stories from the city; damon albarn

45-

The Chloe that was in front of him felt different than the one he'd grown to know. This one was calmer. She had quit smoking. Apparently wasn't even carrying that lighter of hers around anymore. Damon couldn't get over the smoking thing. It was bewildering. It made him recall one of the few nights they had actually spent together.

And how my god, had the Erlich's not been rich her family's estate would've stunk of smoke. There were ashtrays everywhere in that house. Damon remembered being surprised that the fucking dogs hadn't been eating them.

But that was irrelevant.

They'd been in bed, Chloe had just finished going down on him and she was lounging around lazily in her bed when she'd lit a cigarette and quickly managed to finish it off, swiftly moving onto another. The stick loosely hanging off her lips.

Damon found her most appealing like this.

Half under the covers, mainly exposed. Her hair both fluffy and pushed back, the smoke lightly filling the air. God she was beautiful.

"You ever seen Heathers? The Winona Ryder and Christian Slater movie?" She had asked him

He'd shook his head no.

"She tries burning her hand with a cigarette. But can't. So he does it for her." She trails off, looking up at him.

"I'm not asking you to do that." Chloe adds, as if it was obvious.

And the two went back to their own forms of recreation, or rather silence. Chloe attended to her cigarettes, and Damon to his writing. That was what things were like for the two of them after sex. They attended to themselves. Their needs.

He liked women that weren't overly attached after sex, which was what made Chloe such a great companion. As she understand what he was like as well. She wasn't clingy. She didn't want to sleep. She smoked.

Although the smell sometimes would irritate him- despite the fact that he smoked as well, she would tell him to suck it up and open a window or something. That was something else he adored about her, she wouldn't be pushed around by anyone.

Coming back to the present, he looked at her and Ewan strangely. "I'm getting a drink, why don't I buy us a round?" He asks, looking around the table surely

Justine nods, but Ewan and Chloe sit unsurely.

She finally speaks "It's a bit early in the day for drinking, isn't it?"

"It's about 4:00. That's about right on time." Ewan says shrugging, before saying "But I'm trying to stay sober for the night. My movie is playing and all."

"A pint wouldn't hurt." Justine says grinning

Chloe snickers a little "we're being a bit babyish today. Excuse us. You two enjoy the drinks though. We'll see you later, at the showing correct?"

Justine nods and with that, the two exit the scene, leaving Damon and Justine alone at the table.

"Something is wrong with her." Damon states firmly as soon as they exited the tent in question

"What do you mean?" Justine asks "That was Chloe in a nutshell."

"She's not smoking. Since when the fuck does she not smoke?" He says irritatedly

"Plenty of people are trying to quit these days. Keep their lungs alive. Besides, her sister is a pretty fit girl, maybe that encouraged her." Justine says, just spitballing

"Explain the drinking. They both declined drinks. And you know those two usually fancy a pint or two."

Justine sighs "Damon it doesn't really matter. Don't treat their lives like a conspiracy."

"I'm just intrigued. That's all." He says sternly

"What for?"

"I've never seen someone change so much in the span of a year. Ever." He mumbles. "Especially not like that."

Justine rolls her eyes. "I think you're just jealous. Those two are clearly in fucking love. And you're what? Still hanging on by a thread?"

Damon glares at her. "I love you. I'm not hanging onto anyone."

"Sure you are. But look, don't be hard on Chloe and Ewan. They've gone through a lot this year."

"Like what? What is possibly so bad?"

Justine runs a hand through her hair "I heard through Avery, who heard through Liam, who technically heard from his manager, who's friends with someone from Ewan's talent agency, well, it's not important. And even so it's none of our business."

Damon groans "you go through all that and won't tell me shit?"

"Grow up Damon. Last time you heard anything valuable you sold it down the river on a TV show." She mutters "I'm surprised they didn't walk away when I said hello. I would've if I were them."

"It wasn't that bad."

"Do you lack self awareness? I nearly ended it with you right then and there! You made a fool out of yourself and hurt that man."

"Please. I doubt I did any damage Chloe can't mend in their personal time."

"Damon! You can't say that. You went on TV with the intention to make him hurt. And you did. I'm surprised she didn't slap you. Or he didn't come after you. I mean, seriously."

This was all true.

Justine had been beyond pissed with Damon after that show, staying up to call Chloe and ask if she was okay, checking in on Ewan as well. She had then chewed Damon out- from the moment he'd gotten home.

God it had been an embarrassing week in the tabloids. Justine's publicist had been beyond furious and overworked, as she was sending out about 20 different statements a day, all saying similar things.

And yet Damon walked away unscathed in the public eye, but his reputation among the professional world had been torched entirely.