In this part, I continue on from the end of Part Five after Nicki gives Mia a ride back home on the back of her motorcycle after the gig. Mei Lin is still back at home getting ready for her date but I thought I'd follow through with Nicki and Mia because it seemed like a fun little interlude.
"Men are such shits," Mia announced as she poured another drink, "they think about two things, sex and food. Eric was different though, he could at least talk about other stuff but towards the end things changed."
"In what way?" Nicki balanced the empty glass on her knee.
"He became a little paranoid, it's to do with my stage character," their eyes met.
"I'm not exactly straight, the whole straight thing started as a joke one night on stage when some drunk woman shouted out something obscene and I just responded with a statement that I was straight and the crowd went wild. We got through our set for the night and had a good laugh about it afterwards but the next day one of the girls suggested I might like to put more emphasis on my sexual orientation," she put the bottle down and stared at the drink.
"I took her advice and our crowds swelled almost right away. Everyone wanted to come and see the straight woman fronting a lesbian band and so I just doubled down and ramped it up. From time to time I'd hint that I might be bendable but I've always maintained the straight act on stage and for most of that time I was with guys."
"And what about in between men?"
"Ah," she took a swig, "now that's where it gets interesting. Whenever I was single, the crowds got bigger and I noticed more of the women were openly flirting, even in front of their partners."
"So, if you're not straight, what are you?"
"I'm fluid," Mia replied, "I find that sticking myself into a box is restrictive, I like to be free to express myself in a variety of ways and that includes my sexuality but so far I haven't had sex with another woman so technically I'm still straight."
"So, what would you look for in a woman?" Nicki picked up the glass and leaned forward.
"Someone who isn't into the scene as we know it. I'm not after the trophy woman, just someone who respects my boundaries and doesn't try to dominate or control me. I need my space and this place is my space, I can walk about the house in my bra and knickers and not have to worry about a bloody thing."
"Yeah I get that too, it's what I like about Stella's joint. With Darren I had to be careful," she unscrewed the cap, "but in this new place I can walk about half naked."
"So are you with anyone?"
"Not exactly," she poured a measure of Southern Comfort into the glass, "I was with Amanda but she's been a drain on me," she twisted the cap back on, "lesson number one, find a woman who isn't high maintenance."
"So you're not with Amanda?"
"No, there was a one morning stand with Darren's girlfriend, Roberta and she's been skirting around the edges the last few weeks but I don't want to go down that track, I still feel guilty about the whole thing."
"Did you seduce her or was it the other way around?"
"She moved on me, after Darren went to work, surprised the fuck out of me."
"Ooh, juicy," Mia's eyes twinkled.
Nicki opened her mouth to reply and then shut it as a phone beeped. Mia picked up her phone and then looked at her.
"It's from Stevie."
"What does she want?"
"Oh dear," she smirked, "it looks like Stevie is having a crisis."
"What's the crisis?" Nicki leaned closer to her as Mia put the phone on the table to show the shirts Stevie had picked out.
"What to wear on a date, the last time she had a problem like this was when she was going out with Melanie."
"Who was Melanie?"
"A woman who came to our gigs, they went out on a date but as it turned out, Melanie was curious but not that curious," she propped on her palm, "she wore that tuxedo shirt for that date. "She's a lovely girl but she's hopeless when it comes to fashion."
"Mei Lin's the opposite," Nicki replied, "have you seen her Instagram feed?"
"A bit of it," Mia glanced up briefly, "she's certainly a snappy dresser, she even puts me to shame."
"You and me both," Nicki looked down at herself, "although lately I've started taking some hints from her, she suggested this white tie."
"Oh, so that was her advice?" Mia nudged her leg playfully, "now your secret's out," she picked up the phone and tapped the screen.
Mia: I'm leaning towards the tuxedo but the one with the black buttons looks good too.
Stevie: So the other two?
Mia: Okay for a casual coffee but you should look your best.
Stevie: It needs a tie.
Mia: So wear it without a tie, go for the casual after five look.
Stevie: Maybe you're right, sorry to bother you so late.
Mia: No you're not, now get some sleep and send me a selfie tomorrow although maybe you should be asking Mei Lin this, she's going out with you after all.
"I'm starting to wish I'd never pushed her into this date with Mei Lin," she pulled a grimace, "she's been up and down like a yo yo for the last few weeks, trying to work out whether or not she should ask her out and what should she should say. Stevie's never been like this with women, she's the kind who can make a pass and just roll with the punches."
"I know exactly how she feels, especially about Mei Lin," Nicki replied.
"Mei Lin?" Mia glanced at her, "do you have a crush on your housemate? This just gets better and better," she picked up her drink again.
"We've worked it out or rather Mei Lin did," Nicki leaned back against the couch, "she decided that she wanted me as a friend and just a friend."
"And how did you take that?"
"I'm still processing it but I can see the logic as plain as day. If she and I fucked we'd wake up the next morning to the consequences and Mei Lin doesn't like that idea in case we fall out."
"That makes sense," Mia mused a moment later, "she sounds like she's got her head screwed on straight, if only I'd been that smart at her age, I'd never have gotten tied up with Gavin."
"Who was Gavin?"
