* F E L I X

Millie   would   admit   to   anyone   that   asked   her   that   she’d   been   in   love   with   Felix   and   not   just   the   ‘   oh   i   love   you   ‘   no   ,   it   was   a   deeper   and   more   meaningful   love   at   first   sight   kind   of   thing   .   He   had   come   into   her   father’s   studio   to   lay   down   some   tracks   with   his   old   band   he’d   been   a   part   of   and   she   was   instantly   struck   with   his   look   and   vibe   .   It   was   intoxicating   as   she   couldn’t   breathe   half   of   the   time   around   him   .   Always   with   the   fiddling   and   the   blushing   and   the   stammering   of   her   words   .   She   was   helpless   the   moment   she’d   seen   him   .   That   type   of   love   had   built   over   the   now   six   years   they   had   known   each   other   .   Not   once   did   her   love   for   him   falter   ,   the   same   couldn’t   be   said   for   him   however   .   He’d   cheated   on   her   twice   and   both   times   she’d   forgiven   him   .   Once   ,   because   she   truly   did   love   him   and   the   second   for   the   sake   of   their   son   more   or   less   .  

 But   never   once   did   she   ever   go   back   on   her   love   for   him   .   Viewing   him   lighting   the   candles   only   had   that   stupid   and   silly   grin   hit   against   her   lips   as   she   moved   onto   the   bed   to   sit   and   tucked   her   legs   underneath   her   rear   .   Leaning   over   to   him   to   see   he   was   picking   out   a   record   for   them   to   listen   to   .   “   Yes   ,   put   it   on   .   “   She’d   told   him   as   she   moved   to   unbutton   the   top   of   her   blouse   some   to   get   some   cool   air   onto   her   chest   .   If   only   mildly   .   She’d   still   been   dressed   from   her   work   at   her   father’s   studio   .   Mills   could   already   fill   the   frazzled   nature   that   she   was   in   earlier   and   started   to   dissipate   .  

 A   sigh   .

   “   Ugh   ,   I   just   can’t   believe   it   .   That’s   the   last   thing   I’m   going   to   say   about   it   ,   I   promise   honey   .   “   Saying   before   moving   to   sit   up   on   her   knees   on   the   bed   and   reach   out   for   him   and   take   him   by   the   back   of   his   suit   and   pull   him   over   to   her   .   Moving   her   lips   into   his   neck   and   kissing   him   there   a   few   times   .   Knowing   he   would   have   her   back   through   this   whole   ordeal   meant   the   world   to   her   .   “   I   love   you   .   “   She   said   to   him   .  

Felix nodded back to her simply when she gave this album the go-ahead, turning towards the record player—glancing back at her just to get a second look when she’d undone a button, with a smirk to himself. Slipping the vinyl from its sleeve and setting it down on the turntable. Dropping the needle and hearing that crackle before the music started. It was almost a comforting sound in itself. The crackling of vinyl was always a part of this time they spent together, lounging around and smoking and listening to music.

At the sound of Millie’s deep sigh, Felix frowned over at her while twisting the volume knob, making adjustments as the song began. “I’ll hold you to that promise.” Saying in a faux-scolding way. The whole point of this moment was to forget about her mother’s cruel attempt to drag drama into their family.

                “ just because it’s catchy, that doesn’t mean it’s good. ” he says, as if he’s an expert on the matter. but it’s not even that he doesn’t think it’s good– he didn’t think i’m in love with my car was BAD– he just wasn’t a fan of sucking off whatever a grease gun was.

      not that these lyrics were as horrid as those– in fact, freddie thought they were fine.  not his style, but that’s alright– it’s just not his music. and he loved to tease– which was exactly what he was doing. but now that felix was bringing hawley into it? now, that was just unfair– how was he to win this battle? 

      “ he’s a child! ” he exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air. “ he likes lullabies and mary had a little lamb– he doesn’t have a degree in art or any other credentials. ” he says, though his voice is dripping in defeat. there was no way he could compete with someone that cute, especially when he offered so little to work with, words wise.

                “ i can’t work with children, you know that, ” he says before pouting and folding his arms across his chest, leaning back in his chair. he likes children well enough– he’s just got too big of a soft spot to really argue with them or about them. “ if you’re writing for babies, perhaps you’ve got your answer, then. ” 

“Don’t you know anything about popular music?” he chuckled. “Most of our respective fans don’t have a degree in art, either. If you want to know what’s sure to be a hit, ask a child.” Felix could tell he had won this, though—or, more accurately, Hawley had won. The other singer’s tone was that of someone who knew they could make no real argument now.

“But no, I don’t write for babies.” He had to admit that Freddie had a point. Catchy didn’t necessarily equal good. “Hits aren’t everything. Sometimes you have to go with what you want, not what you think the audience wants.” He did have his integrity, after all. Music was not only art, but also a constant companion to him since childhood. It mattered. “I do actually know that. I’m not as shallow as I look.” A wry smile. He didn’t really mind Freddie’s tendency to tease; he could even tease back like this if he was in a good mood.