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"But what really is the difference between fudge and ice cream or other sweets?"
"Put it in your mouth Bri and experience the difference for yourself," Deaky advised as he managed to smear more on his cheeks as he ate more. Roger and Freddie looked at each other, snickering and elbowing each other.
Deaky just rolled his eyes, real mature boys. What fudge was, was delicious. Deaky couldn't wait for fudge to make its way to Britain but he doubted it would be better than Mackinac which had been doing this for nearly 100 years. At first he had thought this place a tourist trap, but now he was happy their label had their tour let them vacation here.
It was... peaceful. And not just because of the lack of cars. More the small population, and all the nature. It seemed everywhere in America had vast expanses of wilderness and national parks. Everywhere but the population hubs they toured at. It wasn't hard to walk from the fudge shop towards the national park because it made up some 80% of the island. Just green fields, tall trees, white cliffs, white beach, and the blue, blue lake.
"This is nice?" Roger offered for them to stop here, at a cleared, flat lawn. Deaky suspected this was a park rather than a National park because it was mowed. Would Americans mow their national parks? They might well, considering how they were about lawn culture. Deaky made a noise of agreement, Freddie didn't care one way or another- but Brian lifted his weight from one foot to another at the edge of the grass, still both feet on the paved path.
Roger kicked off his sandals as Deaky wrapped his fudge up to take off his socks and sneakers. The only thing to fear now was a sunburn and ants. "There... can't be snakes here? With the grass like this?" Brian asked as he looked around at the low grass. When they had gone canoeing and had a nasty experience with a snapping turtle, Brian had grown 'paranoid' of American 'wilderness' like this was Australia. Their guide had been good enough to tell them that Michigan did in fact have a venomous snake.
"We will see them, with the grass like this," Freddie said confidently as he stretched his bare toes in the soft grass. The homogenous American grass was always so soft and pleasant underfoot. He wanted a lawn like this at Garden Lodge, and conveniently English weather could actually far more easily accomplish this.
"Not to mention it's a rattle," Roger tacked on as he flopped down onto the grass staring up at the vivid blue sky. It wasn't a clear blue because it had clouds but that was nice, gave them some shade from time to time. The summer heat wasn't too crushing at this early season, but he didn't know what it would take to melt their partly buttery treats. This one was salted caramel and delicious, it was a shame he didn't care for peanut butter. They had had some strange flavours though like 'pumpkin.' Not even pumpkin spice, just... pumpkin. Americans.
Anyways, Freddie had gotten Bear Butter because he found it both a cryptic and hilarious name. It turned out to be chocolate and creamy peanut butter which Freddie didn't mind. Freddie flopped down next to Roger. "So blondie, how's the weather down here?"
"Very pleasant. Not too warm, not too cold, just a little wind. Perfect even."
"Good for us then, Goldilocks. Doubt it will even get this warm all summer in London," to Freddie this was just balmy and perfect, but it was nice to know it wasn't just his childhood acclimatization.
"Good thing we aren't there then," Deaky said, preferring to sit on his butt and look into the blue waters as he scrunched his toes into the grass.
Brian stepped out of his clogs but prefered to keep his socks on as he slowly sat down on the grass. He thought it was a little warm, sweat beading at his nape under his heavy hair, but he didn't mind sweating a little. He bit into his own fudge. He wasn't sure he wouldn't have preferred an ice lollie but it was nice to try new things even if this was criminally sweet. He didn't dare say anything lest he be accused of being a killjoy. It wasn't bad, and the boys were clearly enjoying themselves. Certainly their happiness made Brian happy, so he couldn't help but smile as he tried to chew through the sticky mess that was their sweets. And it was nice to be in nature like this. The calm, quiet of the island, compare to the chaos that had become their lives.
-
As if his thoughts has summoned them, Brian blinked away from the lulling waves to look at two giggling girls that had noticed them. They looked around the same age both with blonde hair though one had the ends dyed red. Once Brian made eye contact with them, they approached, although one more reluctantly than the other.
"Hello, we're sorry to disturb you," one said even though she was disturbing them and had no intentions of stopping as she reached into her large bag and pulled out a diary and pen.
"No disturbance, we're happy to have such dedicated fans," Freddie said with his big show smile. Brian couldn't muster the same enthusiasm.
The fan flipped her diary to two blank pages and handed him the pen too. "Just if you could twice, on either side."
"Of course," Freddie signed and passed it along.
"It's such a pleasure to meet you, we're really big fans. Me and Victoria actually met in your fan club."
"Oh, wow. That's really serendipitous then," Deaky answered as he leaned over Freddie's shoulder to sign too.
"Very. Is it your first time here? Are you enjoying Mackinac?"
"It is and we are," Brian answered as they were almost done, but would that get them out of their hair?
"First time eating fudge too," Roger replied more conversationally.
"You've never had fudge before?" / "Your first time?"
The boys laughed jovially at the assumption. "No fudge in Britain, or... anywhere but America actually."
"Oh," one of them looked very dumbfounded for a moment as the other took back her diary. She looked at the pages, at the 8 signatures and flipped the page to write herself. Maybe the date and location of their meeting. "Well, I hope you enjoy it," that tone sounded- flirtatious.
"Oh, yes. Very enjoyable," Roger was apparently down to flirt back. Freddie just dropped his head and continued to cloud watch. "I've found so much to *enjoy* here. The food, the location... so many things."
The woman smiled back. "Well, I do hope you can enjoy *all* that America has to offer."
"I sure hope so, too," Roger replied coyly.
The two had been all smiles at seeing Queen, but now the smile was a little- more. She stopped only to look down at her diary and maybe what she was doing. She ripped out two pages. "For you, for me," she handed one sheet to her friend and then looked daringly at Roger, "And for you. If you ever have the time for more... sightseeing. It was great to meet you, we wish you luck on your albums and touring!"
"Thank you. We hope you'll enjoy!"
The girls then didn't overstay their welcome and walked away as Brian gave Roger a look. Roger fluttered his lashes dramatically as he enjoyed another bite of his fudge. This made Deaky and Freddie share a look as they snickered. Even in a day full of new some things never changed.