Little by Little | Noel Gallagher

Chapter 13

14 September 2022

The guests were inside, mingling and catching up on gossip the way people did when they were at a funeral that didn't affect them immediately. Amy watched from outside dispassionately. She always hated how random people and hangers on showed up to funeral, like it was some kind of social event. Countless of those types had turned up to her uncle's funeral, claiming some kind of connection to him or worse, hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous Rising Sun.

Amy had stepped outside for a break from the wake. To make matters worse, the paparazzi had showed up to get photos of them arriving and leaving the funeral. It was times like this she really hated that she'd chosen this profession, missing her anonymity.

She noticed James at the other end of the garden, smoking a cigarette dejectedly. Unsure if he wanted company, or to be left alone, Amy tentatively walked over to him. "You alright?" she asked.

"I just needed I break from all the vultures in there," he practically spat. "I've never even met half of them."

"I know, it's gross," Amy said, tracing her shoe through the grass. James inhaled his cigarette.

"I know you're going to tell me these will kill me but look at Dad. Never smoked and died of a heart attack," he said bitterly. "Doesn't make sense."

Amy didn't know what to say – James was right. It didn't make sense. Her uncle had been relatively young still, fit and healthy. His heart attack had been a total, horrible shock. It happened so quickly, paramedics had no chance to save him.

"I just keeping thinking-" James began, but Amy cut him off.

"Don't," she said. "Don't think about the what ifs. You'll drive yourself crazy."

James threw his cigarette on the ground and stamped it out with his foot, sighing. "Better get back inside. You coming?"

"Give me a few more minutes," Amy said, reaching out to squeeze his arm. He walked off back inside, and she someone else approaching her. It looked like – no, it wasn't him, was it?

"Hey," he said. Amy was gobsmacked to be face to face with her ex-boyfriend, Jack, who she hadn't seen since he'd dumped her stuff in a box at her door. She hadn't expected he'd be here. How did he find out?

"What are you doing here?" She spluttered. He looked at her quizzically.

"I wanted to pay my respects. And see if you were alright. How's it been?"

"Fine," she said. She was over her initial shock now and she looked at Jack. She felt nothing for him anymore. No anger, hurt and certainly no love. Only the oddness you felt when you ran into someone you were previously so close to. "I mean, as well as it can be considering."

"Well, I am sure you'll get some songs out of it at least."

"I'm sorry?" Amy's felt her heartbeat quicken and face get warm. "What did you just say?"

"You'll be able to write about this, make some money. Like you did with us," Jack looked at her accusingly. He was bitter.

Amy clenched her fists. "Did you really come all this way, to my uncle's funeral, to pick a fight Jack? Fuck off. I can write about whatever I want."

He had the decency to look embarrassed, but didn't back down. "You could have told me you were going to sing about our breakup. You made me look like the bad guy."

"Yeah, well, you said not to speak to you, so I didn't.". She looked at Jack and his grey-ish, brown eyes looked back at her. So different to Noel's deep, penetrating gaze. Blue eyes that made her feel like she was drowning in him and only he could save her. Ugh. Why was she still thinking about Noel?