Neighbour

23.

Eddy couldn't help but notice the slight trembling in Brett's tone throughout the rehearsal. The concert was in just a few days now, and the conductor was ruthless. He hadn't been super kind before, but he was understandably starting to tighten things up more as the week progressed. 

"Violins! Let me just hear you from bar 97, please," he said, lifting his baton. He had practiced this bit, he knew it was pretty messed up, but he'd manage. Eddy was honestly more worried about his stand partner's shaky bow as it definitely would ricochet in the wrong places. 

They played through, a few people messed up. Brett messed up too, as expected, and if he didn't seem depressed before he certainly did now. Eddy definitely understood the disappointment written on Brett's face. 

"Second violins, again please," the conductor said, definitely looking at them when he said it. Eddy couldn't help but think he was a bit of a dick, but still lifted his violin to his chin. 

They played again, a few people messed up again. Brett didn't really mess up this time, but his bow bounced an extra time on the last note. Eddy watched as his shoulders slumped with defeat. 

"I think you know what needs to be done. Just fix it by tomorrow," the conductor said, shaking his head slightly. "Let's take five." 

The murmuring around the stands started up right away. It was clear people weren't too happy about the conductor. 

"Such a dick," Eddy chimed in, aiming the comment to Brett who had put down the violin in the case. He was still playing on Eddy's old violin, and he was treating it way nicer than Eddy ever had.

"We did kind of suck, though," Brett shrugged slightly. "May skip lunch to practice that part." 

"Skip lunch? Can't you just practice at h… oh," Eddy began, quickly stopping himself as he remembered that Brett had no violin at home. "You can stop by my place. We can practice together." 

Brett gave him the tiniest of smiles and looked down at his hands which were picking on the sleeve of his sweater. 
"I don't think Mike would love that idea," he said softly. "He's quite possessive." 

"I've noticed," Eddy sighed, shaking his head slightly. The young Finnish conductor was a bit of a dick, but Mike was a whole other level. The dickiest dick. "The offer still stands." 

"Thank you," Brett said softly, running a hand through his hair. "How's my foundation holding up, by the way?" 

Eddy leaned forward slightly to get a better look at him. It was way too easy to get lost in the sad koala eyes with the tiny speck, way too easy to want to hold his face in his hands and assure him everything would be okay, that Mike would never hurt him again. Worst of all was how easy it was to admire the beautiful pink of his lips, only interrupted by the harsh "love mark" made by Mike.

Eddy looked a bit shyly away, getting the tiniest of blushes over his cheeks. It was a bit weird to think like that about your colleague and neighbour, who you knew had his heart taken by the dickiest dick. 

"You wouldn't be able to tell if it wasn't for your lip," he said softly, running his fingers through his hair. "No need to worry about it."