𝐴𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑| 𝑅𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑇𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑟 ✔

XXXIII

December, 1970

"Not even a little one?" Ashley asked, as we sat down across from each other in a cafe, to hide from the snow that was falling heavily from outside.

"I'm honestly not bothered. It's not even a milestone, it's just another year of being alive" I shrugged, looking at the menu. Ashley has been bugging me about throwing me a party for my birthday, as if we don't already go to one almost every night.

"But what about just a small gathering? You'll hardly notice it" she asked, resting her arms on the table.

"No. Because a small gathering in your eyes would be the whole of London" I raised my eyes from the menu to look at her.

"Not the full of London!" she rolled her eyes. "Just half of it..." she mumbled, looking down.

"Ashley, I'm fine with just going out to lunch with you and rest, then just staying in the flat for the rest of the day with noodles" I shrugged, closing the menu after examining it, deciding on a hot chocolate.

Ashley sighed, giving up and handing both our menus back to the waiter, after ordering.

We sat for a few moments, just sipping on our hot chocolate and tea, before I sighed, looking at her disappointment. "Fine" I caved in, her eyes lit up at the information. "But just a small one. I mean it, there's no need for the whole place to be crowded for a nineteenth" I rolled my eyes, good-naturedly.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever" she said, brushing me off, pulling out a notepad and pen, as if she expected this to happen. "I'll call Freddie, he'll be thrilled to help plan it" she grinned, writing stuff down.

"Forget the full of London, it's now gonna be the whole UK" I sighed, resting my cheek on my hand, I looked outside the large window, to see the flower shop where I used to work. That's right. I'm officially unemployed. Again.
⚜︎

I walked upstairs, opening the door, to hear the sound of drums being played in the living room.

The beat stopped, once I was revealed. Roger rises from the drum kit, grinning and walking over to me, kissing my cheek. "So, did Ashley manage to convince you to throw the party?" he asked, all-knowing what my answer would be.

"Well, what do you think?" I asked, taking my coat and shoes off.

"I think I'll be seeing the whole UK tomorrow night" he smirked, heading back to his drums.

"That's exactly what I said" I raised my brows. "So... when did... this arrive?" I ask, gesturing to the drums.

"Earlier today. Why?" he asked, sitting on the stool.

"No, nothing, it's just... You won't be playing this at 4 o'clock in the morning, will you?" I asked, imagining the horror of it.

He let out a breathy chuckle, "no, I'll play when you're not here or you're fine with it. I promise to not disturb you" he placed his hand on his heart and held up his hand, in promise.

"Okay... now, where are we gonna put it? We can't leave it there, it's blocking my favorite place" I gestured, sadly towards the kitchen.

"We can move around furniture? There might be enough space in here" he shrugged.

"Okay, then" I agreed, plopping down on the couch, I leaned up to peek over at him playing, it mesmerized me each and every time he played, he just got so into it.

After ten minutes of admiring him the telephone started ringing. I went to pick it up, he stopped so there wasn't any racket in the background.

"Alice. It's your mother" God, I hate those words.

"You're birthday is tomorrow, right? The thirteenth? Or is it the fourteenth?" she asked.

I rolled my eyes. Most parents would know what date they gave birth but apparently not mine. "Thirteenth" I answered, dryly.

"Well, there's no need for that attitude" she scolded.

"Well, I find it a little ridiculous that my boyfriend of almost half a year remembers my birthday. Yet my mother of almost nineteen Years can't even recall the date she gave birth" I fired back, starting to get annoyed, forgetting that Roger was in the room, hearing the conversation.

The line was silent until she finally had the courage to ask: "your nineteen?" she asked, in shock. "I thought it was your eighteenth" she added.

I had nothing to say to that so I just hung up.

"Boyfriend?" I heard Roger ask, standing up from his drums, with his brows raised and a smirk playing upon his lips.

Shit I forgot I said that. "Yeah.. Well, I did introduce you as my boyfriend at the wedding" I shrugged, making up an excuse, as he walked towards me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Whatever you say" he shrugged his shoulders, leaning down to kiss my forehead. "I didn't mind you calling me that, though" he stated, casually, causing my cheeks to burn up.

"Oh, really?" I asked, trying to keep my cool. He hummed in response. "So are you suggesting I should call you that more often?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"It appears I am" he grinned.

"Fine then" I smiled, leaning up to kiss him.