Chapter Text
Tomorrow was the day. It was official. There was no time for Holly to slack anymore - she had to rehearse, and rehearse a lot. Her audition had finally gotten here, and even with her friends’ and family’s encouragement, she couldn’t help but be utterly terrified. She was attempting to make breakfast, beating the eggs for far longer than she expected. The only thing that took her out of it was the sound of the phone ringing - and it led her to jump nearly out of her skin, dropping the fork she’d been using and splashing some egg on the counter. The eggs had been beaten for so long and quickly they nearly became bubbly - if the phone hadn’t rang Holly would’ve been making a merengue instead of scrambled eggs!
“Hello?” She sighed as she answered the phone, obviously not at all feeling well enough to talk to anyone.
“Hi, Swan Lake,” Brian said, immediately hearing the discomfort in her voice. “Nervous for tomorrow?”
That was an understatement. “Terrified more like, Bri... Am I still coming over for dinner? I’ll bring something... I want a glass of wine but that’d probably be the worst thing for me.” Her apprehension was something surprising even Brian - she’d been nervous, yes, but not absolutely terrified like this. She was more talented than she gave herself credit for.
Brian looked at all the shopping he’d bought in preparation for dinner tonight. He promised her he’d do everything for her today, as it was a rare few days off for him, and he would indeed keep that promise. “Don’t worry, love, you’re still coming over. I have everything ready for dinner, so you don’t have to worry. Even dessert.” There was no change in emotion on the other end of the phone. It worried him, that she’d maybe make herself sick and miss her audition. There was a part of him that wanted her to spend the night here with him - just so she’d have the reassurance that she had someone with her.
“Okay... Cheers, honey. I’ll be there later okay? I gotta do some rehearsing before I go mad. I’ll see you later,” she offered, blowing a kiss over the phone before hanging up. She made her breakfast and picked at it like a bird, too nervous to do otherwise. After her unsuccessful breakfast, she worked until her feet were nearly falling off due to soreness. She sat on the couch and caught her breath, feeling a tad better now that she had worked. She was a bit rude, she noticed now, to Brian earlier, and promptly went to the phone. But it wasn’t to call Brian, but her mother. Flighty and ditzy as she was, she always seemed to cheer Holly up. As soon as she heard her mother answer the phone, she burst into tears. "Mummy," she sobbed.
Benny was shocked at the reaction she got on the phone. "Holly? Wha's the matter, baby? Is this about the audition tomorrow? I know you'll do great, angel. If ya want me and Daddy to come down we can, that way you have us for a few days. Would that be okay?" She soothed, not knowing quite what to do, but wanting to help nevertheless. "Maybe stay with that young man you've been seeing, that boyfriend of yours."
That boyfriend of mine. Like I'm a teenager. "Mummy, he's not my boyfriend. I don't think. It doesn't matter... can you and Daddy come down in a few days? I'd really like it... You can have my bed and I'll take my couch... I'll go shopping and we can have dinner with Brian.." The sudden reminder that she'd be seeing him later did strike her, and it surprisingly calmed her down. He was good at calming her down.
"Holly? Are you in love with him? I don't mind, I just wanna know!" The way Benny heard her daughter talk about him was something she'd only ever heard once before - when Holly was dating her first boyfriend ever, claiming he was the love of her life. But no, there was something in the way Holly talked about him that Benny couldn't help but be hopeful. Not in the grandchildren sense - she already had a few of those - but in the sense that she wanted someone always there to take care of her little girl.
Holly shook her head. "Mama, I don't have time to think about love at the moment... If I fail this audition, then yes. But if I make it in, love doesn't matter." That wasn’t really how she felt, but to dive into the mental vein of how in love with Brian she was wasn’t something she wanted to do today. “Will you and Daddy come down? Please?”
“Sure baby. Lemme make sure he can get time off and I’ll let ya know, okay? Go rehearse and take a shower and don’t absolutely kill yourself before tomorrow. I love you, honey!”
As Holly said goodbye to her mother, she looked around her flat. Without the Royal Ballet she’d done pretty okay for herself - apart from the bed, which is brought from her parents home, everything in the flat had been bought with her own money. She was able to buy new clothes relatively often, and she was obviously in good shape. But with the Royal Ballet? She’d feel like she’d done everything she’d dreamt of. It’d just be the icing on the cake. And yknow, everyone was right. Holly was a good dancer, and she knew it. She’d worked hard on her audition piece - from the nights when Brian would come over with his guitar to have dinner and just sit as she rehearsed till she collapsed. She got up and got her bag together, putting her pointe shoes in it, along with a water bottle and plenty of hair ties. Brian had said before that she could and should show up any time she wanted, so she decided to take him up on the offer. The record with her audition piece on it was gingerly packed, and as she slung the bag over her shoulder, she went back to the phone. “Bri? I’ll be over in twenty minutes, okay? Leave the door unlocked?”
And so the afternoon passed, with Brian going through his normal day-to-day while hearing Debussy coming from the turntables speakers, seeing a small figure dance away in his living room. She’d gotten better, he thought to himself, as he watched her. And it was true. There wasn’t the shakiness anymore, but confidence in her steps. As the song and performance ended, Brian put the books under his arm and applauded, smiling at her obviously amused reaction. “Okay, you’ve been practicing for over an hour now. Water and tea break. You’re doing fine,” going up to kiss her forehead. “I’ll go set the kettle on. Sit down and breathe for twenty minutes. We can start dinner in a bit too?”
Holly smiled up at him, still a bit out of breath. “Yeah, yeah... yknow, if I’d stayed home, I wouldn’t be nagged every hour,” she joked, poking his ribs playfully.
“And if you’d been home you would’ve collapsed from exhaustion by now.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and shuffled her out of the living room before she’d protest and ask to do the routine yet again. As he got the teas together, he got the milk and sugar out, then held up a small jar. “Honey?”
“Yes, darling?” Holly said, her head snapping to attention. She’d obviously zoned out a bit in her tiredness, but when she saw Brian start to laugh as he held the glass jar, she turned red. “I mean.. yes please. No milk if there’s honey please...” It was amusing to think that that was her immediate reaction, and she shook her head a bit in amusement at it. “God, I’m tired.”
He laughed and handed her tea over. “I can tell.” He chuckled again as he leaned against the countertops and drank his cup of tea as well. “Dinner then I’ll drive you home. And no rehearsing when you get home, you need sleep.”
“Mhmmmmm, yes Mother,” she joked, drinking her tea. He really did take good care of her - even if he did pick on her more often than not. “I did find a Ricky Nelson record for you the other day - when you drop me off at home I’ll have to grab it for you. I think it’s the first one James Burton played on.” Ricky Nelson was a singer they both rather enjoyed - but Brian was more concerned about his lead guitarist, James Burton. He had become an inspiration to many guitarists in the 60’s, with Brian being no exception. “I’d like to meet him one day,” she yawned.
Brian just watched her as she sleepily drank her tea, her legs splayed out from how she was sat in the kitchen chair. “Me too... How about we get this dinner started, huh? That way you can go home and sleep.”
“Bri, it sounds like you’re trying to kick me out!” Holly laughed, putting the mug in the sink before standing on her toes to be closer to his eye level. “I’ll sleep, let me stay awake and have fun with you before I do!”
The fake anger she put on only made him laugh and reach forward to poke her sides, catching her as she squealed in laughter. “Then help me make dinner. We always have fun making food. And I’m hungry,” he laughed, poking her sides again only to make her delve into even more laughter. Her arms flailed a bit as she tried to stop his hands, trying as well to get out of his grip.
“Bastard!” She squealed, finally grabbing the bony, long-fingered hands in her own. “Y’know I hate being tickled!” The look on her face, though, of utter amusement, showed that she truly didn’t mind. Not when it was just Brian being silly with her. “Let’s make dinner, Curls!”
As dinner was prepared and cooked and enjoyed, Brian regaled stories of the numerous fights and strops thrown by the various band members over the past few weeks he hadn’t told Holly about. It was fun, just spending time with her and telling her about his life; she didn’t care at all about what his job entailed or that he was rather famous as compared to her - she just wanted to hear him talk about his life. Apart from all the laughter they shared, she knew deep down he was a melancholy individual, and she promised him - even though not to him out loud - that she’d do the most she could to keep him happy as well.
At one point he started talking about his research - something he’d talked about briefly when they met - and Holly saw his eyes seem to light up. “Well, I’m not exactly Doctor Brian May or anything, but—”
“Well one day you can be… Doctor Brian May... rock star and astrophysicist, though I’d say you’re both already, just without the cool title.”
“You’re too good to me, yknow. I gave up my dissertation because of Queen, because it’s the most important for now. But you’re right, maybe one day.” He smiled - real genuine and happy - and he leaned over to kiss her cheek. “How was dinner? Do you want more?”
She reached up and rubbed her thumb over his cheek, just watching him a moment. She could hear her mother’s voice in the back of her head. It was okay that she was in love with Brian - it’s not like he’d done anything but treat her well the whole time he’d known her. “I’m alright... Let me clean up and you can work a bit, since we did sorta the opposite earlier.”
Holly curled up on the couch with her head on Brian’s lap, as they tore into the box of biscuits - a simple dessert for a simple dinner. There was a point where Holly decided she’d stay the night... but no, she had to be up early. Oh, but one night... no, she had no pajamas... who needs pajamas? No. She’d head home before she’d doze off on his lap. But it was nice to lay here with him - he’d been playing with her hair since they got into this position.
“I’m getting tired, Bri,” she mumbled, wiping her eyes. It was a cute gesture - she deserved some rest. “Can you drive me home?”
He watched her and a smile came across his face - she was just such fun to watch. “Alright, time for a drive to your place! Take the rest of these or I’ll eat them all,” he laughed, holding the package of biscuits towards her. “Do you have everything?”
It was like a teenage boyfriend again. Offering drives home, asking trivial questions about her going somewhere. It was a nice change, as Holly hadn’t had anything like this in quite some time. “Mhm.. I’ll be ready in no time.”
The car ride to Holly’s flat was quiet and peaceful - Holly sat nearly dozing, and Brian sang along quietly to the radio. By the time they were there, though, she was asleep, and Brian decided he’d have to carry her up there. And so he did. Grabbing her bag and slinging it over his shoulder, he gingerly picked her up and started making his way towards the now-familiar flat. It wasn’t difficult, carrying Holly up there, as even though she was muscular, she was still daintily built. He let himself into her flat and carried her to her bed, setting her in carefully after taking her shoes off her. Sound asleep she was, and Brian needed to head out so she’d sleep well. But before he did, he left a small note on he bedside table for her.
“Dear Swan Lake—
Good luck tomorrow! I know you really don’t need it, but I know you’re gonna do really well. Call whenever you can and tell me all about it, but don’t worry if you’re too tired or busy tomorrow! I’m just excited to hear about it. Sleep well, darling, and I’ll see you soon.
Love, Curls x”
And with that, the tall lover boy headed out, hoping for the best for his small ballerina.