stories from the city; damon albarn

19-

The driver had seemed a bit weirded out by his answer, but nonetheless drove Damon Albarn to the address, or rather the name he had given. It was about a fifteen minute ride, and it was dark outside. As it was around 10:23 PM and he was staring out the windows.

The driver had begun driving down what appeared to be a long gravel road, the car bumping a little bit, and the trees that lined the road only seemed to get taller and taller. Until finally, the car halted to a stop in front of a gate.

This gate, had a security box and everything. Complete with a security officer waiting with a walkie talkie inside. Something that the driver noticed, and Damon did not.

Instead, he was more fascinated with the fact that he was in what appeared to be the wilderness, but was in fact still inside London. This was perhaps how filthy rich he wanted to be someday, a fucking gate with security and trees lining the road down.

The driver rolled down his window, talking to the security guard, expressing his confusion.

"I just picked the lad up! I don't know his name, he just wanted to fucking come here and I thought maybe I'd get a real nice tip out of it- swear that I'm not harboring a terrorist or some fucking creep-"

The driver frantically turns around and nudges Damon, seeing as how the security officer was feeling obliged to call the police.

"What's your name boy? Security wants it."

He lifts his head up, perking up a little bit. "Damon Albarn. Do I need to spell it?"

"NO." The driver practically yells before turning back to the security guard "Did you hear that? He says his name is Damon Albarn, now would you please radio the house or at least don't call the police?"

The security guard walked away for a moment, going to make a call up to the main house that stood in the distance.

After a few minutes, the gate opens and the taxi cab is allowed to roll through the gates. The driver seems stunned, as if he'd honestly been expecting the police to show up or something.

As the car pulled up to the house, the lights around the property lit up, the gravel road continued farther down and eventually led to a circular drive way with a fountain in the middle of it, it was a sandy pale color and the water was a light blue, contrasting the dark grey pebbles and the tall green and trim trees around the road.

The house on the other hand, was massive. It was a mixture of stone and brick, with a wrap around porch that was held up with massive marble columns.

It was taller than some of the humongous trees.

And as Damon stumbled out of the car, making his way up the patio, the driver couldn't help but watch the baggy eyed boy make his way up, trying to remember both his name and face, to tell his wife about later. This had perhaps been the weirdest ride he'd ever made.

The door, was surprisingly unlocked, and as he made his way inside, he looked around at the dark green walls and vast gold colored furniture that made up the open space.

It was a humongous living room, with a dirt closet right next to him, which upon further inspection was filled with raincoats, boots and whatever else, it was muddy compared to the rest of the house.

The carpets were fresh and the ceilings were high, as he ventured further into the house, he couldn't help but stare at the main spiral staircase, and the chandelier above it.

This was dirty rich. And he was loving how extra it all was.

"Damon Albarn, might I ask what brings you to my home? Especially this late?" A man asks, slipping his reading glasses onto the table, standing up to greet his guest.

"I couldn't remember my address.."

"Do you now?"

He shakes his head no.

"Ah. Have I told you remind me of myself?"

As the man got close, Damon finally realized who's name he had actually said and where he was standing. His face wasn't just familiar. It was someone he'd met last year.

Maxis Erlich.

He was in Maxis Erlich's private home.

"Oh fuck. I should go. Or at least figure out where I live." He says, trying to head back to the door.

"It's too late for that. You can figure that out tomorrow. Besides, it's no big deal. Just stay the night, sober up. It'll be like a sleepover. My wife is out of town for business anyway."

"You have to have a guest bedroom..." he murmurs

"I was joking about that."

"This is horrifying. Christ. I'm off my socks in your house. Of all the places. And how did that taxi driver know where to go?" He wonders out loud

Maxis shrugs "Do you want some tea? Anything?"

He shakes his head "I'll be fine for now. Im just trying to mentally forgive myself for this. Maxis, I'm so sorry. This is-"

"I've done worse. And no you can't ask what."

"Can I go to bed?"

"Course you can. Just be quiet. There's a Telly and a phone in the guest bedroom. Use whatever you want. Just don't be loud. I don't want my kids getting disturbed."

"Aren't they all adults?"

"Well, yes. But still. I have no clue if they're sleeping or doing what. So it's better we don't bother them."

As the two make their way up the staircase, Maxis watches the young frontman, observing his behaviors and trying to figure out what was plaguing the boys head, or at least figure out how to piece him together again.

"Do you remember where you live yet? Or where you were before?" He asks patiently

Damon pauses to sit, slumping down on the stairs, it was on the tip of his tongue. He knew where he was before.

"I was at my girlfriends house-" he hiccups "Justine's place."

"And?"

"That's not my home."

"You don't live with her? I could've sworn you lived with a partner or something. Maybe Chloe was wrong." He says shrugging

"What? No I live with my friend. My friend Avery Pince. She's been with me for awhile now."

Maxis chuckles "Ah, so you're fucking someone else. And living with them! My daughter was correct."

"So what?"

"It sounds messy. That's all. Reminds me of an old friend of mine."

Damon rolls his eyes "and why does Chloe know or care about this anyways? It's not like she's trying to be a friend or anything, let alone a fan. She came and cursed me out a few nights ago. And I have no idea why."

Maxis states down at the boy and grins, seeing the oblivious expression on his face.

"I'll let you figure that one out. I can't give you all the answers. Well- maybe I'll give you a hint. My Chloe has a heart of gold."

And with that, the man walks off, leaving Damon Albarn to his own devices on the stairwell, hopping off to his own bedroom.