Winter Queen (Roger Taylor fanfic)

14. ...to bet on the right horse

Josie had never been to a races in UK. Of course she knew, one should wear a hat, but that was all.

On the racecourse, she wondered, how the ladies can walk around in high heels and not to sink into the dirt with them. It was so confusing, since the weather wasn't nice - it was cold, foggy, she shivered in her coat.

"You want to bet?" Roger asked and looked at the odds.

"Against you?" she teased. He laughed, took the papers with details about races and they headed to paddock. She watched him, how he looked at and judged the horses.

"I bet on the five." she announced. His look was full of doubts.

"Based on what?"

"Based on my ten years of horse riding." she replied.

"Oh really? Well, I bet on the seven. And what's the wager?"

"It doesn't work that way, Rog. You bet money and you'll get them back based on the odds, if you win." she taunted him, though she knew very well how he meant it.

"Seaside dinner, if you win. Once the weather is better." He ignored her teasing. She sighed a little.

"I have nothing to offer." she said, she honestly had no idea.

"Oh please. I want chocolate chip muffins." He grinned.

"You'll regret that."

They found the rest on the stands and waited for their race. Finally the horces went off, ran in front o the stands and soon disappeared in the fog.

"Isn't that exciting." Josie sighed.

"I love races!" Freddie shouted. The audience grumbled, before the commentator shouted, that the first horses are running back. Roger and Josie quickly looked for their favourites and were both disappointed, because they both had no chance to win.

On their way back to the studio, everyone was disappointed, bitter. The band even had a fight, if they really should name their album after something so boring, if they shouldn't come up with a better name.

Josie got lost in her thoughts during the evening many times, just looking at Roger's face, thinking about the words, that got stucked in her head after his party. At this point, she couldn't say whether they're real or not.

After the dinner, boys took them to the studio and played some finished songs.

"We hope to be home in two weeks." Deaky said, he really hoped si, he was looking forward to Christmas preprations with his family. Brian and Freddie were preparing the recordings to be played.

"We need to decorate it at home." Veronica smiled. Josie also had to smile, she really liked them together, they were so sweet.

"What are you Christmas plans?" Roger asked Josie, they sat together on the ground, leaned against he wall and waited for the music to start. Her smile disappeared instantly.

"I'll go to my parents." she said shortly. Roger wanted to ask something, but Freddie finally turned on the first song and the four women for the first time heard the Queen's newest hits.

Once they heard it all, Veronica, Chris and Mary started to talk through them with experience, they knew what to say, what to boys want and need to her, they noticed even the little things.

Josie sat quietly, stared at the wall and tried to process it. She realized, how intensely she perceived Roger's voice in the songs and was a bit scared of how many times her flashback came during Drowse.

"Jo?" Roger gently touched her thigh, she looked at him glassy eyes.

"It's beautiful." she smiled. He was looking into her eyes, then grabbed her hand. She smiled again.

Once the discussion was over, they all went to sleep. Josie was glad, the feelings were too strong tonight, she began to cry the minute she closed the door of her room.