Roger and I were the last ones up that Friday afternoon. It was 2:35 when we finally had drug ourselves out of bed. Veronica and John had taken the liberty to make pancakes, eggs and bacon that Veronica and I had picked up the previous day. Freddie gave Roger and I absolute hell for sleepin’ so long. And I think the smell emanating from the kitchen is what eventually had woken Roger and I.  The six of us had spent most of the afternoon sitting around chatting in the livin' room, drinking tea and feelin' a bit on the hungover side.  I think we could have just sat there in the living room for the rest of the day.  But we had other plans for ourselves.

 By 4:48 that that afternoon, we had all gotten dressed and had decided to spend some time in the city lookin' at the college campus and the surrounding streets where we were last night. Veronica excitedly tore into my clothes, so happy I was gonna’ let her borrow somethin’. However, she couldn’t fit into anything I had. She reluctantly settled for her own clothes…but I did give her a pair of my shoes that I had packed. Tonight’s set would be at a different bar and so we wanted to find it when we went into the city. It was closer to the campus which were about four streets over from where we had been the night before. And so, we piled into the van once again, John behind the wheel; and headed back to the city.

 We had such a wonderful day. It was crowded, even on a Friday afternoon. The six of us walked through the streets, taking in all the sights; Roger and I hand in hand. He seemed so very contented. Early autumn around the college campus was breathtakin’. It was so beautiful and the leaves from the trees fell in a multi-colored snow around us. Brian was mesmerized by the architecture of the science building. Freddie had his palm read by a one-eyed palm reader who had a table set up in the middle of the campus lawn. That was delightfully entertainin’. John and Roger joined a group of guys who needed two more for their Frisbee team while Veronica and I behaved terribly. We sat on the nearby bench and attempted to count how many guys out of fifty we thought were attractive. Ultimately, we had decided the two most attractive were behind us...playin’ Frisbee really badly. Roger was horrible and John wasn’t much better. We had hoped to god they weren’t trying to impress anyone because it was just plain sad.

 I explained to Veronica while we sat there on the bench that I wanted to introduce Brian to someone. She thought it was an outstanding idea and so I assured her that I’d get to work on that as soon as we got back to Kensington. When we left the college, we ventured over to the nearest street opposite the campus. That was about the time that John realized he had no idea how to get back to where we had parked. So, we slipped into a local pub. I split an order of fish and chips with Roger, Brian had fried eggplant, Freddie had some kind of sandwich and John and Veronica each had chowder. We all had a lager. We didn’t care that we had just recovered from a hang over. Besides, tonight would be a carbon copy of Thursday night…except that we would all drink everything that was left and smoke a bowl with it. I only knew that because I still had an unopened baggie of grass in my suitcase along with the pipe it would be packed in. Freddie had given me instructions to save it for Friday. I didn’t think Brian or John even knew how to light one. Let alone get it going. It was a really special evenin’ at the pub. Roger talked to me non-stop as we shared a cigarette with our lager. We didn’t even realize we were ignorin’ everyone else.

 Once we left the pub, the time was 7:59. It was time to find the van and head to the bar for a repeat of the night before. The sound check was at 8:30 and that night we weren’t late. The bar was called Sal’s Place and it had quickly filled up. It was apparent that this bar drew much more of the college scene than did the bar we had been the previous night. Veronica and I couldn’t help but smile at each other as we overheard comments such as ‘who is this band,’ ‘they’re pretty good’ ‘where’s this band from’ and my personal favorite ‘god, that singer’s pants are tight.’ We, of course, were down in the front tonight. Veronica and I kept tag-teaming it; passing plastic glasses of water up to Freddie.  Roger didn’t seem to mind when Freddie threw a full glass all over him. A few patrons caught on that we were somehow ‘with the band’ and immediately began hittin’ on the two of us.  Freddie immediately noticed and took the liberty to point out and make a joke of it….of course he also insinuated that we’d be takin’ our clothes off for the crowd if the four of them weren’t very well received…it was so funny. Veronica and I were laughing so much our sides hurt.  It had been such a great set that night. I could even tell by lookin’ at Brian that he was pleased.  Obviously, he hadn’t thought Roger was too loud. Veronica and I had thanked as many people around us we could for comin’ out to the show. We weren’t sure why we did it, but we took the cue from Freddie.

 We had gotten back to the house that night after midnight. Myself, Veronica John and Roger worked on cleaning this place up while we left Freddie and Brian in charge of drinks. I was quite proud, the four of us had this place spotless in no time. We had started passing the glass pipe around by 2:00 in the mornin’. Freddie was beyond hysterical and during this long weekend, I’d never seen Brian laugh so hard. He didn’t even take any hits with us and he was still laughin’ at everything. Probably a contact high. Two in the mornin’ quickly turned into four in the mornin’ and before we knew it, we had pulled an all-nighter.

 At 6:17 in the mornin’ and Roger and I were havin’ a cigarette behind the van while Brian and John brought a load of stuff from the house. We figured if we left this mornin’, we’d be home by early afternoon. I think we were all still wired and a little delirious but it was great. It was so funny how Freddie and Roger struggled to organize everything in the back. Finally, we got in the van. John was driving, Brian the co-pilot, Veronica and I on the bench in the middle and of course…Roger and Freddie fighting all the equipment and luggage in the back.  Roger fell asleep about a half hour into our trip, but he woke every time John hit a bump in the road. I was awake until around 8:30 when I dozed off into a kind of half-sleep. I had then frantically awoken at 9:05 terrified that I had missed my pill. Thank goodness Veronica had put a bottle of water in her purse.  Freddie was sound asleep by 10:30 and Brian’s eyes had been glued to the road the whole time. We made one stop on the way back where I ended up havin’ a smoke and makin’ out with Roger around the back of the gas station while we waited on John. It was there we had made plans for him to come up with me to my flat when we returned. Before we left for this weekend, Roger had told me that I could bring anythin’ I needed for my classes to study…I hadn’t packed a single book or note.

 I had fallen back into a half sleep sometime after eleven o’clock. I hadn’t been asleep long because I was awoken as rain began to fall. We were getting closer to Kensington. It was hypnotic as it pattered against the van and I couldn’t help but turn around to watch Roger sleep. Again, it didn’t look like he was in deep sleep but he looked so very perfect. It was such a wonderful conclusion to a fabulous weekend.

 Freddie had awoken as we arrived back in Kensington. The clock in the van read 12:55. It was ten minutes fast. It was still raining, though not heavily. It was easy to see by looking around that it had been raining harder at some point. There was a lot of pooling around the streets.  “John, I want to thank you for drivin’…for your cousin’s home. Everything.” I told him.

 “Lydia! You don’t have to be polite to John! My god, this weekend wouldn’t have been the same without you!” Freddie scolded me.

 “ ‘Ey, will one of you take my kit home with ya’? I’m stayin’ with her and I don’t want to unload it here.” Roger explained.

 “Rog, you are such a pain in the ass sometimes.” Freddie rolled his eyes. “We’ll unload your kit at my place.” Freddie said. I couldn’t believe that this weekend was comin’ to a close. It seemed like we had just left the farmhouse from our crazy night. I felt very close to Veronica. I had gotten to know Brian and John very well. I could easily see myself becoming best friends with Freddie. He was a jewel. His heart was too big for his body and this weekend made me realize that. John pulled up to the front entrance of my building.

 “I can’t believe we’re back. Hey, I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? I had much fun with you this weekend.” Veronica hugged me.

 “Oh, me too.” I hugged her back.

 “Well, we’ll see you again soon, right? You’re comin’ to next week’s show aren’t you?” Brian asked.

 “Yes, of course. I’ll be there.” I assured him.

 “Bye, Lydia. Thank you for all your help this weekend.” John told me as I drug my tired self out of the sliding side door for the van. Roger had already opened the back of the van…at least four things fell out as Freddie practically rolled out of the back.

 “God! Roger, we really need to learn to organize. Look at this! Oh! And it’s rainy out here. Good thing most of this crap is Brian’s…” he mumbled to Roger as they unloaded my luggage and Roger’s luggage to the street. “Come here darling, give me a hug.” Freddie grabbed me in his arms while Roger threw everything that had fallen out back into the van.

 “I’m so happy you came with us! I just love you, darling.” Freddie kissed my cheek. “I can’t believe Roger has someone like you…you beautiful little doll!” Freddie grinned all over. I was so tired that I had no idea how to respond to that.

 “Bye Freddie. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, now…and if you do…call and tell me about it immediately!” I teased him.

 “Sweetheart, you…are…terrible!” He said letting go of me and climbing into the seat with Veronica. “Bye, Rog!” he called.

 “Yeah, see you later, Roger.” John said to him. He gave a wave and closed up the van door. I put my hand in the air one last time as John drove the van off.

 “Let’s get upstairs, sweetheart.” I said to Roger, picking up part of my luggage from the wet curb. He got the rest of mine and his own and we headed inside my building. It was a good thing the elevator was on the first floor when I had pressed the button. We stumbled inside and Roger pressed nine while I dug around in my purse for my key. The elevator lunged up rather quickly and soon spit us out on the ninth floor with a ding.  My flat was just around the corner from the elevator and so we didn’t have far to take our luggage. I got my key in the door and opened up my flat, letting Roger go in ahead of me. Once I had my luggage inside, I closed the door and dead-bolted it behind me.

 “It’s warm in here…” I said, going into the bedroom to open the window. “Do you care if I take a shower?” I asked Roger.

 “No, no babe…of course I don’t care.” He said pulling open one of the drawers I had set aside for him. Since I had a full drawer at his flat, I gave him one of my drawers and a section of my walk-in closet. “…I’ll get in after you.” He said digging through the drawer. I also made room for him on the shelf in my bathroom. I did my best to make my flat seem like a home for him. I got in the shower and it sounded as if Roger were over the sink shaving or something. I didn’t stay under the hot water long. I only wanted to rinse off and get into bed. I had been partially right. He was apparently getting ready to shave by the looks of things. “I’m gonna’ go lie down.” I told him.

 “ ‘Kay. I’ll be right there.”

 There was no greater feelin' than sliding under the covers completely naked surrounded by cotton sheets. With my bedroom window open, it was much less stuffy. I laid there, feeling an overwhelming sense of contentment. I had my back facin' the bathroom and the white covers pulled up around my stomach. I could hear the steady rhythm of the shower behind me. I hadn't bothered makin' the bed when we left and now I was so grateful of that. I sunk into white down pillows as my heavy eyes struggled to stay awake. Roger’s shower was almost as short as mine. I heard him turn the water off and the sound of the curtain being pulled back. I continued to lie there in the comfort of my bed nearly drifting away. Finally, I could hear Roger turn the water off in the sink and then the bathroom light.

 I could smell the scent of shaving cream and soap as he slipped underneath the covers with me. We were both quiet as Roger fought with the covers. He settled in much as I had, into a sea of white. I could hear him yawn as I began to doze off. It was so very quiet in my flat. Outside, the sound of car tires rolling across wet pavement mingled with the faint whistle of the wind blowing through building crevices and spaces. It's blowin' caused my sheer white curtains to buckle and flutter in the breeze. We could hear the scratching and tapping the air caused against the curtain rod. The rain was barely drizzlin' at this point. I was nearly asleep when I felt soft lips on my neck. I breathed in deeply as Roger kissed his way along my neck. The ends of his hair were wet. I squirmed a bit and turned my body to face him, meeting my lips with his. His skin was so very soft under my fingertips. The back of his necklace was wet as well. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled the weight of his body onto me.  I stared into those sleepy blue eyes before tilting my head backward letting the top of my head sink into my pillow. “Roger…” I sighed, barely hearin’ the softness of my own voice. And then, the tender roll of distant thunder.

Thank you so very much for reading! I really, really hope you all liked this! I am beginning to write another spin-off of this. I hope you'll check it out. First chapter coming very soon!