keep it professional - r. taylor

16

~April 1976~

Mary slammed her glass back on the bar. She threw her hands in the air, exclaiming, "I win!" I jerked my head back to get the rest of the tequila down my throat. We should've known after walking into this run down bar that the alcohol wouldn't look too different from the worn down exterior.

"That's not fair! Mine was filled with just a little bit more tequila than yours."

"I won fair and square, and you're just too butthurt to admit it." We both erupted in laughter, not really caring how we were drawing attention to ourselves from other customers. We had been downing a few drinks, not enough to make us completely hammered, but enough to relax our nerves a little bit.

I set my glass down on the bar, asking for a glass of water from the bartender. The last shot had made my mouth incredibly dry, and I needed something to quench it. "Thanks for doing this Elizabeth," Mary said as I took a sip of water. "I know we've never been the closest, but this was nice to do."

"Hey, it gave me an excuse to get out and go drinking."

"We've been focusing too much on me. Tell me about you. How are you doing? How was tour? Have you found anyone in your romantic life?"

"That was like three questions at once! Okay, I'm good, tour was like hell on my body, but was fun overall. And I haven't really found anyone recently to fit in that department."

"Really? If I were you, and I looked like that," Mary motioned up and down my body, "I would be finding a new guy to shag every night."

"Well, if you had this body, you would actually know how difficult it is to find a guy who's interested in you. It seems like every time I go to the pubs, I'm like some kind of repellent to guys. I couldn't even muster up anyone who would be willing to go with me to my best friend's wedding."

"That's not true! Roger is working his hardest to be a perfect date for you."

"I guess so, but... wait, how did you know I was going with Roger?"

"He came by Freddie and I's flat the other day. He was trying to find a suit to wear to the wedding, and wanted to try on any that Freddie had. But obviously Freddie's suits were too eccentric and flamboyant for him, so he went off to John for some help."

"Oh. I had genuinely thought that he didn't really care, and was just doing it for the free dinner and open bar."

"I guess there's a lot you don't know about him," Mary said, stealing a sip of water from my cup.

"Hey!"

"You know, Freddie used to tell me the funniest thing. He used to think that you had a thing for Roger. That you were madly in love with him, as he put it." My cheeks started to flush, and I felt the alcohol leave my brain so I could try to comprehend what she just said.

I couldn't be too obvious that I was trying to gain more information from Mary. Then she would automatically assume that it was true, and would most likely tease me about it. But it wasn't even true, was it? Of course it wasn't! I mean, there were some instances where I caught myself staring off in his direction from time to time. And I think anyone else would feel a little nauseous/annoyed if you had to watch him make out with some groupie after shows. Plus, getting goosebumps and nerves any time you remotely touch someone, including brushing up beside them, is completely normal.

Holy shit, I think I just realized I fancied Roger Taylor.

But fancied, as in the past. Back before I knew the real Roger Taylor. Now, those feelings were probably long gone.