The Ballad of Sikki and Jay

Nikki; Looking Up

Everything was planned out perfectly. I was going to leave for tour, call Vanity and break up with her over the phone, then I was going to make my move. Calico MacDuff was the newly appointed band assistant we'd met two months ago and she got me. She was hot, loved to hate the same things I did, hated to love the same things, and could almost manage going shot for shot with the band. I'd make sure to find a chance we could separate from the band and go to dinner or something and I'd formally ask her out. The only issue with this plan was getting her away from everyone.

Calico was constantly surrounded by people. Tommy, Mick, Vince, management, her twin sister. She was never alone and it was absolutely vital that she was when I asked her out. After all, the no-chicks-on-tour rule was one I'd made myself so I couldn't risk the band finding out until some time after tour was over. That was assuming she said yes.

I felt excited walking through the air port. Vanity would be out of my life and I'd have a dark hippie to spend all of my time brooding with.  All I had to do was wait. Wait a few days to call Vanity, wait for the chance to get Cal alone, wait to tell the guys. It was perfect or at least I thought it was until I actually saw her.

Calico looked ready for a summer night bonfire in tiny denim shorts, a white Alice Cooper t-shirt, and a faded denim jacket almost as beat as her Keds. She smirked at her sister, who was dressed in a Barbie issue pink suit, while pushing lavender sunglasses up her nose. The closer I came to her, the more I decided I liked those simple beer and pot fuelled summer weekends from school rather than the over saturized and decadent Hollywood clubs. After a quick glance in my direction, Calico stopped talking to her twin and dropped the carry on bag in her hand.

"Sikki Nixx!" she beamed, throwing out her arms. The invitation for a hug shouldn't have turned my legs to jelly but it did and suddenly, I was having difficulty walking over to her. Crossing the few feet separating us felt like trekking through the desert but Calico didn't seem to mind. Her arms stayed oustretched until I was close enough for them to wrap around my middle.

"Hey, Cal," I said lamely, running my hand over her shoulder. She grinned and pulled back slightly though she kept her hands locked firmly by my lower back. "Chloe," I greeted.

Chloe smirked and batted her eyes. "We were just talking about you," she stated.

"Only good things?" I asked, looking to an impish Calico.

"Only the worst, I promise," Calico replied. "So, I was talking with Vince the other day and we decided to surprise you with a little something."

"Do I wanna know?"

Chloe snorted. "Vinnie had a cute little idea and Jay pulled the strings to make it happen," she hummed. "Perks of being the band assistant and all."

"I think you'll like it," Calico nodded. "But!" She yanked away and pointed a finger in my face. "You'll have to wait until after tonight's show!"

This surprise could only go one of two ways. It would either be really awful because Vince was involved or it would be really amazing because Calico was involved. Something terrible because it was Vince's idea or damn worth trusting him because Calico made it happen. Before I had time to really think about what it might be, I was being tackled to the ground and the twins were laughing.

"Sixx! I thought you'd never show!" Tommy cried, squeezing me. Vince and Mick followed with our other back up singers, Emi and Donna.

"Dude, you're gonna crush him," whined Vince, planting himself firmly between the twins. He threw an arm over both of them as Mick scooped up Calico's forgotten bag.

"Jet leaves in five," Mick grumbled. "And we need Nikki on it and alive if we're going to tour."

Tommy sat up on my chest and mock pouted. "Well, sorry for being the only person to notice he was late," the drummer quipped. "Where the hell were you, man?"

"In bed," I stated. I hadn't slept all night because I had been too busy thinking about Calico like a dumb kid in high school fantasizing over a cheerleader. "Dreaming about not having your knee in my ribs."

Tommy let out a "sorry dude" before pulling both of us up. "Seriously, we need to leave if we're going to hit the hotel and be at the venue by seven," Mick yawned.

The twins shrugged. "Well, the gang's all here..." Calico hummed.

"Shall we?" Chloe asked. The girls spun around, taking Vince with them as they led the way to the gate. Mick shuffled behind, Emi and Donna pranced away, Tommy held me in place.

"What?" I questioned.

Tommy just grinned. "This is it," he shrugged. "You're going on tour."

"Yeah dude, it was kinda the game plan."

He shook his head. "No, I mean it's tour, dude. You can't drool anymore."

"Drool?"

"Come on man!" Tommy threw his arms out, nearly hitting a guy with the swinging bag in his hand. "I mean Cal. It's tour time and you're the genius behind the no screwing the staff chicks rule. I love you but I can't sit here and watch you gawk at her. If you break the rule, Prince Vince is gonna start sticking his dick in everything that moves. Maybe even shit that doesn't!"

"I don't gawk," I spat.

Tommy shrugged. "I'm serious, dude. No chicks, no drool."

"T-bone, do me a favour," I said. He tilted his head. "Shut the hell up." Tommy shoved me and it wasn't long after that that we were racing each other to the gate, yelling about how tonight's show was going to go down. I was stoked. I had a tour, an album being mixed, a patronizing Tommy that could be swayed to my side at the drop of a hat, and a surprise from Calico. And did I mention the band got private jet? We had a jet.

This tour was going to be mine.