Play!

CXIV

The only comment on their walk of shame into the concert hall came from Cole shortly before lunch, thankfully, when he leaned over to Brett and whispered a suggestive “Coming in late now, are we?” paired with some serious eyebrow wiggle action. Brett just rolled his eyes while closing his violin case, the l-word Eddy’d used still flying circles in his brain and next thing he knew, Mr. Thames closed the few meters between the conductor’s stand and their desk.
“Brett! You’re good?”
“Uh, yeah”, he nodded and withstood the urge to grab Eddy’s hand. He couldn’t always go for this move whenever he felt a bit unsure now, could he?
Mr. Thames said, “Good. Are you ready for Korngold? We’re gonna attempt a playthrough this afternoon and I advise you to take good rest and eat some proper lunch. Not too heavy maybe, we don’t want you to fall asleep during the cadenza.”
Brett bobbed his head again. 
“And how are things between you two?”

An innocent question, really, so why did Brett’s heartbeat shoot through the roof of the con and beyond? He threw Eddy a panicked glance and was once again amazed by the confidence the taller exuded. Socially awkward and shy my ass!
“Good. Very good”, he answered, simple and inconspicuous, “Never better, I’d dare to say.”
“That’s what I want to hear. And I expect you to continue improving not only your playing but also your relationship.”
“Yes, Sir!", Brett deadpanned, because there was no way! No way…

“No way he doesn’t know!”, he hissed when Mr. Thames went to talk to Mr. Jones.
“Told you I think he knows”, Eddy meant unfazed with a small smile on his face “Lunch?”
“Sure! You heard him”, Brett said.

On their way out, they ran into some Sydney and Queensland con people including Cole, Nathan and Angelica. 
“There you are!”, Angelica beamed and readjusted her huge french horn case. Brett always thought it looked like such a hassle carrying something this bulky around. “You guys joining us?”
It took them a split second to exchange a look and Brett agreed. “Sure!” 

“Mate! Real good to see you!”, Nathan thused while they were walking towards the burger place they’d already visited last week, enthusiastically slapping Eddy’s shoulder and thus prompting Brett’s cortisol levels to reach concerning heights. 
“Thought you guys were fighting or something! You haven’t hung out with us in forever!”
Yeah, this was exactly the reason for Brett’s rising panic. What if…
“Oh, thank you for missing me”, Eddy jibed, dissipating any worry Brett might have had and he let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Eddy had this and wasn’t going to be scared away this quickly.
Nathan barked. “Nah, but seriously! Were you busy? Or…”
“Let’s just say”, Eddy slowly started, “I assumed stuff instead of talking and asking. Learnt my lesson, I tell you.”
“Okay… way to be cryptic. Anyway! Good to have you back! I need some tips on violin playing btw…”
And like this, they started a conversation about producing a full, rich and projecting tone. Brett walked beside them, lips curled upwards and glad that Eddy seemed to be alright being around Brett’s friends again.

“So, break time huh”, Cole started his eyebrow dance once more and Brett buried his face in his palms despite the heat. 
“You’re so nosy it’s unbelievable!”
“I mean, if you both come in later than everyone else it is kind of sus.”
“He used the l-word”, Brett shot away. Might as well, he figured.
Cole’s eyes became so big Brett would have laughed out loud if his mind wouldn’t have been heavily occupied.
“WHAT?”
“Dude! Geez! If you keep this up Imma have to stop telling you things.”
“He said he loves you???”
Brett sniggered and shook his head. “Nah. Just called me that.”
“What? Love?”
“Mhm.”
“That’s basically the same thing.”
“He called me that twice.”
“You must be on cloud nine!”
“You bet I am.”
Cole grinned. “And now?”
Brett shrugged. “We agreed on taking our time to get to know each other better… so we’re nothing official yet.”
“I see.”
“Are we super obvious?”, he asked, his nose scrunched because what if they were? What if more people suspected something was going on?
“Even if, what the hell!”, Cole stopped his overthinking immediately, “Just enjoy yourselves! Come in late as much as you want as long as it makes you happy.”
“Never thought I’d hear you give advice to be naughty”, Brett laughed at his friend’s statement. Normally, Cole was the well behaved one.
“Seriously though, I’m happy you’re happy”, he said as they neared the restaurant. 
Brett smiled. “Thanks, man!”

The group quickly settled with a table inside close to the AC. Brett’s heart fluttered when Eddy asked Nathan if he could sit next to Brett on the bench and skipped a few beats when he noticed long, gentle fingers tentatively reaching out for him underneath the table. Their hands intertwined automatically, the subtle glow in Eddy’s eyes jumping over to Brett’s in a matter of seconds.

He didn’t let go when they scanned the few menu items. He didn’t let go when the waiter came to take their orders. Not even when the beverages arrived did Eddy loosen his hold and Brett quickly had to take a few gulps of his coke to hopefully let his face display a less suspicious colour. He didn’t miss Nathan stilling in the middle of taking a sip himself though, his slightly confused gaze jumping back and forth between them. Oh boy! Had they been made? But Cole was right, wasn’t he? Even if, what the hell! He only had to make sure he could talk to Nathan as soon as possible before that guy blurted some weird questions out in front of everyone. Brett took a deep breath to calm his nerves and was glad when their burgers arrived so they had to let go to properly dig in.

“Don’t eat too fast”, Eddy munched, half the sauce of his burger covering the lower half of his face. 
Brett snorted. “Dude! Make sure you actually get some food in before you scold me.”
“Just looking out for our soloist here. Don’t want you to pass out because of overeating during your runthrough.”
“Won’t happen, thanks for your concern”, Brett said and demonstratively took a large bite. 
Eddy leaned over and whispered, “You’re cute when you eat, you know.”
Oh, words which made Brett want to hide his face behind his half-eaten burger. Luckily, he quickly caught himself and breathed back, “Unlike you, savage!”
“Ouch”, the taller frowned. Brett laughed and added, “Still like you very much though.”
Eddy’s breath hitched and him beaming like this, oh, it was everything! And it meant the world to Brett that they could be like this, be themselves even when they were surrounded by others.