23. Son and Daughter

When Chip asked to come along to the gig, Lettie was hesitant, considering that she and Brian were dating now and she wanted some time with him. This was her first outing with friends since Dad's heart attack, as she had been too busy with work and helping him before. But, it was also Chip's first outing. He had had a rough time lately too, of course, so she didn't see any harm in it. They could both use a night out with friends listening to some good music. Again, what was the harm?

Famous last words.

"Just please behave," she requested. She didn't need to add, 'Unlike last time.'

"I will," he promised.

Famous last words.

Tina was still persistent about her theory concerning Brian's new song, and Priya was now mostly convinced of it as well. Lettie didn't know what to think - she'd have to listen to the song first.

"Oh, here it is!" Tina cried, laying a hand on Lettie's arm excitedly as Freddie took Tim's place as lead singer on stage.

Brian was wearing the blue embroidered shirt he'd bought at Biba the day Lettie had been there visiting Mary and browsing the latest styles.

"Whoever helped Brian in picking out that shirt has an impeccable eye for fashion." Mary winked her way and Lettie grinned back.

"Hello all you beautiful people," Freddie addressed the crowd through the microphone with a smile. "Thank you all for being here. We have a very special tune for you tonight," he announced. "It's called White Queen: As it Began, written by our very own Brian." He gestured to Brian who waved. "I think it's beautiful and I think you will think so too! And now, without further ado..." He tossed his hair back, took up the microphone, and began to sing.

"'So sad her eyes
Smiling dark eyes
So sad her eyes
As it began...'"

Freddie had an incredible voice, one that captured the whole room while also carrying through it, enchanting everyone there, holding them under a spell. Lettie couldn't pull her eyes away.

"'On such a breathless night as this
Upon my brow the lightest kiss
I walked alone
And all around the air did say
My lady soon will stir this way
In sorrow known
The White Queen walks and the night grows pale
Stars of lovingness in her hair...'"

As the song carried on, Lettie kept her gaze on Brian. He always looked so relaxed and calm while playing the guitar, especially now playing this ballad, and not a full on hard rock song.

"'As it began...'"

The song ended. There was a brief moment of silence following that last note before the crowd erupted into applause and cheering. The ladies joined in as well.

Tim came back onto the stage to thank the crowd and the boys headed backstage.

"See!" cried Tina across the table to Lettie. "I wasn't lying."

"I don't know..." Could the song really be for her? About her? "I'm feeling like chips, anyone else? Basket of chips to share?"

"You read my mind."

"Thanks, Let."

"The boys'll be hungry after their set."

So avoiding Tina's knowing stare, Lettie headed up to the bar counter.

"Oi!"

"Whoa Mate!"

"Eyes off my girl!"

"I wasn't!"

"You were, I saw you checking her out."

Oh no. Some guy was confronting Chip. By the way he was standing, Lettie could tell he wasn't all that sober. She strode right up to her brother. "Oh no, you're not drunk again are you?"

"No." Though he clearly was.

She scoffed. "You're bloody unbelievable." She grabbed him by the arm of his coat and dragged him towards the door.

"Oi, hey! What are you doing?"

"We're leaving! Before you embarrass me in front of my friends - or anyone else for that matter -once again."

"You only care about being embarrassed in front of Brian."

"Oh, piss off!"

"Lettie-" There stood Brian. He took one look at Chip and understood. "Can I give you a ride home?"

Oh, that was right, they had all come to the gig as a group, so she didn't even have any means of transport to take them home. "Yes, thank you." Did he seem disappointed? She certainly was. Because of their lost opportunity to spend some time together after not having much time to see each other - all because of her idiot brother and his bad decisions.

Brian disappeared briefly to get the van keys from Roger. When he returned, the three of them left the pub in silence, heading out to the parking lot.

Chip groaned. "My tummy hurts."

"I don't care." When they reached the van she shoved him into the back before climbing up into the front seat with Brian. "I'm so sorry," she sighed.

"No, don't be."

"Our first night out." She scoffed. "Bloody ridiculous. Will you tell the others why we left early?"

"Yes."

"Thanks."

The rest of the drive was made in silence. Lettie felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment the whole time. She ignored Chip's groans from the back.

"I'm sorry again," she apologized when they arrived in front of the Evans house.

"Really, don't be."

"Well, thanks again. Goodnight, Brian."

"Goodnight, Lettie."

She sighed as she watched him drive away.

The siblings went around back. Chip sat down on the back step.

"Now what are you doing?"

"I'm going to sit out here a while. Don't want to upset Mum and Dad and stress them out any more than they already are."

"Well good luck with that. You know you'll be wickedly hungover. Good luck hiding it from them." She begrudgingly sat down next to him, not really ready to go inside either. "What the hell, Mate?"

"Look, I know I screwed up - again - and I'm sorry."

"But why do you do it? You know you just feel shitty afterwards."

"I know, and I do, feel shitty that is, but-" He sighed. "-But I've been feeling shitty anyways."

"What do you mean? You mean with Dad's heart attack? We're all feeling shitty about that, the feeling's going around."

"Yeah that, but even before that."

"Chip?"

He sighed again. "I lost my friends." She stared back at him silently. "Or they suddenly decided they didn't want to be friends with me anymore, that I wasn't 'cool enough' to hang out with them or some shit like that." He ran a hand over his face. "When Dad had his heart attack, all of your friends were there to support you whenever you needed, and are still there if you need them. I didn't even bother telling the boys."

"Benny and the boys?"

"Yeah. All four of 'em."

"Is that why you've been so hesitant to call them and brushed off when I suggested you should hang out?" He nodded. "Oh Chip - how long?"

"Months."

"Oh, Chip, I'm so sorry, I had no idea."

"I know. And yeah, it sucks."

"Yeah, I bet it does. There's no disputing that."

"You're really lucky to have the friends you do."

"Yes, I am."

"They're great."

"Yeah, they are."

"I'm sorry I ruined your night - and your date."

"It's okay - it led to you telling me about this, and I'm glad you told me."

"Yeah, it feels good to have told someone now I've said it."

"Good. And by the sounds of it, you're better off without those boys. They're not really your friends." She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and pulled him into a side hug. "And you can come and hang out with me and my friends any time - just no more getting drunk, okay?"

"No, definitely not. I feel like shit afterwards, so it's not like it's fun anyway."

"Good."

"Yeah, good."

They were on much better terms for the rest of the night.

It was only as she was climbing into bed - exhausted still from the heart attack and its aftermath and now from this evening - that Lettie realized she hadn't even told Brian she'd liked his song.

'White Queen' is such a beautiful song! 'Queen II' is definitely one of my favourite albums of theirs!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed as always! :)