Starry Eyes ~ Nikki Sixx

Dazed and Confused

In two days, I had reached L.A. and had rented a motel room for the following five days, hoping that I would find something better. In the meantime, it was home, an hopefully it was safer and better than being anywhere near my 'family.'

I wasn't expecting much from the city when I had just gotten there, but the second night I decided to adventure through the Sunset Strip, which, I discovered, was buzzing at night.

Nightclubs on street corners and the bars on the Strip had lines around the block as people tried to get in. Pretty girls laughed with their friends as they walked out of restaurants and movie theaters, and guys cat-called and whistled at anything in a skirt or heels.

Telephone poles and payphone booths were plastered with posters for various night life activities. Some were for buying and selling things or lost animals and people, but most were for new bands such as Yankee Rose, London, and Rockandi- bands that I had never heard of before, but the posters made them look and sound exciting.

The city was different that what I was used to, but I liked it. I needed something new, and although it was terrifying, this was it. The constant movement around me was a pleasant shock to my system.

Even though it was night, I found myself wandering into a record store that bore the name "Leo's" in neon orange in the window. This place felt like home; a record store was a safe haven as far as I was concerned, and this one was amazing. It was bigger than any record store that I had been in at any time in my life, and I was glued to it until it closed.

For the next two days, I spent most of my time there, looking at everything- observing the records and posters, even the people. None of them gave me a second glance; I blended in, even though I was there all day and constantly kept my sunglasses.

In all honesty, I should have been looking for a job, but I couldn't help myself. I lived for being around music, and as I had no talent, and severe stage fright, it was never going to happen for me.

It was honestly amusing to see that other people returned to the store just as I did. Two people in particular caught my eye; one was a girl with long red hair and bright blue eyes that always looked at the same Janis Joplin records, and the other was a tall guy with long brown hair, who, unbeknownst to me, I would be interacting with the next day.

The third evening I was at Leo's, I noticed that the tall guy was staring at me, and he slowly kept getting closer. I didn't get the vibe that he was going to hurt me or anything, but it was just weird. I ignored him as I looked through the alphabetized record bins, flipping through part of the "N" section.

"Hey," he mumbled as he stood right beside me, not even three inches away.

"Hi."

"How's it goin'?"

"Fine," I said softly as I tried to discreetly shuffle away, as this stranger being so close was not the most comfortable situation.

"You looking for anything in particular?"

"Uh, no, not really. Just looking."

"Nice."

"Yup." I wandered over to where the "R" section was, hoping that he would get the message, which, he unfortunately did not.

"Do I know you?" I snapped as he watched over my shoulder.

"No, but you could," he suggested with a goofy smile as he tried to reach over my shoulder.

"No thanks; I'm guessing I probably won't like that," I said, sliding out from under his arm.

"Now, is that any way to treat a friend?" he joked, looking over his sunglasses at me as he pulled a record from the bin.