by Tania Sparks
After having a nice relaxing shower, I get changed into some pyjama shorts and a camisole. Ash takes a shower too and changes into some boxers. We both flop ourselves down onto the couch and order some room service. After we’ve finished eating we sit around relaxing and having a few drinks. We’re just about to put a movie on when we hear a knock at our door. Ash gets up and looks through the peep hole. It’s Nikki. Ash opens the door to a gloomy looking Nikki, “What’s up Nikki?” Ash asks.
“I’m bored!” Nikki sighs and shrugs his shoulders, pushing his way past Ash and making his way into our suite.
I lean over the back of the couch and ask him, “What happened to you and Scott’s poker game?”
Nikki blows out an exasperated breath and rolls his eyes, “Well we started to play, but Scott’s phone kept beeping with text messages every five seconds, so I gave up and left him to it. He seemed rather happy though, I think it might have been Lizzie.”
Hmmm, interesting. I pick up my phone. I know I’m being nosy, but I text Lizzie anyway, Hi Lizzie, have you been in contact with Scott lately?
A text comes back almost immediately, Yeah, we’ve been texting all night, I miss him :(
I text back, Scott’s been miserable without you Lizzie.
Yeah, I’ve been miserable without him too. It seems he’s not easy to forget. CU.
Ash welcomes Nikki inside and passes him a beer. Nikki sits down on a chair opposite me in the lounge area. His eyes dart straight to my chest. Hell, I forgot I was only wearing a thin cotton cami, my nipples are clearly on display. “Keep your fucking eyes to yourself Nikki!” Ash scolds.
“Oops sorry Eve! Sorry Ash.” Nikki grins not moving his eyes from their focus on my breasts, “…but they’re sort of hard to miss, jumping out at me like that!” He waves his hand around in the general direction of my chest.
Ash darts into the bathroom and grabs me a bathrobe, “Here Angel, put this on or that dickhead won’t stop staring all night.” I chuckle, stand up and wrap the bathrobe around myself.
It’s peculiar for Nikki not to be out with Cody and Hansen. The three of them usually go out together seeking fun and girls. Scott sometimes joins them too, more so since Lizzie went back to LA and I guess that’s what Ash used to do too, before I came back into the picture. “You didn’t feel like meeting up with Cody and Hansen?” I ask.
“Nah.” Nikki replies.
“No girl tonight then Nikki?” I joke.
“Nah, Trixie’s coming tomorrow. I’m saving up my energy for her. Doesn’t seem right to go out and pick up some random groupie tonight.” he chuckles.
“Oh shit Nikki, you’re fucked.” Ash laughs.
“What?” Nikki asks confused.
“Since when do you look forward to hooking up with a particular girl? And since when do you ‘save yourself’” Ash air-quotes, “Trixie must have made quite an impression.”
“Nooo…fuck no!” he protests. “It’s not like that, she’s just a really cool chick, we have a great time together…she’s fun.”
Ash chuckles, “Yeah Nikki, as I said, you’re totally fucked.”
Nikki thinks about it then mumbles under his breath, “Shit.” and spends the next ten minutes deep in thought.
Ash and I flick through the movie options on the television and choose a movie to watch, dimming the lights and settling in to watch an action flick.
Nikki seems distracted. He picks up his phone and sends a text. His phone beeps immediately with an incoming message. He smiles and sends another text back. It goes back and forth like that for the next thirty minutes. I pick up my phone and text Trixie What you up to Trix?
Not much, staying in and packing, texting Nikki at the moment actually she replies.
Ah hah! I show Trixie’s text to Ash. He grins shaking his head. I look over to Nikki, “Say hi to Trix for me Nikki.” I giggle.
“Kissy kissy.” Ash teases as he makes silly kissy faces at Nikki.
“Fuck off you two.” Nikki says, half serious, half grinning. “I’m going back to my room.” He gets up and makes his way out the door, still texting on his phone.
~~~
The next morning we have a nice late sleep-in and a casual room service breakfast. Once we get ready Ash sits around compiling some riffs on his acoustic guitar and writing the notes down as he discovers sounds he likes. I’m just lazing around listening to Ash and flipping through a few magazines. Trixie’s arriving at eleven and we’ve arranged for a limo to go and collect her. At just before twelve the phone rings. The person at the front desk tells me that Trixie’s here. I quickly throw on my converse and dash down to the lobby to collect her.
“Hey Trix.” I yell from across the lobby as soon as the elevator doors open.
Trixie has a massive smile on her face as she darts over to me giving me a massive hug. “Hey girlfriend, it feels like ages since we’ve seen each other!”.
“It does feel like forever doesn’t it!” I exclaim. She’s re-coloured her hair and the bottom half is now a bright aqua blue. She’s dressed in skinny blue jeans and a blue tank top. “Your hair looks cool Trix.” I say as I flip her hair playfully.
“Well, I felt like a bit of a change – again.” she laughs. We both know that she changes her hair colour almost as frequently as her underwear.
I help her grab her bag and we make our way up to the suite. We chat animatedly like we haven’t seen each other for months. Just before we get to our level, Trixie screws up her nose and self-consciously asks, “Will Nikki be around this afternoon?”
I chuckle. “I’m sure he’ll be around Trix. We’ll all be heading off to the festival in the next hour or so. We’ve got the limo organised to transport us just after one. If we don’t see him beforehand, we’ll see him then.”
“No big deal, it’d just be good to catch up.”
“Yeah right…no big deal huh. That’s why you asked about him within two minutes of arriving!” I say shaking my head at her.
She laughs as she playfully slaps me on my arm. “Shut up bitch!”
We reach the penthouse floor and make our way to mine and Ash’s suite. We walk inside and Ash and Nikki are standing in front of the kitchen bench, each with a beer in their hands. Nikki puts his beer down on the bench top. “Hey Trix.” he says casually, running is eyes over her, obviously desperately trying not to sound too excited.
“Hey Nikki.” she says, also trying not to sound too eager.
They both seem a bit unsure until Nikki says, “Fuck it.” He quickly strides across the room towards Trixie with his arms open, “C’mere”.
Trixie squeals and jumps into his arms wrapping her legs around his hips. Nikki holds her up by her bum as their mouths crash together. He immediately starts walking towards the door, “See you guys later, we’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Trixie’s giggling, “It had better be more than a few minutes rock star, I do have expectations you know.”
Nikki rumbles, “Whatever you want sexy, your wish is my command.” He looks over his shoulder to me and Ash. “We’ll be back in a few hours.” He quickly turns his attention back to Trixie who’s still laughing and wriggling in his arms. His hands desperately grasp at her clothes and her tank top is skilfully lifted off over her head and discarded to the ground.
“We leave for the festival in an hour Nikki!” Ash yells back. Nikki grunts in agreement as they disappear out the door.
I turn to Ash and laugh, “Well so much for my best friend visiting me, she’s been here two minutes and she’s already disappeared with Nikki!”
~~~
We’ll be staying on the bus tonight, so we pack our bags and leave them in the sitting area. One of the road crew will arrange for them to be taken to the bus while we’re at the festival. At one o’clock we go down to the limo. Hansen, Cody and Scott are already there waiting. We jump inside and say hi. Within a couple of minutes Nikki and Trixie jump in looking very happy and smug. Trixie scoots on over to sit next to me, “Sorry Eve,
I’m not being a very good friend am I? disappearing as soon as I get here.”
“No problem Trix, we’ve got the whole weekend. Besides, there was no way I was going to keep Nikki off you for long.” I say laughing.
“Too right.” Nikki grumbles, “This chick is just too tempting for me to keep away.” He nuzzles his head down into her chest and makes a crude motor-boat sound as Trixie giggles crazily.
We arrive to an already packed venue with thousands of people enjoying the music and party atmosphere. We spend the afternoon watching other bands and wondering around the festival. Ash keeps his arms securely around me as we dance and listen. We grab ourselves some food from the food stalls and find a spot to sit down and eat. The guys all stick to water so they’ll be sober to perform properly later, but Trixie and I indulge in a few beers.
At just before eight o’clock we all head to the band marquee. This is where all the bands hang out before and after their performances. The guys don’t go on until nine, but the organisers have asked for them to be ready an hour before.
We walk in and the place is packed with people. It’s obvious that not everyone inside are band members. The greater number of people are scantily-clad groupies who are swarming everywhere. Ash has his arm securely wrapped around my waist and Nikki has his wrapped around Trixie. “Holy shit!” Trixie gasps.
I laugh at her reaction. I guess over the past few weeks I’ve got pretty accustomed to the parties and groupies, but this is the first time Trixie’s been exposed to the in-your-face spectacle. “Yeah, it’s pretty unreal isn’t it Trix!” I say.
“Jesus Eve, I thought the movies over-exaggerated, but this is out of this world.” Trixie looks up to Nikki who’s holding onto her tightly.
“Shall we get a drink?” Nikki asks her attentively, nodding his head towards the bar. It’s usual for Ash to spurn all the girls’ advances, but it’s a bit of a surprise to see Nikki focussing on Trixie and easily ignoring the overly suggestive girls that try to get his attention. Trixie and Nikki wonder off towards the bar. Scott, Cody and Hansen disappear into the crowd, leaving me and Ash alone. Ash drags me over to a corner and pulls me in close, kissing me possessively. “Thanks for coming to these things Angel, I know they’re not your favourite place, with all the groupies and what-not.”
“That’s okay Ash, it’s all part of your work, I really don’t mind. As long as they all realise that you belong to me and keep their hands to themselves I won’t have to scratch anyone’s eyes out.”
Ash chuckles, “Don’t worry Angel, It doesn’t matter what they think or try, I’m yours, and you’re mine, so as long as all the other dickhead guys keep their hands off you, there’ll be no problem from me either!”
We laugh and snuggle together for a while, happy in each other’s company. I look around to try to see where Trixie’s got to. Her and Nikki are enjoying themselves, chatting and partying with a group of others. I guess her initial shock has quickly morphed into party-mode.
Close to nine o’clock Beth arrives and rounds up the guys to check-in with the organisers. She’s dressed in her usual trashy get-up, a short black vinyl skirt, knee high black boots, a silver glittery top and massive silver hooped earrings. She corrals the guys around her as she rudely nudges me and Trixie to the side. Ash grabs a hold of me to keep me close but I assure him it’s okay, Trixie and I take a few steps back. “We’re fine Ash, we’ll wait right here, we won’t be going anywhere, you just get ready to go on stage.”
Beth fusses over the guys like a mother hen. She strokes and primps each of them giving them a little too much personal attention to be normal. She kisses Nikki on the cheek, “There we go gorgeous, all ready to go.” She reaches behind him and squeezes his bum. She then turns her attention to Ash. She swipes a piece of hair out of his eyes seductively and then places both her hands on his chest. Batting her eyelids, she leans in really close. Ash cranes his head backwards to put some distance between them. She tries to give him a kiss on the lips but he quickly turns his head so she clumsily lands on his ear. Ash gives her a scowl, which she completely ignores. She moves her hands to his arms and squeezes his biceps and sweetly drones to him, “Break-a-leg sexy, I’ll see you after the show.” Ash gives her a bewildered ‘you’ve-got-to-be-fucking-kidding-me’ look and shakes his head, “Not if I see you first.” he mutters, stepping away from her. Beth moves her attention onto Cody, continuing her fussing and preening.
Trixie puts her hand on my shoulder and whispers in my ear, “Who’s the pop tart?”
I grin at her, “That’s Beth, their Tour Manager.”
She whispers, “Oh, that’s the bitchy one you told me has a thing for Ash.”
I reply, raising my eyebrows and grinning, “The one and only.”
Trixie leans back away from me and in a voice obviously not intended to be stealthy she pronounces, “You’re kidding me, she’s the tour manager. She looks more like Disco Barbie to me!”
I openly giggle at her comment and we both do a terrible job of hiding our laughter. Beth’s head snaps around and she gives us the evils. The guys all openly chuckle which upsets Beth so she stomps off in a sulk. I seem to have that effect on her, she’s forever stropping off in a huff. Oh well, never mind!
Ash steps over to us with a cheeky smirk on his face. “You two are very naughty girls.” He shakes his finger mock-accusingly at us. Trixie and I both continue to giggle like silly teenagers.
Nikki steps up and grasps Trixie around her waist and growls in her ear, “Just as well I like naughty girls isn’t it Trix?”
Ash gives me a quick affectionate kiss on my lips, “We need to get going in a sec Angel, I’ll get security to take you and Trixie around to the side of the stage so you can watch from there, I’ll see you after the show.” Three of Oblivion’s regular road crew surround the guys, passing them their guitars and setting them up with their hearing pieces. Ash asks a security guard to escort us and we start walking away. I turn back to see the guys all being ushered towards the stage.
Once the security guard places us in our position and leaves us to it, we realise that we have an excellent view. The crowd is massive and they’re all cheering and chanting Oblivion’s name. Trixie jumps around excitedly as she squeals, “This is so fucking amazing Eve, I haven’t seen the guys perform before, this is going to be awesome!”
“Oh Trixie, you have no idea. They’re more than awesome. You’ll be blown away.”
Trixie leans in close to me and whispers as if it’s some big conspiracy, “I sort of worried that there’d be more drugs around, you know, the whole rock star scene.”
“Yeah, it’s odd isn’t it Trix, I would have expected it too, but I haven’t seen any drugs in all the time I’ve been travelling with Ash.”
“I guess that’s good huh?” She says, “I think with our past experiences, we’d both flip out if drugs were freely being shared around.”
“Yeah, I guess we would.” I say shrugging my shoulders, thankful that I haven’t had to tackle that particular problem.
Trixie and I turn back to the stage and excitedly start chanting along with the crowd, “O-bliv-ion, O-bliv-ion, O-bliv-ion!”
I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around to see Beth giving me a bitch stare. She skims her eyes over me, disgust emanating from her. This girl really does have a bad attitude and a venomous personality to match. It’s rare for me not to like someone, but I really can’t stand her. She tries to radiate authority and superiority, but she just looks like a skanky, bad-mooded groupie. I don’t know why the guys have put up with her for so long. In my opinion she really is a waste of space, she doesn’t do her job well and has an attitude that screams of being unprofessional. My guess is that if the band’s manager wasn’t her daddy, she would have been fired years ago.
“Can I help you Beth?” I sneer.
She glowers at me, her eyes are squinted and her mouth is scrunched into an angry scowl as she whines, “Finally I might manage to have a proper chat with you swe
etie. The guys are all getting ready to go on stage and it looks like the ever-trusty bodyguard is nowhere to be seen…”
I don’t have any patience for her and I see no need to be polite when she’s being blatantly hostile, “Whatever Beth… I don’t really care what shit you have to say, just crawl back into the hole you crawled out of.”
I turn my back on her but she reaches out and pulls me around roughly by my shoulder so that I’m facing her as she whinges, “I’m warning you Eve, Ash is mine and he’ll soon realise it and dump your ass in the gutter where you belong. Me and him have a special connection. He always comes back to me, he has done ever since they first started to make it big, he fucks around with groupies like you,” Her voice raises and her eyes almost pop out of her head as she yells, “BUT. HE. ALWAYS. COMES. BACK. TO. ME!” Her face is screwed up angrily and she looks kind of psycho. Then she spits out, “Just leave him the hell alone Eve, or else.”
I forget for a moment that Trixie’s been standing next to me, her mouth gaping in disbelief. We’re both in shock at the nutcase spitting curses at me. Trixie snaps out of it first, “What the fuck!” she yells, taking a step closer to Beth. “Or else what Bitch!” Trixie shrieks protectively.
I take a step forward while holding an irate Trixie behind me. I yell back at Beth, “Yeah, or else what you disillusioned psycho?”
I hear heavy footsteps rapidly stomping towards us and I see Ash glaring at Beth. He stands a few feet away with his arms folded angrily across his chest, “Is there a fucking problem here Beth!” he roars furiously.
Beth pales and quickly slinks off into the shadows quietly mumbling under her breath, “You’ll see sweetie, he always comes back to me.”
Ash places his hands securely on my waist, he bends his knees so we’re eye to eye as he asks softly, “You alright Angel?”
“Yeah, I’m fine Ash, Beth’s a real nutcase though.”
“I don’t want that skank causing any trouble for you or making you feel uncomfortable.”
Trixie pipes in, “Holy-fucking Christ Ash, that girl is a bloody psycho and she really has a grudge or something against Eve.” Trixie rubs me affectionately on my shoulder.
