#modern settings

We Can Work It Out

Chapter 1:  I Had No Idea that You're in Deep

Hey, Deacy’s finally out. Are you gonna come over? – Bri

Roger read the text message from Brian when he was playing scrabble with Freddie in his own flat. He glanced toward Freddie and he saw the older man was busying himself form a word from his own scrabble tile. He was about to reply Brian’s message when Freddie chirped out in happiness when he got a high score.

“Yeah! Now you’re going down, Taylor!” Freddie said in pure happiness while Roger was only thinking about going to Brian’s and Deacy’s shared flat that was actually only across the hall.

“That’s not so bad, mate,” Roger squinted his eyes and tried to reply Brian’s text first before he form his own word.

Still playin scrabble w fred. Wait a min.

After he sent his message, he bit his lip because he was worried Freddie would catch him texting with Brian behind his back. Oh, yeah, Brian and Roger were in a kind of relationship. They were only fooling around but not actually in a real relationship. They casually slept with each other but not calling themselves boyfriends yet. That was why they didn’t speak a word toward their bandmates, Freddie and Deacy. They wanted to keep it that way.

Just tell him that you’re going to do some laundry or something. I miss you. – Bri

Reading Brian’s immediate reply made Roger bit his bottom lip even harder. He believed if he bit it much harder, it would bleed. Freddie reminded him to form a word already and he also warned Roger not to bit his lip too hard. Roger stopped his bad habit for a moment until he formed a word and he accidentally formed a high-scored word. Freddie looked unhappy but the older man just frowned.

“Who are you texting?” Freddie asked all of sudden. Roger didn’t see that coming and he just startled a little bit. He casually took a swig from his beer to control his mini heart attack and also to hide his blush from Freddie. He didn’t want to tell his best friend that he was secretly texting Brian who was waiting for him across the hall just to had sex with him.

“Um… my sister?” He cursed himself because it sounded more like a question than a statement. Roger knew that Freddie didn’t believe him a hundred percent, judging how the older man looked right now, but he also didn’t want to tell Freddie the truth, yet. It was his deal with Brian.

Aren’t you coming over? I’m so close to do it all by myself in the bathroom. – Bri.

Roger couldn’t breathe. He imagined Brian doing something dirty just to relieve himself in the bathroom and boy, that was so fucking hot and he could feel himself getting hard just the thought of it. But, Roger immediately remembered that he was not alone and Freddie was sitting right in front of him. He didn’t want to alarm the older man that Roger was imagining their guitarist doing something dirty in his bathroom.

B there in 5 mins.

“Uh… Fred? I just remember that I have a pile of dirty clothes in my room. And I know I don’t have more clean clothes to wear. So, I’m going to do some laundry downstairs.” Roger finally said. He felt bad that he lied to his roommate and his best friend. He didn’t want to lie to Freddie. In fact, he wanted to tell Freddie everything about his secret kind of relationship with Brian. But everything was perfect between him and Brian because nobody knew about their relationship yet and they wanted to keep it that way until both men were ready to tell the world.

“Laundry? I thought you were doing your laundry last night when Deacy and I were out?” Damn. Roger needed a better excuse in the future and Freddie knew how terrible of a liar Roger was.

“Well, I was so occupied watching some videos on Youtube last night that I actually kind of forgot to do my laundry. So, I think I don’t want to forget it this time,” Roger said with a smile. Freddie was skeptical at first but he was nodding anyway. Roger was relieved that Freddie actually bought it. And he also kind of complimented himself how fast he could think of an excuse.

“Well, since you’re going to be busy doing your laundry and I have no one to talk to in the flat right now, I think I’m just going to hang out at Bri-”

“NO!” Roger regretted it how loud he sounded right now. Freddie looked suspicious and Roger knew how red his face was right now. Okay, he couldn’t think of an excuse right now. How could he be that stupid?

“Why, darling?” Freddie asked suspiciously. Okay, think, Taylor, think!

“Uhm… I don’t think neither Brian nor Deacy are home. Don’t you read their messages at the group chat? Deacy is out with Veronica and Brian is doing some nerd shit at the library?” Freddie immediately checked his own phone and opened the message that Roger was talking about. He read the message and nodded to himself. Roger sighed in relieve when Freddie didn’t look as suspicious as before.

After Freddie decided to go out too – saying that he was going to hang out with his girlfriend instead – Roger grabbed his ‘dirty clothes’ and did his ‘laundry’. Freddie offered to walk with Roger but the blonde man refused, saying that he needed something first and with that, Freddie was finally out. Roger sighed once again and let himself out of his own flat.

Roger knocked three times at Brian’s door and the older man opened it as fast as he could. He looked surprised that Roger brought some dirty clothes and Roger could only smile sheepishly when Brian gave him a questioning look.

“What took you so long?”

“Freddie was suspicious that I’m going to do another laundry. He remembered that I was doing my laundry last night while he was out with Deacy. So I had to explain it to him that I was too busy watching some videos on youtube that I actually forgot that I had to do some laundry. He bought it, though. And he almost came here to hang out with you, and I panicked then I told him that Deacy is out, so are you. Sooo…” Roger explained to Brian and he rubbed his own temple. He sure was tired of sneaking around behind their best friend’s back.

“Good,” Now Brian was grabbing Roger’s hand and the younger male dropped his clothes on the floor and let Brian took him to the older man’s bedroom. Roger’s heart was thumping excitedly, knowing what was about to happened behind the close door.

As soon as the door was closed, he could feel Brian’s hungry lips on his and Roger forgot almost everything.

 “God, you’re amazing,” Roger mumbled while snuggling with Brian. He put his head on Brian’s chest and drew a random pattern on the older man’s chest. He could hear Brian’s soft laugh and he also could feel that Brian’s was petting his hair.

“You’re amazing, too, Rog,” Brian said while kissing Roger’s blonde mop. Roger sighed to Brian’s chest and he still felt bad about lying to Freddie and Deacy about their secret encounter. He also was very tired that he had to sneaking around some nights just to had sex with Brian. He didn’t even know what they were. Were they boyfriends? Lovers? Partners? Or just some random hook up? They had been doing this for two and a half months but they never actually talked about this. They were always too busy with each other and once they were done, either Roger or Brian would go back to their place so their roommates would not get suspicious.

“Oh fuck!” Roger yelped when he felt something burning in his ass and he knew that it was going to be hard for him to walk. During Roger’s thinking, Brian decided to sit up and that made Roger involuntarily sat up too.

“You okay, sweetie?” Brian asked with pure concern. Roger nodded and said that he could feel his ass was burning and he knew he would be limping when he walked later. The older male apologized for being too rough but Roger just silenced him with a sweet kiss on his mouth.

“Why are you sitting up? I was pretty comfortable down there.” Roger protested with a pout and Brian just chuckled looking at his blonde lover who was now looking like a ten year-old child.

“You looked uneasy. What is going on, sweetheart? Is everything alright?” Once the question was out of Brian’s mouth, Roger dropped his head and sighed. He knew that sooner or later they had to have this kind of conversation. But he hated to bring it up. He knew that Brian was not ready to open up about his bisexuality to their friends and he knew that Brian was far from ready to have a relationship with Roger. He knew how scary it was for Brian to actually have a relationship. The curly-haired man was having some serious commitment issues that Roger didn’t fully understand why.

“What are we, Bri?” Roger knew he regretted it the second he said those damn words. Roger could see the fear behind Brian’s hazel eyes and he hated it. He hated the fact that it was Roger that made Brian looked like he was scared or something. He knew it that Brian was not ready and he knew that whatever what was going to be Brian’s answer would hurt him.

“Uh… Do you really want to have that conversation right now, Rog?” Roger closed his eyes. He knew Brian was only avoiding Roger’s question so he didn’t break Roger’s heart. But he also needed some clear answer about whatever they were having right now. He was just so tired of sneaking around. Even though Brian was an awesome lay but sometimes it was so hard.

“I know it’s really hard for you to answer my question. But-“

“Look, I love what we are having right now. I’m just not ready to talk about it. I hope you understand and let’s just enjoy each other’s company, yeah? I just have to be sure first, Rog. I don’t want to hurt you and I also don’t want to be someone who breaks your heart. Just… Just make it casual. We’re friends and we’re having sex. Not to mention, we’re having such an amazing sex. So, just enjoy it for a while, will you?” Brian asked and Roger could sense the fear behind Brian’s calm tone. He just nodded and kissed Brian silently.

Once Brian was sure that Roger had dropped the conversation, he could feel Roger was climbing on top of him. The blonde was straddling him and sitting on his lap while kissing him passionately. This kiss was different. It was that kind of kiss that Roger tried to assure Brian that everything was going to be okay. Brian was more than happy to kiss Roger back, especially when he could feel Roger’s hands were on his neck and playing with his long curly hair.

When the make out session was getting way too hot and Roger was a moaning mess, Brian could hear the front door was opened. Both men were frozen. Roger was still on Brian’s lap while Brian’s hands were on Roger’s ass. Roger was the one who was glanced to the alarm clock on Brian’s dresser. It was six o’clock and Deacy wasn’t supposed to be back for another hour.

“Bri?” Both Brian and Roger could hear Deacy’s voice on the hallway and now both men were panicking. Roger was peeling himself off of Brian so fast that he actually picked up his clothes and put it on as fast as he could. He also tried to tidy up his hair so he didn’t look like he just had sex with Brian. The older male was doing the same thing. He grabbed some random clothes from the piles and he also rubbed his face just to make him more presentable. Not that was necessary, though. Because Brian was sure he looked like he just had an amazing sex. Which he did.

“Bri, you there?” Both men were panicking even more when he heard Deacy was knocking Brian’s bedroom door. Without thinking, Roger entered Brian’s closet and he promised Brian that he would not make any noise. After Roger was giving Brian a cute peck on the lips, Brian let Deacy entered his bedroom.

“’Sup, mate? I thought you’re not gonna be back for another hour? Is Veronica okay?” Deacy almost jumped to hear Brian’s tone. The younger male frowned to see his best friend’s peculiar behavior. Deacy might be not talking too much but boy that bassist was sure an observant one.

“She’s fine. She needs to do her coursework so I’m back already. Uh… Do you know that there’s a pile of clothes in the front door? Are they yours?” Deacy asked. Brian cursed under his breath and he would give Roger punishment later because his blonde boy was so reckless to leave his clothes in the front door.

“Uh… yeah. I was about to do some laundry but my stomach really hurt. So I just kind of dropped it there and ran to the toilet. And now I’m feeling much better so I’m just going to finish my laundry.” Brian lied and he knew that Deacy wouldn’t believe him just like that. But the younger male didn’t give any more questions and in fact, he just shrugged and left Brian’s bedroom.

The older man sighed and whispered to Roger that he was going to get the blonde’s clothes so Deacy wouldn’t be too suspicious. He also told Roger that if Deacy was in his own bedroom, he would let Roger out of the closet. Roger couldn’t help himself and giggled rather loudly when he heard Brian’s last sentence and Brian just kicked the closet door softly, earning a muffled laugh from Roger.

Once Brian was out of his bedroom and Deacy was nowhere to be found, he informed Roger that he was free to leave. The younger male was out of the closet, literally, and Brian helped him to sneak Roger out of his own flat. Roger was gathering his clothes from the floor and he almost opened the front door when-

“Okay pretty ladies, get ready quickly. We have rehearsal!”

Lily clapped her hands fast, chasing the girls who, with total laziness, took their bags and walked to the camerino. The only one that was ready was Anya, with her white tutu and ribbon in her hair, she got nothing to envy to the Broadway stars. She was on stage warming-up while the cast was getting ready. So professional, Lily wished that the rest of the cast were like her, always on time and the first ready to perform. Most of the people who performed here did it as a hobby, so they didn't really try hard to make it the best show of their lives.

Seemed like that rehearsal would be a long one. She should take her vacation while she still could, Or sell the theater. Or drink a shot of vodka. Whatever works.

“Anya, why are you wearing your costume?” “I want to get used to moving in it… and I look pretty” This girl… “Okay… Everyone take positions! we start in five!”

Working in a community production was not the big dream that Anastasia had when she was five and decide that one day her name would be in some Broadway production, but at least she was doing what she loved. Even if most of the audience was made up of seniors at the matineé.

And of course, this wouldn’t be permanent. Someday she would be in Broadway oh! she could be in Wicked! or maybe in a new and exciting show. She would wait for her moment. Even if it took ten or twenty years.

Just one shitty production at a time.

…

These 24-hour shifts would be the death of him. His thoughts were not coherent by the end of his shift, and he was pretty sure he'd been staring at the wall of the break room for the past ten minutes without blinking. Dmitry wondered how much longer he could live on a diet of coffee and Red Bull before he had a heart attack. It probably wasn't healthy, but he was a nurse, not a nutritionist.

Just a few hours more and he would be sleeping at his comfy bed till the world collapses (lies, just till Vlad came to make him eat something else than sugar).

“Do you have plans for this Friday?” he needed to talk, or he would fall asleep right then and there. “My sister has a presentation with her company. We are all going to see her as a family to support her penniless career.” Maria was melted on the futon, they started the shift together so she probably was as tired as he was. No judging. “At least she does what she loves” “Hey! I love my job too, but I love sleep more”

Being friends with Maria was easy, even when she came from a crazy rich family that paid for her college tuition and he would be in endless debt for most of his life. Still, they had the same age and they started their internship at ER together. After a few weeks, they spent most of their spare time at the cafeteria sharing experience of the moody doctors and funny stories of the patients. Maria was a breath of fresh air in this shitty work and he couldn’t ask for a best partner.

They were friends.

Kind of.

They don’t usually hang out on their days off why would they? they probably see each other more than they see their families. He didn’t know where her apartment was and he knew a few thing about her family, like she had a bunch of siblings, and she wanted an insane numbers of children. But she was the only one who was friendly with him and didn't make fun of him for being a nurse, and sometimes, they go for a drink when the day was especially awful.

“Come on. I'll get you a Snickers. I need sugar”

Dmitry and Maria were halfway to the cafeteria when the stretcher came in through the emergency door. There goes my food.

Running fast, they caught up with the paramedics. Apparently, a taxi didn’t see the red light. The patient was young. They didn’t know his name yet, and even though the impact wasn't that big, he wasn't waking up.

“He's my brother!” Maria said, almost screaming. “He is hemophilic!”

She was pale and she looked like she would faint in any moment. She was frightened, and of course she was. If her brother didn’t get medical attention quickly, he could die.

Her hands were shaking when Dmitry took her away and led her to an empty room.

“Blood type Maria?” “AB, he is AB.. How did this happen to him?” she looked like she would cry in seconds and right then, he didn’t have time to deal with tears. “Call your family. I’ll be with him. You can’t deal with this in your condition. He is going to be okay, trust me.”

But honestly, he was not sure.

…

On Friday they had their first show, but most of the dancers were stumbling and the lead girl forgot her lines constantly. This was a disaster, why was she even trying?

Lily wanted to scream.

Oh, but she knows why she was doing this, but who cares (she cares). Also, they already had the cast, and the scenery was ready. They sent all of the invitations to the important people and she pulled a few strings, so with a bit of luck, the press would be here, she can’t cancel now. This would be a joke but a joke that she would be proud of, yeah… right.

“Okay okay. Everyone, we are going to have a brief recess, and then we are going to try this again.”

Anastasia’s cellphone had five missed calls when she took it. Maria usually didn’t call when she had shift. That’s weird. And she knew that she had rehearsal today. Weird, weird, weird.

“Hey Lil’s….” but her godmother was at phone looking very pale. What’s going on? “Sweetheart, we have to leave. Now. Go for your stuff, no time to change clothes.”

Her phone started ringing again. It was Olga. Weirder.

She didn’t say “hi” which was unusual because Olgas was the politest person alive, maybe Tatiana could fight the crown. She didn’t say hi, but the words that she heard made her blood cold. It was something about and an accident and Alexei, and honestly, she didn’t care for the rest.

She was running out of the theater before the call ended.

…

Maria’s coffee was cold and her tears were dry now. The surgery started an hour ago and Dmitry didn’t say anything yet. She knew that this took time, but still. IIt was her baby brother in the OR, she couldn't just relax.

The only thing that stopped her to run into the surgery was Olga holding her hand. She had a rosary in her closed fist over her heart. She was praying, just like her mother used to do it. Maria stopped believing in god long time ago, but she found the prayers relaxing. It makes her feel safe and maybe, He was listening.

Lily and Anastasia came together. Her sister was still in her costume and hurried to hug her while Lily stood awkwardly, looking at the people in the waiting room. At least Anya wasn’t crying. She always was stronger than her.

“What happened Mashka?”

What happened? What happened was a stupid driver didn't see the red light, even though red was a pretty obvious color that everyone knew meant stop. What happened was, for ABC reasons, Alexei got scared for an apple... yes, an apple, and he jumped from his bike because obviously that was his only option and he ended up cashing with the taxi. That's what happened. And now he was in surgery.

Half an hour ago, Dmitry ran by with two bags of blood into the OR. He didn’t say a word to her.

Anya didn’t sit with Maria, Olga and Lily. She just walked in the alley. Sometimes on her tiptoes, sometimes not. She’s still wearing her ballet shoes. If she just sat there, everything would be more real and and this can’t be real. She hated hospitals since Alexei born. Most of his childhood was between white walls and the smelt of antiseptic, this can’t be happening again.

But the last time that they came to an hospital was when she had seventeen and that ended with everyone wearing black. Hospitals were only bad news. She didn’t know how Maria could work here.

She didn’t know how they can stay here and just sit until someone br them news.

Lily could use a drink now. Damned hospital with their damned sober policy, and she couldn’t leave either. What kind of ruthless woman would leave these poor children alone? They may not be family by blood, but she had watched them grow. No, Lily could be an alcoholic-ish and moody woman, but she wasn’t ruthless.

She had never been good at dealing with people who were suffering, what could she do? Pat them on their backs? Maybe she could offer to go for coffee or something to eat if the surgery took longer, but for now it was enough to sit next to them and wait.

Still, the damned surgery looks like would never end.

Till it ended.

Maria was the first to get in her feet and rushed to Dmitry, who looked tired but at least he was smiling and yes, he may be an asshole sometimes, but he wouldn’t dare to be an asshole in this situation.

Anastasia hold Maria’s hand tightly and Olga put a hand on her shoulder. They waited for her to make a move, but it wasn’t necessary because exhausted Dmitry was getting anxious and couldn’t wait for her to speak

“I told you he would be fine.” Maria and her sisters felt how suddenly they could breathe again. “Yes, he could have needed blood, but wasn’t too much, it was more for precaution. He had an hemorrhage but the doctors worked quickly so it wasn’t much the damage. I guess, the doctor would be more clear. Now, if you excuse me, I need to move him to his room...” Suddenly, Dmitry looked perplexed to Anastasia for the first time, and then to Maria. “Why does she look like a doll?”

Anya at her side made a little snort while she stand straight crossing her arms over her chest. She looked proud and taller than she really is… Is she up on her toes?

“Because I was in rehearsals, and why do you care?”

Dmitry smiled and Anya mimicked his smile while Maria thought Jesus Christ.

“Come on,” Maria hurried him, taking his arm. “I will help you with Alexei,” she said rolling her eyes. ...

Alexei opened her eyes in a bright white room and felt a bit dizzy. His head hurted a lot and that was the only part of his body that he could actually feel. Everything else was numb and he was thirsty.

He felt like a car crushed him… Wait.

Oh, the apple. Yes. He remembered now. This would be a funny story in the future, but he is pretty sure that he is in trouble now.

His family is going to kill him. Maybe he should back to sleep.

“Look who is awake.”

Or maybe not.

There’s a young man beside his bed. He is smiling even when when he looked like he didn’t slept in days. Maybe he should sleep.

“Who are you?” The guy helped him into a sitting position and wow, now everything hurts and then, approached him a glass of water. Nice guy, Alexei already liked him.

“I’m Dmitry, your nurse” “Nurse? where’s the pretty blond? there’s always a pretty blond nurse in the movies.” “First of all, the only pretty blond that I know is your sister, gross. Second, we are in 2018, men can be nurses, so... let it go.”

Shit, he is in Maria’s hospital. Whatever was the reason she wasn’t here, he knows that at any moment his family will come in the door. For a 21-year-old man, Alexei was a bit scared of his sisters.

“Maria is out there?” “Yes, with an old lady who looked pissed and your sisters.” “Do they look mad?” “Nah, your sisters are just worried. They are talking with the doctor, so they should be here in no time.”

The first came in was Anastasia. She slap his forehead knowing that Olga would scold her (and she did it). Then Olga kissed his face like she did it when he was a child and Lily squeezed his cheeks. Yes, they were just worried, but that didn't stop them from asking questions or Anya from mocking him because seriously Alexei, you gave us the scare of our life just for an apple? such an idiot.

In a corner, Maria was talking with Dmitry. She couldn’t be more grateful to him, seriously. He acted with total professionalism and took good care of her brother when she was a crying mess. Another person probably would scream at her and she would hardly be able to pull herself together, but he was patient and let her be with her family. He was such a good friend. He even offered to stay a few more hours taking care of Alexei while she went to her house to shower and sleep for a couple of hours until she returned to the next day's shift.

She would think of something to return the favor.

“Why you didn’t tell me that your little sister was a prettier version of you?”

Hell no. Not on her watch.

“Because it’s information that shouldn't interest you.”

“Why?!” Dmitry sounded offended.

“Trust me, you are not her type. Actually, she has a really shitty taste in men and you are… you.”

“But I’m a good guy, I could be an improvement in her love choices.”

Seriously… what a day.

“Give me a break. I’m going to finish a few things before I left. We’ll talk tomorrow.”