Somewhere Else

Disclaimer: I don't own the Gorillaz or anyone in the videos. Sadly.

A/N: What really goes on in the events leading up to El Manana, but I won't spoil it. Alternate meeting with Noodle, alternate storyline altogether, but it eventually works, so go along with it and enjoy! (Any flashbacks, thoughts, or memories are in italics). 2D's POV, except for one chapter I haven't even stared writing. Rating may go up, but only for one chapter.

Chapter One

We needed help. Badly.

Albums not selling. Just a bunch of lazy, sloppy, self-abusive, jerk-off guys who layed around and slept with anything that moved. Ever since Paula left, we basically crawled under a rock.

We are the Gorillaz and we wear that name proudly.

My name's 2D. Yeah, you heard right. Or, it's as good as my real name. People just call me 'D' or 'Denty' or 'Face Ache' or one of the sort. Muds (or Murdoc) gave me the name when he dented in my eyes over some girls. And he got me so bad I was in a friggin' coma and he didn't even go out with them. All that for nothing. But, y'know.

Muds can get pretty bad, but he's smart, and you have to respect him. Or at least tolerate him. 'Cause he'll have your head if you don't. He can beat ya around sometimes, but you have to realize that underneath it all, he sucks. But we don't say anything. I respect him, and people ask me, "Why? What good has he done for you?" And I say, "I dunno." But that's who he is, and I guess we've all adjusted.

Russel, he don't talk much. 'Nuff said.

Anyways, as I was saying, we needed help. And one day we were talking about it and someone, probably Muds himself, threw it out on the table - get some chick to help us out with our music and clean out this shithole of a house. And get some guy fans. But I think ol' Murdy just likes the idea of a hot young girl living with three guys. Something's bound to happen, eh?

So, after a month of planning, we held an audition in March. It was kind of funny watching all these dudes show up, 'cause we specified girls. They just wanted to see us - who doesn't? And this one kid, maybe seventeen, was dressed up like a girl, and we almost couldn't tell until he sang. So.

But, all in all, it was slow, 'cause we weren't that popular in the first place. So we dropped that idea.

And then one day I was in the city, in April, doing what I usually do when I go into the city (smoke, drink, gamble, etc) when I saw this chica at the bus stop. And I did like a seven-take or something. She was hot. With violet hair and some blue eyeliner and a union soldier hat, it was hard to see why she wasn't sitting with someone.

Well. I wasn't complaining.

Ok, so she was young. Really young. Like, 15 or 16. And I'm 23. But she caught my eye, and I couldn't resist, so shoot me.

And I just dropped my cigarette and took like six hundred mints and left everything and went over and pretended I was waiting for a bus. She did not look up once - her face was buried in a magazine whose cover was blaring "Government's new project is mandatory."

Since we were the only ones there, I decided to strike up conversation. "The gov'nment don' know 'ow ta do anythin'," I voiced, looking at the street. Not the best topic, but, y'know...

She looked up. Her eyes were like charcoal, black as night or whatever. She gave me a polite smile. "It doesn't," she agreed, her eyes resting on a hickie I had so pleasurably gotten in a nightclub. "Always making a big deal over nothing."

Her voice was sweet, but hinting a bit of a Japanese accent. Still, we all "spoke English", and it sounded fine when we were singing. And I didn't even know if she could sing, but she'd be one hell of a girlfriend. I hoped. It had been so long since I dated someone who wasn't a slut. And even if she WAS a slut, she sounded really cool to hang out with...

I chuckled. Me, getting ahead of myself! "I mean, everythin' they do is the decision ofone man who don't listen to tha public, 'nd 'e goes nd' makes it all mandatory. It's like communism aw summfink'."

"It's worse than communism," she said, scanning the article, "Punishable by death. Last week, a family who spoke out was court-martialed. We have to watch what we say."

"Tragic. But theah's nothin' we can really do otha than that, y'know?"

Suddenly, she glared. It was upsetting because she was one of those people not created to get mad and when they did it was creepy. Not like weird-creepy, but creepy because the picture gets burned into your mind and whenever they're upset you remember it. "Are you kidding?" We could do everything, we just may not live to see the problems fixed."

Ouch. Politics with strangers. I backed off, retreating casually to one small corner of the bus stop thingy. No need to make the mistress mad.

But her temper rested, and she smiled apologetically. "Sorry," she said, blushing, and she looked around her shoulders like someone out there might be listening, "But... Don't go calling the cops, but I'm a member of the PPCDA, and some things are going on and it's getting tight. We're all a little bit edgy now."

The PPCDA. I had heard of it. It was some underground movement (Peaceful Protest and Civil Disobediance Association) that the government would give anything to stop. However, word on the street was that it's members were taking up arms - preparing for a revolution. So much for peaceful.

Me, I agreed with what they were doing, but if they found anyone who was a part of it, you were as good as gone. I'm talking torture and threatening family and death. And this was our 'wonderful' political system. Just a bit corrupt. I would've joined, but I have a planned future.

I sat down next to her on the bench and winked. "Wouldn't tell a soul if I could," I said, smiling, "But I don't think I caught cha' name."

She grinned widely, showing her perfect, white teeth (much unlike mine). "Noodle. I'm Noodle. Laugh if you want."

Well. She certainly joined me in the weird names club.

"I'm 2D," I said, looking her straight in the eye, and I was almost embarrassed to tell her. She looked at me with a face that was smiling but the expression said, "Huh?"

"2D," she asked, "Like the number and letter?" A grin. "That's so cool. Now I don't feel so bad." She chuckled. "We could be in the PWIA or something."

"PWIA?"

"'Parents With Imagination Association.'"

We laughed, and I looked at her. Real pretty, with a blue denim jacket, black tank top underneath, blue capris ending a few inches below her knees, white shoes, and her lovely little cap. As for me, crappy t-shirt with some obscene saying, with jeans and whatever shoes I had put on. Couldn't be more unattractive. She was stylish. I was a wreck. Of course, had I known I'd be meeting some nice girl, maybe I'd clean up my act. But these things come and go as they please.

She glanced over at me. "So what are you doing here?" she asked, putting down the magazine. I had her attention.

"Just hanging out, seein' friends." Her eyes darted to the hickie again. I could feel blush starting to rise, and adjusted my jacket, covering my neck.

Haha. 2D told a little white lie. Visiting friends? Bullshit. I was killing myslef softly... with cigarettes. But maybe I'd take it easy on those, for her sake. I checked the bus schedule taped to the wall. Three more minutes. No more small talk.

"Umm, Noodle..." I said, leaning over. Why was I so embarrassed all of a sudden? This shouldn't be this hard. "Can ya sing, aw play any instruments, by any chance?"

She looked at me suspiciously. "Somewhat," she said slowly, "Why?"

"I, umm... I... Well, ya see...Okay, I know this is weird, but can ya sing sumthin' faw me?"

She hesitated, I could see it. Strangers on the street coming up and asking you random favors. Not ordinary. But she smirked and said, "If it's bad, don't make fun of me."

I never would have dreamed of it.

So she opens her mouth and sings. And god, it was... unbelievable. Professional is an understatement. And she kept her eyes narrowed on me, watching to see my reaction, and she started smiling when she saw my mouth drop. No way would I have thought someone could sing like that without editing until I heard her. It was a song I had heard on the radio she sang, but it sounded... I can't describe it. Angelic or whatever word it is. Celestial. Good enough for me to use that vocab.

And she stopped and smiled and glittered and asked, "Was that good?"

And at that moment, I decide on an instant, I am not letting this girl slip through my fingers. She's too good to be true. And I am sitting there like some dumbass turkey with it's mouth open, and she's laughing nervously and waving her hands in front of my face and going, "2D?"

And as the bus is pulling up and we stand, and we board it together, I ask slowly, "Noodle... 'ave you eva thought of singin' in a group

A/N: More coming soon, I know this wasn't how any of it started, but pretend you never knew the Gorillaz history and imagine this is it. Eventually it feeds into the main plot of the videos. Review!