The Bucket List // Alex Turner

PART 1: Intro

"We've got proper gigs now!" the brown-haired one continued, leaning forward on the counter with the kind of intensity that suggested this mattered more than he wanted to admit. "The Grapes next weekend. We're not just some shit garage band anymore."

The shopkeeper looked unimpressed, arms crossed over his chest like a bouncer at an exclusive club. "The Grapes? That dive? They'll let anyone with an amplifier play there."

Before she could stop herself, Y/N found herself speaking. "The Strokes played their first UK show at The Grapes." she lied, her American accent startling everyone including herself. All five heads turned to look at her at once, and for a second she wished she could disappear into the fucking floor. "And they are probably better than half the bands you've got featured in your window right now."

She hadn't actually heard them play, of course, but something about the desperate earnestness in their voices made her want to help. Plus, she'd seen enough terrible local bands back home to recognize when someone had actual passion versus just wanting to look cool on stage.

The dark-haired boy, who she assumed must be their frontman, looked at her with a mixture of surprise and appreciation. A slow smile spread across his face, transforming his features from intense to almost mischievous. "See?" he said to the shopkeeper, gesturing toward Y/N. "Even the Americans know about us."

The shopkeeper sighed deeply, the kind of sigh that belonged to someone who had already lost the argument but wasn't ready to admit it. He looked between Y/N and the boys, mustache twitching slightly. "Fine. Three flyers. One by the register, two on the board. But if I see them anywhere else in my shop, they're all coming down. "

"You're a saint," the frontman said, already pulling the flyers from his jacket pocket like he was afraid the shopkeeper might change his mind. He turned to Y/N as his bandmates began arguing over the best placement for maximum visibility. "Thanks for that. Saved us from getting kicked out on our arses. I'm Alex, by the way. That's Matt, Jamie, and Andy," he added, nodding toward each of his friends in turn.

"Y/N," she replied, trying not to notice the way his eyes seemed to linger on her face, making her feel simultaneously exposed and invisible. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, suddenly self-conscious. "And technically I'm only half American, if we're being specific."

"Oh?" Alex raised an eyebrow, interest clearly piqued. "Do tell."

Behind him, Matt was attempting to stick a flyer to the wall while Jamie criticized his technique ("You're using too much bloody tape, it looks desperate") and Andy watched with obvious amusement, occasionally offering unhelpful commentary. The familiar chaos of it all made Y/N smile despite herself. It reminded her of the endless debates she'd had with her friends back home over equally unimportant things.

"It's a long story." she said, leaning against the record bin. "Involves a British father and a mom who just took a job in Singapore. Hence why I'm stuck in Sheffield."

"Sounds properly dramatic," Alex said, matching her smile with one of his own. "You should come to the show. Tell us all about it. We'll buy you a drink for saving our advertising campaign."

Y/N looked at the flyer now successfully stuck to the wall, slightly crooked despite Jamie's supervision. The Arctic Monkeys, it proclaimed in bold, slightly smudged letters. Next Saturday at The Grapes. Opening for a band she didn't recognize.

"Maybe I will." she said, already knowing she definitely would, if only to have something to do in this city where she knew no one. "What kinda music d'you play?" she asked, glancing back up at Alex, whose attention hadn't wavered from her face.

The fourth one, Andy, joined the conversation, pushing away from the wall he'd been leaning against. "Shite, mostly," he said with a deadpan expression that made Y/N laugh. Alex swatted his arm.

"Ignore 'im. We're decent." Alex insisted, running a hand through his already messy hair. "Might even be good if we get our act together."

"Bit bold, isn't it?" she teased, finding herself slipping into the rhythm of their banter with surprising ease, like slipping into a favorite pair of jeans.

"You'll see." Alex replied, shaking his head like he knew something she didn't, a quiet confidence behind his eyes that was impossible to miss. Something about the way he said it made her believe him. Or maybe it was the way his mates didn't even argue, just exchanged knowing glances like they were in on a secret that the rest of Sheffield hadn't caught onto yet. Either way, she already knew she'd be at that gig, just to see if he was right.

As Alex turned to help his bandmates with the remaining flyers, Y/N felt something shift inside her, like maybe, just maybe, Sheffield wasn't going to be the complete disaster she'd anticipated.