When Savannah pulled up to the Skids' house at 10:00 the following night, she saw cars lined all up and down the street. She felt a pang of nervousness at this; there were a lot of people here. And, to add salt to the wound, she'd have to park her car a criminal distance away from the house.

As she drove, looking for a place to park, she couldn't help but survey the cars and wonder which ones belonged to the Crüe. She made note of the really expensive-looking ones and speculated on whether or not those were theirs. But, she had to consider that there were probably a lot of rich people in attendance of this party, so those ritzy cars may or may not be theirs. So, she kept looking, just for the sheer possibility of unknowingly laying her eyes on the cars of her favorite band in history.

Eventually, she found a spot to park. It was close to two streets away from the house, but it was something. She parked the car (with some difficulty), and got out, starting the walk to the house.

Savannah thought about the Crüe as she walked, her stomach giddy with the promise of meeting them. Sebastian's offer had been so kind, she couldn't figure out a way to repay him. Maybe her attendance would have been considered repayment in his eyes, but to her, that was way too weak of a repayment. She needed something of equal or greater value to meeting your idols.

She remembered that Sebastian was a huge KISS fan, but the idea that briefly flitted into her head vanished within a second. She had thought that maybe she could get him in touch with some KISS members, but she realized that not only had he probably had interactions with them already (being famous and all), but she did not have those connections. Just because she worked for a famous band did not make her famous by any stretch of the word. She knew for a fact that nobody at that party would know who she was.

Well, they will once you get in there and introduce yourself, she thought, but the very notion made a tingle of nerves run down her body. She feared that she'd look like an idiot. After all, it's not very common for anybody involved in the rock industry to be quiet and kind of self-isolating.

She tried to tell herself that if people thought she looked like an idiot, that was their loss. She approached the door while desperately clinging to that mindset, using the gargoyle knocker. Part of her wondered if anybody would even hear her with all of the hustle and bustle that she could clearly hear, even outside of the house.

But, Sebastian answered the door immediately, almost as if he had been waiting for Savannah. He smiled widely at her, and, surprisingly, he looked sober.

   For now, at least.

   "Hey, Sav!" he said happily, bringing her in for a bone-breaking hug. "I'm so glad you made it! I was starting to think you flaked on me."

   She laughed, returning the hug. "I'm no flaker."

   He laughed in return, releasing her. "Sorry for ever doubting you." He grinned, pulling her inside and shutting the door behind the both of them.

   Savannah surveyed the place, and blinked. Wow, she thought. It's fucking crowded in here.

   And she was not wrong. There were people taking up what felt like every square inch of the house, all pressed together. Some people were pounding liquor, others were snorting what Savannah identified as cocaine.

   She whistled, trying to find familiar faces (mostly the Crüe) in the crowd, but finding none. "Damn, it's wild in here."

   "Of course! You can't expect Skid Row to throw a lame ass, pussy party!" He realized what he had said too late, for he grabbed her shoulders and squeezed them. "I didn't mean you, by the way! You're not the least bit a pussy."

   "Uh-huh. Good save." She smiled at him, still searching.

   Sebastian chuckled, knowing exactly where her mind was at. "Looking for Mötley?"

   She blushed a little at how her fan behavior was so obvious. "Yeah," she mumbled in return. "Sorry. I'm just super excited."

   "No, no, don't apologize! I understand completely." He smiled sweetly at her, and, for a brief moment, Mötley Crüe was forgotten. Her stomach turned at the sight of his gorgeous grin, and she was snapped back into reality when he began talking again. "As you remember, I'm a huge KISS fan. I was the same way when I got to meet them for the first time."

   Damn, so my repayment idea would've been sucky, after all, thought Savannah. "Your life is awesome, Baz. KISS, Crüe, Bon Jovi. . . I'd trade places with you in a heartbeat."

   He shook his head. "Nah, you don't want my life. It's too complicated."

   He didn't elaborate, only took her hand and began to pull her somewhere. "Last I saw them, the Crüe were in the man cave. Or, as we call it, the she-cave."

   He laughed at the joke they had made a few days prior, and the sound made her laugh, too. His laugh was so real sounding; so genuine. Not to mention adorable.

   After a bit of Sebastian weaving Savannah through the countless bodies, exchanging brief greetings with some along the way, they had arrived in the man cave.

   And, by fate, perhaps, Mötley fucking Crüe was hanging out, a little bit away from the entrance to the room. Vince was chatting it up with some woman, Nikki and Tommy were shoving each other playfully, and Mick was standing quietly, observing.

   And then, the nerves Savannah had been feeling suddenly became oppressive. She turned around so that her back was facing the band and shouted, "I can't do it! I can't fucking do it, Sebastian!"

   Sebastian laughed, grabbing her shoulders and turning her around again. "Come on! They're just average dudes! You can do it! I'll bring you to them myself!"

   "'Average dudes?' I thought you said you understood me!"

   "I do! But that doesn't make what I'm saying any less valid." He began to gently nudge her forward, and he giggled as she continued to fight him. "You realize that you'll just look weirder if they see you fighting me, right? You're gonna be over there one way or the other. But, it's your choice on how they see you. A beautiful, confident girl, or a shy, awkward one."

   That compliment made her cheeks sting. "I guess a confident one. But, I'm not confident!" She spun to face him, her heart hammering in her chest. She still needed a few seconds to emotionally prepare, and she would stall however she could.

   "I know. But, I've got advice for you." He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Fake it. Fake it 'til you make it. I'm tellin' you, it works. If you fake it, you trick your brain into thinking that you actually are."

   The feeling of his lips against her ear made her briefly shudder. She pushed him away playfully, sighing. "Do you honestly think that I haven't heard that spiel before?"

   He smiled at her. "You probably have. But, what do you have to lose?"

   She thought about it, sighing afterward. "Nothing." She took a deep breath and looked up at her towering colleague. She wasn't super short (she stood at a perfectly average 5'5), but Sebastian made her look like a tiny ant next to his monstrous size. "You're walking me over, though."

   "Of course. I can't leave you all the way hanging." He spun her around again, and, without giving her any warning, began to nudge her over again.

   This time, she didn't fight it.

   Tommy was the one to notice the pair of them first. "Hey, Baz!" he called out, waving obnoxiously. That's when his eyes seemed to register Savannah, and he smiled slyly. "Who's your friend?"

The very notion of Tommy Lee addressing her directly made Savannah's heart leap. Oh my fucking god.

Sebastian looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to say something. Oh, please God, let her say something. . .

She got the message. She made the rest of the way over to him and smiled. She was hoping it would be a strong, confident smile, but she was worried that it was pretty weak. "I'm Savannah. The new fashion director of the Skids."

That's when Nikki, Vince, and Mick perked up, looking over at her. Vince abandoned the girl he was talking to. "Whoa, cool! Nice going, Baz, you landed a babe!" he said with a grin.

As Savannah looked amongst them and smiled, genuinely flattered, Sebastian couldn't help the pit that formed in his stomach. The very idea that someone else found her to be a "babe" made him want to sock Vince, without question.

He had never felt like this before. It was a compliment, no big deal. Nothing to rage over. He pursed his lips as he tried to get over himself.

"Thanks! I'm actually a really huge fan of yours," Savannah added shyly, chuckling a little at how absurd this situation really was.

"Wow, awesome!" Nikki said with a smile, offering his hand to shake.

Savannah shook it, and she could not believe that she had just touched Nikki fucking Sixx.

Then, she shook Vince's hand, then Mick's, then Tommy's, her ecstasy growing more and more with each hand she shook. Her heart jumped a little when she shook Tommy's, but some part of her knew that it wasn't the same heart jump that she experienced when with Sebastian. Tommy was an idol of hers. Sebastian was more than that.

"So, what's your favorite album?" Mick chimed in shyly, trying to make conversation.

Savannah was definitely down with going down this road. She could talk about the musicians standing in front of her all day. "Dr. Feelgood," she answered without hesitation.

"A very popular choice," Nikki smiled with a nod. "Favorite song?"

"Dr. Feelgood or Kickstart My Heart."

"Favorite band member?" Vince asked with a sly smile.

Sebastian saw this sly smile and felt that familiar feeling of rage begin to course through his body. Who did this fucker think he was? He had just met Savannah, and he was already trying to get a few flirts in. Fuck no.

Sebastian decided that he was not above punching his friend, but also decided that this wasn't a serious enough offense.

". . .Tommy," Savannah answered shyly, avoiding eye contact with Vince. Vince was probably used to this; Nikki and Tommy were the Terror Twins, loved by pretty much any female rock fan. But, it still made her feel guilty that she was dismissing him as not being her favorite. In addition, proclaiming her love to Tommy felt strange.

Sebastian's eyes snapped over to Tommy, trying to see his reaction. Make your next move carefully, dickbag, he thought, gritting his teeth.

Tommy was smirking, and Sebastian didn't like that look. Too sly. Too much ill intent.

"Well, I can say for sure you have awesome taste," Tommy said slyly, going up to her and wrapping an arm around her.

Her heart began to hammer in her chest, and her mind was spinning. "Holy fuck," she squeaked out. She face-palmed at the fact that she had unintentionally murmured that aloud, causing Tommy to laugh, hugging her closer.

   Sebastian observed the obvious effect Tommy had on Savannah as she giggled shyly, leaning into his touch. She began to talk to him more, and, before he knew it, Tommy was walking her away.

   Where the fuck are they going? Sebastian thought, staring after them in a rage so strong that he was frozen in place.

   Mick looked at Sebastian, and the latter's rage was obviously displayed on his expression. Which made sense; Sebastian Bach was never good at hiding emotion.

   "Hey, man, you okay?" Mick asked, awkwardly patting Sebastian on the back.

   Sebastian recoiled from his touch. "I'm fine," he spat. "Do me a favor and get me a fucking drink. I fucking need one."

   Mick was about to tell Sebastian to shove it, but after close evaluation of his expression, Mick came to the conclusion that the poor man was having a tough time, and just needed a drink. "All right."

   Sebastian watched Mick leave, and his eyes wandered to Savannah and Tommy before he could stop himself.

   He ended up digging his nails into his flesh pretty hard then, seeing her laughing and playfully shoving the drummer. Tommy seemed to be greatly enjoying this. Enjoying it too much; he looked like he wanted to take her into one of the Skids' rooms and rip off all her clothes.

   Sebastian wanted to believe that he was feeling like this for Savannah's safety. That he didn't want her associating with rockstars like the Crüe because they were scumbags.

   But, in reality, he just wished that were him. He wished that Savannah was that excited to be around him, and that he was hanging out with her right now. He knew that Mötley Crüe could have any woman they wanted, and he couldn't stand the fact that that woman could be Savannah. So, to see the Crüe being all chummy with her. . .

   He winced as the pain got a little overbearing. He unclenched his fists and exhaled. He needed to get over it, and what better way than alcohol?

   Speaking of which, Mick came back over with a bottle of Jack for Sebastian as well as for himself.

   Sebastian snatched it from Mick and tossed a considerable amount back immediately. Every time his eyes found Savannah and Tommy as he chatted with Mick, he would toss more back. Simple.

   Soon, he'd be annihilated, but at least he'd be free from his suffocating jealousy.