Beyond The Leather

Chapter 31: New York

June 1986

New York

We arrived back at the hotel after I was done filming and we sat in the living room part of the hotel in my room. "I need to catch a bit of sleep," I said putting my hand over my mouth and yawning.

"Me too. I did not know filming would be so intense. And I am just watching you act. My back and feet are killing me." She winced touching her feet.

"Uh that's just old age, I don't have that problem." I chuckled.

She glared and me and shook her head. "Well I'm going to head to my room call me if anything sweety." She got up and left my room. I walked into my bedroom and took my things off to get some much-needed sleep.
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RING RING

"Mm hello." I groaned answering the phone.

"Hey princess, did I wake you?" Nikki chuckled.

"Yes, you did." I groaned again.

"Well, I'm not sorry about that. I wanted to hear your pretty voice."

"Well, you're hearing it. What's up, Nikki?"

"I miss you that's what's up. A whole 3 months without seeing you is driving me crazy."

"Well you can always purchase a magazine I'm in, or you can wait till you see me on TV." I giggled.

"The real you is better, I can only look at you through the TV and admire you in magazines."

"Nikki 3 months isn't that long. Before you know it, I'll be back."

"I guess. Well, I have been writing songs to keep myself distracted. You know Gene Simmons from KISS?"

"Uh...no."

"Are you fucking kidding me? Everybody knows KISS Iman. You don't live under a rock?" He sneered.

I didn't bother telling him about Derek because we were already arguing. I felt like it would have added more to the argument. Ever since that night, I went out with Derek. Nikki had been a little short-tempered, agitated, and snappy for the past few phone conversations that we have had. I was not sure what was wrong with him. Every time I asked if he was right and how the band was doing, he would snap at me and then hang up the phone. I started dreading our phone conversations because whenever I tried calling him back, he would ignore my calls. He would not speak to me until about 2-3 days after. This time I hadn't heard from him in 2 weeks.

"Yeah well, Nikki I told you that I never listened to rock music growing up. My mom never liked it. So, whatever she listened to is what I listened to."

"Wow, so that's where it all started."

"Where what started?" I snapped sitting upright on my bed.

"You doing whatever other people tell you to do."

I scoffed. "Excuse me, I do not do what other people tell me to do."

"Well, you sure as hell don't have a mind of your own. Need I remind you what happened in London." He points out.

"Nikki do not even start on that ok! That was in the past and I said I'm sorry!" I raised my voice starting to get upset.

"Whatever, we're still sneaking around rather than just being free and open about our relationship. And I feel like it is because you are hiding it from Tamara. You do not have the balls to openly say that I like Nikki Sixx and I want to be his girlfriend to Tamara and your friends. Instead, you rather hide me from your friends like I'm a dirty secret!" He raised his voice.