Shadow's Secrets
Chapter 4
by $imone

            “Not yet, sweetie.  We’re supposed to go out, remember?” he reminded 
me. I got up from the bed, feeling strange about being rejected.

            “Fine. Fine, fine, fine,” I muttered to myself.

            “Here, wear this,” he held up one of my satin and lace nighties.  I 
burst into laughter.  “What’s the problem?” he looked offended.

            “Pete, that’s a nightie. I can’t wear that.”

            “Why not? It’s long enough. Just wear some stilettos with it and 
your rockin,”  he smiled.

            “Alright. What the fuck?” I slipped it on and put on some heels.  I 
was reaching for my purse and heading to the door when he stopped me.  “What?”

            “I have something for your comedown,” he opened his jacket pocket 
and handed me a pill.

            “What’s this?” I studied it.

            “Some new designer drug. People say it’s good to take with someone 
you really love,” Pete winked. “And that’s us, right?”

            “Well,” I blushed, “I guess so,” I winked back and popped the thing.

            We walked down the block until Peter hailed a cab and instructed the 
driver to go to The Blue Note. On the way to the club, he whispered in my ear, 
“Don’t over-do it on the drinking.  I heard it’s bad with these things.” We got 
dropped off in front of the club and walked right in without paying. “I’m a big 
customer here,” he bragged.  We sat down at one of the tables up front and 
watched Johnny Winter play.  I felt the drug start to kick in and went over to 
sit on Peter’s lap, putting my hand down his pants, kissing him on the nose and 
down his neck.  I ordered myself a beer and danced in front of Pete, as Johnny 
played “Johnny B. Good”.  

            Mr. Winter seemed to like it and waved me to the stage. “Go!” Peter 
was enthused,  “He might let you up onstage.”  I stepped in front of him and 
leaned down so he could see my cleavage.  He smiled and motioned for security to 
let me up onstage.  They put a microphone in front of me as I danced just to his 
left.  I was quite nervous, even after the beer, so I continued dancing.  The 
song stopped and I was about to go offstage, when Johnny grabbed my hand.  

            “What’ll it take for an old man like me to keep a pretty thing such 
as yourself to stay on for one song?” I thought to myself, and whispered a song 
in his ear.  “Will you sing? I can tell you have a great voice; I can just 
tell!” I looked out at Pete who was waving his fists in the air.  I nodded.  
“OK, the lady has a request.  Boys, she wants us to play Tossin’ and Turnin’.  
I’m sure we can make this lady’s wish come true. Oh, and by the way, this goes 
out to Peter. So Pete, where ever you are, I’d hope you appreciate this.”

            The band kicked off and I started singing.  It was so strange with 
the drugs and the beer, but people were cheering.  I pointed to Pete and 
motioned for security to let him onstage, and he came up. “This is Peter Criss!” 
I shouted and the crowd cheered loudly.  We started singing together and he put 
his arm around me and gave me a kiss.  Before we knew it, the song was over and 
the somewhat subdued crowd was now on their feet. “Thank you Johnny!” I 
shouted.

            “And thank you Blue Note!” Peter smiled and kissed me again.  
Johnny’s set was over, and I was heading for the door, “You want to go 
already? I hear Jeff Beck is up next.”

            “I just have to get some air,” I wiped the sweat from my forehead.  
“No big deal.” I wandered around the corner and saw a bar kiddy-corner from The 
Blue Note had Metallica playing.  I ran over there and talked to the bouncer 
outside, “I have Peter Criss with me across the street.  Will you let us in for 
free?”

            He laughed, “Yeah, right.  You have THE Peter Criss with you?”

            “Not only that but I’ll get him to sign your tattoo, if you get us 
in free, and get us up front,” I promised.

            “Alright, if and only if I see the real Peter Criss with you, I will 
get you up front.” I ran back to The Blue Note and grabbed Peter.

            “What’s going on?” he asked, as I began to drag him down the block.

            “Well, you know when I told you I followed some bands around? Well, 
there’s a really great metal band playing there,” I pointed to the bar.  “We can 
get in for free and up front, if you sign the bouncer’s tattoo.”

            “Whoa, hold on there,” he pulled me back.  

            “C’mon, honey! I haven’t seen them in a while,” I tugged at his 
jacket. “Pweeeeeease!”

            “Ok, ok.  Fair enough.  You’ve seen one band I really like, so I 
suppose I’ll go with you to see your friends perform,” he managed to say before 
we ran across the street.

            “Ok, we’re here. Pete, could you sign his tattoo so we can get up 
front?” He signed the bouncer’s arm and we were escorted in front of the fence 
with security.  Someone whispered something into James’ ear and he motioned for 
the music to stop.

            “Someone tells me we got a friend in the house.  Is that true? Is 
there a girl named Shadow in the house?” he laughed, as I jumped and waved my 
arms in front of him.  “Someone wanna help her up here? Yeah! Get that bitch up 
here!” I went around hugging the band. “Alright, she’s gonna help us sing now! 
How about one Last Caress, baby?”  I got up close to his microphone and 
started belting out the notes to one of my favorite songs by The Misfits. Once 
the song ended, the crowd was cheering.  I was quite proud of myself, and I felt 
the drug pushing me on stronger.

            “Can I make a request?” I winked at him.

            “Shadow, I can’t just stop the show to go in the bathroom with you 
and fuck!” he laughed to himself.  I jabbed him in the ribs.

       “No, dumb ass, I wanted you guys to play a song and maybe your 
security will let my date come up and sing.”

      He thought for a second, or at least appeared to take some time to think. 
“So, who’s your date, then?” I pointed down. “Holy shit.  It’s fucking Peter 
Criss! Well, let’s get his ass up here!”

       Peter got up on stage and threw his fist in the air as did the audience 
who shouted a loud, “Yeah!”

      “So you guys’ know “Nothin’ to Lose” I looked around.
      
      James ran his hand through his hair, looking at the others who shrugged 
and nodded, “I think it’s do-able.  Get a fucking mic out here for these crazy 
motherfuckers!” A roadie promptly responded and brought out a microphone 
for us. I started singing Gene’s part with James and waited for Peter’s part to 
come up.  And once it did, the entire audience was singing along with him.  The 
song ended and we were taken offstage, where Metallica bought us beers. 

	“I’ll be right back.  I gotta go take a piss,” I excused myself.  Just 
before leaving the bathroom I checked my makeup and slipped on the tile floor, 
feeling my skull crack against the seat. “Shit,” I couldn’t get up and I felt 
myself slip into unconsciousness.  It must’ve been some time because I woke up 
in the hospital with Peter on a cot next to me, and Metallica’s members snoring 
passed out in chairs.