Andante

LXXVII

Eddy thought he looked pretty normal as he stepped out of their room with his violin case in his hand. Nothing to see here, guys! But of course Todd, who was just coming out of his own room, gave him one look and broke out in a huge grin. Eddy shook his head and rolled his eyes simultaneously. Really. Was he never going to learn to keep his every emotion off his face? 
But then he stopped and he smiled at Todd. Because Todd had once again really helped him yesterday. 
Even if he still was a long way from sure what to do now, the one thing he was absolutely sure about was that he'd done the right thing by crawling under Brett's covers last night, rather than have them both lie there and be miserable. 
Yep. That had definitely been the right thing to do, both for himself and for Brett. 
Because Brett was looking like himself again today. The strange flatness was gone from his tone as he said good morning to the other guys and his eyes looked calm and pleasant again, like they almost always did.
Eddy leaned against the wooden panelling as they stood side by side in the descending lift, Brett right by his side, where he belonged. He looked sideways at Todd and Ian, who were talking about some sort of cello bow, completely oblivious to the world around them. So he stretched out his hand slightly and gave Brett's hand a quick squeeze. But Brett didn't just squeeze back; he surprised him by suddenly spreading his fingers and softly intertwining Eddy's fingers with his own. Just for the shortest moment they stood there, holding hands for real, as if it were both the most normal thing in the world and the most special. Then Brett looked sideways at him and smiled, before letting go again.
And just like that the butterflies were back. 
Oh man. 

They piled into the taxi a few minutes later, but this time Todd took the front seat with a quick wink at Eddy he was sure no one else would see. 
He grinned softly. Thanks, Todd. Now he'd get to sit squished into the back seat next to Brett. That would be sure to help the butterflies. 
He sat down in the middle of the back seat and smiled at Ian, who was already sat on the left side of the seat. 
By now he knew that Todd had very much chosen Ian because he was an awesome violist and not because he found him cute. 
"How's your girlfriend doing, Ian?" he asked as he felt Brett sliding into the seat next to him and close the door. Yesterday Ian had been talking about how much she hated that he had left for Perth. 
"She's okay. She's going out with some girlfriends tonight. Girls, right?" he smirked. "You know how it is."
Eddy grinned automatically, even though everything inside him clenched in shock. Shit! What the fuck was he going to say to that? 
Well, at least he knew Todd hadn't said a word to Ian and Brett and he weren't too obvious. Actually, now that he thought about it he was relieved. Ian clearly had no idea that Brett and he were any more than just best friends. 
"Yeah mate." he replied in the end with a shrug and a smile. He hoped that seemed off-hand enough... even though he was aware that he'd waited way too long to answer. 

He didn't get long to worry about it though. Brett's upper leg was right against his own and their hands were squished together without even having to try, causing the butterflies to fly deliriously around his abdomen. 
Oh man. 
He thanked Todd silently for getting in the front seat as he stopped himself from putting his head on Brett's shoulder. Because this? This was heaven. 
And suddenly, just like that, a strange thought hit him. 
What if... what if he would just simply do it? What if he wouldn't try to come across as straight to Ian, and just put his head on Brett's shoulder? What if he would just... be? 

What then?