As Brian and I stood there, I slowly let go of him so he could go meet with the rest of the band. "I'll just go now, I guess." I said softly.
"No, please don't go." He replied, gently touching my shoulder as I turned away to go."I haven't even gotten your name yet."
"I'm Eleanor, but most people just call me Elle."
"A lovely name for a lovely girl. No wonder that boy was all over you."
He smirked and I blushed with a soft chuckle.
"But no man should treat a woman like that, ever. I don't want to imagine what would've happened if I hadn't gone back to the tour bus the grab a few things."
"Me neither..."
"Well, darling, you've earned yourself a trip to meet the rest of the band. Come along with me."
He stuck out his hand. I just stared at it for the moment because I was still in shock that I was in the presence of guitar legend Brian May.
"Well, are you coming or not?" He giggled.
I grabbed his hand. It was surprisingly soft for a guitarists hand. I was expecting it to be rough and calloused. I was really nervous, though, and I began to shake uncontrollably.
"You okay, love? You're shaking."
"Oh, yeah. I guess I'm still just a little shaky from that situation back there."
"I've got you now. You're safe here. Especially with all these security guards around."
He led me down a brightly lit hallway and opened the door into a lounge. There I saw the other three members. The first who came up to me was Roger.
"Hello, I'm Roger Taylor, the drummer."
He stuck out his hand and I shook it. It was a very firm handshake, to say the least.
"I'm Eleanor."
He cut me off and shouted to Brian,
"Oi, Brian. Where'd you find this girl? I've never seen her before. And she's obviously from around here."
Brian and I both looked at each other.
"Well," Brian started,"I don't think we want to talk about that right now. It was kind of a traumatic thing, y'know."
Roger had a deep look of sincerity in his eyes. Well, did, until Freddie came over.
"Hello, love. I'm Freddie Mercury. But I'm sure you already knew that."
I was expecting a handshake but instead he gave me a huge hug.
"Hey John," Freddie shouted,"get over here and meet our new friend-" he stopped,"what's your name?"
"Eleanor, but you can call me Elle."
"Come over here and meet Eleanor."
Then slowly John came over. He seemed sort of awkward and not wanting to say hello to me.
"Hello," he said softly,"I'm John Deacon."
He slowly lifted up my right hand and kissed it. Then he just walked away.
"I don't think you should be touching Brian's new girl like that, al mysterious like!" Roger joked.
I looked over at Brian and his face was bright red. Then Freddie started to laugh uncontrollably,"oh, Brian. I guess you're deeply in love. Your face is like a tomato! I think we should give these two some privacy. C'mon guys. Let's leave them alone."
The three of them exited the lounge, leaving Brian and I alone in an awkward silence. We just stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. I guess it wasn't a bad thing, though. He had a nice face. Finally, he broke the silence.
"Sorry about them. They joke about everything."
"That's ok. It was pretty funny. They seem like nice guys, not like stuck-up and self-centered rock stars."
"Hey, you know what'd be fun?"
"What?"
"Hold on. I'll just be a minute."
He ran out and was gone for quite a while, actually. I was sitting in the room alone when I heard Roger walk by laughing and saying,"you kids better not be doing anything saucy in there."
When Brian finally arrived, he was holding something behind his back.
"What's that?" I questioned.
"Close your eyes and you'll find out."
I closed my eyes tight.
"Now hold out your hands."
I held out my hands, expecting something light and warm. But to my surprise, it was fairly heavy and had a cool feeling.
"Tada! You know what that is?"
I looked down. It was Brian's red special guitar. It's apple red glossy finished glimmered as I slowly turned it around to examine it. I knew it was handmade by him. Of course it was. It was perfect, just like him.
"Do you mind?" I asked.
"Mind what?"
"If I, you know..."
"Oh! You play? Then yes. I'd love to see. Go on."
I hadn't completely thought this through. I couldn't play in front of my guitar idol. I was too nervous. I tried to push all those thoughts away. I started playing the solo to Brighton Rock and it was going pretty well until i looked up and saw a huge smile light up on his face. My hands got jumbled up and I completely butchered the rest of the solo. I handed the guitar back to him, my head hanging in shame.
"Sorry you had to hear that..."
"What? What are you talking about? That was amazing! Especially when you're playing in front of someone who plays guitar pretty well." He chuckled.
"I'm sorry. I just- I don't know. I think I might've been playing it wrong."
"Oh, then here. Take this and I'll help you through."
He handed the guitar back to me and came around and sat behind me and held my hand on the fret board and the strumming hand. He moved my fingers to all the right places, telling me tips and tricks about how he plays.
"See, this goes here instead of all the way down here and you get the same sound. It's much easier to play it like that."
"Oh, I see."
I couldn't get many words out. Brian May was teaching me guitar and I was just in awe.
"So you've got it now?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"Then play it."
"Um, ok."
I started to play the solo again. He was right. His way was much easier. I played by ear, so I just played the notes that sounded the same, not thinking of the technicality or movement of it all.
"I think you've got it, love."
"Really? Well, thanks for the help I-"
He stopped me in my words as he gently kissed me on the cheek. "Oh, sorry. Did I scare you? Was that too far? I mean, we just met and all, but I just, well, I'm sorry. I'll just, I guess I'll just leave."
He quickly walked his way over to the door. I looked back at him. And as he opened the door he said another "I'm sorry" and left. But I didn't care. This was what I wanted ever since I heard his guitar playing.
I started dancing around the room when suddenly the door creaked open. It was Roger. "Oh, did he kiss you on the cheek and run away in shame and embarrassment? Yeah, that's happened many times before. I'll go talk to him, because obviously you're not crying in the corner because of it."
I didn't really process what he had said. I was overflowing with unspeakable joy. Nothing could change that now. I felt so free.