𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧' 𝐆𝐮𝐲 ➺ 𝐵𝓇𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝑀𝒶𝓎 & 𝒬𝓊𝑒𝑒𝓃

49. Common Decency

Roger

How do you even begin to make amends with your best friend after sleeping with his girlfriend? The answer is painfully simple: you can't. No amount of apologies or gestures can erase the deep-seated feelings of distrust, betrayal, and heartbreak that we inflicted upon him. Brian believed in us, trusted us implicitly, and we shattered that trust in the most devastating way possible. It's a wound that cuts deep, and there's no easy fix.

While some might assume that my primary concern would be how Emma feels about the situation, that couldn't be further from the truth. Brian is the true victim here, and it's his pain that weighs heavily on my conscience. There's a sense of guilt and responsibility that gnaws at me, knowing that I played a part in causing him this immense hurt. And as much as Maria shares in that guilt, we both understand that it's Brian who deserves our utmost concern and efforts for redemption.

In any other circumstance, I might not care about the consequences of my actions. I might brush off the repercussions of cheating on Emma, indifferent to who I slept with or the reasons behind it. Such behaviour aligns with my character, or so I used to believe. But with Maria, with Brian, I never thought I would stoop so low. I never anticipated that I would betray them in this unforgivable manner.

October 1972

Freddie emerged from downstairs, clapping his hands together. "Well, my friends, let's go over a few things while Brian takes some time to calm down."

"Is he really that upset over a girl?" I lounged on the sofa, absentmindedly twirling a drumstick in my hand.

"Don't be insensitive, Roger," John chimed in, strumming his guitar. "If he has strong feelings for her, it's important to him. Brian's a sensitive guy when it comes to matters of the heart, right?" He glanced at me and Freddie, and I nodded in agreement. I had known Brian longer than the others, and his sensitivity was undeniable.

"He's always been that way with girls. Remember when he had a crush on that girl in his physics class for ages?" I chuckled. "So, let me get this straight," I continued, sitting up. "Our Brian actually has feelings for this Maria girl? The same Maria who's supposed to be managing us?"

Freddie rolled his eyes and slumped into a chair. "Honestly, Roger, have you been living under a rock? He's head over heels for her, darling. It's more than just a passing fancy."

"I'm not head over heels," came a soft voice from the stairs. Brian had returned, quietly listening to our conversation from a distance. He walked over to his guitar and put it back around his neck. "She's just a really wonderful person, and I enjoy her company. It's not..." He trailed off, choosing his words carefully.

"So you wouldn't mind if I made a move on her—" I started, but Brian cut me off with a glare.

"Don't even finish that sentence, Blondie," he warned.

"Oh, wait, you're serious?" I raised an eyebrow in mock surprise.

"Yes!" All three of them shouted in unison, making me shrink back a bit. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry! I'll be serious now," I said, laughing and swinging my legs off the sofa to sit up properly. "Just to be clear, if you don't want me to pursue Maria, I won't. I enjoy a good fling as much as the next guy, but I'll respect your wishes, my dear friend." I put on an exaggerated posh accent, playfully teasing Brian. He shook his head, trying not to smile.

"Yeah, please don't. I'd like a chance with her," he said, his lips pressed into a straight line as he looked down, absentmindedly fiddling with the guitar strings.

"You've got it, Bri," I assured him, walking over to my drums and settling behind them.

"I'm being serious," Brian insisted, a tinge of sadness in his voice as if he doubted my sincerity. I furrowed my brow, leaning forward to emphasise my words.