Neighbour

12.

Brett didn't come back until a few minutes after the rehearsal had started, and the conductor had shot him a disapproving look because of it. Eddy thought the look was incredibly unnecessary when it was so obvious that the guy had been crying and was already struggling. Maybe it wasn't as obvious to everyone else as it was to him? He was paying so much more attention to the guy, especially today after what he had heard the night before. The need to protect the smaller man was maybe what made him so frustrated when the Finnish guest conductor, a conducting prodigy who wasn't even as old as Eddy was, seemed to overlook the obvious distress radiating from Brett. Couldn't he see that the man was already feeling down?

"Are you okay?" Eddy whispered to him while the conductor ran through a section with the cellos and double basses, careful not to disturb what was going on ahead. He just couldn't stop worrying about his deskie when the shaky bow continued to happen throughout the rehearsal, and the fact that he rubbed his eyes every time he had the chance as if struggling not to cry didn't make it any better. Brett had tried to just shrug him off, but Eddy gave him a knowing look which after just a few moments made him give up with a defeated sigh.

"I'll explain in the break," he whispered back, letting his bangs fall in his face as he looked down to where his hands carefully held onto his violin and his bow. He definitely sounded like he'd rather not explain anything at all. "Just leave it for now, I don't want any more trouble."

The rest of the rehearsal, Eddy tried his best to not let his worry affect his playing. Thankfully, it seemed Brett was feeling better as he got more into the music too, and when the break came, he seemed almost back to normal. Almost.

"Time for lunch. Be on time after the break, we have a lot to go through," the young conductor said, clearly shooting a glance at Brett as he said it. Eddy shot him a death glare back, but it didn't seem the blonde man cared as he took a step off the podium and disappeared out of the room.

"Wanna go grab bubble tea and noodles, then?" Brett asked quietly with a sigh, already having put away his violin. He looked like he'd rather not but felt like he had to. Eddy was quick to copy him, not wanting to keep him waiting.

"Sounds good to me," Eddy confirmed with a smile meant to cheer him up a bit. Unfortunately, the smile faltered a few moments later when Brett turned away, looking like he was fighting to keep his face as neutral as possible.

"Let's go then," he mumbled quietly as he got out of his chair, leading the way out of the rehearsal space. Eddy was quick to shut his case and follow Brett's quick steps with his long strides. "We'll just get it over with."