Sitting on the floor of my bathroom, back pressed against the cool tile wall, I whispered into my phone, “Mads… I did it again.”
A pause lingered on the line. “Did what again?”
I buried my face in my hands. “Damon. I slept with him. Again. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
The silence stretched a beat too long, and then Madison’s laughter burst through the speaker, nearly deafening me. “Oh, Lex, this is gold. Better than telly, swear. What’s next, you run off and elope?”
“Mads, it’s not funny,” I hissed, unable to keep the mortification out of my voice. “I feel like… like I’ve lost my bloody mind.”
Her laughter softened, her voice turning gentle. “Alright, alright, I get it, love. But you can’t hide in your loo forever. Look, I don’t know what’s goin’ on between you and Damon, but whatever it is… this isn’t gonna solve it.”
I groaned, clutching my phone tighter. “Fine. You’re right. Doesn’t make it any less of a nightmare, though.”
“Just face it head-on, Lex,” she said, her voice calming, like a pep talk. “You’ve always been tough as nails. Just go talk to him, love.”
I drew in a sharp breath, knowing she was right. “Alright, I’m hanging up before I lose my nerve. I’ll ring you back.”
I pushed myself off the cold floor, took one last deep breath, and crept out of the bathroom, inching down the hall like I was some intruder in my own flat. Damon lay in bed, half-asleep, his arm stretched across the sheets. He propped himself up on one elbow, tousled hair falling messily over his forehead, looking at me with that smirk—the smirk that drove me absolutely mad.
“Morning, Lex,” he said, his voice all husky and deep, like he hadn’t quite woken up yet. He looked like something out of a romance novel, and it was so infuriatingly attractive that I almost wanted to throw my pillow at him.
I forced my arms to stay crossed, trying to keep my heart from pounding out of my chest. “We… need to talk.”
“Thought we might.” He yawned, stretching out in a way that was far too relaxed for the kind of conversation I was hoping to have. “Don’t look so alarmed. I’m not here to make things weird.”
“Oh, really?” I replied, my voice all sarcasm. “Seems like you’re doing just that.”
He laughed softly, but I saw something in his eyes shift, something more sincere. “Look, I don’t want things to be awkward either, alright? I can’t stand how we’ve been, and I know I’ve been… difficult. More than difficult, probably. But I like you, Lex. Actually like you.”
I blinked, taken aback. “Damon, this is… it’s all a bit mad. Last week, we couldn’t stand the sight of each other.”
“I know.” He sighed, the smile fading just a bit. “And maybe that’s why I can’t stop thinking about it, yeah? About us. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t have been so… well, you know, an arse.”
A tiny smile crept onto my lips despite myself. “Well, at least you’re self-aware.”
Damon chuckled softly. “Listen, I’ve been thinking, alright? We’re already doing this whole fake dating thing… why not actually give it a go?”
My heart skipped a beat. “You’re saying you want to date. For real.”
He nodded, looking at me with a gentleness I wasn’t used to seeing. “Yeah, Lex. I know it’s mad, but if I didn’t say it now, I’d hate myself for it later.”
The intensity in his eyes hit me like a punch to the chest. He wasn’t messing around, and for a moment, all those walls I’d built crumbled away. I’d forgotten how genuine he could be, how much he used to make me feel like the world stopped when he looked at me.
I swallowed hard, managing a small nod. “Alright. Let’s give it a go.”
His face broke into a grin, the kind that could light up a room, and it felt like I was falling back in time, to that version of Damon who used to make me laugh until I cried, who used to fill my world with light before everything went sideways.
Without saying another word, he leaned in, pressing his lips softly to mine. This time, it wasn’t rushed or heated; it was slow, gentle, filled with unspoken promises and maybe even hope. He held me like he was scared to let go, his hand cupping my cheek as his thumb brushed lightly against my skin.
When we finally pulled back, he kept his forehead against mine, both of us grinning like a couple of teenagers. “Hungry?” he murmured, his breath still warm against my lips.
“Starving,” I said, the word slipping out before I could think twice.
With a laugh, he pulled back, throwing on a shirt and leading me to the kitchen. I perched myself on a stool, watching as he moved around, grabbing ingredients and pulling out pans, looking as confident as if he were head chef in his own kitchen.
“Maybe you shouldn’t lift a finger this morning,” he said, throwing me a cheeky grin over his shoulder. “Probably too sore, yeah?”
“Oi, don’t push it,” I warned, but I couldn’t help the smile that crept onto my face. There was something oddly heartwarming about watching him like this—calm, focused, the usual sharpness in his tone replaced with warmth. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this at ease.
He served up the eggs and bacon, sliding a plate in front of me with a smug grin. I took a bite, letting out an involuntary hum of approval. “Alright, maybe you do have some use.”
He laughed, sitting across from me with his own plate. “You know, Lex, it’s been ages since I’ve done this with someone. Breakfast with someone I actually care about.”
“Careful, Albarn. You’re starting to sound like a proper romantic.” I raised an eyebrow, though the jab was softer than usual. I couldn’t help it.
His grin softened, a hint of shyness showing through. “Maybe I am, a bit. But it’s only for you, so don’t go getting ideas.”
We both laughed, but there was a flicker of something more between us—something gentle and warm, like we’d found some unexpected peace amidst the chaos. Damon reached across the table, his fingers brushing against mine. And for once, I didn’t pull away.
YOU ARE READING
To The End - Damon Albarn
Fanfiction"It looks like we've made it to the end" 1996 Alexa has a long and complicated past with Damon Albarn. They'd been friends for as long as they could remember and even dated for a bit. But then Damon got a taste of fame and it all went down hill. Tha...
