I'd Like to be Somebody Else

Chapter 59

Oasis were in America again for five gigs. They'd left on the 2nd of October and they weren't due back until the 17th. It wasn't that long but it felt like a lifetime already.

I bought (What's the Story) Morning Glory? and it's released singles just to add to my record collection, I had a plain CD with everything on it but I needed the vinyls, for the cover work, if nothing else.

I walked through town (shopping for the baby, again) when I saw Louise. I hadn't spoken to her since her and Noel's break up. She still lived in Manchester so of course I saw her about occasionally. We never made eye contact. We were just strangers in the street. This time was different, she started walking straight towards me.

I went in the shop I was walking past to avoid her. The place was crowded, maybe she didn't see me.

"Didn't think you'd be buying from charity shops with what Noel earns or has he seen sense?" she asked.

"Charities need funding whether my boyfriend's a rock n roll star or not." I replied as I pretended to browse.

"Oh, who's the Daddy?" she asked with a very bitchy tone after eyeing my bump.

"I'm getting tired of answering this." I sighed. "So how can I make it clear?" I asked preparing my response. "Your love, your soul mate, he fucks me every day. I'm having his baby."

"Shouldn't be such a slut and you wouldn't have to." she retorted cruelly.

"You don't fucking know me Louise. You never knew me. So what gives you the fucking right to judge me?" I couldn't hide that I was angry.

The shop manager came over, a short, old lady. "If you're going to use that kind of language, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"Gladly." I said before walking off, hoping Louise didn't follow me and try to confront me again.

...

"Stacy, Stacy!" someone shouted as she caught up with me. "I thought we were meeting at the..." She passed me a can of Pepsi.

"Thanks." I cut her off. "Sorry I got distracted, Louise..." I cracked open my can.

"Who's Louise?" Emily asked as I drank.

"The girl Noel was shagging before me." I told her vacantly.

"You mean the girl he was going out with?"

I answered with a nod leading to her asking "What happened to you, Stacy?"

"Nothing. I fell for Noel and made him mine." I lied, I didn't know her enough for the truth. "What about you, anything new in your life?"

"Nope, so what do you need to get today?" She was probably lying right back.

I didn't exactly have a shopping list, I just wanted to be out of the house and doing something productive.

I got a copy of Wibbling Rivalry when it came out, it was a two tracks of a long argument between the brothers from ages ago, it was stupid, I regretted buying it. The journalist didn't deserve the money for recording and publishing the argument.

...

When they got back from America Noel and Liam came straight over to their Mum's house, as usual. I wasn't allowed to pick them up from the airport this time.

"Got you a present." Liam told me as he passed me the item of clothing he was carrying.

"Thanks." I held it out to see it was a baby t-shirt with a slogan "I'm cute but my uncle is a cool dude." and a sun wearing shades, it made me smile.

"Are you going to tell me yet? What if I buy the wrong stuff?" he questioned.

"You made the bet, you have to wait... What if the scan wasn't right and the bet's gave out wrong?" I excused. "Stick to kind of neutral colours and you'll be fine."

"What if I cancel the bet?"

"I don't trust you to actually do it." I shook my head. "You don't have much longer to wait."

He went to chat to Peggy while I took Noel upstairs to show him what I'd bought while he was gone.

"How much does one kid need?" he commented after I counted thirty baby grows, ten newborn, twenty the next size.

"Probably half of all this but it's all so cute and I was bored on my own." I admitted.

"I feel like a right dick for never finding out why you can't tour. I did try but no fucker would tell me." He put his hands on my shoulders.

"It's fine, I'm sorry I blamed you. I'm glad I have to stay now I'm this pregnant." I told him, knowing I couldn't say it was Liam.

"What else have you been doing other than filling wardrobes with baby clothes?" he asked as I showed him t-shirts and put Liam's with the rest.

"Spent time with Kenzie, Kate and the girls, other than that just housework and work" I answered, I wasn't going to mention I'd seen Louise. "You? You've got to have better stories to tell, right?"

"Not really, it was a gig, travel, gig, travel kind of tour. Wasn't time for anything interesting happen to be honest." he said, boringly.

"Really, nothing at all?" I encouraged, I was kind of surprised he didn't lecture me about taking it easy. "What about in New York?"

"Well..." he laughed. "Li' and Alan tried to chat up this woman. You should have seen their faces when they realised they were one of those drag acts... Fucking hilarious." he chuckled.

I laughed too, imagining the scene. "How is Alan, it's like I haven't seen him in forever?" I asked, I didn't even know him that well but I missed him too.

"He's great, so's Bonehead and anyone else you haven't seen in about five friggin' minutes." he assured me. "You're coming down London for Earl's Court, you'll see them then."

"I missed you the most." I told him, I really did, it was like his son forced me to think about him all the time when he was gone. "I had to listen to your vocals loads, for your son."