The night air was electric as Lily and Justine stepped out of the venue, the sounds of the audience still ringing in their ears. The show had been a triumph—packed to the brim with fans who had eagerly shouted the lyrics, their energy reverberating through the air long after the last chord had faded.
"Did you see their faces?" Justine laughed, her eyes sparkling with exhilaration. "They were eating it up! We could've played for another hour, and they still wouldn't have wanted us to stop."
Lily grinned, her heart still racing. "I know! I was hoping they'd keep cheering, but I was about ready to collapse. It's been a while since I've felt that high."
As they walked toward the tube station, the streets buzzed with the aftermath of the evening—laughter, music, and the distant sounds of late-night revelers filtering through the crisp London air. Justine nudged Lily playfully, a teasing glint in her eyes. "You were fantastic out there, by the way. But come on, I saw you glancing at the side of the stage. You knew someone was watching."
Lily felt her cheeks heat at the thought, her mind flashing back to the moment she had locked eyes with Noel Gallagher, standing off to the side, his expression inscrutable. "I don't know what you're talking about," she replied, trying to sound casual. "Just another face in the crowd."
"Another face?" Justine scoffed. "Did you see the way he looked at you? Like he'd just discovered the best-kept secret in rock 'n' roll."
Lily laughed, shaking her head. "You're exaggerating. He was just being polite."
Justine rolled her eyes. "Sure, if 'being polite' means watching you like you're the only person in the room."
As they made their way down the steps to the tube station, Lily felt a rush of nerves and excitement at the thought of him. He was a legend, and the fact that he had even seen her felt surreal. She tried to shake the feeling, focusing instead on the energy of the night and Justine's relentless chatter.
"I'm still pinching myself that I'm even in Elastica," she admitted. "When you all reformed in 2022, I was just a shy graduate trying to find my way in the music scene. But I'm so glad you didn't have a Rhythm guitarist, It felt like the perfect opportunity."
Justine grinned. "Well, it was a stroke of luck for us both. You've brought so much fresh energy to the band. The fans love you!"
"Thanks," Lily said, her mind briefly wandering back to the thrill of playing with the band and the connection she felt on stage. It was as if she had found her place, her voice among them.
As they boarded the tube, the familiar rush of the train pulled them in, and they clung to the overhead rails, swaying gently with the movement. They chatted about everything—music, dreams, the thrill of performing—until the train screeched to a halt at their stop.
"Alright, Soho awaits!" Justine declared as they hopped off the tube at Oxford Circus, the bustling streets greeting them with their lively atmosphere.
As they made their way through the throngs of people, Lily stepped a little closer to Justine, laughing at her friend's animated recounting of their tour mishaps. But as they neared the crossing between Brewer Street and Old Compton Street, Lily instinctively stepped back to avoid a speeding cab splashing through a puddle.
She barely managed to steady herself, instead, she bumped right into something solid.
"Careful there," came a familiar voice, low and laced with amusement.
Lily turned, her heart racing as she looked up into the eyes of Noel Gallagher, standing just a step away, a playful smirk on his lips. "Didn't mean to catch you off guard."
