The library

September 27th 2003

"Hello ladies and gentlemen... we are the Arctic Monkeys from High Green..."

The room cheered and a few people whistled and laughed at Alex's words - in a pleasant way though... I hope. I was sat at the back of The Pheasant: a small pleasant pub with a good atmosphere which was currently filled with about thirty people watching the stage at the front where Arctic Monkeys were currently stood with Alex introducing the gig.

"... we're gonna start this one off, if you don't mind, with a little tune we like to call "Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor."

"Catchy title!" Someone on the left side of the room heckled followed by howling laughter from the same area. I started to get annoyed as I searched for the source of the voice but when I heard Alex laugh lightly I let out a small relieved chuckle too.

"Indeed it is. Get down everyone."

Matt counted the band in with his drumsticks before they all launched into the song, Alex's fingers rhythmically working their way up and down the fretboard as he belted out the opening solo.

"Stop making the eyes at me I'll stop making the eyes at you..." Alex's gaze locked with mine and I smirked back at him.

When his eyes weren't closed or on his guitar, they were with mine. It seemed he only had eyes for me. Maybe it was to combat the extensive stage fright he had told me about. Or maybe it was intentional. Maybe he wanted to show off some confidence that he had grown, out of nowhere, as he smirked and winked at me as he drawled the lyrics of Curtains Closed.

The show started to wind down as the band drew to the end of their cover of The Strokes' "Is this it."

"Thank you very much everyone. We've been the Arctic Monkeys." Alex spoke Into the microphone when the applause died down but his words only sent everyone into another ovation.

Alex had been great. He was visually better and more confident than the first show... but that wasn't saying much. I tried to hide it from everyone in the room who would probably think I was a weirdo but I was really proud of the small brown eyed boy.

*****

Alex burped as he had his right arm snaked around my waist. The whole band and I were sat in the boardwalk and as it was a cool Saturday evening, the venue saw a decent amount of visitors.

I gasped and turned to look at Alex disgusted. "Alex!" I scolded, That was disgusting!" I frowned which warranted a laugh from both Matt and Andy and a small smile from Jamie.

Alex chuckled and shrugged. "Blame the coke, not me." He nodded at the table where his red can stood next to my identical one.

After a couple seconds of silence I groaned. "I'm bored. I wanna dance." I glanced at Alex with a sly smile.

"You can't fooking dance in a bar." Alex replied and furrowed his eyebrows.

Just as he spoke, the Gorrillaz song "19-2000" came on around the bar and I gasped, pleasantly this time.

"You have to dance with me!" I beamed at him.

Alex groaned and rolled his eyes. "Come on Charlotte give it a rest."

"Oh just get on your dancing shoes for once you dirty little swine!" I giggled and quickly got to my feet, grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him up out of his seat, much to the delight of the remaining band members who whistled and cheered us on.

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