Chapter Text
Chapter 1: A Hard Day’s Night
The sun rose over the tall buildings and flooded through the window of the tiny flat. The air for once didn't smell of cigarettes and car exhaust, but fresh of crocuses, daffodils and magnolias awakening from a long, cold winter. Robins chirped from the branches outside of the flat's window. Springtime in London. What a wonderful feeling it was for at the same time it was the year of 1964. Beatlemania had been on the upswing and everyone was feeling the pull of these four lads from Liverpool from America to the UK and more.
Everyone, except for Y/N who was still sound asleep, blissfully dreaming away not having to worry about the cares of the world as she was still relatively new to the UK after moving here less than a year ago. She too enjoyed The Beatles's music and was lucky enough to see them in concert. What a dream that would be to get to see them again.
A small grey cat hopped up on the bed as she resumed her slumber under the protection of the warm blankets, not that she needed them anyways as the weather was getting warmer. The cat pushed his head against her shoulder and kneaded the blankets, almost his way of telling her “Get out of bed sleepyhead! It’s a new day!”
Y/N rolled over and pushed the large white pillow off of her head and sat up. She rubbed the sleep from her e/c eyes and stretched her arms above her head as a yawn escaped from her lips. Her h/c hair was still neatly in place with the pink foam rollers she had set from the night before. She extended her hand out to the cat as he happily approached her and purred loudly.
“Good morning to you too, Smokey.” She gently pet him behind his ears and under his chin, watching as his large green eyes started to open and close slowly. “You must be hungry. All that running around at 3am because no one was up to feed you huh?” She started to take the rollers out of her hair.
What Y/N would give to have a life of ease like her beloved pet. Not worrying about where to be, no schedules to adhere to and most importantly not overworking herself to make ends meet. Ever since leaving America, it hasn't been easy having to re-adjust to a new way of life as there were periods filled with self doubt and questioning if this is what she wanted, not only from herself but from her parents too.
She had a decent paying job, but the boss would make things harder for her every chance she got. It wasn't all stressful though. She had found a wonderful roommate and friend who took her under her wing and helped make her year of living in London much better.
The cat curled up into a ball next to her, causing her to smile. “Well, alright. I’ll feed you. I could go for something to eat as well.”
“Y/N! Come on down! We have a big day today at the studio, remember?!” The enthusiastic voice of Y/N’s friend and roommate called from the kitchen. “Hurry and get dressed! Oh I can’t wait! Food’s on the table! Get it while it's still hot!”
Y/N pulled herself out of bed and straightened out the blankets. “I’m coming, Gemma! I’m coming!”
The record player was on full blast. Y/N must’ve still been half asleep as she heard the opening chords to A Hard Day’s Night by The Beatles or so she thought as her mind raced through her day’s plans to prepare herself and what she needed to get done. Gemma was dancing around the kitchen as she brewed herself a hot cup of coffee and singing as she matched John's voice echoing through the halls of their tiny flat.
Usually, Y/N would be up and dancing around as well as she too loved this song. Today wasn’t one of those days. Y/N started to pull her sheets up off the floor and made her bed. She looked over at the poster on her wall of The Beatles, all four of them smiling back and the personalized messages each one had signed on it. Y/N smiled as she saw the date marked on it.
Gemma took her to see The Beatles at the Wimbledon Palais the year prior as an early Christmas present and as a Welcome to the UK gift.
Y/N thought about how much fun she had that night seeing the four of them up close amidst the other screaming girls who were all there for the same reason: to get Paul, John, George or Ringo to notice them. Y/N didn’t scream as much during it since there was a meet and greet after the show. She almost didn’t end up going if it weren’t for Gemma convincing her to tag along with her as she really wanted to meet Paul.
Y/N chuckled to herself remembering how long the line had gotten. 3,000 people in that line and she got to shake each of their hands and speak to each of them. They must've appreciated her not screaming in their faces for each one was equally gracious towards her, especially George.
How grateful she was that Gemma had dragged her to the meet and greet after the show. Her life had changed forever from that moment on. How Y/N managed to contain her excitement was beyond her for out of all the four, George was the one that always made her blush the most.
Bong! Bong! Bong! The bells of Big Ben echoed off the walls of Y/N’s room as she fixed the sheets and blankets on her bed and pulled her out of her thoughts and daydreams. She shook her head as she tossed her pillows into place.
Oh that clock. Yes. I hear you loud and clear. Time to get going! You’ll be late! Orders. Left and right. Always working like a dog. Well, no matter. I am not going to quit because I’m exhausted. I am making money to sustain myself.
Y/N quickly dressed and did her hair and makeup and pulled on her black cat eye glasses and headed downstairs.
***
Gemma sat at the small kitchen table. She had on a sleeveless dress that was white at the top and had yellow buttons and the skirt was yellow with a matching belt. Her short, auburn hair held in place by a matching yellow headband was never out of place and complemented with a small pair of pearl earrings.
She sipped on her coffee as the vinyl continued to spin in the living room.
Y/N came down the stairs dressed in a gingham dress with three silver buttons down the side complete with a pair of simple black shoes. It wasn’t the latest designer fashions, but it made Y/N feel good as she didn’t have a lot of nice clothes. Smokey rushed past her, galloping like a horse down the stairs to his food bowl and sitting patiently, watching her go to the cabinet with his big eyes.
“Here you go, Smokey. Fresh from the can.” Y/N scooped the paté from the can and plopped it into his bowl.
Gemma squealed with delight as she read the newspaper headline in between bites of her scrambled eggs. Her blue eyes shone as bright as diamonds. “Oh Y/N!" That cheerful West London accent coming out "Can you believe it?! Today is the day! Oh I couldn’t even sleep at all last night!”
Y/N poured herself a bowl of Kellogg’s Corn flakes and sat across from her. “What’s going on today that’s got you all excited?”
“Oh love don’t tell me you’ve forgotten! Today at Twickenham Studios-- The Beatles are coming!”
“Wait--WHAT?!” Y/N spluttered, nearly choking on her breakfast. She slapped her chest to clear her airways and took a swig of orange juice to stop her hacking up a lung. She gulped and took a deep breath as she grabbed a napkin to clean up the small spill on the hardwood table. “They’re coming today?!”
“Yes! See?!” Gemma pushed the newspaper towards Y/N. “They’ll be coming this afternoon! It’s gotta be all over every newspaper headline in town!”
Y/N dabbed at the corners of her mouth. She grabbed the paper and brought it closer to her. She scanned the newspaper to see what Gemma was talking about until her eyes caught the headline underneath their pictures that read “THEIR FILM.”
There they were right on the front page in the center of Y/N and Gemma’s kitchen table in black and white with their mop top haircuts right at the top of the page: Paul at the left, George next to him, followed by John and Ringo flashing a whole-hearted smile as usual.
Y/N’s eyes widened behind her black cat eye glasses. “Twickenham--Oh! They’re filming a movie called A Hard Day’s Night! They're filming more segments at our studio!”
A dreamy look flashed across Gemma’s face. “Yes! They've already started filming in other parts of London! Imagine it, Y/N a whole day spent with John, Paul, George and Ringo! I might as well have died and gone to heaven. Oh it’s going to be marvellous!”
Y/N sighed as she grabbed her purse off of the hook. If "Ruin-it Reynolds" lets me, that is.
“Only if we get to work on time that is,” Y/N chuckled. “C’mon, Gem. We can’t dawdle all day. Besides when they do show up we can’t be falling all over ourselves and fainting. Goodness knows the streets might already be filled by the time we get there. Now come on and finish your breakfast. You know how Mrs. Reynolds doesn’t like it if we’re late.”
“You’re right.” Gemma finished the last of her eggs and made herself stand up straighter. “Oh would it be alright if I borrowed some of your perfume before we go?”
“You trying to see if you can hook Paul when he comes into the studio and have him or John sweep you off your feet?” Y/N said playfully, batting her eyes and making kissy faces. "Oh Paul. You're so dreamy! I love you! Let's run off and get married right now!"
Gemma laughed and gave her a light tap on her arm. “Oh come on, Y/N I saw how you were ogling over George when we saw The Beatles perform at the Palais last year." She gave Y/N a playful wink and smile. “You had that look in your eye that only happens when you fall in love or find a man attractive.”
Y/N looked at the ground and laughed. “Like he was doing to every other girl that was there? I wasn't the only one.”
“Gotta let yourself dream and have fun every now and then, mate,” Gemma said, throwing an arm around Y/N’s shoulders. “What’s life without a little fun, eh? You’re a pretty girl and any man whose eye you catch is going to be so lucky to have you. Who knows! It could be Gorgeous George himself! Stranger things have happened!”
Y/N pat Gemma's hand and laughed. “Thanks Gem. Now, will you choose which perfume you want to put on?"
“What scents do you have again?"
"Chanel No. 5 and The Elizabeth Arden one. The one that smells like snowdrops. It's upstairs on my night stand on the left."
Gemma beamed as she sped back up the stairs. “Thanks, Y/N. You’re the best!”
"But don't use all of my Elizabeth Arden one! My mom got that for me as a birthday present!"
All this Beatlemania phenomenon. Who would’ve guessed? Each woman all over the world is in love with these four lads from Liverpool. Why would any of them even think of a girl like me? Average, working girl trying to make her way to the top and everyone throwing themselves at their boots or fainting. They probably want some model or wealthy woman. No one like me.
Gemma returned quickly down the stairs, the scent of snowdrops wafting through the room.
"Ready now!"
"Let's go make our grand entrance." The two women hooked their arms into each other's crook and walked merrily towards Twickenham studios as the two women began singing their favorite Beatles songs.
Perhaps today was finally going to be a good day for Y/N after what felt like forever. It was a beautiful day. Both she and Gemma were in good spirits and The Beatles were going to be at their studio for a good majority of filming. Y/N was determined to make the most of it, no matter what Mrs. Reynolds would say to her.