Matty sat with the boys of The 1975, half-listening to their banter, but his mind was elsewhere. Across the dimly lit bar, Alex Turner’s girlfriend caught his eye, as she had countless times before. Her beauty was undeniable, a stark contrast to the raucous energy that surrounded her. Matty had been stealing glances at her all night, intrigued by the quiet sadness in her expression. Alex, effortlessly cool and detached as ever, seemed oblivious to the way she shifted uncomfortably beside him.

The tension between The 1975 and Arctic Monkeys had been simmering for years, a rivalry whispered about by magazines and fans more than either band would admit. Matty rolled his eyes at Alex’s stoic arrogance, his rockstar aloofness, the constant comparisons drawn between them. Yet, despite all that, he couldn’t deny the attraction he felt for her. She was different, softer than the chaos that surrounded her, and he had always admired that from afar. It was a secret he kept even from his bandmates, the way his gaze would linger on her a moment too long whenever they crossed paths.

When Alex eventually left her alone, heading off with a cigarette dangling from his lips, the tension at The 1975’s table grew palpable. The girl looked upset, her eyes distant as if lost in thought. George nudged Matty, a smirk playing on his lips. “Now’s your chance, mate,” he murmured, echoed by the others who urged him to approach her. Matty’s heart quickened, torn between loyalty to the rivalry and the undeniable pull he felt toward her. He hesitated, eyes fixed on her, knowing that this was a moment he couldn’t ignore.