Keep Yourself Alive - Roger Taylor

1

1970

I tapped my foot along to the unfamiliar beat by the three guys performing in the club. They were surprisingly good, and as I leant against the bar sipping my gin and tonic, I nodded my head to the tune.

My name is Rose Thomas, and I am currently studying biology at university. I am pretty much a loner, and coming to small gigs makes me feel involved in something. Sad I know, but I adore live music and this smile band seemed pretty good.

My nails clicked against the glass as I sat alone tiredly. I came here every week, sometimes twice. It was my hideaway from reality. If you hadn't already guessed, I have no friends. My debt is up to my ears and I'm living in the tiniest flat in London. It definitely doesn't help that I am an avid smoker that fails every attempt at quitting. Other than that, I'm pretty much your average geeky school girl.

I felt a presence beside me and looked over subtly to see a handsome tanned man, who looked rather out of place and curious.

"Hello" Oh wow Rose, way to be awkward.

"Hi, are these always here?" He asked motioning towards the stage.

"Yeah, pretty much. They go to my uni so I tend to follow along like a lost puppy" I giggled awkwardly and mentally slapped myself.

"Ah, I see. The names Freddie" He said, sending me a smile with his prominent stark white teeth and shaking my hand.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Rose" I nodded.

"Would you like to dance?" He asked and I shrugged, following him to the floor.

My mini skirt made it easy for me to move, but my mind did not. I had never actually danced in public, and the handsome band on stage did not want to see that. After all, the turn out tonight was quite poor near to the end, and I was worried that they wouldn't be asked back.

Freddie twirled me around and we moved to the music. I looked up at the band on stage and caught a glimpse of the drummer, who was consumed in his playing and it was amazing to experience.

"Do you like music?" He asked curiously, probably noticing me staring in awe.

"Love it, rock bands are my favourite. It's sad really, their turnout is usually a lot larger than this" I shrugged, still moving to the music.

"I sing, and if I do say so myself I'd say I'm pretty darn good" He added, smirking with his toothy grin.

There was something so handsome and mysterious about the guy before me, and I definitely wanted to discover what it was.

"Ah, you'll have to sing for me one time then" I smiled.

"Of course" He said back, and suddenly dragged me spontaneously from the room.

"What the-"

"They're done, we are going to talk to the band" He smiled brightly.

"No, you don't know me, they will. They'll know me as try hard Rose that always gets good grades" I huffed and he put me straight immediately.

"Come here then, darling" He pulled the cigarette packet from my pocket and slipped one into my mouth, before removing the shaded glasses from his face and giving them to me.

"Freddie they'll think I'm such a stalker" I groaned. He was new, he didn't know me. We only just met for gods sake, but he was the only chance I had of a friend. So again, I was following like a lost puppy.

"Come on" He ordered, but not in a mean way. He dragged my hand gently through the small crowd and stopped when he caught a glimpse of two guys sat looking glum in the boot of their truck.

He sauntered over, letting go of my hand and giving off a confident demeanour. They looked up when we approached, and my stomach was doing flips. Not only was this the two gorgeous band members, but they would also know me as Rose the geek or whatever.

"You guys were great" Freddie started.

The two just huffed in response.

"No, you really were. I come every week" I added confidently.

"Well, our lead singer just quit" They shrugged.

"So you'll be needing a new one then? I sing" Freddie asked curiously.

"Good luck with them teeth mate" One of them said.

"Yeah and whose your groupie with he mini skirt?" The blond one joked, motioning towards me.

I inhaled the smoke and lifted the glasses from my face, resting them on my head. Blowing the fumes out I noticed their faces drop when they saw who I was.

"Gee- I mean, Rose?" The blond one asked, definitely slipping on his words.

I just nodded and they actually looked shocked that I was here, and smoking.

"Right, this is more important" Freddie took the attention back and then proceeded to perform a small solo, which was absolutely incredible.

He walked away smugly, whereas I stayed leaning against the door to the van.

"Do you play bass?" The curly haired one asked.

"Nope" Freddie shrugged and walked away.

There was an awkward silence before I eventually piped up. If i was completely sober this would have never happened, I can assure you.

"I love your band, but you don't need that other guy. I just met Freddie, and I don't even know your names, but Freddie wipes the floor with the other singer" I said.

"Trust us, we know. But we don't have anyone to play bass" The curly haired one moaned.

"Then take auditions, do whatever. But I'm a sad loner with no friends that comes to smile gigs every week to stop herself from bashing her head against her wall" I stated, "So please hurry up"

I huffed before beginning to walk away. However, I felt a hand grab my wrist and pull me around.

"Roger" The blond one smirked, holding out his hand to shake.

I did and moved on to the next one, "Hi, I'm Brian"

"You have no friends you say? Join the club, it's just us two" Brian joked.

"Want to join us in the van and compare sob stories?" Roger joked, motioning to the inside of the van.

I nodded, and dropped the cigarette that was wiggling on my lips as I spoke.

"So, you study biology right? I do Dentistry, and Bri does astrophysics, the smart arse" He chuckled.

"Yeah, but I have a memory equivalent to a plank of wood, so it goes in one ear and comes out the other" I shrugged.

"That's why I'm hoping our band takes off, this whole uni thing is great but the classes aren't for me" Roger said, looking up at me as he rested on his elbow.

We talked for what felt like hours, and we exchanged numbers before we all left to go home. I was a bit miffed that Freddie never returned, but little did I know how much of a prominent part he would play in each of our lives.