I'd Like to be Somebody Else

Chapter 42

    We were back in Wales, back in the recording studio like the cricket bat incident and the weeks that followed it hadn't happened. They were focused, working hard to make up for lost time.

 "Does this tea taste weird to you?" I asked

    We were cheekily hanging out together, having a cuppa and not really doing anything while the rest of the band were working to get their parts done. I was sure Noel would come and have a go at Guigsy as soon as he realised he wasn't doing something functional.

 "No, mine's fine. It's probably just the different water." Guigsy shrugged. "You've not been here long enough."

    We'd just gotten back but I didn't remember the tea being horrible before the cricket bat incident.

 "I'm sorry. I can't drink it." I shook my head.

    He took my cup and tried a sip. "Tastes fine to me. You just need to get used to the Welsh water." he shrugged.

    I hadn't noticed the different taste of water anywhere I've been this much before, especially not in tea.

 "I'm really sorry." I said getting upset.

 "What's gotten into you? There's really no need to get upset, it's tea, not the rarest champagne or something."

...

    Noel and I sat talking in our hotel bed a few days later.

 "How's recording going?" I asked, it was a stupid question since I'd been with them most of the time when they were working.

 "Better than last time." He put his hands on my ribs, catching my breasts.

    I winced in pain. "My boobs are so sore at the minute. I think the monthlys are coming back."

    It was a big downside to not having the implant but I'd been lucky enough to go without for years.

 "Oh." He dropped his hands to my waist. "Can we not have sex then?" he was obviously disappointed.

 "I would but everything feels so sensitive and not in a good way."

 "Do I have to do anything?"

 "What d'you mean?"

 "I don't know, there's not some special thing Luke always did? Fetch drugs, stuff like that." he offered.

...

    Liam and Alan took me to the local pub, I didn't know why I was invited when Liam just wanted another session with his official drinking partner.

 "Can I have water for her, er..." Liam began to order as we sat at the bar.

 "Liam! At what point did I stop being able to speak for myself?" I objected.

 "Big mistake mate, never let a lass think you think you're better than her." the barman commented. "What can I get you?" he asked me.

 "Coke, please."

 "I wasn't, I don't, ugh, it's not like I told her to get back in the fucking kitchen or some shit like that."

    They ordered their drinks and we moved to a table.

 "What are you drinking cola for, anyway? We're out for a drink."

 "My liver could do with the occasional rest. Why'd you try to get me a glass of water if we are drinking?"

 "Wanted to see what you'd do."

 "You're a right manipulative little cunt sometimes y'know." I told him. "What's it like being his official drinking partner?" I asked Alan.