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

[25]

Oh shit. I've already lost and the game has just begun.

The card is glaring up at me, the question smacking me in the face with unexpected boldness. I am suddenly very hyper-aware of the long-legged man sitting next to me...

"Well? What does it say?" Freddie asks, bouncing on his cushion with barely contained excitement.

What can I say?

You could tell the truth, young lady.

Not now! Besides... I don't have a crush.

Well that's the biggest lie I've heard since President LBJ said America was not going to get involved in Vietnam. You like Bri-

NO! It would be ridiculous to have a crush on someone when I leave in April! Silly, not logical, nearly improbable!

... but not impossible, Eve.

I shake my head, setting the card down in front of me. I would rather not answer that one, I signed out to Mary.

"Already?" Roger asks, his eyebrows raised in surprise after Mary translated. "That's not even one of the cards we made up."

Everyone looks at me in surprise.

"Roger, if she doesn't want to answer, she does not have to," Brian spoke up. "We already discussed this."

How nice... how calming his voice is... Lord have mercy. Don't turn to him. Do not turn to him. I- I- can't resist. When did he become so wildly attractive? Is it because his hair is slightly more flattering on him now? Is it because I have spent more time with him? Or that he saw me in the dressing room, showing more skin than I ever needed to?

So many questions... but I wonder what Brian is thinking. I hope he didn't see the card.

Roger shrugs. "Alright then," he shrugged, but thankfully, swept the card away from me and placed it in a pile. "Brian's turn."

Brian flipped his card over. "'When is your birthday?' Oh that's easy: July 19, 1947."

"Now that's a basic question, so everyone must answer," Freddie said. "I'm September 5th, 1946."

And around the circle, it went like this:

Roger: July 26th, 1949

John: August 19th, 1951

Mary: March 6th, 1951

Veronica: January 15th, 1952

Jo: May 24, 1952

"Now, what about you?" Brian asked me.

July 24th, 1952, I signed.

"You're the baby of the group!" Jo exclaimed. "Too bad we didn't meet you in July, we could have thrown a big party for you, Brian and Roger."

"Maybe next year," Brian said, beaming happily at me.

Oh my... he seems to forgotten I leave in April, or early March, depending on the program's inspection of my academics and behavior. But, the thought of having a big birthday party is nice. Especially with some lovely people to share it with. My mind conjures up an image of Brian, with a little cone-shaped birthday hat on his head, sunken into his mess of curls. Or perhaps, maybe a dollop of frosting on his nose. It's too cute! I can't burst Brian's bubble, so I simply give him an approving smile, my stomach doing somersaults at the beautiful grin that won't leave his handsome face.

I turn back and am surprised to see Mary and Fred glancing suspiciously at me. It's not a glare, but there is definitely some form of apprehension in their faces. I shrug it off. I will just ask Mary later.