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

[17]

Okay, count... one, two, three! There it is! I quickly open the drawer and grab the oven mitts, trying to hide my embarrassment. I'm afraid I'm not very good at math and when put under pressure, I simply can't compute numbers. We aren't sure what it is but I really struggle sometimes. And unfortunately, it had to happen here of all places.

I pull the pie out of the oven, pretty pleased with the golden crust. I walk back over to the table, trying to appear as though I didn't just struggle to find a drawer. The stares of confusion are there but I ignore them. Oh crap, now I need something to cut the pie with. Do you have a spatula or a knife to cut the pie with?

Brian nods after Mary translates. "Yes, I'll get it." He stands up from his chair, gently brushing past me. I sit back down, feeling a little defeated. I know Brian is just trying to be nice, but I want a little redemption from the drawers.

"Genevieve, do you have any special hobbies?" Jo asked, trying to get the conversation back on track as Brian searched the kitchen.

Define special hobbies, I challenged playfully.

I saw Roger bit back a smirk. "Are you flexible?"

Jo smacked him on the shoulder. "Roger!"

I nodded, smiling. As a matter of fact, I am very flexible.

Freddie raised an eyebrow. "Prove it, darling," he said.

I can't hide the smile forming on my face. Luckily, I'm wearing bell-bottoms and not a skirt. I square my shoulder and quickly drop into a splits. Collective gasps come from the table but not before a massive crash! echoes from the kitchen. I spin my head around to see Brian looking absolutely gobsmacked, multiple utensils scattered at his feet.

I hear Roger and John snickering in the background, whispering something I don't hear. Brian immediately begins picking up the items, blushing a very bright red. "Oh-Oh dear, I'm sorry everyone. I'm just... just clumsy," he awkwardly stuttered out.

I furrowed my eyebrows. Did me doing the splits cause him to drop everything? That would be odd, but I guess popping right into a splits can be a bit surprising if you aren't expecting it. I push myself back up, ignoring the slight ache in my pelvic bone from the split, and sit down in my chair.

"Holy fuck, that was amazing!" Roger says.

Veronica nods along. "Did you do gymnastics or something?"

Ballet for seventeen years and counting.

Freddie immediately perks up. "Ballet? As in dancing?"

I nod. He excited claps his hands. "Oh that's wonderful! You play piano and do ballet! I like you already!"

I feel a little pull at my heart. He... likes me? Already, on short notice? I must've had a funny expression on my face because Freddie's turns sour. "Did I say something wrong?"

I quickly shake my head no. No, you didn't I just... you've given me a place to sleep, hid me from the police and now are allowing me into your home. I'm just very pleased that someone likes me... I pause, as Brian comes back with a knife and begins cutting the pie. I'm not used to so much companionship. I've really had to fight for close friends. I've had plenty of people who flaked on me because they gave up on sign language or found me dry. It takes a while for-

I stop as I realize I no longer hear Mary talking. She sheepishly shrugs her shoulders. "You lost me early on, I'm terribly sorry."

I put my hands back down into my lap, feeling my cheeks flush. So then, I was passionately signing for nothing? That's always super embarrassing. Not that Mary is to blame for it, but this is why I really don't always try for extra friends. Oh my, why am I getting so upset over nothing?