CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
'WHAT'S YOUR POISON?'

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WHEN WE RETURNED HOME, A STILL AMBIENCE EMANATED THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE. As soon as we got in, Roger and I went our separate ways; him in the living room mulling over a cigarette and me leaning against the kitchen counter staring blankly out the window. I think we both just needed space, I'd dropped a bomb on poor Roger tonight and no doubt he needed a moment to let it sink in. Nevertheless I wasn't going to let that affect our friendship in any way so without a second thought I regained my composure and made my way through to the living room, before strolling past the pondering drummer and making a B-line for the drinks cabinet.

'What's your poison?' I turned and asked Roger, holding two tumblers in my hand.

He looked up at me with that vacant look he always seemed to possess, 'Southern Comfort?'

'Good because it's all we have,' I reached into the cabinet and produced the bottle of liqueur. I placed it on the coffee table along with the tumblers, 'It's yours if I'm not mistaken. Sorry about that.'

'It's fine,' he chuckled, putting out his cigarette in the ashtray next to him, 'What's mine is yours, and all that.'

I cracked open the bottle cap whilst smiling in amusement, 'You say that as if we were a couple.'

'Well we've been living together that long now we might as well be.' he said with a cheeky smile.

'You wish.' I smiled back as I poured our drinks.

Once I'd finished, I flopped down on the couch next to the blonde, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. But I couldn't ignore him looking at me out the corner of my eye and was quick to ask, 'What?'

'You don't drink Southern Comfort, Heidi. You hate it.' he said matter-of-factly.

I rolled my eyes, 'I have one drink and suddenly I'm an alcoholic? God, I can't do anything in this house without being judged.'

The drummer knew I was joking, but he didn't laugh with me, 'Seriously though, you are alright, aren't you? I mean, I know that's a stupid question given everything that's happened today but...'

'Roger,' I stopped him rambling on, 'I'm fine. But I'd rather not talk about it anymore, if that's okay. Anything else, just...not that.'

'Right, of course,' he agreed awkwardly, 'Sorry.'

'Don't worry about it,' I smiled warmly. Taking a sip of my drink and momentarily scrunching up my face in disgust at the taste, I sat up in my seat, 'So go on, tell me what's been happening?'

He looked at me quizzically, 'What do you mean?'

'Like what's going on in your life at the moment? I feel bad, I've been so caught up in myself I'd completely forgotten about you. How's everything with the band, haven't fallen out yet I guess?'

Roger chuckled, 'No, we're still going strong. It's just the same old same old really; endless practicing, the odd gig here and there. We've recorded a couple of demos as well, y'know, some possible material for our first album.'

'First album?' I looked at him wide-eyed.

He seemed surprised, 'Did I not mention that before?'

'No!' I beamed, 'Rog, that's wonderful news!'

'Thanks,' he smiled back, 'We're hoping to have it released sometime next year. It has to be perfect.'

'And I'm sure it will be nothing short of that,' I added before beaming back, 'I'm so pleased for you, well done.'

The drummer smiled in return, 'So, uh, how's everything going at uni?'

'Now that isn't going so smoothly,' I sighed, 'I'm, uh, thinking about dropping out...'

'You're what?' Roger looked at me as if I were insane.

I shook my head, 'It's only a matter of time, Rog. Do you know how much I loathe that course? I know I won't use my degree if I graduate because it's not what I want to do, so why continue with something I don't even enjoy? Besides, I've gone and bombed my exams so chances are I'll be kicked out anyway.'

'But you've only got one more year. I mean, what would you do if you left?' he asked.

I simply shrugged, unwilling to share my thoughts.

But the drummer just looked at me, knowing what was really on my mind, 'Why don't you apply for art school? The only reason you didn't go before was because your parents were dictating your life. Now they're out of the picture, you should do what it is you want to do. You're a wasted talent, Heidi, and you know it.'

Shaking my head, I replied feebly, 'I dunno, maybe I should just go straight into work. I need the money.'

'Then do that, there's no reason why you can't do both.'

I raised an eyebrow at him, 'You're not going to let up on this, are you?'

'No, I am not,' he smiled, 'Look, I'm merely making a suggestion here. You don't actually have to listen to me.'

'I know.' I nodded, 'But you're right, I'll definitely think about it. Thanks, Rog.'

The two of us continued drinking and chatting about anything that came to mind as the night flew by, with the clock striking eleven o'clock before we knew it. By now we'd almost finished the bottle of Southern Comfort and were clearly half-cut, which was pretty obvious by the drunken nonsense that was coming out of our mouths.

'So, Heidi, you got your eye on anyone at the moment?' Roger asked nonchalantly as if it was the most normal thing to blurt out in the world.

I snorted, 'Why do you want to know?'

'It was just a question,' he defended himself as I just chuckled in amusement, 'Which you haven't answered yet...'

'Roger, do you really think after everything with Colin I'd even be thinking about relationships?'

'Oh c'mon, you can't let what that low life did put you off men forever,' he told me, 'We're not all bad, honest. There's must be someone you like. Go on, I won't tell!'

Knowing his child like behaviour was a result of the drink we'd been knocking back, I replied, 'If you really must know; no there isn't. And even if there was, you're the last person I'd tell. We both know you'd tell everyone.'

Giving me a disapproving look, the drummer replied jokingly, 'Nice to know how little you think of me.'

'You're welcome,' I replied sarcastically, 'What about you, Casanova, you seeing anyone or is it too difficult for you to commit yourself to just one girl?'

'You know I can have anyone I want, that's not the problem.' he smirked.

I scoffed, 'Cocky much?'

'I'm joking,' he chuckled, 'I just haven't found the right girl yet I suppose.'

'Hm, and here I was thinking they would be hundreds queuing at the chance.'

'If only,' he replied, 'There is one bird I do have a bit of a fancy for though...'

'And who's that?' I grinned drunkenly.

From the raised eyebrow and the way the blonde was looking at me, I knew exactly who he was talking about.

'Oh, shut up!' I gave him a disbelieving look as he laughed at my reaction, that cheeky smile he often wore spread across his face.

'Surely you can't be surprised!'

I shook my head, 'You're taking the piss, you are.'

'I am not,' he fired back, 'I've always liked you, despite our differences. You're a pretty girl, Heidi, any guy with sense would feel the same way.'

Shaking my head again, I looked down at the floor to hide my now red face, why I was even reacting in this way embarrassing enough. We carried on talking nonsense until 12am came around, the bottle of Southern Comfort well and truly finished, but neither of us were ready to call it a night so I went on a desperate search for more booze to fuel our ridiculous drinking spree.

'There must be alcohol in this house somewhere.' I exasperated as I rummaged through the kitchen cupboards, hoping there'd be a bottle stashed somewhere behind the mountains of crockery and other meaningless things.

'Look, don't worry about it, love,' Roger slurred from the living room, 'We're fucking wankered as it is!'

However, just as I was about to lose hope, I found an old bottle of vodka stashed away in the back of the cupboard. Smiling happily, I took it out and brought it back through with me to the living room, where the drummer was sat slumped on the couch looking like he was about to fall asleep at any moment.

'Look what I found.' I waved the bottle in the air as I staggered across the room, my footsteps slow and clumsy.

Putting the vodka down on the table, I turned around to sit on the couch however in the midst of my drunkenness and shuffling I failed to notice the rug on the floor and proceeded to trip on the edge of it, causing me to fall on the floor against the couch with an almighty thump.

Roger and I burst into laughter.

'My god, are you alright?' the drummer asked, once he'd could speak.

'Yeah, I'm fine,' I giggled, trying to get back up onto my feet, 'Sorry about that.'

'It's alright.' he replied, giving me a sweet smile as he helped me back up.

Once I was on the couch, I couldn't help notice Roger was staring at me again, 'What, what is it?' I giggled.

He didn't reply. Instead, the blonde smiled and gently brushed a loose strand of my hair out of my face, a small but noticeable move he'd made before, as he blurted out, 'You're so beautiful,' with glazed over eyes, whether the drink was to blame for that I was unable to tell.

'And you are pissed, Roger Taylor.' I grinned in a matter of fact voice.

'Maybe so.' he smiled, our eyes remained locked as the tension between us grew stronger.

Looking up at the drummer, a strange feeling overwhelmed me, like I was seeing him in a completely different light. I don't know whether it was because I was inebriated or underlying feelings that I didn't know I had had come to light, but curiosity took over and before I knew it our lips met in a soft and tender kiss as both of us lost ourselves in a moment I don't think either of us had truly anticipated.

When we finally pulled back, Roger gave me a worried look.

'Fuck,' he fretted, panic evident in his voice, 'Heidi, I-I'm sorry, I hope you don't think I'm trying to take advantage of the situa--'

But before Roger had the chance to finish his sentence I cut him off by gently taking his face in my hands and pressing my lips against his once more, catching him off guard. When the kiss ended, the drummer stared at me dumbfounded, his big blue eyes filled with confusion.

'There's no need to apologise, Rog,' I told him softly, our faces only centimetres apart, 'I don't think that at all.'

'Look, we don't have to do this, Heidi. We're really drunk. If it's what you want, we can forget this ever happened.'

'And why on earth would I want to do that?' I asked him, suddenly feeling a lot more sober, 'Is that what you want?'

The blonde shook his head, 'No, not really.'

'Good, because neither do I,' I smiled, a small silence ensuing between the two of us. However, I soon spoke up as I looked the drummer in the eyes and said, 'Kiss me.'

Although he seemed slightly surprised at me forwardness, Roger didn't hesitate to caress the side of my face with his hand and capture my lips in a heated kiss, captivation and desire quickly taking over. Our hands soon began to explore as the make-out session grew more intense; mine worked their way up to Roger's hair whilst his found their way under the hem of my shirt. Roger's scent of cologne and cigarettes took over my senses, it was like anything I'd experienced before. Knowing where this was headed, I stood up and took the drummer's hand in mine, before leading him out the living room and up the set of stairs.

We eventually reached the top, which was entertaining in our state as we were giggling like children. Roger tripped on the landing, sending me into hysterics, until he got up and pulled me to him, silencing me with a clumsy kiss. As we stumbled down the hallway, still laughing and kissing, we stopped in front of my bedroom door, now really struggling to keep our hands to ourselves. But just as I was about to reach round and open it, Roger caught my hand and pulled back momentarily.

'Wait, wait, wait,' he whispered, the two of us already breathless, 'Are you sure you wanna do this?'

Obviously worried I'd regret this decision, I just looked at the drummer and smiled. From what started as I simple drink had turned into something I don't think either of us were expecting. I'd never dreamed of sleeping with Roger until now, hell would have frozen over first. But now that I was here, I wanted this more than anything, and so did he. The sexual tension between us recently had been building up to the point it was too much to bear, and now we'd finally reached our breaking point.

Still waiting for an answer, I decided to put the drummer out of his misery as I opened the bedroom door and pulled him into the room, 'You worry too much,' before pressing my lips against his and shut the door swiftly behind us.

-

Hey guys!

Well that went from 0-100 quick, didn't it? 😂 I know what you're all going to say, 'FINALLY' but I hope this makes up for the wait for this chapter as I know it's frustrating waiting for an update. Anyway, if you did enjoy it which I hope you did please leave a vote or a comment, as always I love reading your reactions (they're the best hahaha)!

All my love,

Anna :-) x