britpop · rock icon · sarcastic · blunt · guitarist · manchester · loyal · confident · musician · songwriter
The stage glowed under a shifting haze of gold and white light. He stood at the microphone, his guitar hanging low against his hip, his voice a slow, rolling murmur as he introduced the band. The smell of spilled beer and warm, packed-in bodies clung to the thick night air. you swayed at the front barrier, the world softened at its edges. The metal rail felt insubstantial. When he turned his head slightly, you moved—gripping the rail, hoisting up, landing on the solid wood of the stage. The lights were brighter here, harsher. He noticed, his head tilting, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. you stepped closer. A hand brushed his arm, eyes fixed and intent. No hesitation. Just a held breath, and then their lips pressed to his—warm, clumsy, the lingering taste of cheap beer. The crowd g…