Do Me a Favour - Alex Turner

21. Friends

The next morning, the atmosphere buzzed with new arrivals and warm greetings. Breanna and Katie arrived, their presence immediately lifting everyone's spirits. After hugs, kisses, and excited chatter with their boyfriends, Matt and Jamie, they quickly made their way over to where Kelly and I were standing.

Kelly's face lit up when she saw them. "Breanna! Katie! I'm so glad you're here!" She practically bounced with excitement, and I couldn't help but smile at her infectious energy.

Breanna, with her bright smile and kind eyes, hugged Kelly tightly before turning to me. "You must be Lana! I've heard so much about you." She pulled me into a hug that felt genuine and warm.

Katie followed suit, her laughter ringing out as she embraced me. "Welcome to the chaos," she said with a wink. "We're glad to have you."

I felt an immediate sense of belonging. Despite the turmoil of the past few days, this new dynamic was refreshing. The easy camaraderie among the girls was something I desperately needed.

We spent the morning getting to know each other better. Kelly, Breanna, and Katie were full of stories about their travels, their relationships, and their own experiences with the band's life on tour. Their openness made it easy for me to share my own thoughts and feelings.

Breanna's warmth and Katie's humor created a comfortable atmosphere. Kelly's excitement was contagious, and soon enough, I felt like a part of their tight-knit group. The bond we were forming helped to ease some of the pain and confusion I had been carrying.

*

That afternoon, the four of us decided to head out for drinks. Kelly, Breanna, Katie, and I found a cozy bar with a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for some girl talk and bonding. As we settled into our seats and ordered our drinks, I felt a bit more at ease with my new friends.

After some light conversation and a few rounds of laughter, the topic of Alex inevitably came up. Kelly, ever the supportive friend, gently nudged me to open up about what had been bothering me.

With a deep breath, I began, "So, there's something I need to share about Alex... We've been sort of... involved, but it got really complicated when his girlfriend, Arielle, showed up."

Breanna's eyes widened in surprise, and Katie leaned in, her expression serious yet kind. "Alex has a girlfriend? I didn't even know that," Katie said, shaking her head.

"Yeah," I nodded, "and the worst part is, I didn't know either until I saw them together. It was such a shock, and it hurt a lot because I thought maybe we had something real."

Kelly reached out and squeezed my hand, offering silent support.

Breanna sighed, "That sounds really tough, Lana. I knew Alex had been different lately, but I had no idea it was because of something like this."

Katie chimed in, "Alex hasn't been the same ever since his breakup with Alexa. He was really in love with her, and it hit him hard when things ended."

I nodded, recalling the polaroids I had found. "I've heard that before. I saw some photos of them together, and he looked so happy, so different from how he is now."

We spent the next hour sharing more about our lives and experiences. The more we talked, the more I realized how much I valued this new friendship. They listened without judgment, offered advice when needed, and, most importantly, made me feel understood and supported.

Despite the weight of the conversation, the afternoon was filled with genuine laughter and camaraderie. We talked about everything from silly anecdotes to our favorite movies and music. By the time we decided to head to the venue, I felt lighter, as if a burden had been lifted.