-Nikki-
«Nikki?» Serj gently knocks at the door of my room.
«Yeah?»
«Are you ready?»
«Just one more minute!»
«Alright, we'll wait for you.»
I remain silent while the singer walks away and then I sigh, not feeling ready for anything actually, not even for greeting the new year that is coming in a few more hours.
I've already done my make-up and I've already worn my black tights but the short black velvet dress I have to wear still lies on the bed and I keep looking at it as if I don't dare to put it on. It's only a dress, I know... but, as the usual overthinker I am, since some minutes I'm trying to imagine which reaction Daron could have seeing me wearing that dress. All of a sudden I shake my head and finally decide to finish dressing myself up and afterwards I wear my creepers; after putting on a necklace with a cross pendant and rapidly checking out my hair and make-up I finally exit and go downstairs quite slowly.
«She's here!» Shavo exclaims seeing me. There's some music in the background and some more person than expected. I recognize Beno and Sako and then I see near them an unknown man, he's got long hair and beard and an incipient baldness; he observes me for a while, slightly tilting his head on a side, then approaches while the bassist does the same.
«Rick, she's Nikki, the vicarious problem solver tech for this tour!» Shavo says, smiling; the man smiles back and approaches more before lending a hand I readily shake.
«I'm Rick Rubin, the band's producer» he begins, with a deep and gentle voice «it's a pleasure to meet you.»
«Nice to meet you too, I'm honoured» I reply, shyly.
«How are you? Serj told me about the "circumstances" that occurred when he met you...»
«Now I'm fine, thanks for asking.»
«Nice to hear that. The guys made you listen something of what they did until now, I guess?»
«Sure, both their albums, and they're phenomenal! I've already complimented them and now I'll compliment you since you're the producer...»
«Thank you.»
«Hi there!» the guitarist appears near us, looking really happy, then he recollects himself. «I see you already did the introduction...»
«Malakian, you're late» Shavo says, pulling out his tongue. Daron grimaces in return, then he sets his gaze on me and I can clearly see his eyes widening a bit and his mouth half-opening but it lasts only a few seconds; he excuses himself coughing a bit and goes away.
«The dinner is ready!» Serj says from the kitchen with his thundering voice. Well, let's get the stomach ready...
After a really lavish meal, there are still a couple of hours to go before the midnight, so a kind of "split" happens: Daron, Shavo, John and Rick sit down at the table and start playing poker while the others and me sit down on the armchairs and sofa and chat about everything; Sako tells some old tour stories that are interesting and sometimes really funny.
Suddenly a question comes in my mind that seems to be in need of an urgent answer, so I catch everyone's attention clearing my throat and I express my question in a plain tone of voice. «What about the groupies?»
«Oh, the guys don't have many of them» Sako answers «but in my opinion it's better, I'd actually rather to be without groupies at all... I never understood if they follow the band for the band's music or for the band's "equipment".»
YOU ARE READING
How I feel when I'm around you (System Of A Down)(EN)
FanfictionIn the early years of the 21st century the roads of a famous band and of a lonely girl escaping her past cross casually, and something more will make their bond stronger. And who knows if love will come...
