Winter Queen (Roger Taylor fanfic)

2...they met

We just wanted some fresh air, we didn't know it's a private party." Josie explained, suddenly she was really nervous facing one of the biggest rockstars of this time, her foreign accent was rattling sharply even in her own ears.

"He's supposed to be standing in front of those door, he was slacking somewhere and got scared now." Brian grimaced. He shook their hands and introduced himself.

"Let's have some drinks!" Christine invied them and ordered three glasses of white wine.

"And what's celebrating?" Susan asked, when they cheered.

"Oh, there's always something. Right now I believe it's the end of a tour." Christine laughed. "And what about you?"

"We are celebrating our graduation." Josie explained.

"What did you study?"

"Translating. French and german."

"That's wonderful. Come on, let's eat something, you shouldn't drink on an empty stomach."

Five minuter later, the girls sat at the table and were introduced to everone around, although they already knew some of them. Of course they heard about Freddie Mercury and his bandmates. The only news for Josie was, thata their drummer Roger si even more attractive, than on photos, and he was really hot on them. He sat next to her, she felt he hold her hand just a fraction of a second longer, then was essential. Maybe it was just her imagination.

"Josie, may I ask, where are you from?" Christine asked.

"Plymouth." She answered insecurely.

"No, I mean where are you really from."

The blond girl looked down at her knees, before looking up with a smile. She'd lived in UK for four years, spoke many different languages, but she felt a bit hurt, when somebody recognized foreign accent in her speech.

"Czechoslovakia." she answered. There was a mix of pity sounds around the table. She smiled bravely and felt light touch of Roger's hand on her lef thigh. It fel more like a support or a compassion, rather than anything erotic. She kep her smile, but Susan saw the smile leave her eyes.

"How old were you when you immigrated?" Freddie asked with a real interest. She twitched a little, when she heard the hated word.

"I was seventeen, four years ago."

"I was eighteen, when we ran away from Zanzibar. By the way, your English is amazing, considering you live here only for four years."

She gave him a look full of gratitude. She needed that, a helping hand, a release from he position of the foreigner, outsider.

"Wait a minute, you came here four years ago from Soviet Union and now you have a bachelor's degree from German and French translations?" Christine was stunned.

"Come on, Chris, Czechoslovakia is on Soviet Union, they're occupied by them." Josie heard the pleasant voice from her left. She looked at Roger with appreciation. It was much more common for people to think they're part of the Soviet Union, it meant the same for them as the Eastern block.

Unfortunately her origin was often a topic, when she met new people and their reactions were different. She promised herself, that once she makes some money, she'll hire a tutor to remove her Slavic accent.

"Josie is genius, when it comes to languages. She just sees a word and know, what it means." Susan praised her.

"That's no true." Josie shook her head. "Anyway, let's change the subject, we still don't really know what we're celebrating.

Maybe it was really that easy to change the subject, maybe others understood that she doesn't want to talk about it anymore. One way or another, they explained how they just finished their short summer tour, they plan to continue with recording and how they hope it will be a success, just as A Night at the Opera was. They explained there's still a long way to finish the album.

Later they all drank a bit, when they went for some drink, Susan dragged Josie aside.

"See, wasn't I right? Oh fuck, we're drinking with the Queen."

"You have no idea how lucky you are!" Josie answered, but her eyes sparkled. It really was an exceptional night.

"You wanna dance?" Young man, they hadn't met yet, asked Susan, she winked at Josie, gave her her own glass and Josie had to take it. Then Susan and her male companion left the teracce. Josie stepped to the stone balustrade and put both glasses on it. She hadn' had the time to admire the view at the Thames and the House of Parliament short way off.

"I don't know if she knows, but your friend just left with an arsehole." Roger's voice sounded from behind. He stopped next to her.