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"Alex! C'mon, mate. You can't just lay around here all day. What's wrong? Talk to me." Jamie frowned and waved a hand in front of Alex's face. Alex sighed heavily and closed his eyes.
"Here. I brought you summat." Jamie grinned and held out a little brown paper bag towards him. "It's just a few fish fingers and chips left over from dinner. None of the lads have seen you eat since we got here, and we're all getting a little worried, to tell you the truth."
"You are?" Alex carefully opened the bag with the tips of his fingers, as if he was afraid of what was inside.
"We are," Jamie nodded firmly. "You seem so lost and sad, like. We've been wanting to ask you about it, but that's something we decided we wanted to let you bring up, or not. We just want you to be okay, Alex. You can trust us. You can trust me, mate. You know that, don't you?"
Jamie looked down at the floor and blinked so rapidly that Alex was afraid he was going to start crying. He covered his mouth and yawned. "Well, I s'pose I'll take that as a sign. I'm gunna g'wed and call it a day, mate. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night."
When Alex opened his eyes next, Nick was sat down on the settee. He had a blue spiral notebook open in his lap, a pen in his mouth, his ears red.
He looked focussed and embarrassed at the same time. He looked up when he heard Alex whimper sleepily, and sunlight glinted off of his reading glasses.
"Hey, Alex. Alright?"
"Ugh, me 'ead hurts. How long 'ave I been asleep?"
"Since we got here, more or less. But, that's only been about twelve hours or so. Cookie said that he brought you some chips and fish fingers last night. Did you eat them?"
Alex nodded. "Yeah, I was 'hungrier than I'd 'ave thought. What about you, Malley, what're you doin'?"
Nick snorted. His lips began to tremble like he was trying not to smile. "I'm not sure, to tell ya the truth. Scribbling lines and the like, but it's all rubbish. I don't quite have your way with words, mate. We really need you."
Nick's words inexplicably made Alex start to cry. "S-sorry," he wailed, feeling ridiculous and powerless to stop it. "I'm just ruining everything, aren't I? You lot must absolutely hate me!"
In an instant, Alex was wrapped in a familiar pair of arms. Matt had come into the room without him noticing, if he hadn't been there from the start. Alex moaned and leaned his face into Matt's shoulder, wetting his neck with his tears. "I'm sorry! I'm an absolute fucking wreck. I'm being absolutely mental."
"Oh no, you aren't. You are nothing of the sort, Alex Turner. Whatever is going on, you can tell us. We're here for you, Alex. We're here to help you. We just want you to trust us. We love you, Alex."