Good Company - Queen Fanfiction

Chapter 17

April 11th, 1979

We board the plane and get into our seats. The plane is split into three sections. The luggage is at the back, and there is a lot of it; the middle section is quite a big passenger area and the majority of the crew is staying in there; then the front area is a bit smaller than the other and that's where the band, some guy called Paul, and myself are staying. I didn't mind staying with the rest of the crew for the trip, but the boys insisted that I come up with them.

I don't know what this Paul guy's problem is, but when he came in and saw me thanking Freddie properly for being so kind to me earlier the man's face contorted into a scowl and he stomped his way over to a seat and sat down in a huff. I ignored him and continued to talk to Freddie, but his behaviour was generally quite odd. He seemed to be quite put off by me.

We are now going to our seats because we are set to be taking off any minute. There is a group of four seats facing each other around a small table and I decide to sit on one of them. Deaky, Brian and Roger join me and Freddie sits next to the grumpy man, talking to him about something.

"Hey Alex, you don't mind if we sit here right?" John asks, looking a bit embarrassed.

"Of course not. Some company will be nice." I reply.

Roger, as quick as he can, slides into the seat next to me.

Brian laughs at his sudden speed. "Somebody's eager to sit next to the new girl."

Roger ears go red and he responds as smoothly as he can, "Well I was already eyeing up this seat before and I didn't want you guys to steal it."

"Of course that's what it is Rog." I tease, squeezing his hand.

He pulls a face at me, "Sod off, Alex."

"Never! Do you guys know what that Paul guy's issue is? Who even is he?" I ask, glancing at the man talking to Freddie.

The three of them collectively groan.

"Paul Prenter is the 'band co-ordinator' as per Freddie's request on the News of the World tour." Brian explains.

"And he's a fucking tosser at that." Roger adds loudly.

Looking over to see if he heard, I see Paul flip off Roger. Freddie doesn't notice any of the exchange. In fact it looks like he's put earplugs and a sleeping mask on.

"What's wrong with him? He already seems a bit anti-me already." I ask quietly, hoping he won't hear me so he doesn't have a go at me for saying it.

"Well he's Freddie's friend, and he's a bit uptight about people other than himself spending time with him. That's probably why he hasn't been especially nice to you, seeing as you two were being friendly." John says.

"Weird, I hope I don't have to cross paths with him too much in the next month." I say.

Brian changes the subject onto what we're doing during this leg of the tour, mostly for my benefit as I've never done any kind of touring before. He starts going through the basic itinerary for the next two or so weeks, and mentions that on the seventeenth we have a day off in Osaka. The date triggers something in my head and I remember it's my birthday.

"Hang on a minute, Brian. Did you say the seventeenth we have a day off?"

"Yes we do, why?" He asks.

The three of them look at me in confusion.

"Well, you'll probably think I'm an idiot, but it's my birthday!" I say happily.

"No way! How come you didn't tell me earlier little A?" Roger says, almost jumping out of his seat.

"It's just my birthday Roger, you can calm down."