Chapter 9:

The contest was to be held in a twenty one and under bar. The doors opened at 6:30 which gave the kids time to come in and get ready for the long night ahead. The club was going to be kicking that night for sure.

Marty and Nix arrived at the club at around seven. They had spent the whole day just lying around, literally. From the green in front of the clock tower, to the park, they laid around, talking. Now the night was ahead of them and they were focused on winning, well, before they had to choke. That was the plan to get Mike to be a musician, to make the band in the lead, Pinheads, to choke and have Mike steal the stage. It was fool proof.

At least a hundred or so kids were in the club when Marty and Nix got there. Marty had said hi to at least thirty or so kids. He was Mr. Popular it seemed. Marty, being the gentleman he is, showed Nix to a table to hang till the other band members got there. He left Nix awkwardly alone for a few minutes so he could go sign in the band and get some drinks for them.

While Nix was sitting alone, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see a kid who seemed to be at least twenty.

"Hi, I couldn't help but notice how you're sitting all alone over here. I'm Mike."

"Mike? As in Mike Fox?" she asked.

"The very one. Are you staying for the contest tonight?"

Nix tried not to be shocked or show any sign of excitement or fear. She was talking to her dad. Not her 47 year old dad back in 2012; but his younger, not bad looking, self.

"Uh, I'm actually going to be in the contest," she managed to say.

"Really? Oh well, good luck to you then."

"You too, Mike."

"I didn't catch your name."

"Nicole. But people call me Nix."

"Nix? What a lovely name."

"Thank you. Will I talk to you later tonight?"

"Course, that is, unless your boyfriend doesn't kill me. Hey, Marty."

Nix looked up and saw Marty walk up.

"Hey, Mike. Consolidating with the enemy?"

"Funny," he said dully, "Well, I'll catch you guys tonight."

Mike walked away and Marty sat down next to Nix. He slid a Pepsi toward her. He had such an infatuation with that drink it was unreal.

"Damn, so my dad actually was a dick, wow," Nix said.

Marty laughed, "Yeah, he is kinda douche-ish. He's a nice guy and all, but he can be kinda gloaty when it comes to music."

"Sounds like my Uncle Dana."

"His brother?"

"Oh yeah. He was actually over the night that you were at my house. He kept going on and on about his honor student son, Matthew. I never would've thought that my dad was a gloater like his brother."

"What is your dad like?" Marty asked, "I mean from your time."

"He's a really chill guy. Laid back for sure. He is strict when he needs to be and also really calm. He'd do anything for me, Logan, Dane or Channing. Since he's a lawyer, he's gotten all of us outta some sticky situations."

"Lawyer? That sounds pretty cool."

"You're a lawyer," she said taking a sip of her soda. She almost spit it back up from laughing at the look Marty had on his face.

"What?" he asked with a laugh.

"Future you works at the law firm with my dad. That's how I know you and your wife."

"Who am I married too?"

She smiled devilishly, "I can't tell you that. It could alter the future."

"Is she nice?"

"Very," Nix smiled, "You two are inseparable, and that's all I'm saying."

"Fair enough. But instead of telling me the future, shouldn't you be talking to Mike or something?"

"You don't wanna talk?" she asked, a little hurt.

"No!" he exclaimed, "I'm just saying we can hang out later, I thought you needed to talk to Mike, that's all."

"I do need to talk to him, but honestly, I wanna wait till later just to see what he sounds like."

"That sounds like a better idea. I'm sorry, Nix," Marty said apologetically.

"Its fine, Marty. Really," she said with a smile.

"You sure?"

"Yes, ok?" she smiled.

"Ok, ok, I just wanted to be sure, that's all."

She smiled and put her hand on top of his that was resting on the table top. He smiled to her. Soon the whole place was quieting down as a portly man walked up onto a decent sized stage.

"Hey, hey, hey guys! So tonight we're having a little contest tonight. A battle of the bands if you want to call it. So we got some local coming to be's and local stars. Don't worry, it's all fair game. There will be a panel of three judges, including myself, to be well judging you youngsters. Without further ado, up first we have Mike Fox and the Hell-bent Crew!"

Nix laughed, "Mike Fox and the Hell-bent Crew?"

"Oh my god, I knew he was a gloater but that- that's just wrong!" Marty laughed.

In and amongst the laughing of the duo, the rest of their band joined them and waited for them to be called on. With that rejoining, they all laughed at the name. But soon stopped to hear what they were up against.

Despite the oddly named band, they were really good. They were playing an old Sam and Dave song by the name of "Soul Man". Nix knew it well from the fact that she is a Blues Brothers fan. They were good, scary good.

Nix knew that Mike should've been a musician, not a lawyer. Lawyers are cool in her opinion, but to say 'hey my dad's a musician', now that would be more exciting then saying 'hey, my dad's a blood sucking lawyer'. Nix could see the look in her dad's eyes that he loved the music and that was it. Just for the music, no worries for a twenty year old.

The song had ended and the whole club applauded. Mike was walking off stage when Nix excused herself from the guys to go talk to him.

"Wow, Mike," she said with a smile, "You're amazing. Have you gotten better?"

"Oh I hope so," he said, "What did ya think?"

"Wow, great song choice. Have you ever considered being a musician for a full time job?"

"Why do you know somebody?"

"No," she said honestly, "But have you considered doing it for a living?"

"I guess. I mostly do it for the extra money and for fun. What I really wanna do is be a lawyer. I love to argue with people about things, so I thought being a lawyer would be cool."

Nix smiled, "Being a lawyer would be cool. But can I give you some advice?"

"Sure," he smiled, crossing his arms.

"If the opportunity ever came up to play for real in a band, take it."

He smiled, "I'll keep that in mind, thanks, Nicole."

"Anytime there, Mike."

"Oh, good luck tonight to you guys as well."

"Thank you, Mike."

"I'll catch ya around."

"See ya," she said.

Mike had walked off to meet up with a group of girls waiting for his autograph. Marty had joined Nix over by the stage where she was standing. He crossed his arms and looked at Mike with her.

"Wow, he is such a man whore," Nix said.

Marty could not help but to laugh, "Come on, we're up next."

She smiled and he grabbed her hand and led her to the stage. She was ready to win, well, up until she had to face her father. They were in for an interesting run to win, well, more like crash and burn.