Girl (Phil Collen Fan Fic)

Chapter One

Phil's P.O.V - December 16 . 1992

I sat in the back of the bus, strumming my acoustic guitar, letting my mind wonder.
My girlfriend, of five years, just broke up with me, on the first night of tour. We're going home for Christmas, now, but I don't really feel I have a home to go to.

"He's devastated. I'm gonna invite him over for our Christmas dinner!" I heard Joe talking to Vivian.
"Don't bother, mate." I whispered.
I was alone, in the back, so I've had time to think.
I might go see Steve's ex, Danielle, for Christmas. We're still close friends, and I do believe her sister is spending Christmas over at hers, this years, so I may just stop in.

With that thought, there was a giant 'Ka-Thunk', some screeching, and the bus jolting to a stand still.
"Woah!" I heard Sav yell, with things hitting the floor, and the thud of someone, probably Vivian, falling out their bunk.

I lay my guitar on the couch, next to where I was sat, and walked out the back and over to the band, all gathered at the front.
"What was that?" I asked, Joe turning to face me, as he saw me coming.
"Bus is knackered. Hold on." Our driver got up and climbed off the bus.

It was snowing hard, outside, and we were in the middle of nowhere. We could just see him, as he walked to the front of the bus and checked the engine.
"This doesn't look good." Sav muttered, standing on my right, going to sit down at the table.

One by one, we all took a seat.
Our driver, Pete, climbed back on the bus and we all looked up at him.
"No idea. We're gonna need to get some service. I believe there is a hotel, just ten minutes away. You lot go there and get warm, I'll stay here and get help. The engine is dead, and the heaters are with it." Pete told us.
"You are joking, right?!" Sav asked, looking out the window on his right.

Snow covered everything. You couldn't see a thing.
"Lads, I'm sorry. Should make us a day behind schedule, but we'll all be home for Christmas!" Pete looked at us all, as he stood in the kitchen area.
"Ten minutes?" Joe asked.
"Yeah. Once the bus is going again, I'll come pick you up, and we'll be on our way. Just get out of the cold." Pete promised.
We all looked at each other and silently agreed.

We packed a few things that we didn't want to leave on the bus, and we all faced the snow.

We trekked up the road, Viv and Joe leading the way, and no one really spoke.
Not a single car passed by us and not a single phone box could be found.

"What are your plans for Christmas, mate?" Rick asked me, bundle up in his black winter coat, with a fluffy hood.
"Thinking of going to see Danielle. She's having her sister over, this year." I replied, hoisting my backpack up.
Rick nodded. "Charlotte's parents are coming over, this year."
Charlotte was Rick's fiancé.
"Sounds nice." I smiled.
"Should be. Last time we saw them were two years ago. Comes with this lifestyle!" Rick laughed, me nodding along.

We saw a turning in the road, so we followed it. It was a small trek, but we soon saw lights of a old stone hotel.
It was lit up all fairy like, with shaped bushes either side of the path to the door way.

We walked up and Joe held the door open, letting us all in.
The reception was fascinating. A large Christmas tree in the centre and large corridor straight ahead, a bar to our left, down a smaller corridor - with elevators, and the check in, to our right. Christmas lights and decorations hung everywhere and Christmas music was playing in the background.

"Can we live here?" Sav asked, taking off his hood and gloves, looking around, smiling.
"£500,000 and it's yours!" A deep Sheffield accent called out to us.
We all turned to the check in and the only way to describe the man standing there, was an older Nikki Sixx.
He was tall, long black hair, and a warm friendly smile.

We laughed and walked over to him.
"Name's Frank Sixx, hotel manager of Crystal Cabin. What can I do you for, lads?" He smiled.
"Hi. We, uhrm... We're on our way home, actually, but our bus has broken down, ten minutes away, we just wanted to get some shelter, whiles our driver gets it fixed. He said he'd pick us up from here." Joe explained.
"Ah, right... Where abouts you stuck? I believe they're closing the roads down here." Frank leaned on the counter, taking a key from a leaving customer. "Please, come again!" He called.

"Ten minutes down that way. How long will the roads be closed?" I asked, pointing to the direction we came from.
"Hard to say. A snow storm is coming this way, and it's supposed to be big! We're advising our customers to either stay inside or go home." Frank frowned. "Tell you what! I have a mate, who works the roads. I'll give him a call, you lads make yourselves welcome at the bar, my wife will see to you, and we'll try get you sorted. You can leave your bags in the office, no one goes in there. You got names?" Frank opened the door behind him.
"Joe Elliott." Joe replied, taking his bag off his shoulder.

We all smiled and thanked Frank, as he walked in the office to make the call. We left our bags with him and we walked to the bar.
Sav pointed out some photos hanging up along the corridor, of Frank and I assume his wife and daughter? They seemed very happy.

"... so I said no, but drunk the gravy, anyway." We heard the end of a guys story. He was leaning against the bar, talking to the barmaid.
"That's just gross, Georgie!" She hit the guys arm and saw us.
"Right... I'll be off. See you in the Spring! Merry Christmas!" Georgie downed his cola drink and got up.
"Merry Christmas!" He smiled to us, as he walked by.
"Merry Christmas!" We smiled back.

"You lads drinking?" The barmaid asked us, with a Lancashire accent. She was tall, her hair was black, tied into a bun, she had tattoos, and a necklace saying 'Franklin'. She wore a white blouse, her sleeves rolled up, with black pants.
"Are you Frank's wife?" Sav asked, as we left our coats at a table, claiming it.
"Possibly..." She smiled holding up her left hand, showing us her wedding ring. A black skull, on a silver band. This family were incredible.