The day after 2D and Noodle heard me play for the first time, I woke up wondering whether it was real.
After accepting (for the most part) that they were the real deal, and that it wasn't a dream or hallucination, I suddenly realized that I had no way to contact them. Shit.
Well, if they really had been following me around they would find me eventually, right?
As I got ready for the day, I began to worry about losing the one wonderful thing that I had just found. The thing that had made me finally so happy and excited to see what life had in store for me.
As I went through my day and didn't see any sign of them, I grew even more worried. Who cares if they were real if I would never even see them again?
Worry became anger, and anger became despair. Upset, I decided to take a walk to clear my head.
I walked aimlessly along the sidewalk, not paying attention to where I was going. Eventually, I felt so overwhelmed by anxiety and sadness that I sat on a park bench and began to cry.
After a while, I felt the weight of another person sitting down on the bench beside me, and, looking up, saw a large black man.
"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked gently, looking at me with concern.
"Nothing, I just-" I waited for the right words to come, but I couldn't think of anything.
"It's okay," he said. I couldn't meet his eyes out of embarrassment but saw that he was looking at me. I wasn't sure if it made it better or worse.
"I'm Russel," he finally said.
My head snapped up and meeting his gaze at last, I softly said, "Oh." After an awkward pause I remembered to say, "I'm Evelyn. It's nice to meet you."
It was his turn to be surprised. "Oh," he said. "So, I'm assuming you're the Evelyn that's going to be my new bandmate?"
"Yeah," I said, now feeling ridiculous for having been crying over never seeing them again.
"Welcome to the family," he said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and giving me a squeeze.
He went on to say, "We look out for each other. If you don't wanna talk about whatever's bothering you that's okay, but just let me know if there's anything I can do to help."
"Thank you," I said, a slight smile curling at the corners of my lips.
We sat in silence for a while, and it was nice. I felt very comfortable in his presence. I didn't feel pressured to talk, but I knew that if I did he would listen.
Russel pulled his phone out of his pocket, and sighed. "Shit," he mumbled to himself, "Muds wants me back to practice, he says he has a new song and they need a drummer right now."
"Oh," I said, unsure of what to say.
"Come along if you want," he said, standing up and gesturing for me to follow.
"Sure," I said, and he took me to a shabby looking apartment building a few blocks away.
We went inside, and finally entered a room that was full of instruments, recording equipment, and other interesting objects. It was an absolute mess. It was a musician's dream.
"Hey!" 2D squealed with delight, coming out of another room, closely followed by Noodle.
"Where's Murdoc?" Russel said, sounding a bit ticked off.
"Oh, out buying booze again," Noodle said, rolling her eyes but giggling slightly.
"It took you long enough!" Murdoc said, bursting through the door carrying bags of alcohol.
Noodle raised her eyebrows. "Talking to yourself?" she retorted.
Murdoc had an intense fury in his eyes as he struggled to think of a response to that.
2D patted the couch cushion next to where he was now seated, inviting me to sit back and watch the drama unfold with him. I joined him, sensing that he was pleased that Murdoc was bickering with someone other than him for once.
"So is this song any good?" Russel inquired, directing his question towards Noodle.
"It's bloody amazing!" Murdoc shouted enthusiastically.
Noodle shrugged. "It's not bad I guess," she admitted, "but that's only because 2D and I helped."
I excitedly watched them set up their equipment, realizing I was going to be the first one to hear a new Gorillaz song since 2010.
Suddenly, there was a loud screeching sound.
"Bloody hell!" Murdoc screamed over the castrophony. "Not again!"
We made our way out of the building as the fire alarm rang and rang. Disappointed, I wondered if I would still get to hear the song.
We stood around in the parking lot as a fire truck came to make sure the building was safe. I idly got out my phone to check the time, and realized I had ten minutes before my art history class started.
"Umm, I just realized I have to go to class soon," I said awkwardly, wishing I didn't have to go but knowing it was the right thing to do.
Russel looked at me for a moment, and as if he read my mind, said, "Do you want our contact information so we can stay in touch?"
"Yes, please," I said with a grin, and he added me into a group text message with the four of them.
"I can't wait to hear that song," I said.
Murdoc responded, "You know, I had something in mind for a harp part, if you're interested."
"Of course!" I exclaimed.
After our farewells, I walked away towards my class, the fire alarm fading fainter and fainter into the distance and, blending with the traffic noises, almost sounding like music from another world.