Alex was sweating. He had never leaked this many pheromones in his life. His head peaked around the room; everyone was there: his mum, dad, Luna, Harry, Miles, Joanna and half their school. Even the pizza guy was here. He looked back to Matt with fear in his eyes.
"I think Nick should sing." He suggested. Nick's eyes widened and he looked at the others in panic. Matt put his arm around Alex and squeezed him.
"Mate, you're a great singer. You've written great songs that we're gonna sing tonight and we're going to have fun out there." He said in his ear. Alex swallowed hard and looked back out to the crowd.
"Think of how turned on Joanna is gonna be when she sees you up there." Jamie attempted to make him feel better. Alex looked up at him and seriously thought about what he was saying.
"Does anyone have the set list?" He asked. Nick passed a piece of paper to him and he looked at the list, absorbing the words. "Okay. This is fine." He breathed. Matt gripped his shoulders.
"Come on Al. You got this. You're Alex Turner." He felt like slapping him. Alex did look a bit pale though but they weren't going to tell him that.
"Alex, mate. You've got no choice. We're going out there at some point." Jamie pointed out.
"Fine." He sighed, passing Nick the set list back. They all patted him on the back as he picked up his new electric guitar and started walking out onto the stage.
"Hello." He said into the microphone. The small group of their family and friends stood at the front screamed. Alex couldn't help but laugh at them going crazy. "We're Arctic Monkeys." He cleared his throat before signalling to the boys.
They started playing Alex's latest song 'I bet that you'd look good on the dance floor'. The crowd went wild for the fast tempo of the song, automatically bobbing along to it.
"Stop making the eyes at me
I'll stop making the eyes at you" He winked at Joanna but then swept his eyes along the crowd to Luna.
"What it is that surprises me
Is that I don't really want you to
And your shoulders are frozen (cold as the night)
Oh, but you're an explosion (you're dynamite)"
Luna screamed at Matt's backing vocals, making Alex laugh as he started the next line.
"Your name isn't Rio, but I don't care for sand
And lighting the fuse might result in a bang, b-b-bang-oh
I bet that you look good on the dance floor
I don't know if you're looking for romance or
I don't know what you're looking for
I said, I bet that you look good on the dance floor
Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
Well, from 1984
I wish you'd stop ignoring me
Because you're sending me to despair
Without a sound, yeah, you're calling me
And I don't think it's very fair
That your shoulders are frozen (cold as the night)
Oh, but you're an explosion (you're dynamite)
Your name isn't Rio, but I don't care for sand
And lighting the fuse might result in a bang, b-b-bang-oh
I bet that you look good on the dance floor
I don't know if you're looking for romance or
I don't know what you're looking for
I said, I bet that you look good on the dance floor
Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
Well, from 1984
Oh, there ain't no love, no Montagues or Capulets
Just banging tunes and DJ sets and
Dirty dance floors and dreams of naughtiness!
Well, I bet that you look good on the dance floor
I don't know if you're looking for romance or
I don't know what you're looking for
I said, I bet that you look good on the dance floor
Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
Said, from 1984"
Alex swooped to the side and took a deep breath. He was going to have to get used to the tempo in the long run. Everyone cheered and clapped for them as they recovered.
After that, they performed 'you probably couldn't see for the lights but you were staring straight at me'. Alex had to remind himself not to look at Luna as he sang which caused him a lot of the time to forget to blink.
When the song finished, we rubbed his eyes and took a swig of the beer they had provided. Matt gave him a thumbs up and he shot him his best grin back.
"Let's go." He yelled at the boys, full of adrenaline.
They did a few covers and then Alex took the mic for the last time that night and cleared his throat.
"Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen for letting us play tonight. This one, is very new for us so bare with us if it all goes a bit tits up." He explained. His eyes flickered to Luna. "It's called Mardy Bum." He added. She visibly laughed.
"Well, now then, mardy bum
I've seen your frown and it's like looking down
The barrel of a gun
And it goes off
And out come all these words
Oh, there's a very pleasant side to you
A side I much prefer
It's one that laughs and jokes around
Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah
To get things off the ground
And it was up, up and away
Oh, but it's right hard to remember that
On a day like today
When you're all argumentative
And you've got the face on"
He let out a small scream as they played and then pointed at Luna.
"Well, now then, mardy bum
Oh, I'm in trouble again, aren't I?
I thought as much"
She threw her head back laughing, whistling and shouting in response to his song.
'Cause you turned over there
Pulling that silent disappointment face
The one that I can't bare
Well, can't we just laugh and joke around?
Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah
To get things off the ground
And it was up, up and away
Oh, but it's right hard to remember that
On a day like today
When you're all argumentative
And you've got the face on
And, yeah, I'm sorry I was late
But I missed the train
And then the traffic was a state
And I can't be arsed to carry on in this debate
That reoccurs, oh, when you say I don't care
But, of course I do, yeah, I clearly do
So laugh and joke around?
Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah
To get things off the ground
And it was up, up and away
Oh, but it's right hard to remember that
On a day like today
When you're all argumentative
And you've got the face on"
He finished and turned to the boys with a sense of achievement. They all came together and hugged as they waved and jumped off the stage.
"You were amazing!" Joanna leapt onto Alex. His eyes widened, unbearably aware that his parents were watching. "You looked very fit up there." She whispered in his ear. He let an awkward laugh, turned her away from his parents and grabbed her bum. She giggled in his ear and let go.
"I've got to talk to my family but don't go anywhere." He winked. She bit her lip and nodded. He walked over to his parents and gave them a hug. "So, what did you think?" He asked. His dad passed him a beer.
"You looked like you belonged up there, Al." His dad complimented. He broke out into a wide grin.
"You have a beautiful voice and a real talent for writing" his mum added. "Very yorkshire." She joked. He laughed but he couldn't help but feel so proud of himself that his parents were proud.
"Are you going to introduce us to your girlfriend?" His mum eyed someone behind him. He turned around to see Joanna looking at him. He had no choice now, he had to introduce her so he waved her over.
"She's not my girlfriend just yet though." He said to his parents. His mum squinted her eyes.
"Whatever happened to that lovely girl that stayed the night?" She asked just as Joanna approached. Alex's eyes widened and he shook his head vigorously. His mum got the gist.
"Mum and dad, this is Joanna." He put his arm around her and she smile sweetly at them. They nodded their heads.
"Very nice to meet you, Joanna." They smiled.
"Yeah, I'm gonna take Jo out tomorrow if that's alright." He squeezed her shoulder. Joanna smiled up at him and his parents nodded.
"Always fine, Alex." His mum agreed. Her eyes wandered for a moment and then lit up.
"Hello Penny!" A familiar voice called. Before Alex could do anything, Luna was hugging his mum. Joanna became slightly awkward so Alex kissed her on the head.
"Hello darling, how have you been?" Penny asked. Luna grinned at her.
"Yeah good. Wasn't Alex just amazing tonight?" She turned to Alex and noticed his arm wrapped around Joanna. He saw in her eyes that she didn't realise she was interrupting something.
"We were just telling him how impressed we were." Penny answered. David had no idea who any of these people were.
"Well, I'll leave you to get acquainted" she winked at Joanna, who smiled as best as she could. "Brian's probably looking for me anyway." She excused herself, smirking at Alex quickly before leaving the conversation.
She made her way back over to the group and Alex watched her. They all looked like they were having fun chatting to one another so he decided to excuse him and Jo from his parents. His mum caught on as he stared longingly.
"We should get going. You're staying at Matt's tonight aren't you?" Penny asked. Alex nodded.
"Yeah. Thanks for coming" he smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Nice to meet you, Joanna." They both said as Alex moved her away. She waved back and followed him back to their friends.
"Do you wanna stay at mine tonight? My parents are out of town?" She whispered in his ear, running her hand up his t shirt. He looked down at her in disbelief but nodded nonetheless. She gave him a sloppy kiss as they reached everyone else.