Layla flashed the security guard her pass, making her way towards the side of the Pyramid Stage where the crowd were already screaming and clapping as the pre-show music played, the melody of 'Do I Wanna Know' echoing across Glastonbury Festival.
She spotted them immediately amongst the technicians and festival officials. They were already wearing their tech packs and laughing nervously between themselves, their rockstar personas slightly dampened by the Glastonbury nerves. It wasn't the Arctic Monkeys' first rodeo but there's no pressure quite like one of the biggest greenfields festivals in the world, especially as they had built quite the reputation since 2007.
They certainly looked the part; Alex was dressed in black with a silver jacket that was almost shimmering, with Nick and Matt opting for rockstar leather and Cookie in a beautiful navy suit. Layla thought she looked very underwhelming approaching them in her festival wellies, but she was just happy to see the band. She caught Alex's eye almost immediately as he absent-mindlessly looked around, his face breaking out into a huge smile. He had missed his best friend on tour and had to subtly pinch himself to make himself believe that she was there.
"Hey, it's the Arctic Monkeys!" Layla shouted while grinning at Alex, watching the rest of the boys turning around to smile at her too.
"Well if it isn't Layla Owens!" Matt shouted, beaming at the sight of his mate.
"Matthew Helders, never a pleasure!" She shouted back, pulling him into a tight hug, "Missed you."
"Missed you too you idiot." Matt replied before letting Layla go so that she could say hello to everyone else.
"Hiya Cookie!" She gave Jamie a hug and peck on the cheek, "Don't you look dashing."
"I do try my best." He winked playfully and took a sip of his beer.
"O'Malley I missed you the most!"
"Oi!" Layla heard Alex protest behind her, and she just turned and rolled her eyes before hugging Nick tightly, watching as her best friend mocked a look of annoyance. Alex knew full well she had missed him the most because she hadn't stopped texting him in the buildup to her coming to Glastonbury.
"Missed you too Layla! So glad you're here!" Nick ignored his petty mate and hugged her back, letting her go before Alex started a fight with him.
"Alex, you could've just waited two sec-" Layla didn't have time to finish before he had picked her up into such a fierce hug that she had to wrap her ankles slightly around his waist.
"I missed you, love." He whispered, his eyes closed in the pure bliss of being able to hug his best friend again. In response, Layla pressed a small kiss under his ear - one of the only places she could reach due to Alex's tight grip on her.
"Relax Al, I'm not gonna run away or anything. You can put me down now." Layla patted his back and he finally placed her back on the ground, still unable to keep a smile off his face.
"God, I feel like I haven't seen you guys in so long!" She looked around at the quartet as they sipped at their drinks.
"It's only been five months but it always feels like forever." Nick grinned, happy to have one of his best mates by his side again. This tour had felt long already after spending so much time with Layla while writing and recording AM after the last tour.
"The crowd is already screaming! No surprise obviously." She raised her voice over the noise of the thousands of people she could see from the side of the stage. If she craned her head slightly she could see flags and flares dotted around the sea of anticipation.
"Shitting bricks a little bit but we're gonna smash it." Matt replied, twirling his drumsticks between his fingers in anticipation. Alex nodded nervously in agreement, finishing off his beer and lighting a cigarette between his lips, taking a couple of drags before offering it to Layla.
YOU ARE READING
Snapshots - Alex Turner
Fanfiction- "That was beautiful, Alex." -- "I guarantee it's not as beautiful as my view right now." *I only own the rights to the character of Layla Owens*
