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Maeve 1971
A year almost to the date. That's how long it's been since Tim left Roger, Brian and myself. Later that night we had snatched up the man with the heavenly voice and made him our frontman. His name was Freddie Bulsara. All of worked together to search far and wide for a new bass player. I knew one. This boy in one of my general classes in school. His name was John Deacon, and I had basically forced him into auditioning for the band. The boys loved him, and he played well. The band was formed.
"Alright, settle down!" I said, laughing as the boys chattered amongst themselves. "I have an announcement." We were lounging in Freddie's kitchen at the time. Freddie clapped his hands together and smiled at me from his seat. Silence fell over the room, giving me the chance to speak. "I booked the new and improved Smile's first gig!" I felt proud of myself. I had to argue a lot with the manager of the pub where we'd be playing. He finally gave me the time since I wouldn't leave him alone until he did.
"Brilliant, darling!" Freddie said, jumping from his seat and sliding his arm around me. "Look at our lovely manager go!" John and Brian laughed along with him, clapping at the thought of the gig.
"Manager?" Roger asked, folding his arms across his chest. Jesus. He had really been getting to me recently. He's so ridiculously moody. "Since when?"
"What? Were you going to do it, Rog?" Brian said, adjusting in hi chair. "Well done, Maeve. You are excellent." Brian stood from the chair, waking over and patted my shoulder, exiting the room after.
"I second that." John said with a sweet smile as he stood. He ran his hands down on his jeans as he walked over to me. "I can't wait to begin. Fantastic." He followed Brian out of the room, leaving Fred, Roger and myself.
"You don't seem happy about it, Taylor." I scoffed as I folded my arms across my chest. "Were you waiting to step up to the post? It's been months since you've all formed, it's time to make a comeback."
"So what if I was?" He said, grabbing a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and taking one out to light. He took a huff of it, blowing smoke everywhere. It was disgusting.
"Give me a break. We all know I'm better suited. I'm studying management for heaven's sake. You went to dental school." I joked, smiling at him as I placed my hands against the counter.
"Oh yeah?" He asked in a cold tone. He clearly didn't think that was funny. "Well, I can't wait for our first and last performance. You won't last." He stood up, shoving his chair aggressively and leaving the room. What the hell was his problem?
"Dickhead." Freddie said, narrowing his gaze at Roger as he left the room. "I apologize, darling. Ever since Evelyn left his, he's had a stick up his arse." It's good she left him. She was a wicked bitch. I hated seeing them together. It made me sick. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, giving me a small squeeze. "Fuck him!" He yelled.
"Freddie, no." I said quickly. Freddie laughed loudly, patting my shoulder. I felt a little better due to Freddie's comfort. He was always so good to me. He really became my best friend over the past year. "C'mon. Let's go rehearse for next week."
~~~
The pub was packed. This was good. I was so glad that so many people turned out to support the boys. They were going to do great. I stood beside Mary in the crowd, waiting for them to come on. "Are you nervous for them too?" Mary asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"Certainly." I practically had chills. I was bouncing up and down, waiting for them to come out. They all came out at once. Brian, John, Freddie and Roger.
"Hello everyone." Brian said into the microphone on stage. "We've got a few... a few fresh faces." Freddie swayed over to center stage. I looked at Mary, who was giving him a reassuring look. "This is John Deacon, our bass player." I hollered loudly, making me stand out from the crowd that didn't say much. Mary giggled as I looked down at the ground. "And our new lead singer, Freddie Bul... Bulsara. Freddie Bulsara."
"That's right." Freddie said with an embarrassed expression.
"And Roger, of course." He said, pointing behind him. "The biggest member of all." He got loud boots and hollers.
"Hi Roger!" A girl yelled from the crowd. He gave the crowd a little smirk, seeming satisfied. I whipped my head around to look for the female voice. I narrowed my gaze, scanning the crowd.
"Maeve? You alright?" Mary asked in a hushed tone. She gently put her hand on my arm.
I turned back, facing the stage again. "Er, yeah. I'm fine." Roger looked me dead on with a blank expression that quickly became a smile. I looked away.
"Hello." Freddie said. "All you beautiful people." He got silence for that. The room just wasn't responding to how he was.
"Where's Tim?" A guy from the crowd yelled. Ouch. "Who's the Paki?" I saw happiness drain from Mary's face as it had just done from mine.
Roger muttered something to Freddie and then they began to play. Fred picked up a tambourine and began to play. He began having trouble with the microphone stand, eventually breaking it in order to sing. He owned the stage, dancing and singing. He was singing the wrong words. Nobody but the band and I would have noticed though. Brian and I wrote it, after all. He was good, but all I could do was focus on the blonde drummer sitting behind him. Something was off. I wasn't sure if it was me or him but for some reason I couldn't look away. For a moment, Roger looked at me and his light eyes locked with my darker ones.
"Ooh, it'll take you all your time and money. Honey you'll survive." My chest felt tight, my heart raced and it felt like the room was a million degrees. After a few more verses, I couldn't take it anymore. I pushed through the crowds, finding the nearest exit. I couldn't be in that room. No I couldn't. You will survive.
