Tender (Damon Albarn)

Happy New Year?

31st December 1993

Films every Friday with Damon where very successful. We'd started talking more and we became really close again. We even became that close we decided for us all to get together for New Year's Eve. The rest of Blur are coming and so is my sister and nephew. Unfortunately, Avery is coming too. My mum and dad unfortunately won't be coming up, they where invited but they want nothing to do with my sister.

Emily is cooking dinner and setting the table in our small kitchen while me and James fill bowls with crisps and sweets for Jake. We're also filling him a plastic champagne glass with orange juice so he doesn't feel left out.

I hear a knock at the door and quickly go over to open it. As I unlock the door I can hear the voice of a young boy. I smile when I realise it must be Jake and Annie. I turn the door handle and open up the door, smiling widely at my sister and her son.

"Auntie Jessie!" Jake giggles, throwing his arms around my legs.

"Hello you!" I laugh, picking up my four year old nephew and hugging him tightly.

My sister smiles and walks through the door, "need any help with anything?"

"I think we're all okay," I say, placing Jake down and locking the door. I frown when I notice that Annie has come alone, "Is Emma not coming?"

Annie shakes her head, "she's staying with her mum, we've just stopped off at the hospital to see her."

"How's her mum doing?" I ask.

"Better, actually," Annie sighs, "looks like she'll recover."

"That's good," I nod, glad that Jake may still have one grandma, "how's everything with you and Emma?"

Annie smiles, "Great," she pauses and holds up one of her hands, a silver band is wrapped around her ring finger.

My eyes widen and a grin spreads across my face. Annie smiles and I jump onto her out of excitement and hug her tightly.

"Congratulations!" I scream, "oh it's beautiful!"

Emily runs into the living room, "what's going on?"

"Annie is engaged!" I scream, admiring my sisters beautiful ring.

Emily runs over and stares down at the sisters ring in awe. She smiles and screams and hugs her, repeatedly saying congratulations to Annie and Jake. Jake just giggles and jumps around excitedly.

"Congratulations, Annie," James says, appearing beside me.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask, still looking at her ring.

"I wanted to see your face," she laughs.

"Are you going to inform your parents?" James asks.

Annie frowns at the mention of our parents. I shoot James a look as if to say 'you idiot! what are you doing?'. James then realises his mistake and opens his mouth to apologise, but is interrupted by Annie.

"No, probably not," she sighs.

There are few moments of awkward silence, until Jake notices the sweets and crisps.

"Mummy can I have sweeties?" Jake asks, tugging at his mother's shirt sleeve.

"Yes, you can, just don't make a big mess," Annie warns him.

"Yay!" Jake grins and runs over the table, shoving his hand into a bowl and shovelling sweets and crisps into his mouth.

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