John's shoulder, she pulled him down a bit... and laid a big, wet, slobbery kiss on his lips. When she pulled back, she saw his face had gone completely white. "Well, Mr. Lennon? Am I a good 'snog'?" Waving, she climbed the train, and door slid shut behind her.

John hadn't budged from the position Andrea had pulled him into. His mouth hung open.

Paul, Ringo and George, on the other hand, landed in a heap on a bench, doubled over with laughter.

"Told ya she'd get ya good." Paul howled.

"Aw, shurrup." John cast his eyes on the window of the train where Andrea was still blowing him kisses.

* * * * *

Kara pulled Andrea down as the train pulled out of the station. "You're awful." Kara scolded, but was obviously fighting back her own fit of laughter.

The girl grew silent. "I did that."

"Yeah. You kissed him, alright." Renee leaned over from her spot across the aisle.

"No. Not the kiss."

"Wasn't it good?"

Andrea motioned zipping her lips. "I don't kiss and tell." This set everyone into another giggling mass, but Andrea quickly grew serious again. "Not the kiss. Just the spell. I brought John back."

"Actually, your clumsy friend might have helped a little with that." Kara sank back into her seat.

"Maybe. But it was my, as John calls it, 'black mojo'. And there are always consequences."

"Good ones, though!" Jess piped up. "The world has John Lennon back! He's with friends that'll keep track of him. No bad here."

"That worries me." Andrea sighed. "A lack of bad. Something's bound to come up. I just can't believe we'll get off completely scot free." She turned to the window. That was also part of her desire to stay. Stick around John to make sure nothing adverse from his resurrection would come to bite him in the ass.

"Do you guys really think we'll see them again soon?" Jess was clearly trying to change the topic. Something less brood-worthy.

On impulse, Andrea opened George's book to have a look through it. A piece of paper slipped out into her lap as she began leafing through the pages. Puzzled, she unfolded it carefully. There, scrawled across the page was very familiar handwriting. 'CALL ASAP. SUMMER JOB, DREA?'

She laughed. "Kara!... Guys!.... It's George's cell phone number!"

BOOK 2: Catch Me If You Can
***COMING SOON***