Chapter Text
Freddie knocked his alarm off of his bedside table all together. He really wasn’t in the mood to go to school today.
He opened his eyes to see his guitar lying on top of him surrounded by bits of paper — He must’ve fallen asleep while playing last night.
He stumbled into the bathroom while pulling his trousers on. He enjoyed not having to wear a school uniform like he had to in boarding school. Feltham High School had been quite a nice change, although he had trouble avoiding the judgemental stares at what he chose to wear.
Oh well, he only had one year left there before he could go off to college.
— — —
“Roger? Please hurry up, you’re going to miss your bus.”
“Coming”
Roger quickly put his plate into the sink before grabbing his school bag and rushing out of the door, waving goodbye to his mum on the way.
He speed-walked down the road to the bus stop, long hair blowing into his face in the cold, winter wind.
“Roger!”
The blonde boy turned around to see his friend Brian running after him. He looked quite funny, wearing a long, multi-coloured scarf that just made his long limbs look even longer than usual.
“What the hell are you wearing?” Roger chuckled, continuing to walk towards the bus stop as his tall friend caught up.
“My new scarf! You like it?” Brian grinned, flipping one end of the scarf behind him.
“It looks hideous but you made a good call, it’s really chilly out today.”
“Why aren’t you wearing a coat?”
“I forgot!”
“You can wear my scarf if you-“
“Fuck off!”
The two boys reached the bus stop together, laughing as they waited for the school bus they hoped they hadn’t missed.
— — —
John was often in school early. He had his GCSEs coming up, but he really didn’t need to study, he was incredibly bright.
He just sat there in the library, reading a textbook out of interest. There weren’t many people in school at this hour, and so he took advantage of the quiet room. Just the sound of a few students talking quietly among themselves and the occasional page turn made the mood peaceful and warm.
His bus got into school a lot earlier than most of his friends, so he had time to kill.
He did feel quite alone at that moment, his mate Roger would join him most days. In fact, he would be there in the library long before John was.
John didn’t like to pry, but when he asked Roger why he was in even earlier than himself, he got the gist that the blonde boy didn’t like being at home some days.
John didn’t know what that meant, and it wasn’t any of his business, to be perfectly honest.
Roger wasn’t there that morning, and John had gone though all the possibilities of his friend being run over by a car or kidnapped, but had come to the verdict that he just got a later bus. His mind did that sometimes.
— — —
“Hi John”
Freddie walked into the library and spotted John straight away. He was hunched over a book, long hair hanging around his face. It looked quite funny, because Freddie couldn’t see his face. but from a different perspective — if one was beneath him, looking up — it would look like a halo.
Freddie and John were pretty close and enjoyed spending time together, even if they just sat in silence, busy with other things, but happy in each other’s company.
John noticed Freddie, looking up and smiling warmly.
“Hey Freddie.” He said quietly, trying to keep the volume down for the students wanting to study. He patted the seat next to him which Freddie then sat in.
The way Freddie entered a room was quite spectacular. Much too spectacular for Feltham High School’s dingy library. It may have been the way he dressed, a bright silk jacket and white bell-bottoms, or maybe it was just the presence he brought with him everywhere. Big and loud, and so enchanting.
John admired him. He admired his confidence and charisma, but John also knew a different Freddie. He knew Freddie when he first moved to England at 14. He knew a shy boy who wanted to fit in, much like himself.
John wouldn’t describe himself as shy, and neither would Freddie, he was just reserved for those he wanted to bless with his presence.
Freddie sat down, an excited twinkle in his eye.
He got John’s attention, leaning in a bit closer to speak.
“I’ve heard The Beatles are playing at the Lido next week!” Freddie grinned, looking hopefully at John.
“Ugh, Freddie!” John rolled his eyes, “We’re not hauling our asses all the way to bloody Wales!”
Freddie sighed dramatically, “Oh come on John! It was so much fun last time we saw them!”
John giggled, lowering his voice, “That was when we ran away on a school trip to Hamburg! I don’t know about you but my parents still haven’t forgiven me!”
Freddie chuckled, “Worth it though, wasn’t it?”
John couldn’t help but smile, “Yeah, that was brilliant.”
Freddie lifted his hand for a high five, which John gave into.
Their fingers intertwined for a split second, before their hands fell back onto their respective sides of the table.
They couldn’t do that here.
They had been dating for a while, but absolutely nobody knew. Not even Brian and Roger.
John was the only one who fully understood Freddie, and vice versa, they made sense to each other.
Brian, being the smart boy he was, had his suspicions, but felt as if it was nobody’s business. He didn’t mind, but he respected their choice to keep it quiet — Their lives would be hell if anyone in their school found out.
Brian did, however, want to let them know that he supported them without making it too obvious. He kept trying to give subtle little hints here and there.
That’s why he chose to wear that ridiculous rainbow scarf that day.