Someone pretty...

Sarah actually had to laugh at herself. As soon as she committed to the idea of bringing some random fan into her dressing room for sex, she found herself all giddy about it, as if she were still back in high school and getting ready for a first date. She even jumped into the shower to quick-rinse the sweat from the stage off her, then got dressed in one of the more revealing outfits on the rack - the one with the silver halter-jacket over the fishnet top that "covered" her black lacy bra underneath, along with the bright-white hip-hugging leggings that looked like they might fall off with every step, and the black high-heeled boots. She touched up her purple glitter lipstick, and just shook her hair out loose to let it have that after-show-messy look, like that headshot on the inside sleeve of her last album that so many of the fans in the internet chatrooms said should have been the cover.

She checked herself out in the mirror.

Sarah had always put special effort into keeping her ego in check; she knew that was something that could seriously alienate her fans, and besides she had no desire to be that kind of person. Still, looking at herself like this, with her stage makeup and her designer clothes and her body that was the result of two hours in the gym every day, and she had to say it to herself - "I look hot," she smiled (the smile, of course, was the product of orthodontic work and whitening). Whoever Silas picked out among the crowd was going to have the ride of his life!

Of course, it wouldn't do to have the word spread that Sarah was hooking up with random fans post-show. but she already had a plan for that, and acted it out in the mirror to herself. "Look, I think it's better for both of us if no one else ever hears about this, you know?" she said to the imaginary guy. "So, don't go bragging about this to anyone... I mean, come on, no one's going to believe it, and if it somehow gets back to me I'll just deny it and you'll look like a fool. Let's just enjoy ourselves here and now, and go home with some nice memories, okay?"

Sure, that sounded fine.

How to seduce him? she wondered, and then laughed at that too. Heck, all she had to do was convince the guy that he wasn't getting pranked, and he was sure to go for it! This was going to be so easy, she wondered why she'd never thought of it before.

Silas knocked gently at the door, and she almost dropped the wine bottle! She put it aside, then dropped onto the couch and picked up the Rolling Stone magazine that was sitting on the table next to it, which otherwise would have gone untouched. "Come in!" she said brightly.

The door opened, and at first she only saw Silas, indicating to whoever was out there that he could go ahead and enter. The guy must have hesitated, because Silas gestured again, more insistently.

"It's cool, just come on in!" Sarah called again.

"O-M-G, I can't believe this!" the voice came back, and then she peeked around the doorframe.

She.

Silas had brought back a girl.

With monumental effort, Sarah kept the smile on her face, not wanting to ruin a fan's evening just when it had reached a totally unexpected peak. What had Silas been thinking, though? She had specifically said that... well, come to think of it, Sarah wasn't sure she had ever specified gender, even with a stray pronoun. And one thing she HAD requested was that he bring back someone "pretty."

He'd managed to do that, at any rate. The girl was definitely pretty, with long brunette hair and olive-toned skin, glasses that looked totally cute on her, and a fangirl grin. She also happened to be wearing Sarah's favorite concert tee, the one that showed her in silhouette at the Red Rocks amphitheater; but bigger than life, so that she stood with a foot on either side of the stage with the giant rocks rearing up on either side; and a deep purple sky glittering behind her. Stadiums all looked the same from the stage, but Red Rocks had been truly spectacular, and Sarah liked being reminded of it.

"Thanks, Silas!" she said, waving. I'll give this girl twenty minutes and then ask him to go find some good-looking guy, there should still be a few who haven't left yet. "Don't be shy, come here! I know this is a little weird, but you know, I find myself in these cities where I don't know anyone and sometimes I just want someone to talk to besides the band."

"I so can't believe I'm actually talking to you!" the girl squealed, wringing her hands together. "I've seriously gotten all of your albums on the day they came out... well, not the first one, because it's not like I knew who you were then, but once I heard you on the radio I totally went out and got it! I'm babbling, aren't I? I'm talking too much and looking stupid, right? That was a really dumb thing to say!"

"Okay, just breathe," Sarah said. "Here, give me an awkward hug, break the ice... there you go. Look, I know this is totally cliche, but I'm just a girl like you, right? I played with dolls when I was a kid, I had crushes on the cute guys, and I used to dream about being a pop star. The only difference between you and me is that I happen to be actually doing that now."

"Yes, but you're incredible! Oh fuck, I'm being annoying. Oh shit, I just said fuck in front of you!"

Maybe this was a bad idea, Sarah thought. "Let's just take this a step at a time. I'm Sarah Morris. And you are..."

"Oh God, what am I thinking? I'm Lexi. Lexi Balsam."

"How old are you, if you don't mind my asking?"

"I'm eighteen. No, nineteen. Look at me, I'm forgetting how old I am, but my birthday was yesterday so that's not that weird, is it?"

"It was? Happy Birthday, Lexi!"

"The tickets were a present, but my date had to leave early. I was just wondering whether I'd be able to get a cab in this mess when your guy showed up... I couldn't believe what he was saying at first, but the security guys said he was your bodyguard, so I thought, what the hell, I'll take a chance! I am So. Glad. I did!"

"You know what? So am I," Sarah said, and she meant it. Sure, this wasn't sex, but the girl's happy-turned-up-to-eleven attitude was infectious, and Sarah was feeling better already. "Anyway, nineteen's old enough to drink in Europe, and this is French wine. Care for some?"

"Sure! I, um, think I could use something to calm my nerves a little," Lexi giggled.

"Here you go. And don't worry about getting home, I've got you covered."

"I'm not in such a hurry to get there anymore," Lexi beamed, and clinked glasses with Sarah. "Here's to... oh God, I can't think of anything better than right now!"

"I like that. Here's to right now. Cheers."