Losing My Way (A Brian May fanfiction)

Magic Man

It was around 7:00 when I finally hopped into Diana's car, dressed in the same modest church dress from earlier.

Diana had already taken the time to change into something else- a black leather skirt with a band tee tucked in, and a pair of dark stockings under some boots. Her long black hair was loose and curly, and it looks like she teased it up a bit.

"Fucking hell, you're lucky I remembered to bring you something to wear." Diana laughs, and hands me a pile of clothing and makeup.

I then began the ritual of changing in Diana's car on the way to the gig, trying my best not to flash any passing cars. She brought me some tight bell bottoms and a black top with flowy sleeves.

"I know you like that 'Stevie Nicks' shit." Diana said after I had adorned my new outfit.

"I do. I wish I looked like her." I mumble, opening a tube of mascara and adding a layer to my lashes. The car goes over a bump and I nearly take my eye out with the mascara wand.

"You do look like her y'know. If you put some layers in your hair and got some bangs you'd be a dead ringer for her." Diana turns a corner, and I luckily pull the wand away from my eye this time.

"You're just saying that." I move on to my lips, applying some red lipstick.

"No really, you do! You could be sisters."

I pull my hair down from its tight ponytail, and shake it loose; combing through it until it's tame, before messing it up again just enough. With one final glance in the mirror, I decide I'm ready. I look so different every time we go to a gig, and I have to say- I never feel more confident than I do in Diana's clothes.

Diana rolls down the window, and pulls a cigarette out of nowhere, but I swat it out of her hand before she gets the chance to light it up.

"Hey!" She complains.

"Di, do you have any idea what my parents would do if I came home from fake youth group smelling of cigarettes?"

Diana rolls her eyes and flips me the bird. I don't think she understands just how strict my parents are. Hers are sort of clueless, and mainly keep to themselves, whereas mine are constantly keeping track of me. If they ever had even an inkling of this secret life of mine, I'd be toast.

"Alright, we're here!" Diana squeals as she pulls onto Imperial College road. "Wow, remember touring this campus with me last year?"

I feel a pang of sadness sweep over me while seeing the beautiful campus again. I wanted so badly to go to Imperial college. Diana and I had toured the campus while looking for prospective universities, and she chose it as her main pick. She of course got accepted, and will be attending next year. My parents didn't like the idea of me going to Imperial, so they made me apply to St. Mary's University instead, which is where I'll be spending the next few years of my life. Hopefully Diana and I can still be friends with a little distance, a bunch of Catholics, and my parents between us.

"Do you know where we're supposed to go? This place is massive," I ask.

"Yeah don't worry, Roger told me it's in the Sherfield building, level five, room A," Diana recites.

"Roger, eh?" I raise my eyebrows.

Diana parks the car. "Yep, that's his name. Just wait 'till you see him, you'll be absolutely drooling." She gushes. "But he's mine, I saw him first!"

We got out of the car and made our way into the Sherfield building. I felt an excitement growing within me- just as I do before every show we see. I'm so ready to let loose, dance, and ogle the pretty musicians. We came upon a stairwell, and began the treacherous climb to level 5 in our platform boots- and by the time we got there, we were both out of breath.

"Fuck, I'm sweating already." Diana pants. "Is my eyeliner running?"

"It looks shipshape to me." I inspect Di's face.

"Well I need to make sure. Gotta look my best for blondie." She wipes under both eyes. "I'm going to go to the loo for a touch up, wanna come with?" Diana asks.

I shake my head. "I'll wait in the hall."

With Diana in the bathroom, I'll have some time to look around a bit, and see the school I could've gone to. I see Diana off, and when I'm alone I start to peek around. The clock on the wall tells me it's 7:25 now, so I'm assuming everyone going to the show is already waiting in the lecture hall.

I try a random door, but it's locked, and so is the one next to it. I'm a bit disappointed I can't snoop like I wished, but perhaps it's for the best. I don't want to feel any worse about going to St. Mary's if I see how nice everything is here. With a huff, I lean against the wall, and continue to wait for Diana.

When I'm free, will I really be free? I let my mind wander. It's a strange thing to become an adult, and yet still feel like a child. I'm 18 now, and soon I'll be out of my parent's house. What will I do with that freedom? I'm sure mom and dad will still keep an eye on me, but they won't be able to watch as closely. And even if they do completely loosen up, I know I'd still feel guilty if I strayed from the path they set out for me.

I'm not sure if I'll like St. Mary's, and I'm not sure if I'll like becoming a teacher, but I know it's what I have to do. It's what they want.

"Are you here for the show?" An unfamiliar voice startles me out of my trance.

"Yes," I gasp, and turn to see the man the voice belonged to. He's tall and thin, with a mop of dark curly hair, and his pants are somehow even tighter than mine.

"Sorry if I scared you," he chuckles, taking a step closer to me. His hazel eyes scan me up and down, and I wait for him to say something more, but instead he looks to the door of the lecture hall and starts to walk off.

"Enjoy the music!" He calls over his shoulder just before disappearing inside.

For some reason, my heart is racing inside of me as if I just had a near death experience. All I can do is stare at the door and wonder who that mystery man was.

"Who the hell was that?" Diana reads my mind as she finally materializes from the loo with a fresh face. 

"I don't know," I gulp. "But I reckon he might be fitter than that Roger guy you met."