stories from the city; damon albarn

52-

Upon the groups arrival at Reading and Leeds, they seemed to immediately head out into the crowd, something that was unusual for Chloe as she was really used to hanging out backstage. But apparently, that wasn't real enough for their group. Who'd decided that perhaps they'd hang out backstage later in the night- because the parties were better.

Camped out on the ground in the blistering sun, the group sat in a circle around the stage, waiting for the next act to play. Chloe was seated across from Ewan, downing her water. This was miserable. She was half tempted to climb across the barricade and make it backstage.

"This is awful." She notes "Are you all sure you want to stay here? I think it would be better backstage, or in one of the food tents."

Ewan laughs, pulling her into his lap and wrapping his hands around her waist. "Is the sun bothering you?" He asks in a soft voice, one that hinted that he was both teasing and being concerned.

"A little bit." She says groaning. "I'm not used to sitting out in the sun."

"You've got a point. If we're able to be back there." Jonny says, pointing the stage "why the fuck are we out here burning our arses off?"

"For the experience!" Stella says "I mean how many times do you come to Reading and Leeds?"

Chloe raises an eyebrow "This neither of our first times." She says

"Oh, you get what I mean. We should try living it up, seeing what everyone else does for a change."

Chloe would never say this out loud, but she had started thinking of the song Common People by Pulp, because that's what this was starting to make her think of.

"Are you not burning up?" Jonny says, asking Ewan, who shrugs his shoulders

"You shouldn't be getting any sun. It'll fuck with what people think of you, and whether you get cast. Apparently tans are killing the acting industry now." Jonny says, being partially sarcastic.

Ewan frowns "Well lucky for me, I play a space warrior who spends a lot of time in the sand and battlefield at the moment. I don't think sun is going to be hurting my career."

"How's that going by the way?" Stella asks "I saw the movie, and you weren't bad in it by all means, I'm just a little confused."

"Confused with what?"

"That ugly dinosaur, what was its name?"

There is a collective groan.

"Jar Jar Binks." Jonny says, reminding the group of the evil little idiot's name.

"That nearly ruined the movie for me. That and your hair." Chloe murmurs, looking up at her husband, who doesn't even seem phased by this comment- having heard it from Chloe at least a thousand times. Instead he just kisses the top of her head, tightening his grip around her as well.

"Yeah, who's idea was that? It was awful. I didn't get why no one chopped its head off." Jonny says

"it's a Star Wars movie. They can't do that."

"They cut Luke's hand off. And it was a Star Wars movie then as well." Stella adds onto the conversation

"Don't ask me, I'm just the actor. George Lucas is the creator of this mess. And look, I know it's messy. I'm the one who's having to start filming the second one in a few months. And let me tell you- the script is not exactly looking up."

Chloe scowls "you don't have to get that awful haircut again do you?"

"No. I actually don't. Because this one takes place ten years later. He's no longer a Padawan, but a Jedi Knight. So they're actually encouraging me to grow it out, just how you like it."