Greg flipped on the lights after sliding the barn door open. The large fluorescent bulbs took a moment to flicker on and radiate their silver glow. The barn had a loft overhead that appeared to be used for hay at one time. There was a clear sound wall with several large mixing boards behind it. The equipment had been unloaded and set up the night before and so Greg wanted to familiarize everyone with the basics of recording. The night before, Freddie, Brian, John and Roger had met a guy named Mike. Mike was the soundboard operator and mechanic at the farm. He was here today and would be sitting in on each session since no one else had a clue what to do with a soundboard.

 The plan was to begin rehearsing after going over everything necessary with Mike. As for myself, Chrissie, Veronica and Vivienne? Well, we had plans of our own and it included mimosas by the pool and magazines. We had all been quite tired the night before but were feeling so refreshed today. The summer air teased the water on the pool. “For you!” I poured champagne into the orange juice and handed it over to Veronica.

 “Thank you.” Veronica said. My swimsuit cover-up fluttered in the breeze. I took another flute and poured champagne and orange juice into it, handing it over to Chrissie.

 “Oh my…what if I’m hammered by noon?” Chrissie laughed.

 “I hope to be!” I told her. “Vivienne, can I interest you in a mimosa?”

 “Sure! I’ll take one!” I noticed that Vivienne moved her lounging chair closer to mine.

 “Lydia, is it true that you won Grand Champion at four different horse shows in one year?!” Vivienne eagerly asked. I finished filling up her mimosa and handed it over.

 “That’s true.” I didn’t elaborate on anything.

 “Oh my goodness! That’s so amazing. And Lydia, your swimwear…wow! I wish I had somethin’ like this.” I could feel Vivienne pet my black chiffon as I handed her the mimosa. I didn’t really know what to say to her except to thank her.

 “Alright, ladies. A toast…though I really, really wish that Freddie’s girlfriend were here! We simply must meet her! That’s okay though…we can always have round two beside the pool after she gets here tomorrow. So, what are we drinkin’ to?” I asked.

 “Uuuhhhh…oh! To strippin’ off these cover-ups and warmin’ up under this sun!” Veronica said standing up and letting her swimsuit coverup fall off her shoulders.

 “Hell yeah!” I clanged the edge of my glass into Veronica’s and Vivienne stood up enthusiastically and clanged her glass into mine. I noticed that she had very pretty blonde hair.

 “I like your hair. It’s very nice.” I assured her. She very much enjoyed that compliment, as her face lit up like a diamond. “Come on Chrissie!” I encouraged her, seeing as she was still covered up and I had just untied my black chiffon.

 “Lydia! Vivienne’s father just came up the gravel road!” Chrissie hissed softly.

 “I know…I’m wavin’ at him.” I said nodding my head at him and holding my champagne flute in the air. Vivienne rolled her eyes.

 “I’m sorry…my stupid father. He’s trying to be some perv or nothin’. ” She said.

 “I think I’ll just stay covered up.” Chrissie said taking a drink of her mimosa and pulling her cover-up tighter around her.

 “You most certainly will not!” Veronica scolded her, trying to reach for the edge of her cover-up. I sat my mimosa down for a moment to get a cigarette out of my pack. I took one out and balanced it between my lips, throwing the pack back to the table and lighting it. I was still standin’ before my lounge chair.

 “Oh…I’m so sorry. Did you want one? I’m used to these two not smokin’ so I never offer.” I said. Vivienne shook her head.

 “Yeah…yeah okay.” She answered. I pulled another cigarette from my pack and handed it to Vivienne. She looked up at me with big blue eyes as I bent over to her to light it. I noticed she didn’t puff on it right away. She examined the glowin’ end and then took a big drag; coughing like crazy. It was then I realized…

“You don’t smoke.” I said, taking another drag on my own cigarette as I sat down. Vivienne was still coughin’. I laughed. "It's alright. Just don't inhale. You'll be fine." Vivienne smiled.

 "I've had a cigarette before you know. It catches me off guard." She defended herself.

 "It's okay. You don't gotta' lie to me. You're alright. I know a first timer when I see one." I picked up my mimosa and held it out to Vivienne, wanting her to tap her glass into mine again. She gushed and did so enthusiastically. "Lydia, you're almost as charming as Roger and you're certainly as gorgeous as he is! Oh my...you'd make the most beautiful couple!" Vivienne's eyes sparkled. Veronica and Chrissie were trying their hardest to keep their composure. They downed their mimosas to keep from laughing. "Lydia! How can you JUST be his friend!? I mean...HOW!?" Vivienne was on the edge of her lounger. I took a quick drag on my cigarette and laid myself down.

 "Vivienne..." An inquisitive look was spread across my face as took a sip of mimosa. "...where do you think I slept last night?" Vivienne thought a moment.

 "Uhh...I don't know, really...maybe the third guest room on the left upstairs? That's a very lovely room!" Was her response.

 "I slept underneath Roger." I took another sip of mimosa. She nearly burned herself on the cigarette in her hand and her eyes grew as wide as saucers.

 "Y...you...you WHAT?!" Vivienne almost spilled her mimosa. I wasn't sure if she loved me or hated me for that response. Veronica and Chrissie were still trying their best to not have an outburst of any kind. "Oooooooh my god!!! You've..." She choked on her own words a bit. "...with Roger!?!? Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!!" She squealed.

 "Careful there, you're gonna' wet yourself." I said reaching for a magazine. Veronica and Chrissie couldn't contain themselves any longer.

 "Oh god! So wait...you're more than just friends!? Oh god...what's he like?! Is he amazing!? I bet he's amazing?! Oh god, what's he like...WHAT'S HE LIKE!?" Vivienne was practically in my lap. I finished off my mimosa and reached for the champagne bottle, slightly pushing Vivienne out of my way. It was time for me to use the words that were once used to describe me. This would put things into perspective.

 "Well, Vivienne...he's a five ticket thrill ride." I paused and looked her, my eyes burning into hers. "You get on, your pulse races and you’re left screamin'. Then you get off...and when you do you're left all flushed and thinkin'...oooh shit. I'm gonna' have to ride that again." I kept staring her down to watch her face fall into a dreamy yet at the same time slightly mortified stupor. Naturally, Veronica and Chrissie were wailing at me from beside. Vivienne had gotten very quiet as she stared at me. "Time for round two, girls." I reached the champagne bottle over to Veronica first. Chrissie got out of her lounger to bring me her flute. First champagne and then we would pour orange juice. "Did you want to know anythin' else, Vivienne?" I raised my eyebrows at her. She shook her head slowly, still having that dazed look.

 "No, no...no. That's...that's...that’s…ooooooooh my." Was her broken sentence. I had barely finished pouring her orange juice when she immediately started in on the second glass. After handing the juice over to Veronica, I gazed out over the pastures. The summer breeze continued to flutter and we could all hear the mesmerizing lull of the tractor out mowing the fields. It was a divine scene. Chrissie sat back down with her refilled glass and reached her arms above her head. She took a deep breath of the Surrey country air.

 “This….is so very wonderful.” She sighed.

 “It really is.” Veronica added. This really made me miss the countryside. Sucking in that pure farm air brought back so many memories for me. That air was almost better than sucking up a line or sucking in my cigarette smoke…almost. I had placed my sunglasses on the table beside us much earlier. I picked them up and covered my eyes. Vivienne gasped.

 “Those are Dior!” she commented to me. I took a drink and nodded my head. “Wow…” she answered before examining her own and putting them on. We laid there in silence and continued to work on the bottle of champagne. It didn’t take us long to get through it.

 The one thing that Greg had forgotten to mention was how very hot it got in the barn when the doors were closed. Rehearsal had been going on for nearly four hours and it was time for a break. Freddie, Mike and John grabbed hold of the massive sliding doors and opened them up, letting a cooler rush flow inside.

 “Oh shit, that is so much better.” Roger said stepping out from behind his kit and feeling the air come inside.

 “Man, I didn’t realize it was so hot in here. So what do you think?” Brian turned and asked Roger, taking his guitar from his shoulder and sitting it aside on it’s stand.

 “ ‘Bout what? Yeah, it’s hot in here.” Roger answered him, taking his shirt off.

 “No, I mean about what we’re doin’ here. I think it was a good session, yeah?” Brian asked.

 “Oh, oh yeah. Yeah, I think we had a good session today. We comin’ back or are we stoppin’ for the day?” Roger asked.

 “I think we should let Freddie call it but I’d say we’ll take a break and come back.” Brian said. Roger shook his head.

 “Yeah, that sounds good.” He adjusted a cymbal before following Brian out of the barn. Roger put his sunglasses on…afterall, he needed to see at a distance. They followed Freddie and John up the gravel road toward the house.

 Chrissie was laughing rather stupidly at something Veronica had said. Yes, we were all a little hammered…Vivienne probably moreso than Veronica, Chrissie and I. Afterall, she couldn’t drink like we could. It wasn’t her fault, but she didn’t have the experience we had.

 “No! No! Veronica! Shut up! I’m not gonna’ talk about what me an’ Brian do….” Chrissie was interrupted by Vivienne. She gasped heavily.

 “Oh fuck….me!” Vivienne almost spilled her mimosa for the second time today as she stood up. Okay, I was going to need to cut her off.

 “What?” I asked throwing my magazine aside. I looked in Vivienne’s direction. Oh, that was it. Shirtless Roger glistenin’ in the sun…yeah…I could get into that.

 “Okay, okay…sometimes me an’ Brian get really… what are you lookin’ at?” Chrissie asked Veronica who was holding back her laughter and looking over Chrissie’s shoulder.

 “Brian’s standin’ right behind you.” Veronica said. Chrissie jumped at the feeling of Brian’s hands on her shoulders.

 “You and Brian get really what?” Brian asked squeezing her shoulders. Chrissie and Veronica both laughed stupidly. “Oh god, you’re drunk Chrissie! It’s 4:23 in the afternoon and you’re drunk!” Brian put his arms around Chrissie and kissed her cheek.

 “I’m not drink! I’m not!” Chrissie insisted squeezing his arms.

 “You just said drink…you’re drunk on champagne by the pool.” Brian shook his head smiling all over. “See? This is typical rock star stuff right here.” He looked at John. John rolled his eyes.

 "Um…you’re aiming a little high, Bri.” John said standing in front of Veronica and blocking the sun.

 “Hi!...we’ve not drinkin’ mimosas all afternoon!” Veronica said to John. He laughed at her because he knew we obviously had been.

 “Noooo! Of course you haven’t!” John was still laughing at her. Roger stopped in front of me and reached into his back pocket to get his pack of cigarettes. I crossed my arms and looked at him through my sunglasses, tilting my head to one side.

 “Well, it’s about time…I requested the cabana boy over an hour ago. See, I need someone to rub this all over me.” I reached for the table again and threw a bottle of oil at Roger. He examined it and laughed at me.

 “Shit, Lyd…you been drinkin’. How much have you had? It doesn’t matter. I could care less.” Roger’s smile tore me apart. “Come ‘ere, babe. I love you.” Roger put his hand on my face and pulled my lips into his. Okay, okay…maybe that was a little too much tongue for any hour before 5:00 but shit…I’d been drinkin’ and Roger was sweaty.

 “Well, how was it?” I asked as I lifted up my legs for Roger to sit down. He squeezed my ankles as he sat there.

 “It was good. I think we’re gonna’ make a lot of progress in these two weeks.” Roger told me.

 “Well…three lush’s by the pool. Look at this. The only thing missing is Mary!” Freddie said examining all of us.

 “Mary? Oh my god…is that her name? Her name is Mary!?” Veronica sat up on her lounger causing Freddie to blush miserably. I screeched at him, as did Chrissie. The three of us whooped and hollered a little louder than we should have for him.

 “Oooooh fuck you all…” Freddie turned around in embarrassment to face the pool and flipped us off. He shook his head. Well, at least we knew her name at this point. Roger turned around with his cigarette because he could feel eyes all over him.

 “Um…Vivienne? Wha…what are you lookin’ at?” Roger asked her, exhaling cigarette smoke over his shoulder. Vivienne snapped out of her daze.

 “Huh?” her mouth was hanging open. “Uuhh…I…I can see the top of your underwear.” Vivienne quickly downed the last of her mimosa. She sat her glass aside on the table. “Oh shit…” Vivienne buried her face in her hands.

 Freddie, Brian, John and Roger rehearsed for another three hours that day. By 7:30 myself, Veronica and Norma had started on dinner. Greg had insisted I have a glass of wine with him. I insisted Roger have a glass with us. I had a hard time keeping my fingers out of Roger’s belt loops.

 Brian and Chrissie were sitting outside on the patio step. Dusk was setting in over the farm. The moon could be seen peeking over the horizon, replacing the sun’s presence for the day. A violet sky intertwined with the pale orange horizon line. The frogs were beginning to chirp, their serenade mixing with the hum of the cicadas. The last of the horses were being brought into the barn from a day of grazing. Firefly glows dotted the evening sky as the sun sunk lower and lower. The lights in the pool were timed to come on at 7:40 each evening. Our laughter in the kitchen could be heard from behind the glass doors that lead to the patio. The evening fog was setting in and casting a ghostly pale sheet over the distant, rolling grass. Aside from the farmhand coercing the horses toward the barn, it was so peaceful. Brian reached over and put an arm around Chrissie.

 “It just wouldn’t be the same without you here.” He told her. Chrissie smiled and looked down toward the patio steps.

 “Everything is so nice. Did you accomplish what you wished today?” Chrissie asked, rubbing her hand over Brian’s thigh.

 “Yeah…yeah, today was really great.” He answered her. Chrissie leaned her head over on Brian’s shoulder, feeling the top of her head covered in a sea of curls. He leaned his head over against hers and sighed.

 “Wouldn’t you love to just to lay out here? Underneath the stars…savor this countryside?” Brian asked.

 “Mmmm…yeah. We should open our windows tonight. We could listen to the outside world…let the night set in and I’ll put my arms around you.” Chrissie said lifting her head up from Brian’s shoulder. He pressed his lips into her ear, saying something that sent chills all over her. Chrissie closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

 “Oooh god yes, Brian…yes.” She answered him a bit dreamily. They both jumped slightly as the door came open.

 “I’m not entirely sure what the hell Veronica, Lydia and Norma made but I’ve tasted it and it’s surperb! Get in here, lovelies! Dinner is served!” Freddie beamed through the door. Chrissie looked over at Brian as the sun dipped down lower on the horizon.

 “To be continued, Brian…” she said reaching for his hand and pulling him up from the patio step with her.