Someone You Really Love // A Damon Albarn Romance

16 - Lean On Me

2 days before Wembley show

//

The next day Damon received a call from Maryanne asking if she could have a chat, that it wasn't anything serious but upon hearing this he couldn't help wonder what it could be about. She sounded fine on the phone, so he decided the best way was to remain open to any outcome.

Grabbing a taxi to Maryanne's address, he jumped out and checked out his hair from what he could see of his reflection in the shiny brass of the door knocker.
Maryanne opened the door just has he leaned in to have a closer look.

"Ah, hey...Good to see you", Damon laughed taking a step back from the knocker but stepping forward again yo greet each other with a kiss on the cheek. "Yes, thank you so much for coming I know you're busy your side prepping for everything. I'm nearly done but just wanted to talk really...", Maryanne blushed suddenly feeling maybe she was making a big deal out of nothing.

"Sorry, you must be wondering why I'd called you over I don't mean to worry you if you'd created all kinds of scenarios.. I'm kinda going through an anxious flare-up and just want some reassurance really...", Maryanne stopped herself feeling like she's rambling now.  "No of course not," Damon replied shaking his head and resting a supportive hand on each shoulder. "I hope you feel that you can talk to me about anything." he smiled genuinely.

"Thank you, you don't know how much hearing that means to me. Especially from someone who is in the same boat and understands our current situation...would you like a cup of tea or something?" "Nah, I'm good...thanks" Damon smiled back squeezing her hand.

They both walked into her front room and settled comfortably on the couch facing the big bay windows of the front lawn, another gorgeous sunny day.

"You know what, this is all just going around my head endlessly and I have the tendency to get quite bad anxiety but have managed to deal with it in one way or another but think that my insecurities and the tour starting in the next few days is all whirling around together and really making me question a lot about myself," Maryanne got off her chest before she could stop herself.

"Please don't ever doubt yourself Mare, there is a reason I came across the ad for your gig. Everything in life happens for a reason and it was fate? Whatever you want to call it but you have an incredible talent and it's brought us all together", Damon smiled gently.

Maryanne stopped momentarily taking in the fact that Damon had called her Mare. No one had ever said that variation of her name before and she liked it, really liked the way it rolled off his tongue.

"You're seriously the sweetest Dames you know that?  Maybe you're right, I do believe things happen in life how they're supposed to and never doubted that I think it's just a little nagging worry that keeps threatening to burst my positive bubble now and then, so thank you. Really..thank you." Maryanne couldn't hide tears threatening to overspill the corner of her eyes and had no choice but to wipe it with her sleeve laughing as she did so.

"Sorry I must look so stupid..." Maryanne looked up at Damon's face almost ashamed to have let her guard down revealing her vulnerability.

"You're not stupid", he whispered reaching his hands on both sides of her face gently and kissing her just as carefully on the lips but with clear purpose. When they pulled back she saw Damon observing her face with softness that almost made her want to cry again.

Through trying to regain her composure, Maryanne continued, "In all honesty, this brings me to another thing I'm worried about is what our feelings towards each other are and what this means  for you and Justine? And what do the guys think of me about the studio embarrassment? I'm not THAT kind of girl..."

Damon carefully interjected resting both hands on her knees then held both her hands in his. "The Justine situation does need to be dealt with...I do really like you Mare and I've never felt like this with someone before, or quite so quickly  but please don't worry about that, I know it's not the most ideal situation right now but I will deal with it. And the boys? Well, they wouldn't dare say anything horrible to you, they actually like you and hadn't slated you as being any type of girl but a talented and good-looking. They've done worse don't get me started on Alex..." he laughed at his dig regarding the Blur lads.

Maryanne blew out a sigh of relief.." Thank you Dames...I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you all for giving me this opportunity and want to make memories for a life time."

"We most certainly will! Now maybe you can help me give the boys a motivational kick up the ass! 2 more days!", he laughed raising one eyebrow while reaching into his pocket to roll a cigarette.