When Nikki came over on Monday, Mick felt that their relationship had changed. He wasn't sure why, but he definitely had a new soft spot for Nikki. Maybe it was because he recognized a bit of himself in Nikki; his days as a young man living in poverty in California, trying to make it in the world of music. The only reason Mick had never gotten to the point of alcoholism and filth that Nikki did was because he had help from his parents, and because Mick didn't want his daughter to get taken away when the school started noticing that her clothes were always dirty and they overheard Evie say things like 'my dad drinks a lot.' The girl didn't deserve a father like that, anyway.
But Nikki. Nikki didn't have a daughter to keep him grounded. He didn't have his parents around to help him out. Really, the only people Mick had ever heard him mention were his grandparents back in Idaho and his uncle, who seemed to be happy to do what he could to get Nikki signed to the record label he worked for, but even happier to disassociate from the mess that was Motley Crue. No siblings, no girlfriend, no roommate, no decent friends. The thought of helping Nikki out crossed his mind, but he tried to suppress it. He told himself that the solution he was thinking of wouldn't be fair to Evie.
He could see in Nikki's timid glances that he felt the change in their friendship, too. But, of course, neither of them mentioned anything about it. It was business as usual: three hours of practice five days a week, up from the regular two hours in preparation of the next show this weekend.
____
And when that show came, Evie once again got dressed to impress, though she didn't stress about it as much as she did the week before. Her lust for the bassist of the band was faltering. She still found him attractive and definitely wouldn't be angry if he happened to notice the way her skin glowed, her hair curled, and how the clothes she was wearing hugged her curves, but after a couple of days away from him she decided the smartest thing to do was not seek his attention. Besides, did she really want to date a guy who seemingly treated women like they were dispensable; a new one every night, sometimes every few hours? She didn't think so.
It was more a game to her now-- that hallway crush at school who you know you have no chance with, but always hope to see. She would look pretty and try to act pretty, but there would be no jealousy, feelings of rejection, or flirting. That's what she promised herself.
This time, her father carpooled to the show with Vince, meaning Evie was able to drive their car to the Starwood instead of taking the bus. Learning from her last experience, she didn't try to get there before the doors opened. But, to her surprise, there were at least two hundred more people this time than at the previous show. She guessed word about the fight made it around the Strip, and people were curious to see what shenanigans the band pulled this time.
Luckily, there would be no fists flying at this show. Instead, the band managed to get their hands on some worn down mannequins, which they dressed up in costume jewelry and lit on fire. There was also no objection from the crowd this time. For the first time in a long time, Evie felt like one of her father's bands really had the potential to make it.
When "Live Wire" ended and the lights in the Starwood went out, Evie made her way to the backstage door, where a familiar bodyguard was stationed. He remembered her and let her back without Evie having to say a word.
She let her memory guide her back to the dressing room where she had dressed Nikki's wounds the week before, and was surprised to find only Vince and Nikki in there. They stopped talking when they saw her.
"Sorry," Evie said, embarrassed to have intruded. "Do you know where my dad is?"
"You're fine," Nikki said. "I'm not sure where he went."
"Oh. That's okay. I'll go look for him." She was about to walk out of the room, when she heard Vince speak to her for the first time.
"I wouldn't go out there if I were you. This is no place for a pretty thing like you to be roaming around by yourself."
"Yeah," Nikki added. "It's safer if you just stay here. I'm sure Mick'll show back up soon."
"Uhm," she sighed. "Okay. You're probably right."
"Yeah, have a seat." Nikki gestured to the purple couch in the room.
For a few seconds, it was awkward. Evie could tell the guys were a bit hesitant to continue their conversation with her listening in. Fortunately, they weren't hesitant to start a conversation with her.
"Is Mick your real dad?" Vince asked. Nikki let out a laugh.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Like, are you biologically related?"
She shrugged. "Probably. I mean, I've never taken a DNA test or anything, but..."
"Then why do you look like that, and he looks like... ya know."
"An alien?" Nikki chimed in.
"I dunno. Do your parents look like Cousin Itt?" There she was, breaking the third clause of her promise for that night: no flirting.
Nikki smiled that mischievous grin of his and took a sip from his Jack Daniels bottle.
"So," Vince continued. "Do you got that shit in your spine like he does, or..."
Vince shut up when he saw Mick appear in the doorway with Tommy and a man he didn't recognize.
"Hey," the stranger said. "Doc McGhee." He shook hands with Vince and Nikki, glancing in Evie's direction but not acknowledging her. "I've heard a lot about you guys already and I really liked what I heard tonight. I think this band's really got potential, and I would love to manage your rise to stardom, if you're open to it."
"Doc McGhee," Nikki said. "Have you worked with anyone I might've heard of?"
Doc's businessman smile began to falter. "I, uh, managed a funk band a few years back, but I'm sure that's not really your scene... I'm venturing into rock n' roll for the first time. Those of us in the industry think we're due for revolution. People're getting real tired of disco, ya know?"
"Yeah," Nikki said. "I've noticed. You got a business card or something?"
Doc pulled one out of his shirt pocket and handed it to the bassist. Nikki barely glanced at it before putting it in his pocket.
"We'll talk it over as a band. We'll get back to you in a few days, how does that sound?"
"I guess I can live with that, but I think you'll be making a real mistake if you say no. There's a lot of talent in this room, I can tell. And when you've got a lot of talent, it can become unmanageable pretty fast."
"It's not a no yet, we just wanna think it over. Examine all of our options."
Doc sighed. "I understand. Thanks for letting me intrude. I hope you make the right decision and call me."
The four men all murmured their thanks and promises to the manager as he walked out. Once he was sure the guy was out of earshot, Tommy said, "Are you really considering not accepting it?"
"No," Nikki responded. "I just don't want him to think we're desperate."
"But you kinda are desperate." Sometimes Evie didn't think before she said things. This was one of those times.
"Shut your fuckin' mouth," Vince told her.
"Hey!" Mick said.
"Yeah, don't talk to her like that," Nikki came to her defense.
"Sorry," she said.
Vince didn't apologize, only glared at her while Nikki and Tommy continued their conversation.
"That's the thing," Nikki said. "We are desperate, but if people know that, they're gonna take advantage of us. They'll think they can manipulate us into taking some deal that involves us doing all the work, but getting none of the profit."
Tommy nodded. "I guess you're right. Do we think he's trustworthy or no?"
Nobody spoke for a moment. Then Nikki said, "I'll have to look into it, see if anyone I know has heard of him. I take it as a good sign that he hasn't managed any big bands."
"I think," Mick spoke up, "that as long as we read the fine print in any of the contracts we have to sign, we should take him up on his offer. I mean, I've been in my fair share of bands and I've never had someone come in on the second show of our career offering to manage us. I wouldn't count on this happening again."
And so it was settled. Nikki was going to call Doc McGhee in two days to ask to meet. Then, the guys were going to band together to hire a lawyer to look over the contract before they signed it.
By the next week, Motley Crue was under the management of Doc McGhee, and they had five more shows set up on the Sunset Strip during the last two weeks of May.