"Help me! I'm broken! I'm helpless! I'm Godless!"

Wednesday nights each fortnight were band practice nights. The girls and I would meet up at Sunset Rehearsals in Santa Monica and spend a good three or four hours going over our setlist. We had yet to play a show, but that would all change this weekend. Thanks to Dominic, we'd finally lined up our first official gig at Johnny's.

"Your voice is fucking making leaps and bounds, dude!" grinned Jessie, the raven haired beauty who could've had a successful career as an alternative model, had her love of Guitar not been so fierce.
"Thanks."
"You've definitely been practicing." Storm, our Drummer with a mane of the deepest blue, added.

Our Quintet was completed by Tyla, the peroxide blonde rhythm guitarist, or "The Boobs" as we called her. - Seriously, the girl had an insane rack. - And Paris, our Bass player, who had a mixed mane of caramel and blonde, and an attitude to boot. We'd been writing and jamming for at least a year now, and were hoping that being the only all-female Rock band in Huntington Beach would give us an edge.

"Godless is sounding pretty tight." Storm said, twirling her drumsticks. "Let's run through Crash again, though, I wanna really get that down."

Storm counted us in and Jessie joined her a moment later. I was so lucky to have found them, Storm and Jessie were the perfect assets to the band, we'd made leaps and bounds since I'd found them. Jessie could shred like a beast, making it look as effortless as breathing. And Storm had previously been the drummer of Ocean Avenue, but she had up and left them without a second thought after Cole had fucked me over. Their loss was my gain, the woman was a musical genius.

"Don't know where I'm going, everybody's running, everybody's running. Come back after all is broken, everything is burning, no one is returning.

Step back, step back, everybody step back, step back. It's time to pick up the slack, the slack, you ought to know.

Save me from this wicked person I've become, as the world comes crashing..."

***



"Man, I am so psyched for this weekend!" Jessie cried, the wind whipping through her hair as she drove us along Pacific Coast Highway after band practice.
"You'll be even more psyched once you see who I've invited." I smirked.

In my downtime from work, I'd decided to do a little googling and really learn more about Brian's band. It definitely came as no surprise when I had realized that he was this "Synyster Gates" guy that Jessie had always raved about. She'd learned guitar from watching his tutorials and looked up to him for years. I'd just never known who he was until now.

"Oh no way, tell me!" she begged.
"Nope." I laughed. "Your punk-ass can wait and see."

We pulled up to the apartment complex and Jessie followed me up the flights of stairs until we reached mine. Wraith scuttled around my feet as we entered, standing up on his hind legs, begging for attention. While Jessie kneeled down to pet him, I set my bag down on the counter and immediately went for my bottle of Jack.

"Really, already?" Jessie frowned, watching as I poured my drink.
"What?" I laughed, adding the Coke. "Productive band practice, I think I deserve a drink."
"You've been drinking an awful lot lately, that's probably the third bottle of Jack you've bought this month."
"And your point?" I replied, raising an eyebrow.
"It's just a little concerning, is all." she sighed, sliding into a stool by the counter.
"Relax man." I waved her off "It's just how I wind down after a busy day."
"Whatever." Jessie rolled her eyes. "Just, take care of yourself, okay? Renegade Angel needs its Vocalist."
"How do you think I get that rock and roll rasp?" I smirked, shaking the glass in front of her. "Cigarettes and Whiskey."

She eyed me as I reached into my bag to pull out my smokes, popping one between my lips and lighting it. I took a drag, and blew the smoke out in her face, staring her down as if to make my point.

"You're disgusting." Jessie cringed, waving the smoke out of her face.
"You love me." I winked.

The Doorbell rang, and I bounded over to answer it.

"Room service!" Dom greeted me, a huge grin on his face and a plastic container in his hand. "Fried Rice from down the road, your favourite."
"Sparkyyy." I sang, taking the box from him and cracking it open. "Always delivering the goods." I giggled, groaning as I cracked the lid open and the delicious smell met my nostrils.
"Hey Jess." he nodded, acknowledging my bandmate. "How'd band prac go?"
"Fuckin amazing." she smirked. "Ready to tear up your little dive bar this weekend."
"I'll be sure to have a round of shots ready to celebrate your first show."
"I'm holding you to that."
"Matt's coming, by the way." Dom informed me. "Rayleigh talked him into it."
"Awesome!" I grinned. I'd spent the past few days envying the hell out of his voice as I'd listened to more of their music, and he'd become one of my new favourite vocalists. "I invited someone, too."
"Who?" Dom began to ask.
"Not telling." I smirked. "I wanna surprise Jess."
"Fuckin tell me!" she demanded, slamming her hand down on the counter.
"Fuckin wait!" I teased, poking my tongue out at her.
"Fine." she scowled. "I'm gonna jet, gotta pop by Guitar Center and pick up some new strings for Saturday." she said, getting up from her seat. "See you guys later, and use a fuckin condom."
"Shut the fuck up!" I laughed, throwing my wallet at her as she left the apartment.
"LATER, HOE!" she yelled, closing the door behind her.

I rolled my eyes and downed my drink, meeting Dom's gaze as I set my glass down. I watched as he rounded the counter, closing me in with his hands on either side of me. His light brown eyes stared into mine as he leaned in close, and I tilted my head back as his lips caught mine. I kissed him softly as his hands found my hips and slowly slipped beneath my shirt.

"Sorry Sparky." I giggled, pulling away and pushing him off me. "I'm not letting my food go cold today."

***

The heat of the bathwater seeped into my skin as I stared at the roof. I'd needed a nice hot bath, it'd been a long-ass fucking day. A productive day, but a long one nonetheless. The bathroom walls shifted through each colour of the rainbow from my lamp on the window sill, and the soothing sound of The Cure's "Out Of This World" echoed throughout the room. A glass of JD and Coke sat on a stool next to the tub, along with my phone, and I felt at peace.

Wraith scuttled into the room, and I giggled as he propped his paws up on the edge of the tub, looking at me. I scratched behind his ears, and he licked at my fingers. Quiet nights in warm water, with his company were my favourite. He bounded around the bathroom, knocking the door stopper off it's peg, and rolled it toward me with his nose.

"You wanna play?" I smiled, leaning over to roll it back toward him.

He rolled it back toward me, and thus began a little game between us. The little furball drove me nuts sometimes, but I fucking loved him. Getting a Dog had worked wonders for my mental health. In the months since Cole had screwed me over, my anxiety had peaked, and I would have constant panic attacks. As soon as I'd gotten Wraith, they'd decreased, and become fewer and farther between.

My phone buzzing with a new message ended the little game between Wraith and I, and he growled as I picked it up.

"Quiet!" I snapped, earning a Yap of disapproval.

I rolled my eyes and swiped upward on the screen, entering my password and opening the message.

From: Unknown Number
To: Rikki

Hey, what's up?

I frowned, and texted a reply.

From: Rikki
To: Unknown Number

Who's this?

My phone buzzed a second later

From: Unknown Number
To: Rikki

Brian

I saved his number to my phone, and responded.

From: Rikki
From: Brian

How'd you get my number?

His response came a moment later.

From: Brian
To: Rikki

Rayleigh gave it to me, since we're friends now

I smirked as I typed a reply.

From: Rikki
To: Brian

Oh, we are? Are we? :P

I chewed on my lip as I waited for his reply.

From: Brian
To: Rikki

I was under that impression

I giggled as I replied.

From: Rikki
To: Brian

What if I'm only nice to you because you let me bum smokes off you and buy me lunch?

I took a sip of my drink as I waited for his response.

From: Brian
To: Rikki

Then I'll have to keep doing so, if that's the price to pay for your company :P
You gonna answer my question?

I cocked an eyebrow at his message.

From: Rikki
To: Brian

What question?

His responses were so quick, what man actually had good text game?

From: Brian
To: Rikki

What's up?

I rolled my eyes, typing my reply.

From: Rikki
To: Brian

Taking a bath

He replied again.

From: Brian
To: Rikki

Ew, bathwater is gross, how can you sit in your own filth?

I snorted with laughter as I replied.

From: Rikki
To: Brian

I take a shower first, jackass, the bath is purely for relaxation purposes

He replied a moment later.

From: Brian
To: Rikki

Send N00DZ :P

I laughed out loud and took a sip of my drink, before responding.

From: Rikki
To: Brian

Fucking serious?
What are you, Sixteen?

He replied.

From: Brian
To: Rikki

I'm kidding, obviously :P

I shook my head as I replied.

From: Rikki
To: Brian

Sure you are :P

This was actually pretty fucking fun, he was a good texter.

From: Brian
To: Rikki

Oh no, I'm totally serious
Pics or it didn't happen ;)

It was actually tempting, but I decided I'd make him work for it, it was way more fun when you strung them along for a little while. I was however, getting a kick out of texting him while naked, with him unable to see me.

From: Rikki
To: Brian

I'm not giving in that easy, Honey

I licked my lips, really missing the teasing text games, it'd been awhile for me. My phone buzzed again, and this time, a photo was attached to his message. He was laying in bed, shirtless, his hair an attractive mess and a teasing smirk on his face.

From: Brian
To: Rikki



I show you mine, you show me yours?

My jaw dropped, but I still wasn't giving in.

From: Rikki
To: Brian

Nice try, but nope :P
Cheers for the eye candy, though ;)

I saved the photo to my phone. Maybe it was a bit much, but he looked fucking hot and I couldn't help myself.

From: Brian
To: Rikki

Just kidding
But you're welcome ;)

I took a long sip from my drink, and my phone buzzed again.

From: Brian
To: Rikki

Plenty more where that came from, all you gotta do is ask :P

I snorted with laughter, and responded.

From: Rikki
To: Brian

A little cock-sure of yourself, ain't ya?

He responded quickly.

From: Brian
To: Rikki

If you wanna see my Cock that badly, just ask ;)

Fuck, it was tempting. But this little game was too much fun.

From: Rikki
To: Brian

Jeezus, you're a fukboi

I knew that would knock him down a few notches, and smirked when his reply came through.

From: Brian
To: Rikki

Ouch, I'm not actually serious, ya know?
Just teasin ya

Gotcha, smartass...

From: Rikki
To: Brian

I know you're not, but it's fun
But if you play your cards right, I just might take you up on that offer sometime :P

I hit send before I could stop myself. I knew I'd be seeing him this weekend and that it'd surely come up, but I had to keep this game going. I'd deal with the consequences later.

From: Brian
To: Rikki

Now who's being a Fukboi? or should I say, Fukgurl?

I giggled again, and responded.

From: Rikki
To: Brian

You started it!
You dug your own grave, Honey

I downed the last of my drink as I waited for his reply.

From: Brian
To: Rikki

Take it or leave it, Darlin, that's just the way I roll
See you Saturday ;)

I smirked, and typed one last message, just to tease him.

From: Rikki
To: Brian

Let's see just how much I see ;)
Take care, Synyster...

I left it at that, if he replied, I wouldn't respond.

Saturday was going to be fucking fun...

Notes

Chapter Title Cred: Sexy Dirty Love by Demi Lovato

MASSIVE THANKS TO violetshade FOR DRAWING THE PHOTO BRIAN SENDS RIKKI
I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH, IT IS SOOO FUCKING PERFECT!!

You've now gotten a small taste of Rikki's band; Renegade Angel
All of the songs I'm using for their band in this story are by Fit For Rivals, and Renee Phoenix's solo work - Highly recommend, Renee's got an awesome voice, she is my goals!!

Comments would be heckin appreciated
And don't forget to Subscribe!

Until next time xx