Little by Little | Noel Gallagher

Chapter 4

Noel made his way into the VIP area the Pyramid stage, ready to see Paul McCartney take to the stage. It didn't matter how many times you'd already seen the man, each time, you saw something new. He wasn't the greatest rock and roller of all time for nothing.

The VIP area was buzzing with other celebrities and acts who'd performed that day. He was still on a high from his own set, which had only finished an hour ago on the same stage. He shook hands and patted the back of people who came up to congratulate him on it. It had been a great set.

He lent on railing near the front on the area, wanting to get the best view of Paul as possible. Two of his band mates were next to him, but he wasn't really focussed on their conversation as he surveyed the crowd. Sometimes he missed being able to join in with the masses of people. They always seemed so high on life, without a care in the world. Screaming so loudly and feeling the music pound through their chests. Sometimes he suspected it might be better than the VIP area.

Noel sipped his beer as he looked around the area. Then he saw her. Amy.

He'd thought of her a few times since they'd met at BBC – if you can call it a meeting. He'd made a right knob of himself after she'd rightly called him out. He wasn't sure why it bothered him so much, but it did.

She was animated like she'd been when he saw her on television, using her hands to emphasis her speech again. She had a small crowd around her, and she was telling a story. It seemed like several people were hanging off her words.

Noel made his way over, making eye contact with Amy as he did. She abruptly stopped.

"Oh. Hi," she said. Noel tried to make his grimace a smile. Not the warmest of welcomes.

"Hiya," he said. "Guess you're here to see Macca?" Obviously. Why else would she be in the VIP area of the stage?

Graciously she let it go. "Yeah, very excited!" She said, her eyes brightening up.

"You're Noel Gallagher yeah?" said one of the blokes beside her. "Why'd you slag off our song mate?"

Oh god this interaction was becoming worse by the second. So this was one of her band mates. Noel clocked him. He looked pissed off but he didn't think any fists would be thrown. Not like the old days. Noel opened his mouth to speak but Amy cut him off.

"It's alright, James. He heard it at BBC. Said he just needed to hear it live, right?" she winked at Noel. He flushed. What was it about this woman that caught him so off guard and had him stumbling over his words like a school boy?

"I guess I did. How was your set?" Noel asked. He was keen to get the conversation passed this.

Amy paused before she answered. She had no idea why Noel had approached her, but she was quietly pleased.

"It was great. It's so good to be performing again." Amy began to tell him about their performance. Everyone so often James would chime n and say something. They spoke over the top of each other regularly, poked fun of each other and finished each other's sentences. They had the rhythm and rapport that only family members who really liked each other had.

Noel watched Amy closely as she spoke. Her face was alight and she spoke with such passion and enthusiasm. He got the sense really got music.

"I saw some of your set," Amy said, look. She neglected to say that she saw almost all of it.

Noel felt happiness and nerves fill his chest simultaneously. "Oh yeah? Any good?" He asked in what he hoped was a way sounded like he didn't really care. But for some reason, he really cared what she thought.

The sounds of Paul McCartney's set filled the air, and the three of them were pushed along as people made their way to the railing to see him. Amy felt Noel's arm steady her waist as people jostled past her. It was warm. Her heartbeat quickened. He quickly pulled it away when he saw James put his arm out for support as well. Of course. Her cousin should do it. Not Noel.

As they watched Paul, Noel kept stealing glances at Amy. Her face was flushed with excitement. Every now and then she'd stretch out her arms, close her eyes while she sang along. She didn't care who heard her. He'd never seen someone who seemed enjoy being alive so much. It was captivating.

A song finished and Amy opened her eyes. Noel was looking at her. She flushed under the intensity of his gaze. She hoped he couldn't tell. She turned away from his blue, blue eyes and looked at the crowd.

"Sometimes I wish I could be amongst the crowd don't you? VIP is great, but they always look like they're having the most fun down there," Amy said.

Noel's stomach flip flopped as he looked at Amy again. It was exactly what he'd just thought. She was looking at him expectantly, waiting for his answer. Her eyes were bright and her lashes so long they nearly touched her cheek. Her pink lips were parted slightly as she excitedly took in air. She was really very pretty. It was distracting.

"Yeah, I've always thought that as well," Noel said. Amy studied him briefly – a second, if that – before smilingly joyfully.

"Great minds," she said, turning to back to Paul's show.

He swallowed thickly. He felt discombobulated and out of sorts. He considered himself someone who calm and collected and always in control – or he least tried to present that to others. He was careful to not let very many people see behind the cool exterior he constructed. But since meeting Amy, it seemed like that was slipping out of his control.