There they were in Paris France of all places wearing a stupid beret feeling like an absolute wanker.
“How much fookin’ longer?”
“I’m not setting the timer until you crack a smile.”
“I’m already wearin’ the beret, how much more of a cunt do you want me to be?”
Liam stepped out from behind the camera tripod with a look of exasperation.
“What?”
“Our mother said she wanted a good picture of the both of us with the Eiffel Tower behind us, she wants a nice picture Noel, for the family album.”
“I don’t remember her mentioning us wearing matching fookin’ berets,” Noel scoffed.
“I think it’s cute,” Liam said looking down at the ground, shuffling his feet.
“Can we just get thos over with, I could be getting’ drunk and talkin’ up french bar maids right now,” Noel joked.
Liam went to Noel and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, taking his beret off.
“You’re right you look like a cunt.”
“You said I looked cute.”
“I lied,” Liam said with a smile. “If you’d just smile and get it over with we could,” Liam added a bit quieter. “Find other uses for this camera.”
Noel raised his eyebrows.
“Alright take the fookin’ picture.”
“Say cheese!”
*************************************************
“Open the door, I know yer in there I can hear you walkin’.”
It was 1 am and Noel was pacing in his hotel room.
“Open up, I just want like talk,” Liam kicked the door. “Open up ya dick!”
Noel put out his cigarette and rubbed his temples. Here we go again, he thought, and I was doing such a good job so far this tour without it….
As soon as he unlocked the door Liam came barging in.
“It’s not right,” Liam started pacing around the room. “You ignoring your own brother this way, locking me out of our hotel room.”
“My hotel room,” Noel reminded him. “Mine, as in me alone, we shouldn’t even be sharing one, it’s not…”
“It’s not what? Right? Like all I ‘ave is like brotherly love, what’s wrong with that?” Liam said walking right up to Noel so that the smoke emitting from his mouth stung the older brothers eyes. “I just wanna talk man.”
“What do you want to talk about Liam?” Noel said deadpan. “Nothin’,” Liam said obviously not thinking of a lie or excuse to be there quick enough. “I’ve noticed you not like you know, letting me in at night..”
“Well you’re here now so..”
“We might as well put the bed to some use then,” Liam said placing his hand on Noel’s neck and bringing him in for a sloppy kiss.
“At least brush yer fookin’ teeth first you mangy cunt,” Noel laughed.
“Ah that’s more like it,” Liam said kissing Noel on the forehead and turning back towards the door.
“Where you goin’, I said you could stay.”
“I’m briging me tooth brush and pajamas,” Liam said with a wide toothy smile.
Oh well, he thought to himself, maybe tomorrow he would be stronger.
***********************************
Liam was in bed. He was sure he was dying. His head was pounding, his poor throat burning, he could barley breathe through his nose.
“Breath through yer mouth you idiot,” his brother said.
“Fook off, I 'ate breathin’ through me fookin’ mouth,” Liam retorted. “The fook you doin’ here? I didn’t hear ya come in.”
“Shut up,” Noel said placing his hand on Liam’s forehead. “You’re burning up.”
Although it felt good, his big brothers cool hand on his forehead, Liam swatted it away.
“Get off me, I’m a big boy. Besides yer not our mam.”
Noel turned around and started walking out.
“Oh so yer gonna leave me 'ere to die right?”
“I’m getting’ medicine ya ingrate.” and the door closed.
Liam drifted off to half sleep dreaming about the one time the band got into a food fight at some posh restaurant and how Noel had thrown a full baked potato at his head.
After what seemed like forever he was awakened by the light sound of a door shutting.
“Get up you lazy cunt,” Noel said shaking Liam.
“Get off me. I want to stay in bed, gotta rest up before the show man.”
“There’s no fookin’ show, I canceled it. Now all you gotta do is take it easy,” Noel said helping Liam to his feet and wrapping the blanket around his shoulders. “Now c'mon, you’ll be more comfy on the couch.”
“On the couch,” the younger brother answered. “That makes no sense Noel, you’ve gone mental.”
Noel pushed Liam towards the bedroom door, standing behind him with his hands on either side of his waist, guiding him to the couch.
Noel had turned on the tele and put in a video cassette.
Liam was still upset his brother dragged him out of bed until he heard a familiar heme song playing.
“Is this that one show we watched as kids, whatcha call it..”
“The New Schmoo, yeah I saw it at the store and thought of you,” his brother said, back turned, tinkering with something the singer couldn’t see.
“Nice one,” Liam said, trying to sound cool but in reality he was super happy and touched Noel remembered.
“Alright, time for medicine,” Noel turned around with the measuring cup in his hand.
“No fookin’ way am I takin’ that..”
But it was too late Noel had already put it to his lips a bit forcefully so at the risk of it spilling on his shirt he swallowed.
“God that’s awful shit, what you tryin’ to d kill me?”
“Yeah, I’m trying to kill you,” Noel dead panned, sitting next to Liam and putting his arm over his shoulder, bringing him close and kissing the top of his head. “Shut up and watch yer cartoons kid.”
Liam nuzzled his head into Noel and then out of nowhere pinched his side.
“What the fook is that for?”
“For throwing that potato.”
“That was ages ago..”
“Shh I’m tryin’ to watch me show.”
*********************************************************************************
“I don’t know why you dragged me out here for,” Noel said grumpily.
“I already told you, I told this bird I’m seein’ I seen this movie, now she wants to talk about it, so now I gotta watch it.”
“Why the hell do I have to get dragged into yer sorted love life.”
“You are my love life Noely,” Liam said jokingly pinching Noel’s cheek.
“Get of me you cunt,” he said slapping Liam’s hand away.
“Besides you haven’t taken me anywhere..”
“Excuse you? I’m not yer boyfriend, I don’t have to take you anywhere, this is not a date and we are not dating.”
“Fuck you.”
“Fuck you.”
“Not with that sour face of your Noely.”
They bought their tickets and went into the lobby.
“I want some popcorn and some milk duds and a coke and..”
“For fucks sake.”
They settled into their chairs, Liam scarfing down the popcorn.
“This should be good man.”
“It’s a bloody chick flick.”
“Nah man this,” and Liam grabbed Noel’s hand. “The dark, us here alone..”
“This isn’t a date Liam.”
“Fuck you.”
“Fuck you.”
“Okay.”