Long time no see! Sorry! I just started high school so I'm really busy. But tonight, I don't have anything to do so I'm going to add some more things today(:

PS- I'm seeing Gorillaz on Thursday! I'm soooo excited!

Chapter 2- Accidents Happen

November 4th, 1998

I've made my bonds with these men. Murdoc is just an older brother who likes to taunt my other older brother, 2D. Russel is like my dad. I love them all though, I don't think I could last a day without any of them. They are teaching me English. I think it is going very well.

We had our last practice before our first gig today. I like the way 2D sings. He likes the way I sing, though I don't do it a lot in the band, I usually just sing on my own when I'm in my bedroom alone. The other day, he was watching me since I had left my door open. It was so embarassing! But I suppose that happens to everyone.

We practiced for two hours, then took a break. It was then when I discovered Murdoc was a smoker. I don't like the smell of smoke. Murdoc is a bad person sometimes, so I suppose smokers are bad people. I told this to 2D, and he said, "Guess so", patted my head, and got up to get a glass of water.

That night, long after I was supposed to be asleep, I got up after hearing some laughter down the hall and decided to listen to what was going on. The men were discussing band names. There were some interesting choices, and I didn't like any of them, probably because I did not understand them. What's a 'Pawn Shop' anyways?

November 5th.

I never remembered feeling nervous, except the first time I practiced with the band. I was afraid I'd mess up and we wouldn't make it big. But the song we're playing is only ninety seven seconds long, so it can't be that bad, can it?

Murdoc and Russel were having an argument that we still didn't have a band name. "Well, Noodle didn' even get t'suggest anyfin'!"

"Muds, she's eight and she can't speak a word of English! Man, sometimes I think 2D is smarter than you."

"Oh shut up."

"What we need is a band name."

"No shit, Sherlock."

"And it needs to be something unique, something vicious..." Unique? Vicious? THAT'S IT! With one breath completely filling my lungs I let out the first thing that came to my head-

"GORILLAAAAAAAAZ!" Well, that's not what I expected.

"Tha'ss sucha-" Murdoc said, but his words were cut off by 2D staring at him and Russel giving him 'that look'.

"...A brilliant name Noods an' I fink i' jus' migh' get us signed." He patted my helmet, and I fake-smiled. 2D was smiling as well-obviously, he had no idea what was going on. That's what I liked about him- sometimes he was just so oblivious, but I knew that deep down inside, he had a nice working brain to match his sweet heart. All three of them were like my brothers- always there for me, but knew when I needed personal space.

The guy on the other side of the stage (I don't know what they call it) told us it was time to go on. I grabbed my guitar and tried to summon 2D, who was in a daze. Murdoc yelled at him, and he snapped out of it. I walked onto the stage and looked out. There was a small crowd in the building which was foggy with cigarette smoke and smelled of alchohol. The people were mostly men and women who looked either old or not very hygenic, and were probably alchoholics or drug abusers. I looked at the man who was to introduce us. "Okay, and for our next act, we have...um..." he looked at us. "What do you call yourselves?"

"Tell 'im Noods," Murdoc said. I took a big breath and said it again. "GORILLAAAAAAZ!"

"Okay," his voice returned to normal, "...Gorillaz."

Russel counted off with his drumsticks which was our cue to begin. I felt this rush of adrenaline shoot through my body, and before I knew it it was my turn to come into the song. I played as though it was the last time I was going to pick up a guitar, and soon enough the song was over. For the first time I felt overjoyed, as if I made no mistakes.

When we went backstage, we met a man named Whiffy Smiffy. He told us we were fantastic and like something he'd never heard before. And when he announced we were signed. I started jumping and dancing around from excitement while the boys cheered in the back. I hugged them all.

November 6th.

The next day we held a party for our signing. Lots of people showed up and it was actually a pretty calm party. I met 2D's parents, and they were very polite. I told them that 2D must have gotten his politeness from him, and though they didn't understand what I said, they said "thanks" anyways.

A little while later I went up to 2D sitting at the bar. I looked at the cup in his hand that was holding what was probably an alchoholic drink. "What dat?" I asked.

"Dis?" 2D asked pointing to his drink. "I'ss Vodka."

"Vodka? Me have some, hai?"

"Eh, I dunno. I' migh' be a li'l strong. Yer only wot, six, seven?"

"Eight."

"Eigh' years old, yer real-" He looked away as he said this and I decided to try some. I picked up and took a taste. The second it touched my tongue, 2D looked back and I realised this drink tasted awful. "Oh no," he said. I spat it out and said, "Yucky." 2D took the drink back and told me where to find some Coke. I found the red cans in the mini-fridge and picked one up. Then I joined 2D and the others at the bar again.

Later that night, 2D was nailed in the head with spaghetti. I tried to hold back a laugh as he picked up a banana and launched it at Murdoc who was laughing devilishly in the background. Murdoc then threw some pretzels back at 2D, and this is when the food fight started. I picked up a cupcake and originally intended to throw it at Murdoc, who had moved within arm's length from me. But I ended up smooshing it in 2D's face as he tried to dodge a cookie that was about to hit him. Russel playfully put whipped cream and a cherry on my helmet, and then I poured wine down his shirt.

About five minutes into the fight, something went horribly wrong. When I poured 2D's drink on him, Russel came over with a big, cold éclair and smashed it into 2D's face. It went into his throat and he collapsed. I screamed. "'ELP ME!" he said, then suddenly, he turned blue and passed out. I suddenly began to panic, with tears trying very hard not to come out. I went to Russel and hugged him. "Muds, this is bad," he said as he sat down, then hoisted me on his lap. "We better take him to the hospital before something really bad happens."

The hospital was very dreary. I sat out in the waiting room with Russel and Murdoc trying not to fall asleep. It was hard, though, because it was 11:30 and I hadn't really stayed up this late in a while. Until about 2 AM it was very quiet between the three of us. Finally a doctor came out. He said that 2D was going to be okay and that his tonsils were knocked out. If it weren't for Russel 2D may never have been able to sing again.

On the way back I was just miserable, not only from lack of sleep but also because one of my best friends nearly died. As soon as we got home, I collapsed in my bed as though I hadn't slept in years.

When I woke up, Russel was in my room and he gave me the news that 2D was going to be okay. I beamed up into his milky white eyes and then cheered. He patted my partially shaven hair and then told me to get dressed so we could go visit him.

In the car I could not stop talking. Although it was mostly in Japanese, I still was overjoyed that my 'brother' was going to be okay. I was the first one out of the car at the hospital. Russel and I went up together. 2D looked very pale. I slowly approached the hospital bed, and felt his face. When I took my hand away, he opened his eyes and looked at me. "2D no dead!" I exclaimed.

"No, 'm not."

"2D okay?"

"'M fine, Noodle-luv. Ain't nuffin' to worry about." I always feel fuzzy when he calls me Noodle-luv.

"Okay!" I ran back to Russel, who went to 2D and talked to him about things I couldn't understand. Then we left.

When we got back, I decided I was going to give 2D a gift for when he came home. It was going to be a picture of me and him. I didn't think I was a very good artist, but I was going to try anyways. After all, trying never hurts!

Every day I buy 2D ice cream so that his throat feels better. I always choose something different so it's a surprise. Every day, I worked on my drawing. I also had Russel and Murdoc write "To 2D. From Noodle. Get well soon!" on it. Murdoc even went with us one day, but this was after I forced tears on him (which I never did until then) and told Russel, who threatened to punch him in the face if he didn't come with us.

Finally, the day came to pick 2D up from the hospital and I became very excited. I just could not wait to show him my drawing. I told him that I worked very hard on it. He said, "'M sure yeh did," and smiled.

When we arrived back at Kong, I dragged 2D to my room. "Ready?" I asked as I grabbed the picture from my bedside table. I showed him yhe picture. "Noods! Tha'ss very good! Way betta' den anyfing I could eva do." I could tell he was proud of me.

"Arigato!" I gave him the picture, and then he hugged me. I was so short compared to him. I giggled a bit when he lifted me. I was so high up, or at least it seemed so. But hey, when you're only 3 foot 2 and you have a 6 foot something man lifting you up, it seems like you're on top of the world.

Only weeks later, we began recording what would become Gorillaz's very first album. I had so much fun with it, I had never heard myself sing or speak before, so hearing my own voice recording was a great experience. Everything went well for a while.

But eventually, we couldn't stand each other anymore.

A/N: So I finally finished this. I'll TRY to put up Chapter 3 tomorrow, hopefully I can! I'm very busy on Wednesdays so hopefully I can get to it. If not I will have something up by Friday.

Also, irrelevant to the topic- I just watched the first miner from the mine in Chile come up. I nearly lost it. It touched me when I saw him hug his wife and his son. I am so glad he came up okay.