True Friendship: A Freddie Mercury Story part 7

About two months later Freddie called me up out of nowhere, inviting me to go on vacation with them in Hawaii.  As always, he made it sound absolutely fabulous, rendering it impossible for me to refuse.  
He also told me he had someone for me to meet, which immediately made my heart jump into my throat.  Freddie seemed to sense this, and his voice became very sweet over the phone.
"Oh you'll love him, darling....trust me, I wouldn't have you meet him if you wouldn't love him." he said.
I swallowed hard and said, "All right...I trust you, Freddie."
"Aww lovie, thank you...I'll see you this weekend, my dear." he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice.  
We hung up after arranging that I be ready on Friday morning packed for two weeks vacation.  I was fortunate enough to have a boss who was an avid Queen fan and didn't flip out when I told her I was going to be gone for two weeks.  
I was on pins and needles all week in anticipation for the weekend.  I always loved seeing Freddie and to spend two whole weeks with him and Jim sounded like all kinds of fun.  
However, I was also nervous as to who Freddie had for me to meet.  
I trusted him to know enough about me to pick someone I really would like...but when if the person he chose didn't like me.  What if he took one look at me and gave Freddie a "really?" face....or worse, what if he was really nice to my face, and talked bad about me behind my back?
I couldn't sleep at all Thursday night.  I kept getting up and pacing around my apartment, wide awake.  I tried watching video tapes and television shows to make me drowsy, but whenever I'd think about the next day I'd find myself wide awake again.  Twice I had to refrain from calling Freddie up and begging for details on this mystery guy, because I had no idea what time it was over in England.  
After a while I decided to just forget about trying to go to sleep.  At five in the morning I took a shower and got dressed in a pair of pretty new jeans and a white button up blouse.  I decided to just brush my hair and add just a little bit of spray, not tease it up; no sense in choking everyone to death on hair spray.  
At around seven I heard a horn honk outside my door.  This made me extra glad that I hadn't gone to sleep, because I really hadn't known how early the limo would show up.  I quickly picked up my suitcase and went out the door.  
A surprise awaited me when I left the house, for instead of just a limo with a driver, Freddie himself was stepping out of the vehicle, a huge smile on his face.
"Melvin, lovie! Come here!" he called holding his arms out and beckoning me with his hands.
"Freddie!" I cried out, dropping my suitcase and running into his arms.  He picked me up and swung me around like he usually did.  I gave a whooping noise which made him laugh.  
"What are you doing here, I thought I was meeting you in Hawaii!" I exclaimed after he put me down.  
"I decided to surprise you, my dear! Besides, I figured you had to be pretty nervous with me springing this on you, so I wanted to sort of put you at ease....are you nervous?" he asked, smiling warmly at me.
"Freddie, I didn't sleep a wink last night," I admitted, blushing a bit.  
He put a hand over his mouth in surprise, "Oh my dear, were you that nervous?" he gasped.
I nodded, "Yeah..." I said sheepishly.
Freddie hugged me, "Well then I order you to sleep in the limo while I hold you...I insist." he said, ushering me inside the limo.
Jim was sitting there waiting for me to climb in between him and Freddie.
"Hi Jim!" I said, giving him a hug.
"Hello darlin," he grinned, hugging me back.  
Freddie sat down beside me after having gone and grabbed my heavy suitcase.  I felt bad having forgotten to do it myself, but he said not to worry about it.  
As the driver pulled out of my driveway, Freddie pressed my head against his shoulder.
"Now you take yourself a nap, lovie...this one stayed up all night in anticipation of today!" he explained to Jim, "She needs her sleep!"
I giggled, "Oh I can't....I'm still really keyed up!" I told them.  
Freddie looked at me, wide eyed, "Are you sure?" he looked me close in the eyes, "Hmmm you don't even seem to have dark circles...well I suppose you can stay awake for a little bit, but I insist you sleep on the plane." he informed me.
I kissed his cheek, "Ok, big brother!" I said in a little kid voice, which made him and Jim both crack up laughing.  

The plane we took to Hawaii was a private plane which was a lot smaller than the air liners I was used to.  Freddie had to reassure me the pilot had 20 years experience and that nothing amiss would happen. I felt foolish for being so afraid, but I'd heard so many horror stories of planes crashing from birds flying into the engines that it had made me rather paranoid.  
After we'd taken our seats on the plane and my suitcase was stashed in the baggage compartment along with Freddie's and Jim's luggage, Freddie sat down beside me and put his arm around me.  
"Now...I must insist you get some rest, all right? You can lean on my shoulder and stretch across the two of us, or you can stretch out across the seat in front of us, but you MUST sleep!" he ordered.
I sighed, hating to admit that I really was finally beginning to feel sleepy.
"All right...but don't watch me, you'd make me feel like I was doin it wrong." I grumbled.
Freddie laughed, "You're self conscious about people watching you sleep? How bout this...you can lean on my shoulder and when you fall asleep, I'll help you lie down in the seat across from us....does that sound all right, lovie?" he asked softly.
I blushed and nodded, allowing him to lay my head on his shoulder.  
Jim chuckled, "You're such a mother hen," he said to Freddie.
"What if I am? Melvin here's my sweet little friend." he giggled.  
I settled against his shoulder before asking my next question, "Can't you give me a hint about this mystery guy you have for me? And why is he not here?"
"Your mystery vacation date is going to meet us at our condo in Hawaii...and I'm not telling you a thing, because if I give you a hint you'll guess exactly who he is.  So no hints...now go to sleep." he said firmly.
"I can't sleep on command!" I protested, laughing softly.
Freddie sighed amusedly, "If I sing to you, will that help?" he asked softly.  
I smiled, "Maybe." I said, giving an almost involuntary nuzzle against his shoulder.  
He chuckled, "All right," he said, giving me a squeeze.
I looked at Jim, still feeling funny about snuggling with Freddie, especially in front of him.  
He gave me a wink, his eyes twinkling in good humor.  That made me relax a bit more and I soon fell under the spell of Freddie's soft voice as he sang what sounded like a Parsee lullaby to me.  I couldn't help but grin at that before becoming more and more sleepy.  It took about an hour for me to actually doze off.  
I think Freddie was relieved to help me into the seat across from him because I vaguely heard him say something under his breath about his arm falling asleep as well as me.  
As excited as I had been, I slept the entire flight.  

Freddie woke me as we landed in the Hawaii airport, "C'mon, lovie...it's time to wake up." he said gently, rubbing my back and shoulder.   I opened my eyes and saw his smiling face, "Hello." I said, stretching.
Freddie giggled, "Aww you're so cute! What did I tell you, I said you needed that sleep, didn't I?" he said, his voice sounding a little hyper.  
I giggled, "Yeah, you told me so." I said wryly.  
He laughed, "I sure did! C'mon, let's go! We have to get you to the condo so you can meet your mystery man!" he exclaimed.
His words brought a jump to my chest, "Oh yeah, you're right..." I said, my smile fading a bit.
"Aww, Melvin don't worry! I know the two of you will hit it off famously! I've told him all about you, everything I know, and he thinks you sound absolutely adorable....he's anticipating our arrival!" he said eagerly as he led me off the plane.  
I tried to slow the beating of my heart as we were led to another limo.  We climbed in along with our luggage and were soon on our way to the condo.  
Freddie kept a protective arm around me and Jim held my hand as we rode, both a real comfort to me.  I squeezed Jim's hand, every few moments having to remember to exhale. Freddie gave me squeezes and whispered, "don't worry, sweet." to me every time I had to remember to breath.  
I felt foolish being so nervous, but Freddie and Jim handled it beautifully.  I suppose it was because Freddie was very shy himself at times, and Jim was just sweet.  I will always remember how nice they were to me on the way to the condo...it's something I'll never ever forget.
As we pulled up outside the condo, I stiffened.  
Here it was....I was about to meet the guy Freddie was fixing me up with.  For a moment I was too nervous to move, but with a little prodding Freddie and Jim were able to pry me from the backseat of the limo.  
Bell boys from the condo came to grab our luggage as Freddie and Jim led me through the doors of the condo.  Freddie looked around a bit before sighing, "aw he's not here yet, lovie...what do you say we go take a look around, eh?" he asked me.  
I nodded, almost glad he hadn't shown up yet.  From what Freddie had told me, I knew who this guy was, and if he was someone I was a fan of, I felt I'd melt right down into the floor.  
All of a sudden I began mentally trying to guess who he was.  Was he another singer? Was he an actor? Was he a sports celeb? I was pretty sure he wasn't the latter because Freddie knew I really wasn't into sports.
Freddie led the way around the condo, showing me nearly everything in the place; apparently he came here a lot, for he knew where everything was.  
We had time to freshen up and use the facilities before the phone in the corner rang.  Freddie nearly leapt over to the phone and picked it up, "Hello?" he answered it excitedly.  He listened for a moment before his grin became wider, "All right, we'll be right down, darling!" he said before hanging up.  Then he crossed the room to me, "He's here." he said softly, putting his hands on my shoulders, "Are you going to be okay?"
I took a deep breath and put my arms around him in a tight hug, "I'm scared..." I said softly.  
Freddie held me tightly, swaying just a bit in a comforting gesture, "I know...but it'll be all right, I promise you.  He's a very sweet person...and he's looking forward to meeting you." he said, his voice ever so soft.  
I felt Jim pat me on the back and kiss my shoulder, "You'll love him, darlin...we promise."
"All right," I said, finally letting go of Freddie, "I'm ready to meet him."

Both Freddie and Jim held my hands as we went down the stairs and through the front door.  
When I saw who was standing outside the condo next to his car, clad in tight blue jeans, shin high black boots, and a white and blue tee shirt, I nearly couldn't believe it.  
Standing in front of us was Julian Sherwood, my teenage crush.  
I'd told Freddie about him shortly after we'd met, but hadn't mentioned it much since.  Julian was an actor and playwright who specialized in weird and wonderful stage plays.  I'd first seen a movie based off one of his plays when I was about fifteen and had fallen completely in love with him, as he'd held a supporting role in the movie.  
Nearly every one of my friends had gotten crushes on the star, but I and my best friend Tammy had fallen for Julian's character, Max, the snarky sidekick.  Before I'd become interested in Queen, Julian was the one I loved...and now here he was!
I'd completely forgotten about revealing this to Freddie, but it came back as soon as I saw Julian standing there.  For a moment I couldn't move, but Freddie and Jim pulled me forward to meet him.
"Julian Sherwood, this is my good friend, Melinda....call her Melvin." he said, winking.  
Julian chuckled and took his sunglasses off, revealing a pair of ice blue eyes.  
"Nice to meet you....Melvin." he said, giving a soft giggle and taking my hand and giving it a gentle shake.
"It's....it's very nice to meet you too...Mr. Sherwood." I gasped, my eyes wide, a huge smile on my face.  
"Please...call me, Julian...or Jules, that's my nickname." he winked, one corner of his mouth going up in a half smile.  
My heart fluttered; that was the smile I remembered from my crush!
"Oh...ok, J-Julian," I stammered, "You d-don't have to call me Melvin if you don't want to...that's just what Freddie calls me." I said softly, my face warming up.  
Julian smiled with both sides of his mouth going up this time, "All right, Melinda." he said softly.  
Freddie's voice piped up, "I think we've chosen well, have we not, Melvin?"
I pried my eyes away from Julian's enough to turn and give Freddie a huge smile and a nod.
"Yes you have!" I said, smiling brightly.  
Freddie winked, "I knew you'd be happy with my choice." he said.  

And with that, our two week vacation began.  It was to be truly memorable.

To be continued.