#the song screams NYC and nora to me

[because-she-goes]

the garden

warnings: some swearing & angry nora. Enjoy!

Nora walked out of the grey, new york sky scraper and was immediately hit by the chill in the air, but blinded by the sun. A freezing cold March morning in Manhattan. However, Nora was acting like it was August. Positively beaming and walking down the busy sidewalk with a bounce in her step, she couldn’t wait to call Matty with the news. Nora, being the incredible woman she is, had just sold one of her more intricate pieces to a buyer from The Whitney Museum for just under $85,000. An absolutely ridiculous number for Nora to wrap her head around, but a minuscule number in comparison to the art world where her colleagues have sold pieces for $30 million before even having their morning coffee.

The Whitney being a place Nora has revered for years, making it a life-goal in college to have a piece in their modern art section one day. A true pinch me moment. The piece she had sold was quite bold and brash, which the buyer liked about it - needing something to stick out among their hundreds of dazzling works. She had painted it after Matty had told her about the band being invited to play SNL. She had been inspired by the longevity of the television program and the art it produced, New York and artists like Rothko, Pollack, Kline. Remembering her teachers using the term “Abstract Expressionism” to describe what she was going for. However, she remembered halfway through that abstract expressionism was more 50s-60s than the time period she was interested in. Leaning more into postmodernism (a word she taught Matty), she looked to the works of Baldessari where dots were placed on people’s face in photographs. She took the idea of the dots and ran with it, using her thickest brush and dipping it into contrasting colors, she placed huge dots in sections of the piece - covering some spots and leaving others blank or revealing the splatters underneath. An ode to the New York art scene with a dash of California. It had taken her weeks to figure everything out and research it all.

The work had been sitting in her studio, waiting to find a home for months. At this point, she was just waiting for the wire transfer to go through and be confirmed by her bank - then she’d celebrate and officially tell Matty the news, not wanting to get ahead of herself incase the deal fell through. Walking down W 15th and turning onto 10th, she makes her way to the Starbucks Reserve to get an 11am pick me up, she orders the hazelnut latte and gets Matty one of their specials, a whiskey-barrel aged coldbrew. Taking the two coffees to go and hailing a cab, she makes her way back uptown to her apartment in Hell’s Kitchen. One of the greatest financial decisions she has ever made was taking the money from her first sale and putting it towards buying a New York apartment back in 2016, before the price for everything sky rocketed. Not having to worry about rent anymore was a blessing in and of itself.

Swiping in to her building and saying hi to her doorman Bennie, she makes her way up to her home. Opening the door, she sees Matty at their kitchen table with his headphones blaring a demo George had sent him, she remembers that at this point its 6pm in London. Kissing the crown of his head and handing him the cold brew, she goes to check her bank account not expecting anything just yet. To her shock, there it is already. Talk about a new york minute! She excitedly runs out to Matty and rips the headphones off his head like a child wanting their parent’s attention immediately.

“Hey, I was working on something?-“

“And now you’re not! Guess what, baby!”

“What?” He asks almost begrudgingly.

“I sold that painting today! The SNL one I made way back in December is going to the Whitney, they just wired me the money!!” She is practically screaming at this point, not caring which of her neighbors hear her.

“Wait, baby you did? Oh my god thats fantastic, Muffin! I am so proud of you!” Exclaiming as he remembers when he first heard about her art from Adam at a party. He had shown up late to Carly’s birthday party after going out for drinks with Nora. Adam jokingly asked if he was on a date, Matty proudly said yes. Carly and Adam asked for her name and they nearly dropped dead when he said it. Adam had been a massive fan of Nora’s since way before she met Matty, astonished he was able to land someone like her - someone who may as well be his twin they were so alike.

“Thank You, Handsome! And guess what team is in town…”

“Oh brother, not the Knicks and Lakers again…”

“You are too good sometimes, ya know that?”

“Unfortunately.” He remarks blandly, he hates basketball. He never understood what was so interesting about guys running up and down a court putting a ball in a hoop, but he watched the Knicks since Nora loved them. She could rattle off any piece of their history without even hesitating. She had been to the garden more times than Matty could even count. Her father is a huge Knicks fan and when he found out he was having a daughter, he put a little pink Knicks ball in her nursery.

Quickly saving half her earnings and setting it aside before she forgot, she logged into her MSG account and got her usual. Floor seats, next to the home bench, in the corner. Best seats in the house. Matty still looking like someone had spilled hot soup on him, Nora decides to cheer him up a bit. She has a single connection at the garden and knows that Matty has always wanted to go in through the VIP entrance, not the performers one or the general admission lines. 5 hours until tip off, plenty of time to text Marco and see what strings he could pull.

“Baby, I’m gonna shower….” she says over her shoulder while walking to their en suite bathroom.

At that, Matty’s mood is totally turned around and the man is falling over himself to get to her before she shuts the door. “Right behind you, gorgeous!”

— 2 hours later —

In her Brunson jersey and a pair of Matty’s baggy jeans, she steps out of their bedroom. Taking a last look at her makeup, she applies a final coat of mascara and a swoosh of blush. Checking her teeth for lipstick and deciding she is ok, she waits for Matty.

In his Randle jersey she bought for him last year and sweatpants, he steps out. Fixing his hair and spraying on the cologne Nora loves. Lavender, mint and a little hint of smoke fills the air around him. She inhales and sighs, relaxing at just his scent.

“Ready to go, Handsome?” She asks, grabbing their house keys, her wallet and phone from the tray at the door.

“I guess, do you want me to drive?”

“Sure.” They walk down to the parking deck hand in hand, her body buzzing like a live wire with anticipation of tip off.

She gets a text from Marco, “All set, Boss. Just wave your ID when you get there and I’ll walk you guys in.” She sends back the little smile emoji.

New York was surprisingly pretty empty tonight, everyone must be home watching she thinks. Matty pulls up the artists entrance without issue.

“Keep going, we are going a different way.” She instructs, pointing towards the next entrance by the corner - more secluded and less opportunity for paparazzi to get their picture.

“What have you done now, Gorgeous?”

“Me? Oh nothing, just nothing at all!” She can’t even look him in the eye, he’d know whats going on right away.

He pulls into the private area and shows security his and Nora’s ID, both having to provide birth date confirmation.

“April the 8th, 1989”

“June 16th, 1992”

They get the okay to enter, see Marco and they’re escorted up to the floor seats. Matty looking like a child seeing Disney for the first time. This entrance has a full bar, private club and even a small portrait gallery of all the celebrities who have been to the garden over the decades.

Tip off and the first quarter happens before Matty can even process everything. Nora however is on her feet, yelling and berating the Knicks bench to get a move on and “pass the damn ball!” He laughs, how could someone so sweet and unassuming as her be the person in front of him - geminis man! He shakes his head lightly.

Half time is a blur and before they can even scarf down their hot dogs and fries, it is the 4th quarter. Knicks are up by 5 with 6 minutes left. Matty and Nora now both being the most obnoxious ridiculous sports fans in the building, yelling and high-fiving people around them whenever another point is scored. Nora can’t believe the sight before her, thee Matty Healy yelling at RJ Barrett to get his shit together while his mouth is full of concession stand food and cracker jack. She has never loved him more, she thinks.

4 minutes left, tie game. They are fuming. Nora is practically in a trance watching the game, refusing to acknowledge anyone around her. Matty not even paying attention to the score, just fully enjoying seeing her so worked up over a silly basketball game.

He then gets an idea….

“Hey Sunflower… I’m a little thirsty. Do you mind grabbing me a Fanta?” He yells in her direction, eyes still glued to the game.

“What? Now? Theres not even 5 minutes left, Handsome, this’ll be over any second!” She promises, trying to appease him and get him to just be patient.

“Yeah, I want one before they close - for the ride home ya know? My throat feels like razors from all the salty food you Americans eat!”

“Oh for fucks sake, Matty! Fine, I’ll go!” Running up the stairs as quick as she can and bolting to the concession stand closest to her spot.

“One Fanta, ASAP pronto hurry!” She rushes out to the poor teenager working. Eyes watching the monitor above him.

Randle hits a 3, the Knicks up again!

She rejoices, still waiting impatiently for the damn soda. I mean my god how long does it take to hold a squirt gun to a cup!!

“That’ll be $2.75 ma’am…” the teenager turns back around to her holding the precious soda. She throws a $5 at the kid and sprints back to Matty.

“Here you go, honey!” She shoves it towards him. He takes one sip, looks at her and says one of the most enraging things she has ever heard…

“It’s Diet! Who orders a diet Fanta, this is vile holy shit!” He proclaims.

Smoke comes out of her ears. She grabs the cup roughly and marches back to the kid.

“Fucking diet Fanta, you moron! Who would want a diet Fanta!!” The poor kid looks at her and shrugs, grabbing another cup and different squirt gun filling the vessel with soda at a snail’s pace.

Nora checks the monitor again. 1 minute left. Tied. Brunson steals, goes towards the basket and just as he scores, the kid hands her the new soda. Forgetting to pay she turns to the seats and out rushes the crowd hooting and hollering. Defeated, she her shoulders and head drop. She sees Matty emerge, hands him the soda and they go back to the car in complete, deafening silence.

Trying to get back into her good graces, he pulls out a stuffed Knicks bear from behind him. It is adorable, impossibly cute. Softening, Nora wipes a tear inching down her cheek at his thoughtfulness and wraps her arms around his neck. Holding him tightly to her and never wanting to let go.

“Congratulations on the sale again, baby. Tomorrow we celebrate for real… fancy dinner, shopping, art museum the whole nine yards. Pulling out all the stops for you, my little artiste!” He says into her ear, voice dripping in pride.

She kisses his cheek in agreement and thanks, settling back in her seat with a rosy flush to her cheeks. Holding onto the bear, she doesn’t imagine another place where she’d rather be than with Matty celebrating.