Freddie's P.O.V.

The next morning I was angry at myself. I knew Deaky was right. I should have said yes. But the damage is done now and I didn't give him an answer. John's rather aggressive pep talk had given me new determination to tell him or give him the answer if he asked again.

That's if he did ask again...and if it ever came back up in conversation...

Brian seemed to be desperate to find out who I fancied though, more so than usual. Whether that was the alcohol talking for him or he was being genuinely nosy and he really wanted to find out.

Problem is, I didn't know how to initiate the conversation again without asking him who he liked. And that was something I really didn't want to talk about. At all. Ever.

"Morning, blondie." I grinned as I entered the kitchen and saw the little drummer boy eating cereal.

"Morning, Fred." He returned my grin whilst still eating a mouthful.

"Well. Haven't you got a certain glow about you this morning." I jabbed him in the ribs as I passed to flick on the kettle. He squealed a little, "Last night still on your mind?" I hinted.

He smiled into his bowl, "Could say that."

"It was good then?" I asked, even though John had told me everything already, I liked to hear it from Roger too.

He sighed dramatically, "It was wonderful. I'm officially obsessed with him."

"You soppy cunt. You're going out tonight aren't you?" I jabbed him again as I pulled out a slice of bread and popped it in the toaster.

"He told you?"

"Yes. He told me when I was talking to him when you got in."

"Ahh right. Yeah we're going out tonight. Bit of drama going off between you and the big lad isn't there?" He cocked his head in a teasing manner.

"He told you?" I sighed, not wanting to think about it.

"You bet he did. You're an idiot." He poked my forehead. "That was your chance." He stated.

I groaned, "God, don't you start, too."

He ignored my complaint and carried on regardless, "You could have said yes and you could have been one step ahead, you could be trying to find out now if he likes guys. But no. You're still at the same bloody stage as you were 5 months ago. More. You're still moping about because he doesn't know that you like him. And that's your fault. Because you won't tell him." His blonde hair bobbed about as he gave me my lecture.

"Well I'm sorry that my situation with Brian isn't going as smoothly as yours is with John. I'm just not as lucky as you two." I said, with slight bitterness in my voice.

"You are a huge part of why Deaky and I are where we are now. But we've had to work it out between ourselves too. You told us to grow some balls and we did. Now it's your turn to work it out with him...it's your turn to grow some bollocks."

I looked down twiddling my fingers feeling like I was getting a lecture from my own mother. But everything Roger was saying was the truth. I had to suck it up and be a man. Stop wanting Brian to be bloody psychic and figure out that I'm head over heels for him and then getting pissed off at him because he's not...

I gave in, knowing that I had been a total fucking idiot, "Well what do I do now then? How do I act when he gets up?" I lowered my voice, I knew things would be terribly awkward if Brian remembers those last words he uttered to me.

"You talk about it properly. Like adults. Sober." He pointed at me seriously, directing that last word at me in particular.

"He doesn't give anything away sober..." I cowered.

"Well then just have a couple each, don't get delirious, just enough so that you've both got a bit more confidence. And for the love of God, don't spike his drink. That was low."

He was right. It was the lowest of low. The most desperate of desperation.

I was just feeling more guilty by the second. But I also felt sorry for myself, everyone was ganging up on me and telling me I was the idiot...expecting me to work on Brian alone when I did most of the dirty work for John and Roger. I needed help too.

"You're going to help me right? With Brian? I helped you two..." I pouted.

I saw Rogers eyes soften and his shoulders relax, he looked sorry for me and cupped my face in his hands.

"Of course you silly sausage. Me and John." He smiled sweetly.

"Now then, what's going on here?" We heard a cheeky voice and Roger snatched his hands away from my face like lightening.

"I'm just trying to drill it into his head that he needs to man up a bit." The drummer shrugged.

"You getting it from him aswell?" Deaky giggled, nodding at Roger.

"I'm getting it from all bloody angles!" I teased and the two of them exchanged glances.

I hope I find someone who looks at me like those two look at each other.

I watched them sneakily as I stirred my tea, smiling and giggling away to each other, it was cute but also rather sickening.

"Oh look at the two of you. Absolutely infatuated." I walked between them, breaking them up to get in the fridge.

They both had red cheeks when I looked at them again.

"Where are you off to tonight then boys," I asked.

"Don't know, where do you fancy?" Roger asked John.

I rolled my eyes as they had started to discuss it between themselves so I silently slipped away and left them to it.

Journeying up the stairs with my tea I had all intentions of sipping away at it in my room...until I got to Brian's door...

I paused outside it...I looked at my tea. Brian's takes his tea the same way as I do...

Fuck it. It's time to man up.

I knocked softly on his door but I didn't
get an answer, I opened it slowly and poked my head in, all I saw was a mass of messy curls on his pillow, I swallowed back a giggle before slipping into his room. I placed my...his...tea on his bedside table and stood awkwardly looking at him as he still slept.

I tentatively put a soft hand on his shoulder and gently shook him.
"Brian?"

He groaned tiredly and his body began to move, his luscious hair strewn all over the pillows.

"Bri? I brought you tea." I whispered as he uncovered his face. Although still half asleep and his face a little screwed up he still was utterly perfect.

He finally turned to face me and rubbed his eyes, opening them.

I smiled at him and picked of the mug, I waited until he had himself sat up in bed to pass it to him, I sat on the edge of his mattress.

"Thanks Fred." He yawned, "This is your mug..." he observed.

It's my tea.

"I used the wrong mug." I lied.

He took a mouthful and laid his head back on the headboard of his bed, putting a hand to his head and groaning.

"Has somebody got a hangover?" I giggled.

He flagged me off only making me laugh more.

"I feel like I've been hit by a lorry. How pathetic was I last night?" He asked, already cringing.

"Very. I thought I was babysitting a toddler." I answered as flashbacks of me unbuttoning his shirt flooded back making me tingle all over. But if he had to ask, that had to mean he couldn't remember, right?

"Sorry..." he blushed.

"It'll only happen again." I winked.
"Those two are going out again tonight, fancy doing anything?"

"I'm working tonight until 9..." he started.

My heart fell.

"But I can meet you at the pub after?" He finished.

My heart burst.

"Oh brilliant! Yes, shall we say the Stone and Feather at 9:30?"

"Yeah alright." He grinned, "Turning me into an alcoholic you are." He teased.

"Bullshit. You just can't keep up with me."

We grinned at each other and he held my stare for longer than it was necessary. He finally broke his eyes away.

"Last night was successful for those two then?" He asked.

"It's already like they're a couple. Whispering and giggling to each other." I shook my head.

"Well I think it's cute." He laughed.

"Why?" I asked slyly.

He looked at me strangely, in a way I couldn't decode, "I just do." He shrugged.

"You never think it's cute when I'm with someone."

Shut up, Freddie. You're digging your heels in.

He gasped in amused shock, "Because you don't do it in a nice way. You just fuck them and then wave goodbye." His eyes fell and he didn't look at me.
I tried to study his expression but failed.