The library

June 13th 2003

"How you feeling then? Excited?" I posed the open question to both Matt and Alex as we sat on the dry hay that was once a green grassy school field.

"I'm excited," Matt answered first, "yeah I'm totally buzzing for this."

I nodded and diverted my gaze to Alex who sat with his head low, playing with the hay.

"Alex?" My voice came quietly and softly.

The boy with the brown eyes looked up quickly. "Hmm?"

"How are you feeling about tonight?"

"I'm nervous," Alex spoke truthfully and I could see the unrest on his face, "I don't think I've ever felt like I am feeling now. It's proper weird."

I nodded and smiled sympathetically. Taking Alex's hand, I stroked it gently with my thumb. "You'll be amazing. Both of you." I smiled and turned to Matt who nodded and returned the smile. Alex looked down at our intertwined hands blankly, eventually giving my hand a soft squeeze as Matt began running through the set list for the fourth time today.

*****

Alone I sat at one of the tables in The Grapes pub as the Arctic Monkeys were doing their last preparations. There was a decent gathering of people - around twenty persons of varying ages sat around various parts of the pub talked quietly among each other as they waited for the performance to start. After school I had gone home to change into a pair of black converse, a pair of denim shorts and a tight plain black top. I had done my usual natural make up with addition of red lipstick.

I sat with my right leg crossed over my left as I waited in anticipation for the boys to start. Suddenly, Alex turned around from his conversation with Matt behind the drum kit and stepped up to the microphone stand. He glanced at me and smiled before licking his lips and sucking in a small breath.

"Hello, we're the Arctic Monkeys." Alex drawled in his heavy Yorkshire accent and that was seemingly all the introduction given as Matt then counted up to four with his drumsticks before Alex started off Ravey Ravey Ravey Club with Jamie joining in soon after. Immediately I had a grin on my face that didn't leave the whole way through the performance.

*****

The boys had ended the show around half an hour ago and I say patiently at my table watching as they gave autographs to people who knew they were "gonna make it big" and chatted to some interested "fans". My patience slowly ran out though and I finally stood up from my table a few metres back from the small stage. I knew exactly what I was going to do. I joined the back of the short queue of people waiting to talk to the band and watched Alex as he talked and greeted everyone that came up to him. He glistened with sweat. I didn't know playing a gig could be so tiring but here he was. Matt was also seemingly drenched in sweat but at a rehearsal he had assured me that it was natural for a drummer to sweat a lot during gigs.

Finally, the queue came to an end and I stepped forward.

"Hi, hell-" Alex began but his words were cut off as I got onto my tip toes and wrapped my arms around his neck, crashing my lips into his. I shut my eyes tightly as we kissed and it felt surreal. It wasn't my first kiss, but he felt so different to anyone that came before. I withdrew after a few seconds and got back down onto my feet.

Alex looked at me with pure shock in his eyes and his cheeks started to redden. "That was my first ever kiss." He said quietly.

"I hope I did the occasion justice." I smiled quietly and felt my own face start to go red as I dropped my gaze to the floor.

"No no, it was...it was great. Brilliant." Alex mumbled.

I looked back up at him to see him smiling stupidly. "Well...I'm gla-"

"Oh leave the soppiness for another time please." Andy watched us with a small smile. I can sense the mix of annoyance and joking in his voice and giggled slightly. I nodded and stepped off the small stage.

"I'll see you on Monday Alex." I smiled at him one last time before walking out the pub.