Just had a brilliant weekend. Well, a 4-day weekend. And I've drunken too much.
Friday: My mate's mate Simon had an 18th party at a pub near me, so i went along expecting him to kick me out because he didn't know me. So you can imagine my suprise when he came up to me at the bar, shouted "Alright, Claire!" and started talking to me. It was a nice night; some people I've been trying to get together for a few months got together and I saw some mates I haven't seen in a while. It was great. I had 9 Jack Daniels and went to bed.
Saturday: I got up early to get Morrissey tickets. I got two, but I don't know who's coming with me yet. I went out for my tea with my friend Craig because it was his birthday, then I went to Harriet's house for a party. I had 4 beers, 2 vodkas, 3 jack Daniels and some rum and went to bed.
Sunday: Set off at half 1 with Caroline, Rachel and Billy, headed towards Birmingham to see The Libertines. Had a few beers in the car. Checked into a hotel in the centre of town and walked down to the venue. We got to the barrier and the gig was amazing. The Cribs supported ("We're the Cribs and we're from Leeds" they said. When they're from Wakefield.) and were gloriously shit. The Ordinary Boys were quite good, although nothing new. But the Libs were great, in an "every-song's-a-hit" way. The managed to be shambolic, yet wonderfully melodic through the whole thing. Seeing Carl and Peter share mics again was great, and the celebratory air that's been present at every Libertines gig since Peter's release from prison was still there. Especially in the chants of "Pete! Pete! Pete!" that came in the encore.
After the gig, I wandered outside. By this point I'd lost all three of my mates in the crowd, so I decided to position myself at the exit door of the Academy. I glanced through the crowds; boys with military jackets... students in libertines t-shirts... girls in near-identical Topshop-bought outfits... a boy in a stripey jumper and glasses... wait, could that be...? Surely not...
I tapped him on the shoulder.
"Funny seeing you here," I said, as he turned round to look at me. It took him a fraction of a second for his mouth to break out into a smile. I hadn't seen it for so long. He smiles exactly like David Bowie in "The Man Who Fell to Earth". He looked exactly like he did 6 months ago when I last saw him, apart from his hair looked a little shorter. "Hi!" he exclaimed. I couldn't tell yet if he was pleased to see me or just making small talk with some girl he once knew.
We spoke about the gig, about where we were staying. He didn't want the gig to end, I agreed. He was staying in some B&B down the road, I was staying in the Holiday Inn about ten minutes away. He was going to the bar afterwards, I might see him there. He does the cutest thing I've ever seen: he looks at me, looks to the floor, the looks up at me again. He used to do it, and I'm glad he still does. He needed to go to the bank, I needed to find my friends.
"Nice to see you again" I said.
"Yes, yes, you too." he said.
He smiled his smile again.
I found my friends eventually, and we went to the Acemdemy bar for a bit. I said I'd stay behind for another, but no-one else wanted to so I was left alone. I went upstairs to see if he was there. he was in the corner with his friends and a few more people. rchel was right, I'd only get hurt again. I couldn't do it, so I walked away, after downing my drink and slamming the glass back on the bar, ice-cubes still intact.
I half-ran, half-stumbled down the street after my friends.
I had some more beers and went to bed.
Today: Had a fry-up for breakfast. Went back home. Took the bus into town to get my cousin's birthday present. Bought a old Hot Hot Heat split LP from the indie shop in town. The cute guy who I often speak to informs me that their older stuff is a bit heavier, almost hardcore. I say I'll give it a listen. We talk about Morrissey, Franz Ferdinand and The Rapture. He gives me a 10% discount off my record. I ask him if he's going to see Franz Ferdinand, he says yes. I tell him I got Morrissey tickets, he tells me he went to see Morrissey on his first tour. This means that he's at least 26. This news disheartens me, but I keep talking to him until he gets told off by his boss for talking to me. he really seems a very nice person.