A Whole New World (A Queen Fanfiction)

Chapter Five

Roger leaned up against the wall of the building, flicking the old lighter he found a few times before it eventually produced a small flame, and he held his cigarette up to it. Today, he was wearing his only other outfit, a denim top with denim bell bottoms. 

He knew all too well how he smoked too much, how it bothered the guys, and for that he was ashamed he could not just stop. But for a long time now, before he even had fallen on hard times, the cigarettes were his coping mechanism and relaxation as well as a vice – he was stressed now more than ever, and in any circumstance, nicotine was no minor addiction.

The guys were still upstairs, putting prices on their instruments, which were nearly their last possessions. It broke Roger's heart, but he had little to no reason to join in on the conversation. His drums were already gone, and standing in and listening to them would only depress him more, so he stepped out to smoke.

Part of him hoped that maybe Dominique would come by, so that maybe he would have something to do. But a bigger part of him believed fully that she would not remember him at all. She had no reason to, after all. In her big, prestigious life, a poor man like him had no place at all.

That was just how it was in his world.

He would be better off, surely, just going back inside the house after he finished. Though, a small part of him really wanted to stand out and wait for her, just in case she might really arrive.

Freddie opened the door, stepping outside. "You alright?"

"Yeah, yeah," Roger said, nodding a little bit while looking down. "I'm alright."

"I just wanted to ask you a question," Freddie said.

"Fire away."

"Well," Freddie said. "What would be the cheapest reselling price for a used bass?"

Roger shrugged. "Anywhere between a hundred or two hundred pounds."

"Oh, alright," Freddie nodded. "I'll tell John so. Thank you."

Roger nodded.

Waving a cloud of smoke out of his face, he looked towards the entrance of the alley, where the market outside was pretty quiet for it still being the early morning. He was glad of it. He did not wish to deal with any more scenes than he already had to in the week.

He squinted as he saw someone coming towards the alley, and he breathed in, hoping it would not be some sort of drunken confrontation.

"Roger?"

He smiled broadly. He could see now that none other than Dominique had come into the alley, bag and all.

"Hello," he said, taking a drawl out of his cigarette. "So you wanna spend the day with me, huh?"

"If you still want to spend the day with me," she smiled back.

He was filled with more guilt as she started to cough a little, from the smoke. He dropped the cigarette promptly, smashing it into the ground with his shoe. The act felt so natural, at that moment, though he usually wouldn't do that until the cigarette was reduced to a butt.

"Yeah, I do," he said, casually as he could manage.

"Roger," he heard Freddie's voice behind the door. "Who are you talking to?"

Freddie swung the door open, looking out with a suspicious expression. Roger cringed a little, not wanting Dominique to think that the four of them constantly made interactions with the wrong sort.

"Freddie, this is Dominique," Roger said, making a gesture with his hand towards Dominique as if no one knew who was who. "She's the girl I told you all about last night."