The Sweetest Thing (nikki sixx)

ONE

Brandi swirled her tongue against the pink cocktail straw, slurping up mainly melted ice and lime garnishes. She rested an elbow on the bar, looking out at all the people that staggered from one room to another. She hardly recognized half of them. Actors, musicians, comedians. You name it; they all filled the walls of this beachfront home. Brandi turned to face the tender and looked at all of the different selections of liquor on the wall. "Can I just get another vodka tonic?" The man nodded, preparing the items. "And for you sir?"

"Yeah, I'll do a jack and coke." Brandi looked the man up and down, strangely admiring his long dark curls and lanky, tatted body. "Some party, huh?" He looked down to the blonde, sporting a sloppy grin. Brandi gave a slow nod as she picked up her drink from the counter. Her lips pursed at the bitter taste. "It's a nice pad, but I've heard the owner is kind of a bitch." He laughed, nudging her with an elbow as they both faced the waves of people that crashed through.

"This is my house." She looked up at him with a flattened expression of disgust. Whoever he was, he was gullible.

The man froze, proceeding with caution. There was no coming back from a comment like that. He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand as a lump grew in his throat. "I'm sorry. I'm not good at-"

"I'm kidding." Brandy laughed, swirling her drink with a new straw. "Fuck, you're mean!" He shook his head, flashing the same grin that left her with a flutter in her chest. "Sorry, I had to. I'm Brandi, Brandi-" she held out a hand before being interrupted. "Brandi Wilson! America's Sweetheart. I remember you from MTV." She nodded in embarrassment as he waved his hands to her nickname. "I will pay you to never call me that again."

"We'll, I'm Tommy. Tommy?" He laughed before waiting for her to finish his equation. Only, she had no idea who he was. Brandi winced at the forthcoming awkwardness. "Tommy?"

"Lee. Boy, you really are mean. Aren't ya?" He folded his arms, with a snarky half smile. "I wish I was." Brandi covered her face and shook her head with a laugh. "I know you're in a band... Is it  Motley-"

"Yes it's Motley Crue." He was so chatty, never giving her an opportunity to talk. Normally, she'd be frustrated with this and talking over him. But she was utterly enamored with his charisma and ability to make interrupting so charming. "So have you never listened to us?"

Brandi slowly nodded, "we'll I've heard you on the radio, does that count?"

"No it fucking don't." The musician laughed and stood from the barstool with his eyes pressed shut, smiling in her direction. "What's so funny?"

"I just think that's cool. Y'know that you like, don't give a fuck about us." Brandi forced her drink down before laughing. "It's not that I don't care, I just have more things to do than obsess about boys in a band." She gave a flirty glance, snaking her way closer to him before turning back to the bar. This many drinks made her far more generous with conversation and bolder than she truly was.

"Thank you, please tell Ms. Thomas that this was a lovely party. And that I'll catch up with her soon." She left a tip on the counter and grabbed her bag, only to be stopped by Tommy's hand. "Wait where ya going?"

"Home, the last thing I wanna do is congratulate Heather on another casting." She rolled her eyes in the success of her previous costar. After working together last year, it seemed like she was getting roles from every direction while Brandi was trying her best to stay relevant. Her star was burning out before it even lit.

"Well, can I walk you home?"

"I drove, but thank you." She turned away, swinging the keys around her finger, noticing the lanky musician following behind her. "I told you I drove!" Brandi laughed, as he grabbed her hips, directing her outside of the crowd. "Don't worry. I'm just making sure you get to your car safely." She stumbled over her feet, realizing how much alcohol she'd really had that night. She rested her weight against him, letting him do all of the heavy lifting as she trudged her feet in front. As much as she wanted to focus on the walk to the car, the feeling of his lower body against her tore threw her mind like a bulldozer. "Maybe I should drive. Where's your car, anyway?"