Through Chrissie's eyes

Forces of Nature

I kept studying, trying harder to keep my grades good, and also grating a lot on every new work that appeared. I was already used to this rhythm and the demands of college, but things got more difficult and more demanding in the last year, I think it was because now it was near to finish and to be free of all that madness.

Even though I had my own busy routine, I was part of Brian's routine and he was part of mine. He was still unfolding with Astrophysics, the band, and the teaching job. Maybe I should add something else to this list: Freddie.

Freddie was so determined and tough-headed that he would give Brian a hard time on a new level, which didn't compare to the same hard time the band itself did.

When the boys finished rehearsals, they usually went to my house or I went to Roger's apartment to meet them there. After two weeks rehearsing with Freddie, the usual meeting of our gang was cast aside.

There was one particular night when I barely recognized my boyfriend. Brian opened the door at once, and let it hit hard, it was unintentionally, but his anger eventually provoked it. He strode down the corridor, muttering something, he tucked the Red Special in the bedroom, then came back into the living room, screaming through his teeth. I thought he hadn't noticed me, sitting on the couch. He stood for a moment, took a few steps forward and some behind. Finally he put his hands on his waist and sighed, exaggeratedly and deeply. Yeah, Bri was keeping a lot of anger inside him.

"Oh ..." He winked at me, as if he didn't know how he had stopped there.

For a moment he was my old Brian again.

"Hi?" I tried, still confused by his behavior "Bri, are you all right?"

"Sorry about that, I scared you, didn't I?" he sat next to me, tired and frustrated "the rehearsal wasn't that good ... I didn't want to bother you with my problems."

"No Bri, it's no trouble at all" I felt sorry for him and kissed his cheek "you're my boyfriend, which makes your problems a bit mine, too. So tell me, please, otherwise you're going to explode."

"Yes, I will," he closed his eyes and gave another long sigh. "Freddie ... Freddie is ...

"Demanding?" I suggested.

"Unbearable!" he screamed and I jumped out of my seat involuntarily "sorry, I scared you, but that's it, you know, he changes the lyrics of my songs, and he doesn't like the way we play his songs, and worst of all, he fought with the two bass players who rehearsed with us. This way we will never get a bass player and the band isn't complete without one. Man, I thought he wanted to be part of a band, but it seems that he doesn't collaborate because it seems that he does everything for us not to get along or play any musicright ..."

I gulped, perplexed. I didn't know how to respond to any of this. Freddie had seemed to me to be arrogant and full of self-confidence, but inside he had a needy heart, he didn't look so much like what Brian had said right now.

"You ..." I tried, "did you talk to him about it? What does Roger think?"

"He thinks the same as me, and he even discussed it with Freddie, so I didn't say anything," Bri explained.

"Well, you still have a little patience," I smiled a little gravely. "Maybe if you tried to understand Freddie's side a bit, I don't know, maybe he has something nice behind all the arrogance ... at least I noticed that he's not totally like that;"

"I'm trying, Chrissie," Brian seemed calmer now, "really, but more for the band, maybe a little because he's a good singer ..."

"It's a start, my love," I hugged him, he really needed it, because he held me tight and laid his head on my shoulder. I stroked his hair, the way I said it would be all right.