Monarchy of Roses

Chapter 16

"Nika, you truly have no idea, do you? Josh was horny and he was warning you", said Clara as Nika giggled nervously and turned bright red.

"That's such a crude way of putting it", said Nika in distaste.

"But it's the truth, you don't seem to realize you're turning him on. Do you like tormenting him?", asked Clara.

"No, but I don't want to hurt him. So should we just, uh, you know?", she stammered.

"Good lord, we're the same age and you're acting like a ten-year old. I'm not saying you ought to go and jump his bones, that wouldn't be like you at all. But you ought to realize you're tormenting him, guys don't like that. Read this, it'll give you some ideas", said Clara, handing her the latest issue of Cosmopolitan.

Nika looked at the magazine dubiously. "I know it's not something on Ancient Greece, but unless you want Josh to be that guy prayed for his stone girlfriend to come alive, then you ought to read the articles", said Clara.

"That's the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea, he prayed for Venus to make his statue of Galatea human", she explained.

"Okay, I got the jist of it right. Just read it and tell me if it worked, I'll know you don't have to tell me", said Clara with a laugh.

Nika watched as Clara left the room and reached for her cup of tea, looking dubiously at the glossy cover of the magazine. She opened it up and quickly flipped through the makeup and clothing ads towards the articles and began to read. Her mouth went dry and her eyes widened in surprise at the articles, wondering how anyone could admit to a magazine what they did in bed. A strange sensation of warmth grew in her lower belly and her cheeks turned pink at the images conjured up in the article. She wondered if Josh had ever done any of these things. A sudden surge of jealousy went through her and dissipated just as fast, much to her mortification. Nika reminded herself that Josh had certainly had girlfriends and that she had met two of them when she was a child, but he seemed to have been single the last few years.

Nika made herself read the articles as the blush on her cheeks grew hotter. She wondered if the rest of the world was having more sex than her uncles in their younger days, if the articles were anything to go by. She did have to laugh at the idea of her Dad doing any of these things when he was a younger man, since he had been as wild as her uncles.

Nika set the magazine down and lay back on the bed, the odd fluttery sensation in the pit of her stomach settling down. She wondered if Clara was trying to play some twisted matchmaker, her red-haired friend always prodding her since they were children...

"Clara is a really sweet kid, we're sort of like honorary uncles. I dedicated my first solo album to her and I remember babysitting her when she was really little", said John as he led her towards the cab outside.

"You really ought to learn how to drive, you live way up here", said Nika.

"Cars are bad for the environment, and I don't really go anywhere when I'm home", he replied.

"I suppose, since you tour a lot. Do I go with you?", she asked.

"I don't know, maybe. Clara goes to school and stays with her mom since her parents are divorced. I could hire a tutor, I'd have to speak with our management. Or do you want to stay with your grandparents?", he asked.

Nika looked thoughtful as they got into the cab, her little brow furrowed and her blue eyes curious. "I would like to see Pepere and Grandmere, but not to go to school. Mom homeschooled me because she said the school was terrible", she replied.

"Okay, I'll have to ask the guys about any good schools", he said.

"I don't need to go to school, I can read lots of books. All my books have been delivered", said Nika.

"But you ought to be around children your age, do kid stuff", said John.

"I don't like kids, the girls on my block called me a nerd and beat me up", said Nika matter-of-factly.

"That's awful!", he exclaimed.

"Mom said they were jealous because they're dumb, they're going to be housewives", she replied triumphantly.

"Nika, don't talk like that. It isn't nice", he chided.

"But what if they are stupid?". she asked.

"Most people aren't stupid, not everyone is a genius. That's like me being upset with people who can't play music", he replied.

"But you practice a lot, if people practiced a lot, they'd be smart too", she said.

John realized she needed to learn social skills as the cab dropped them off outside Flea's house. "Glad you guys could make it, Clara is really curious about you, Nika", said Flea as him and John hugged.

Nika felt her hands shake and her mouth go dry at the idea of meeting another girl. She hoped that Clara wouldn't bully her like the girls on their block in Palm Springs, and that she was smart. John gave her a reassuring smile as he led her inside the house. From the foyer they could hear a TV as it was tuned to My Little Pony as Flea gave them a helpless shrug and led them inside the living room.

A little girl about her age wearing pink shorts and a sparkly purple t-shirt watched the show as her red hair in pigtails bounced. "Hey Dad, Uncle John. Is that your daughter?", she asked.

"Hi, Clara. This is my daughter Nika. Nika, this is Clara", said John.

Nika's heart beat rapidly and she felt short of breath as she tried not to run away. Clara gave her a funny look and a light of understanding flashed in her eyes. "Oh, you're shy. I suppose it's because you didn't know you had a dad before", she said kindly.

"I'm sorry, I'm not good with meeting people", she mumbled.

"Dad told me about your mom, that's awful. Let me show you my room", said Clara.

Nika felt much better as she followed Clara upstairs. So far Clara had seemed nice and pleasant, as her heartbeat returned to normal. "This is my room when I stay with Dad, i stay here when he's home from touring. Mom lives just down the street", she said, opening the door.

The first thing Nika noticed in Clara's room was the pinkness, and the stuffed animals. The walls were painted the vivid pink of cherry blossoms, the daybed in the corner propped up on white metallic legs and topped with numerous stuffed animals. A white dresser and a white lampstand provided contrast, while the large windows looked out onto the hillside where they could see shrubby trees and chaparral. "You like it, pink is my favorite color. My room at Mom's house is like this", said Clara.

"My room at my old house was blue and white, Mom didn't like pink", said Nika.

"Why not, it's pretty", asked Clara.

"I guess she just didn't like it", replied Nika with a shrug.

"Maybe you can go on tour with the band, Mom lets me go on tour with them in the summer", said Clara.

The idea of touring with a rock band both frightened and intrigued her. "Where have you gone?", she asked.

"All over Europe, American. Last tour we went all over America and Canada", said Clara.

"Was it scary?", she asked.

"No, it was cool. We went all over America and saw all sorts of places, and I got to see Dad and my uncles play every night", replied Clara.

"I guess that sounds fun, I could bring some of my books", said Nika.

"I like drawing better", said Clara.

"I like you, you aren't mean like the girls in Palm Springs", Nika blurted out.

"Dad would kick my butt if I was a bully. I guess you had a different sort of family, just like me. And it'll be cool to have another girl to hang out with", said Clara, giving her a hug.