Chapter Text
I have JUST moved to London and already I'm missing home. As I got the last of my bags up into my new flat, which I thought would be much bigger than it actually is, it finally and truly dawned on me that I am in a completely unfamiliar city, knowing no one and to make things even worse, it's fucking freezing in here. pulling myself together I began rummaging around my, currently unpacked, suitcase to find a jumper that I hoped would ease at least one of my current dilemmas, and throwing it on. I had moved here in the first place because I needed work and had gotten a offer to paint this large mural on a wall inside the new, and already infamous, apple studios to 'liven the place up a little' as my employer told me. Its not that I wasn't excited, because I was, after leaving art school I thought that I would be swimming in job offers and commissions but actually it was quite the opposite and I was really struggling to make ends meat since graduating. So when I got the call for this large commission piece I had jumped at the chance to accept even if it meant having to uproot my life and move over to the location, at least I could earn some easy money, and I had read the articles in the paper from girls that worked there that gushed over how great it was to be so close to THE Beatles, I mean it really was the dream for thousands of girls, but I couldn't help but feel a little bit unnerved by it all. I really loved their music as much as anyone, but that's where it ended for me, what if I got there and all the tabloids saying how amazing they were are lies, it would completely ruin the the image of them in my head. No, I need to stop thinking like this. It's a job and they are my bosses and that's it. It's just the same as any other job except for the fact that my employers are part of the most famous band in the world. No big deal.
As I unpacked my belongings and put them in their allocated spaces my headspace did a full 360, and suddenly I became quite excited to start this project. It had been ages since I had been paid for my work and this was a pretty big job (with pretty good pay might I add) and apart from the instructions involving the livening up of spaces, I pretty much had full creative freedom. So with my new mindset slowly pushing down any feeling of nervousness or anxiety that I may of had, and my new living accommodations finally feeling a bit more homey, I went to sleep, excited to start working tomorrow.
As much as I would've liked to get all dressed up and pretty to make a good first impression, realistically, I knew that I would be painting and getting my nice clothes dirty would be a shame, so I opted for a pair of jeans and plain top for my first day and headed off to apple corp on Saville row, which was actually only a short walk from my flat. After managing to hold myself together for most of the morning it all came crashing down as I walked inside of this completely unfamiliar environment where I didn't really know what I was doing or where I was going. Luckily there was a young woman behind the front desk right as you walked in who directed me to the man that I spoke to over the phone a few weeks prior. After exchanging pleasantries he explained to me that the wall I would be working on was actually the one in the entry way that we were standing up against, it was a long white wall that spanned from right next to the front door to a room at the back, which he told me was what they were using as sort of a makeshift studio/recording space, and that I would be pretty much left alone to work apart from as people were walking in past me, but I was just enough out of the way so that not to get splatters of paint on unsuspecting visitors. He suddenly peered down at his watch and told me he had to be off but that I could get set up now and begin soon as, before running off. taking his advice, I opened up my supply bag and got out a few paint brushes and paints to start the initial sketch and outline. The building was still pretty quiet and empty considering how early in the morning it was, apart from me and the girl at the front desk who, when I brought up the lack of people, told me that people will begin filing in within the hour which, I must say, filled me with a small amount of dread, but I just decided to get my head down and get this sketch done.
She couldn't of been more right though. About an hour after our conversation it suddenly was not the peaceful, if not eerily quiet, building that it was when I arrived as more and more people started to pile in. For the most part they just ignored me, give or take a few looks, and went about their business as I'm sure they were given some type of notice about my being there. Now a bit more acclimatised to the space and more comfortable just fading in with the furniture as everyone continued with their work, I blocked out what was around me completely as I got further and further into the artwork. I had gotten a good amount of the mock up completed now and had began to work on some of the details, which I kept having to step back and take a look at from a further view point to make sure that I was in the right space, and I was about to do just that as I began to walk backwards with my eyes glued to the spot I had been working on for the last thirty minutes when my back suddenly made contact with something sturdy. Instantly spitting out an apology as I spun around to confront the person whom I had unknowingly stumbled into I quickly came to the realisation as I was greeted with a man in a large black fur jacket and that signature mop of brown hair that it wasn't just anybody my clumsy self had managed to fall into but in fact George Harrison, who is technically my current boss. Great. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going" I spit out absolutely mortified as he just stands there. "No worries" he responds "It's my fault for just standing here. I was just looking at what you've done so far. It looks good, we needed some colour in this place it was getting to be a bit drab really". I laugh in response, grateful that he let it be light hearted and not utterly embarrassing. "Oh yeah, it's just the sketch for now but once I start blocking in the colours it will really start to come together" I explain. "I'm George by the way" like I didn't already know "and you are?" no one has actually asked me for my name the whole time that I've been stood here. "right, I'm y/n. You'll probably see me around for a while but I'll try to keep out of your guy's way" I laugh "It's no problem really, I mean we were the ones to hire you" he smiles that signature smile that he has "anyways better get in there" he says as he points to the recording room "I'll see you around though" as he begins to walk away "see you!" I finally respond as he disappears through the doors. Taking in what just happened, I just stand there for a moment mildly stunned, but try not to overanalyse anything and just continue on with my work.
Because of this new found motivation to not think and to just paint, I actually get what I wanted to get done quicker than I thought, so I pack away all my supplies, tell the girl at the desk that I'm heading off for the night and head off home, seemingly one of the first to leave. Already I'm thinking about tomorrow.