Phase 2

Disclaimer: I do not own the lyrics used in this chapter.

"So, what does 'fine' mean, exactly?" Nikki inquired. "Because, when I say 'fine', that means things are fine. But, when a girl says 'fine'...shit. The possibilities are endless!"

I rolled my eyes and simply shook my head. I refused to acknowledge his question with a verbal response.

"I really don't understand why you're so upset. It's just a song," Nikki continued as we left Tommy's mansion behind us and headed back towards Nikki's car.

After watching the guys perform, my level of irritation towards Nikki had sky rocketed to all new heights. I just wanted to leave the house at that point. I didn't want to ruin the rest of the band's night by sticking around, but I didn't care if I ruined Nikki's night. I planned on bitching at him the whole ride home.

"If you don't get it by now, then you must be dumber than I'd originally thought," I snapped at him, continuing to stomp towards his car.

"You think I'm dumb, huh?" He asked with a light chuckle.

"Yup. Dumber than a box of rocks," I insisted.

"If I was dumb, then I wouldn't have predicted that you'd hate my song. If I was dumber than a box of rocks, I also wouldn't have prepared to follow up Phase 1 of this date with Phase 2."

"Phase 2?" I asked, looking at him with a doubtful gaze.

We had reached his car, and I was stopped at the passenger's side door, looking over the top of the car at Nikki. Despite it being so dark out tonight, his eyes were flashing and I could still see the pearly whites in his mouth shimmering at me.

"Si," he said, nodding enthusiastically at me.

I raised an eye brow at him, finding it hard to believe that Nikki could be so wise. "You expect me to believe that you had anticipated all of this? I'm pretty sure 'Phase 2' was an idea you pulled out of your ass while walking from the door to your car."

I could see that Nikki was trying his hardest to suppress a laugh. "You sure are somethin', you know that Winter?"

I shrugged. "And you sure are frustrating."

He chuckled and shook his head. "So, you gonna' break my heart and make me take you home tonight, or are you gonna' let me make it up to you and take you out on a date? A real date."

I bit my lip and looked down, not wanting him to see me fighting back the smile that was forming on my lips.

He really was charming. Of course, I knew that my leaving wouldn't be enough to break his heart, but the thought that it ever could was enough to make me giddy. And besides, a real date? Wasn't that all I'd wanted tonight? Maybe he could find a way to turn this around.

"Fine," I muttered.

He grinned at me. "And, what does 'fine' mean, exactly? 'Cause, when I say 'fine', that means things are fine. But, when a girl says 'fine'-"

"It means get in the car before I change my mind," I shot back, still trying not to let him see that our bickering entertained me more than it actually angered me. I continued to put on a pouty face as I slid into the front seat.

"Okay, okay! Sheesh...so snippy!" Nikki commented, hopping into the car and starting it up.

As the car roared to life, Nikki began flipping through the radio stations, landing on one that was playing Poison again.

"Huh. What're the chances of that, am I right?" Nikki turned to me with a smirk.

Before I could respond, he turned up the volume. As we pulled away from the house and turned back onto the road, I could hear Nikki screaming over Bret:

"At the drive in,

In the old man's Ford!

Behind the bushes,

Til I'm screamin' for more!

Down in the basement,

Lock the cellar door,

And baby-

Talk dirty to me!"

"Really? This was your great idea for Phase 2?" I snorted, taking in the cobblestone dance floor with a skeptical look.

"Why? What's wrong with it?" Nikki asked with a grin, walking backwards as he spoke, inching further away from me and further onto the dancefloor.

I rolled my eyes, exasperated. Nothing was wrong with it, that is, if you didn't count the old couples that were scattered across the floor, waltzing and laughing to themselves. Half of them were so ancient, they looked as though they were ready to keel over and die right then and there.

The only endearing quality of this dance floor was the fact that it was outside. Wooden posts lined the perimeter of the stone floor, holding up white lights that twinkled like the stars in the sky above us. An acoustic band played old songs on the creaking, wooden stage just ahead, beaming at the dancers as they swayed.

"Why'd you take me to God's waiting room?" I asked softly, ignoring the fingerless-gloved hand he held out to me, even after he wiggled his fingers at me for emphasis.

He cackled at my joke for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. "You're so worried about something bad happening to me, I figured, what kinda' trouble could I possibly get into in a place like this?"

I raised an eye brow dubiously. "One of these old ladies could start beating you with their canes. The lights could fall and start a fire. We're outside. A pack of wolves could come and-"

"Shush," Nikki chuckled, stepping in front of me and holding his hand to my mouth. I smelled the leather of his glove mixed with his cologne as he pressed his palm against my face to silence me. "The world could explode in ten minutes for all we fucking know. Just worry about spending those ten minutes with me, okay?"

Slowly, his hand dropped from my mouth, allowing me to speak. Only now, I found myself completely speechless. For once, I had no come backs, no insults, no put downs. In that moment, I was dizzy from the smell of his cologne. Worse still, all I could focus on was the pounding of my heart in my chest and the way my mouth went dry as I finally accepted Nikki's hand for a dance.

As he pulled me in closer until our bodies were pressing up against one another, he slipped his free arm around my waist and rested his hand on the small of my back. With his other hand, he lifted both of our arms until we were finally in the proper form to slow dance.

The band in the distance began to play a familiar tune, but I couldn't think of what song it was.

Nikki threw me completely off guard when he suddenly put his lips to my ear and began singing in a low, rumbling voice.

"Some day, when I'm awfully low,

When the world is cold,

I will feel a glow just thinking of you...

And the way you look tonight.

Yes, you're lovely, with your smile so warm,

And your cheeks so soft.

There is nothing for me but to love you...

And the way you look tonight.

With each word your tenderness grows,

Tearin' my fear apart.

And that laugh...wrinkles your nose,

Touches my foolish heart.

Lovely...Never, never change,

Keep that breathless charm.

Won't you please arrange it? 'Cause I love you,

Just the way you look tonight."

Nikki paused in his singing for the instrumental part of the song. He pulled away from me slightly, creating a gap of cold air between us. I opened my mouth to protest, but saw Nikki grinning down at me as he raised his arm and flicked his wrist. I soon realized that he had pulled away to twirl me in circles, and I chuckled lightly as I spun around like a top.

Within moments, I was nestled into Nikki's arms once more. I smiled contentedly to myself as I rested my head into Nikki's shoulder just as his singing began again.

"And that laugh that wrinkles your nose,

It touches my foolish heart.

Lovely...Don't you ever change,

Keep that breathless charm,

Won't you please arrange it? 'Cause I love you.

Just the way you look tonight.

Mm, Mm, Mm, Mm,

Just the way you look tonight."

Pulling away from me once more, he dipped me as the crowd of old people around us applauded for the band. They seemed to be oblivious to the magic that seemed to be happening between Nikki and I. Or maybe, there was no magic, and I was the fool who was making it all up.

"How's Phase 2 goin'?" Nikki asked, bowed over me so he could look at my face.

Despite how uncomfortable it was for my back to be bending this long, I managed to crack a smile. "Maybe you're not as dumb as I thought you were, Mr. Sixx."