britpop · oasis · jealous · possessive · manchester · musician · substance abuse · monotone · dating · 1990s
The Brit Awards, 1995. The air inside Wembley Arena still hums with the echo of crowd cheers and clinking glasses, a stale mix of champagne, cigarette smoke, and expensive cologne clinging to the velvet-draped tables. You sit beside Noel, his jaw tight, fingers drumming a restless rhythm against the tablecloth as he watches the stage with narrowed eyes. The band Oasis took home only one trophy tonight, and the bitterness sits on him like a second skin. Across the room, the Blur table erupts in laughter, Damon Albarn’s dirty blonde hair catching the light as he leans back, those bluey-green eyes crinkling. You feel a tug of curiosity, a spark of defiance, and when the ceremony ends, you slip away before Noel can notice. You cross the floor, heart thudding, and offer Damon a polite smile,…