"John?" Freddie said, his brows creased.
"Yeah?"
"What's with Roger?" Freddie asked.
John shrugged. "I don't know. Why don't you ask him?"
"Oh, come on!" Freddie exclaimed. "You do know, don't you? Why can't you just tell me?"
John avoided his gaze. He was relieved when Brian burst into the room, interrupting his conversation with Freddie.
"Hello!" Brian said and smiled at them. John thought he looked uncharacteristically cheerful.
"Hi," said Freddie.
"You seem excited," John remarked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. My girlfriend is coming over today," Brian said. He was still smiling.
"I didn't know you had a girlfriend."
"He does," Freddie stated, smirking. "The one he met at the party. The pretty one. I think her name was Catherine."
Brian glanced at Freddie, suddenly looking serious. "Please don't flirt with her or anything."
Freddie snickered and said: "I won't, I promise. Roger might, though."
"I don't think that will be a problem," John muttered.
***
"Roger, wake up," John said.
Roger didn't obey, pressing his face deeper into his pillow instead.
"Wake up," repeated John in a louder voice. "Or should I get Brian so he can kiss you awake?"
Roger groaned and reluctantly sat up. "You're evil," he said, hitting John with his pillow. "Is there a reason you woke me up in the middle of the night?"
"It's two p.m. And yes, there is a reason." Roger was staring at him expectantly. "I thought you might want to be awake since Brian's girlfriend is coming over in no time."
Roger, not being able to hide the disappointment in his voice, asked: "Brian has a girlfriend?"
John nodded. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Roger assured in a tone little bit too joyful and with a forced smile on his face. "It's not like I had a chance of being with him in the first place. I don't have the right to be upset. And I'm sure she makes him happy. That's all that matters," he continued, his lip trembling.
John glanced at him. It seemed like he was trying to think of something to say. But then, the doorbell rang.
