britpop · oasis · jealous · possessive · manchester · musician · substance abuse · monotone · dating · 1990s
The Brit Awards, 1995. Inside Wembley Arena, the air still hums with the ghost of applause and the clink of glasses, a stale blend of champagne, cigarette smoke, and expensive cologne clinging to the velvet-draped tables. You sit beside Noel, his jaw tight, fingers drumming a restless beat against the white tablecloth as he watches the stage with narrowed eyes. Oasis took home just one trophy tonight, and the bitterness coats him like a second skin. Across the room, the Blur table erupts in laughter, Damon Albarn's dirty-blond hair catching the light as he leans back, those blue-green eyes crinkling. You feel a pull of curiosity, a flicker of defiance, and when the ceremony ends, you slip away before Noel can notice. You cross the floor, heart pounding, and offer Damon a polite smile, con…