stories from the city; damon albarn

25-

Chloe Erlich woke up in someone bed the following morning, her head was reeling and she felt like an absolute wreck. As she picked up the pieces from the following night, and looked at the fellow next to her, she realized that she was most likely inside Ewan McGregor's current place of living.

And that the man next to her, was in fact him. He looked tired, half of his face was buried into a pillow, occasionally murmuring something about his mum, or a sheep farm.

She slipped out of bed quietly, trying to remember what had happened last night. She remembered that he was going to pierce her ears, but then upon arriving at his place, they realized that they were both too drunk to stab any holes into anyone and had gone to sleep.

Well, that was a night to remember. Drinking with an indie film star and almost getting him to piece her eyes.

Chloe stretched her legs out before proceeding to the bathroom, trying to think of what she thought other people would think. Specifically, Damon Albarn.

The boy she'd grown abnormally close to in the past couple of months, the one who'd taken her out on breakfast, lunch and dinner dates, confided to her about everything. About how he wanted to run off to the country, get off heroin, get off with Justine and find someone who could make him happy without all of that.

He'd told her secrets about his friends, he'd taken photos on her camera. Cried in her bedroom about his life, let her hold him and nurse him back to himself. They'd even shared a few kisses. Nothing more.

He'd brought her out of her shell and led her to believe she was capable of so much more than who she was. He'd introduced her to all of his friends, taken her to Blur's recording sessions.

In such a short amount of time, Chloe had grown attached to him and his late night promises and confessions. Partially, she hoped that she was the one he'd want to run away with.

But ultimately, he'd run back to Justine. Just like he had done last night.

It made her angry.

How could he say all of that and not act on any of it? Did he not realize how rude it was? How painful it was? How he'd affected her?

She knew that they were drunken confessions. But the actions of one when they're drunk are often more real than the actions of a sober man.

Curling up on the bathroom floor, Chloe groaned, wrapping her arms around her legs and setting her head on top of her knees. She liked the dim lighting of his bathroom. She could think in it, and voice her irritation internally without interruptions.

Thinking back to yesterday, perhaps she had only invited Ewan out to make Damon jealous. And it hadn't worked. Obviously.

She had left with Ewan, while Damon had probably fucked Justine in the club bathroom.

Now granted, she sounded like she was throwing Ewan under the bus.

He was sweet, and pleasant and seemed to just like being in her company.

He hadn't pressured her to do anything and was still offering to piece her ears.

He was the kind of person you could take out any day and have a nice time with. He was the kind of guy Chloe could like. He was what Damon Albarn wished he was. A nice guy.

Her initial intentions with Ewan hadn't been the greatest. But perhaps, now sitting on his bathroom floor, she wanted to give him a second chance. An actual chance. To know him to the great beyond and all of that.

So, up she went and pranced off back into the bedroom, where she saw him beginning to rise out of the bed. 

"How'd you like to piece my ears in the daylight?" She asked