A Little Bit of Trouble | A Roger Taylor Fanfiction.

part 2 • "i've missed you, fred."

7th October 1971.
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It's the early hours of the next morning when I find myself sitting at the bar in The Queens Arms pub, zoned out, thinking about Stephen. I'm drinking my sorrows away when I hear the bartenders muffled voice. "Miss?"

I look up, my eyes are bloodshot from crying.

"Want another drink?" He asks.

I think about it; drinking more will make me feel better. "Yes, please." I almost slur. "Double gin and tonic."

"Coming right up."

I sit there for a second, regretting my decision. I should've got a vodka. The bartender puts the drink down in front of me and I nod at him, thanking him. Suddenly a bunch of people come through the doors of the pub, making me realise that it was quieter than I thought it was.

"Roger." A familiar voice says, "Why the fuck did you miss those beats?"

"It's like I meant to do it, you pillock!" A long haired blonde said, hitting the guy.

"Ow!" The familiar voice over-exaggerates, laughing loudly.

I whip my head around, staring at all three boys that had come in causing riffraff. They all state back at me with worry in their eyes but my eyes soften when I see Freddie. He's the voice that I recognised.

"Freddie!" I smile.

"Evelyn!" He shouts, delighted to see me. He rushes over and hugs me tightly. "Darling! What are you doing here?"

"Oh you know, having a drink! By myself!" I say, trying to make myself sound happy.

"Darling.. your eyes.." He says, his face comes closer to mine, inspecting them. "They're all red."

"Umm, well..." I try to think of a lie, something that will get him off my back. I would rather him think I was never sad, always happy with everything sorted.

"Do you want to talk?" He whispers, his eyes on mine so his friends don't hear anything.

I hesitate. I knew Freddie from college, we'd both done art and design at Ealing College of Art in the late 60's and were quite good friends. I looked at him with longing in my eyes and nodded.

"Boys, go find a booth and order something, I need to catch up with my good friend, Evelyn Riley." Freddie says as he sits down on the bar stool next to me. When the boys walk off and find a seat, he speaks. "Now my dear, what is up with you!"

I stay silent, looking at my drink; I take a sip and set my glass down on the coaster. "Stephen and I broke up... well he doesn't actually know. I haven't told him."

"Sweetheart, this all sounds so confusing." He says. "I need a drink!" He turns to face the barman, "A vodka and tonic, please sir." Then turns his face back to me.

"Well, I've had this suspicion that he's been cheating on me for a few weeks but I never had any proof so.. I followed him and he met a women. I didn't see her face so I followed her for a bit longer and it turned out to be my best friend. Kate."

Freddie gasps and covers his mouth. "Oh, I always knew she was a fucking slag."

We'd all been in the same class together at Imperial college so Freddie knew Kate.

I laugh, with a sad tone. "Cheers to that!" I say, taking another gulp of my drink. "I've missed you, Fred."

"Me too, Eve. Sorry I've been so busy, I'm in a band." He says proudly.

"A band? Wow, you made it!"

"Yeah, that's Brian and Rog, the guys I wouldn't shut up about. I told you that we'd make a great team."

"You playing soon? I'd love to come see you guys." I say.

"We've just done a show at Imperial College, I'm still high from the adrenaline." He laughs, "But we're heading to Epsom and Twickenham in December but nothing else planned until then, apart from some rehearsing."

"What's your bands name?" I ask.

"Queen"

"Sounds regal." I say, picking up my drink and sipping it with my pinky out.

"John joined in July this year." He said, looking over at the booth. "He's been exactly what we were looking for, great personality and brilliant bass skills."

"Sounds like you're good enough to go pro!" I laugh.

"Soon my dear, soon." Fred says, adjusting his imaginary crown. Suddenly he stops and turns to face me. "Maybe we should do something." He suggests, menacingly.

I finish my drink and look at him. "Like, what?" I smile.

"Like throw a brick through his window!" He whispers.

I turn to face him, and nod, smiling. "What about your merry band of followers?" I ask.

"Oh, they'll be more than happy to help out!" He exclaims. "Come and meet them!"