505

Prologue

It was the fifth of May 2006, from the small stage she was standing on, she looked down at the people who didn't look very interested and not paying any attention to her. She had her ruby red electric guitar slung around her neck and shoulders and she had just finished setting up. Clarabella was used to being on stage at a pub, she has been performing at local pubs ever since she was ten.

She spotted her sister and her sisters boyfriend sitting at one of the tables at the back smiling at her for support. Clarabella spoke into the microphone, "Hey everyone, I'm gonna sing a few songs for ya. I'm also takin' any requests tonight so feel free to ask."
She smiles down at the crowd, receiving many smiles back and some cheering from familiar faces that have been watching her perform for a few years.

"Let's start off with a bit of Franz Ferdinand ey? This is 'Take me out' everybody!" She says into the microphone as a few more excited cheers and clapping come from the group below her.

Clarabella was like a ball of electricity, she could light up the room with her energy and everybody either loved or hated her. There wasn't a single person that was similar to her, she had her own interests and didn't let anyone get in the way of that.

It was only a small pub with a crowd of thirty people or so, but everyone was cheering and singing along like it was a concert. It was just Clarabella on the stage, but with her voice, her electric guitar and maybe a bit of background music to substitute for the missing instruments, she didn't need anyone else.

"I say, don't you know?
You say you don't know
I say:"
Clarabella points the microphone towards the small crowd, knowing she will get a reaction out of it. All the middle aged fathers shout back "Take me out!" And she finished the song with the guitar and the last verse. She got a round of applause from the small audience as she takes a drink of her water to clear her throat.

After she finished her second last song of the night she spoke into the crowd "Right, do we 'ave a last suggestion before I leave ya for the night?" She enthusiastically said into the microphone. Before anyone could answer a boy sitting in a booth that is adjacent to the stage shouts over.

"D'ya know any Strokes songs, love?" He laughs, while one of his friends that are sitting next to him elbows him into the ribs.

She felt a bit embarrassed seeing people that looked only a bit older than her own age since she was used to performing for middle aged dads who would get away from their wife's by going to the pub everyday of the week. But she didn't let that get to her since she had never seen these boys in her life.
It's not like some boys from her school showed up to throw shit at her again.

"Of course I know the Strokes." She says laughing, building back up that wall of confidence that she always had. Not letting it falter.
"Do ya have any songs in mind?" She spoke back through the microphone.

"Nah, sing whatever one ye want, love" the boy loudly speaks over the crowd. Clarabella cleared her throat and internally rolled her eyes at the pet name, she then spoke once again into the microphone while gripping her guitar. "Aight everyone, this is Reptilia by the Strokes." There were a few 'woo''s coming from the gathering of people from the floor while the group of boys were just staring, one of them with a grin on his face that Clarabella could barely make out due to the lights shining in her face.

As she sang the first highish note in the song, she got quiet claps from the people below so they wouldn't over take her voice and the boys sitting in the booth all looked at each other, but Clarabella couldn't see their expressions since the bright light was in her face and they were right behind it.

"Yeah, the night's not over
You're not trying hard enough
Our lives are changing lanes
You ran me off the road
The wait is over
I'm now taking over
You're no longer laughing
I'm not drowning fast enough"
She finished the song with loud cheers echoing through the room.

"Thank you everyone, I hope to see ya soon!" Clarabella gives her goodbyes and starts packing up her equipment with her sister and her boyfriend who ran up onto the stage in order to help her.

"Hey," Clarabella heard coming from behind her. It was that boy from the booth. When he hopped onto the stage and she got a proper look at his face, her stomach flipped upside down and made knots.
It's mother fucking Alex Turner.

She was going to freak out and go all fan mode on him but didn't want to freak him out so instead she looked at him with a small smile and replied with a simple, "Hi."

"I heard ya singing, you were well good." He said honestly, a smirk plastered on his face.

"Well I'd hope ya heard me, or else my microphone is fucked." She joked and silently died inside after saying it but it made him give a slight chuckle.

"Thank you though. I'm Clarabella by the way, but normally people just call me Clara." She said to him while sitting down at the edge of the short stage, feet dangling and nearly grazing the linoleum floor beneath her.

Alex sat down next to her, "I'm Alex, well, Alexander, but don't call me that. I fucking hate Alexander." He chuckled.

"Yeah, I know who you are. Don't worry Alexander." She giggled while looking at her swinging legs. He gave her a nudge with his shoulder.

"You should come down and meet me mates." Alex nods his head towards the few boys laughing at a booth in the corner.

Clara turns back to her sister to see if they need any help with packing up but her sister just smirked at her and winked at her, giving the hint that she can go. Clara rolled her eyes with a smile, knowing what her sister was implying but just turned back to Alex and just replied with "sure."

As they approached the group of three guys laughing around a table, Clara got nervous when she realised it was the rest of the popular band that she was obsessed with.

She didn't have time to feel nervous about talking to Alex since it was just him and he approached her first, but she looked up to this band so much, especially since they lived near her and were only a few years older than her. She knew every song from their first and only album at the time and truly loved the music they made.

"Lads, this is Clara. She was the one who sang earlier tonight." Alex introduced her to his band mates.

The three boys introduced themselves to her despite her knowing who they were already but she didn't want to make it awkward by saying she already knew who they were.

"Sit down, Clara!" Matt said as he shuffled over to create room for her. Alex sat opposite to Clara and she instantly clicked with the group. They all shared the same taste in music and all had mostly the same humour.

"Oi Jamie, get Katie down here. She would love Clara!" Nick exclaimed.

Clara looked a bit confused until Alex chimed in "Katie is Jamie's lover" he said in a mocking tone.

"I already asked her mate, she can't come down tonight." Jamie said, completely blocking out Alex's 'joke' and instead just replied to Nick.

About an hour later Claras sister and her boyfriend, Lucas, walked over. "Sorry to ruin the fun but we have to go Clara. I've got work in the morning." Her sister apologised.

Clara sighed and rolled her eyes, as a normal teenager would do. She turned back to the guys and was about to say her goodbyes until Alex spoke up.

"I can walk her home if it's close." Alex offered. Delilah, Clara's sister, had a quizzical look on her face, not trusting this boy her little sister has just met.

"Are you sure? It's a good twenty minute walk from here." Clara asked Alex. "It's honestly no trouble." He gave a genuine smile.

"Aight then, don't stay out too late, and don't drink too much, Clarabella!" Delilah raised her eyebrows, referring to an incident that has happened not too long ago. "Whatever Lila!" Clara joked back.

Clarabella stayed out until about three in the morning, laughing and joking around with her new friends. Alex walked her home as he promised. They exchanged numbers and Clarabella swore to Alex that she'd stay in touch.