Andante

LXXI

Something was clearly off with Brett, Eddy could sense it in everything as soon as the alarm clock had dragged them cruelly out of their deep post-travel sleep. 
He hadn't said much, and he hadn't looked at him much either, and Eddy eyed him surreptitiously out of the corners of his eyes as they got ready, trying very hard not to freak out. 
He'd been looking so forward to this week, but now that they were here everything was more confusing than ever before. 
Did... did Brett maybe feel differently about him now than he used to? Did he not like him as much? The thought was so painful he had to bite back tears at the thought. 
But hadn't Brett said 'more than you'll ever know' just the night before, when he'd told him he loved him? He wouldn't have lied about that, would he?
He breathed in sharply and steeled himself. Devil may care, he was going to sit Brett down and ask him what the hell was going on, and he was going to do it now. 
But just as he started towards Brett someone rapped their knuckles loudly across their door.

¨Hey, long-sleepers! Get the fuck up, we'll be late!¨
Eddy's eyes shot to the clock.
Shit. All this wondering and worrying and he'd forgotten the time. They'd have to rush past the breakfast buffet to grab a roll and eat it in the taxi; Scruffy Suit had told them last night that he'd pick them up by the entrance, about two minutes from now. So Eddy sighed again, and then he picked up his violin and his bag and opened the door for Todd. 

¨Hey mate, sorry, we overslept.¨
Todd's eyebrows hit the ceiling and he glanced to his right, a ridiculous smirk playing on his lips.
¨So... you got to bed late, huh?¨
Eddy knew Todd didn't mean anything bad, but his words were like a punch to the gut.
¨Not now, Todd, please.¨ he hissed, and then he walked out and punched the button for the lift as if it could help any of it. He completely ignored Todd's shocked face. He couldn't deal with any of that shit right now. 

It was a quiet ride in the lift this morning, Brett still silent and broody, and Todd almost meek after Eddy's outburst. Eddy felt like he wanted to cry, but he knew he had to put his game face on. Come on, this was supposed to be one of the coolest days in the history of forever, wasn't it? 
Luckily the buffet had some ready made sandwiches, so they all picked up some ham and cheese rolls and they managed to be in front of the hotel on time, just as Scruffy Suit arrived in his white taxi. 
¨Good morning, lads!¨ he drawled happily, opening the boot so they could pile their instruments in. 
¨Good morning, sir.¨ Todd said, his tone still slightly off. Eddy would have to apologise to Todd later, he knew. He nodded to the taxi driver, and the other two got into the car without a word. 

No one spoke as the taxi glided through the streets of Perth, stopping after just a few minutes in front of a big square building with a white facade. 
¨Here we are, lads! I'll pick you up at five.¨ Scruffy Suit said, his cheery tone fake to Eddy's ears. 
¨Thanks, sir.¨ he said politely before he got out to retrieve his violin from the boot. 
He looked up at the imposing building, and slowly he could feel some of the excitement he'd had before start coursing through him again. Regardless of anything else, he was here to play his first solo quartet in front of a large crowd, and that was a massive deal. 
There was a movement by his side then, and he knew that it was Brett before he started speaking.
¨It's cool, huh?¨ Brett said softly, quickly touching Eddy's hand with his own. 
He turned to him and firmly suppressed all of the questions marks crowding his mind, for now. 
¨Yeah bro. It's seriously cool.¨
Right. It was time to put all of this shit out of his head and to only think about the music.
Come on mate. You got this.
Eddy steeled himself quickly, and then he followed Todd into the big white building.