Love, Lust, and Spirit: Who Is Mrs. Perfect?

"Alec!" Niki called down the hallway. "Alec, where are you?" She walked up and down the hall opening and closing doors as she went. She pushed the back door open and poked her head out. "Hey, have either of you seen Alec?"

Billie slightly raised his brow and shook his head. Mike took a long drag of a cigarette and didn't reply. Niki turned and back tracked down the hall and returned to Tre.

"Niki, you might want to check the bathroom."

"You found her? But I already checked there."

"I walked in and I heard her mumbling to herself in the stall."

Niki bolted straight to the bathroom and burst through the door. "Alec!" she called. She heard a sniff, leaned up against the wall of the stall, and ran her fingers through her hair. "Fuck, Alec, I've been looking all over this damn place for you. What happened?"

She sniffed again. "Nothing to worry about."

"You're the worst liar I've ever heard, you know that?"

"I know, I just don't know what to do. It's nothing serious."

"Elaborate for me to ease my mind, will you please?"

She was silent and seconds later the stall door opened. She stared at Niki with a wide eyed look. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying. "Mike..."

"What did that bastard tell you?!"

"He didn't tell me anything. Nothing bad, at least." She sniffed. "Niki," she continued, "he...he likes me."

"What? where did you hear that?"

She wiped her nose, threw the tissue away, and leaned her back up against the wall. "When I ran after him he stormed out the door and he started talking to Billie. I listened through the door and he told him that he's liked me ever since the party at Billie's. But he's with Brittney. I don't want to go behind her back and see Mike. I know how that feels, Niki, and it's the worst thing I've ever felt. I don't want her to feel that, but I don't want her to be with him and him love me and not her."

Niki embraced her. "Yeah, I know that feeling." She paused, "But I don't want you feeling hurt either. What's the situation with you?"

She looked up and her lip quivered. "I- I like him too."

Niki sighed and hugged her tight. "C'mon, let's get you cleaned up. I'm sure you won't want anyone seeing you like this." She smirked.

They stepped over to the mirror and Alec glanced at herself. "Damn." Niki couldn't help but chuckle. Niki stepped out of the bathroom to retrieve Alec's make up and saw Tre standing in the doorway across the hall.

"So, what's the verdict?"

"She's good. Nothing serious," she half lied. She knew this was a situation but she didn't want Tre getting angry or upset before the concert tonight, or any night. The last thing she wanted was for them to bicker and argue this entire tour. Especially not over women.

Tre wanted to know what happened but Niki didn't say and he wasn't going to ask. He entwined his fingers between hers and walked her down the hall.

"I'm going to get Alec's stuff so we can get fixed up for tonight." She kissed him on the cheek. "It shouldn't take us long."

Tre harshly blew air between his teeth and lips. "Bull shit. I've seen you get ready. If you need me I'll be outside with the guys looking for something to play with. It's getting boring and lonely sitting around here."

"Alright, don't kill yourself or someone else." She pecked him on the lips.

"Okay, I love you." He smiled.

"I love you too." She returned a smile.

Niki turned on her heel and continued to the room with their over night bags and returned to the bathroom. She opened the door and stuck her head in.

"The coast is clear. How about we go to the dressing room?"

"Sure, much more room. Let's go."

They walked down the hall and turned a left into the dressing room and shut the door. Niki placed their bags on the chairs and she pulled out her extra change of clothes, her cosmetic bag, and her hair straightener and accessories. Alec did the same with her stuff and set it all out on the vanity next to Niki's.

"Should I go with straight or curly hair?" Alec asked fluffing her hair in the mirror.

She studied her in the mirror and replied, "I think if you curled it and brushed it to make it wavy it would look good. I think I'll go with straight, though."

She nodded and they began changing clothes. Niki had a black T-shirt with a military green jacket, jeans, and black combat style boots with a small heel. Alec sported a green hooded shirt with sleeves to the elbows and a black tank top underneath, black cargo capris, and converse. They began primping up in the mirror and chatting about anything and everything when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Alec called.

The door opened to reveal Billie. "When are you guys going to be done?"

"We're almost done," Niki replied, "we just need to put the finishing touches on our hair and we'll be out of your way."

Billie closed the door and leaned up against it. "I'd advise you guys to keep a short distance away from Mike. Don't act like you're avoiding him but he's scatter-brained at the moment." Alec averted her eyes and looked down at her cosmetics scattered across the vanity.

"Alright, thanks for the warning. I don't want bickering to commense any during the first part of the tour. It would drive me crazy with Tre's bitching of the night before bed."

They all chuckled and Tre flung the door open. "I am not a bitch!"

"Calm down, baby, I just said you complain a lot." She paused. "Were you listening that whole time?"

"No, I was about to walk in and I heard my name and bitch so I burst in."

"You're such a whiney butt."

"Alright, alright, let's get finished so we can get ready. The show starts shortly. We just got done with the sound check," Billie said cutting in. Niki nodded and turned back to the mirror.

Tre walked up, placed Niki's back in the floor next to the chair and sat down. "Did I ever tell you how sexy you look in that outfit?"

"Not now, Tre, we have a guest," she giggled. "And yes, you have many times."

"Well, it's true."

Alec couldn't help but think of Mike sitting behind her giving her complements and talking about her physique. She choked back a tear at the thought and swallowed hard. She wants him but she doesn't want to hurt Brittney or herself. She just can't get him out of her mind.