People Can You Hear Me? [A Brian May Story]

[5]

Noah Arkins nervously walked through the hallways of Imperial, rubbing his hands together. Brian was due to leave in twenty minutes and Noah knew he would not be happy that the telescope was not returned. He could tell Brian was already hesitant about lending his equipment out, especially to people without degrees.

But the telescope was one of the least of Noah's worries. He kept thinking about Genevieve. He couldn't remember much from the trip, except just how pretty her light laughter sounded on his ears. And when he woke up with her in his arms, he almost couldn't believe his luck. But that feeling quickly dissipated as he saw the look of passiveness on her face.

He thought maybe breakfast would cheer her up, maybe he could get to know her. The foreign exchange student. He could have all the glory if he got with the American. Todd had already mentioned that she was "the most delicious girl on this campus."

Immediately jealous, Noah made a point to take sign language classes, so he could get around to talking to her first.

She was quite good at expressing her thoughts without talking, using obvious gestures that anyone could understand. Noah walked a little faster, his heart pumping. His mind was filled with images of Genevieve, her silky raven hair shining off the light of the cafe, those perfect red lips, her beautiful curves...

Noah shook his head, trying to shake away the thoughts. But deep down inside, he wished that they had been the couple who woke up naked next to them.

Brian sighed in irritation as he looked at the pictures sitting on the table. The stars from the nights before hadn't been showing up and it was making it difficult for him to do any proper astronomy. Especially when he was forced to lend out his telescope to Noah. He was nice and all, but Brian didn't really enjoy letting people borrow things of his. He was just a bit overprotective of the things he made with his father.

Flipping the film over, Brian was distracted by the door to the classroom opening. It was Noah, looking very nervous. Brian sat up in his chair, shuffling the pictures back together. "Hello Noah, how is your day?"

Noah rubbed the back of his head nervously, his fingers twitching. "It's uhh... it's been good. How-how about yours?"

Brian noted the absence of his telescope. "Well, I can't be an astronomer if the stars don't decide to show," he said. "Did you bring me back my telescope?"

Noah turned white and ran over to the table, making Brian jump back a bit. "No I didn't and I am so, so sorry! I promise I'll bring it back. I didn't break it or anything I swear!"

Brian raised his hands, "Hey, calm down, I was just asking. I will need it back by tomorrow. If it becomes a problem-"

"It won't be a problem, I promise!" Noah said.

Unbeknownst to Noah, Brian knew that he had been a part of the LSD crew last night. He had seen him outside the cafe window, taking Genevieve's hand and leading her away. Brian wasn't stupid, he knew why he wasn't getting his telescope back.

"When can you bring it to me?"

"Late today or early tomorrow."

Brian sighed, "Well depending on your version of 'late', you can drop it off at Kensington Market, stall thirty-four on the third level. If I'm not there, my friends Roger and Fred will take it."

"Alright," Noah said, internally sighing in relief. "Umm... do you... know anything about the exchange student, Genevieve?"

Brian looked up in surprise. He knew lots, he had read the essay he dug out of the trash the first day he saw her. Born in the outskirts of Queens, New York, Genevieve was just twenty years old, and graduated in the top twenty at her school in America. Forgoing a normal college experience, she opted to become a foreign exchange student to broaden her horizons and gain some inspiration for writing.