Me and You

This Charming Man

Amy's sweaty hand nudged my shoulder and nodded over to the back of the room. People were filing out in a rabble. Some stopped and stood at the back of the room, where I noticed Van and the rest of the band stood handing out demos.

We moved over to the bar at the back - where the band was - once everyone had left and greeted them happily, still buzzed up from their active set. There was a whiteboard in the corner, which Van pointed out with an amused grin, that had their list of (what they would call) 'merch' that varied in a range of vulgarity.

"Has anyone ever actually asked for a signed boob?" I asked, holding my side in a fit of laughter as we all walked around the back of the bar, for them to get their van and us to get Amy's car.

He creased his eyebrows seriously and nodded, adding "yeah, loads." In response, I raised my eyebrows, chuckling with a disbelieving shake of the head.

"Nah, no one has, their not very good writing surfaces though, are they?" Van laughed, nudging my side as we stumbled along the path, all drunk in the excitement of the gig.

Literally, I stumbled following Van's light nudge due to my natural lack of balance and aching feet. As I found my feet again, I heard Van's youthful laugh ringing in the barely illuminated night. Rolling my eyes, I nudged him back with a content smile on my face.

As we reached the car (which Amy had moved when we were putting up posters), I bid my farewells to Van.

"What d'you mean? Amy invited me and Larry round tonight with yous," he smiled, and I suddenly understood everything that happened in between like 4 and 6 today.

"Oh class, well I'll see you then."

-

We waited around at Amy's for at least Lou and Winnie to come before cracking open the booze.

It was about an hour after the girls arrived that Van and Larry did. And I was already sat in the arm chair cradling a half-full bottle of cider in my arms singing out Chelsea Dagger.

"Helloo," I said, as they strolled in and took a seat on the couch. They both chirped back a happy 'alright' before Van stood up to get them a can each from the kitchen.

When he came back, he resumed his seat on the couch, in between me and Larry.

"What did you think then?" He asked, slightly apprehensively but mostly with enthusiasm.

"Mate, you's were class," I said, leaning forward and putting my cider down, "I'm not even kidding, it was like seeing Oasis again."

"Really?! How good was Bombay the other night though!" Van suggested, as his cheeks gradually reddened.

My excitement from the memories of that gig was highlighted when I started talking faster about it, before adding; "Honestly man, I thought tonight was better than Bombay."

Van laughed and I decided to move Amy's turntable closer to my armchair. I walked towards the record player and wheeled it over, making speed noises. I fumbled as I took off the needle and carelessly placed it on a different place on the 'football anthems' record.

The intro to Step On and the infamous slur of Shawn Ryder; "you're twisting my melon man," played. I looked at Van and Larry and raised my eyebrows.

Larry laughed at me as I tipsily fucked about with Amy's precious vinyls, while

Van looked slightly impressed at my record skills.

"That's never actually worked before," I laughed, before taking a swig of my cider (that also now had vodka in, thanks to Amy trying to get me to spew on her carpet).