"You know mom and dad aren't going to get you those tickets." Geoff hissed in her ear.
Jumping from the sudden invasion of an unwanted voice in her dream, Nikki turned around and slapped him hard on the arm. "I can dream can't I. And never sneak up on people, brat." She hissed back at him. Why couldn't she have a normal little brother instead of a stuck up snob.
"Yeah, you better keep dreaming. 'Cause that's the only way you're going to go to that concert."
"And just how do you know if mom and dad won't get me the tickets?" She questioned as she arched her eyebrow highly.
Geoff tried to mimic her, but failed miserably. Shaking his head he replied, "Because you're only fourteen. You'll need an adult supervisor with you. And mom and dad wouldn't be caught dead at a Hanson concert."
He stressed the name. Angering Nikki even more. "Leave, brat." She told him as she pointed to the door.
"This is my house too, you know?" He stated as he went for the door.
Nikki nodded her head. "Yeah, I know. And I'm willing to terminate that." She stated as she pushed her little brother out the door.
Eagerly she ran for her bedroom. She flipped her computer on and waited to boot up. Soon she was typing in her password and loging on-line.
Not wasting any time she went to Hansonline-dot-com to search for any updates on the concert they were performing in Pennsylvania.
There was none. It was the same update as it was last week: 'Look For Tickets To Go On Sale 10-05-98.'
Nikki stared longingly at her Hanson calendar. She had until tomorrow morning to convince her parents to let her go to this concert.
"Mom, you know there is a Hanson concert coming up soon." Nikki started off as she wrung her hands nervously in front of her. This was her shot and she couldn't blow it.
"Yes, we know dear." Mrs. Cole said smiling at her husband and then her daughter.
"Know about it?" Her father asked. "That's all you've been talking about lately."
Nikki laughed lightly. "Well, you know just how much I like them. I mean I've got the posters, their c.d.'s, their imports, I'm in their fan club, I'm even in MOE." She stated. Trying to get her parents to see her point.
"We know." Mrs. Cole repeated laughing slightly. "We helped pay for some of that stuff too, you know?"
"I know." Nikki said nodding her head. "And I've thanked you many times for it too."
"Well, we suspect that you want to go to this concert." Mr. Cole started off.
Nikki's head bobbed up and down recklessly. "Yes, sir." She answered quickly.
Mr. Cole laughed at her eagerness. "Nik, we know you love Hanson. But this is a concert, and we wouldn't be there to supervise you. You're only fourteen."
"But I could go with a friend." Nikki argued. "Umm, Mel. I could go with Melanie. She's eighteen and responsible. And she likes Hanson…. Somewhat." She added. Desperate to have the winning argument.
Her parents looked at each other again. Mrs. Cole shrugged her shoulders and Mr. Cole nodded his head. "Okay, Nik. If your sister agrees to go with you, you can go."
Mrs. Cole grinned. "We'll even spot the money. We'll make it an early birthday present."
"You guys are the best." Nikki shrieked as she hugged her parents and then went running off towards her sister's room.
"Mel, I have a huge favor to ask of you." Nikki said loudly as she barged into Melanie's room.
Melanie didn't even look up from her book. Used to Nikki storming in with some form of a crisis on her hands, and needing her help to get out of it. "Don't knock, sis. Just walk in. You know the door is always opened to you." She muttered sarcastically.
"Thanks." Nikki replied as she sat on the foot of her bed. "Now I need your help, for one day next week."
"Forget it, I'm not doing your chores." Melanie said as she turned the page of her book and continued reading. Assuming that was what her sister needed.
Nikki shook her head and grabbed the book form her sister's hands.
"Hey!" Melanie protested.
Nikki was already standing up and above her. "I need you to take me to a Hanson concert. It'll be here in P A, don't worry. And mom and dad said that I can't go unless you do. So you gotta." She begged. "Please."
Melanie stared up at her younger sister. "Are you mental?" She asked. "Why would I want to go to a Hanson concert."
"You said you liked their songs." Nikki said loudly. Arguing her point once again to a family member.
"One song." Melanie reminded as she held up her index finger. "Count that. One song."
"So?" Nikki asked, shrugging her shoulders. "You'll be able to hear that one song live."
"And what do I get out of this?" Melanie asked smiling deviously.
Nikki bit her lower lip thoughtfully. "The fact that you're doing a good deed for your little sister?" She asked.
Melanie shook her head. Still smiling. "Not good enough. I want something bigga."
"Grrrr." Nikki growled, knowing she was about to be 'had.' "Hmm, twenty bucks and I'll do next weeks laundry for you too?"
Jumping from her bed Melanie hugged Nikki. "Pleasure doing business with ya, Nik. You now have a chaperon to the concert."
"Great!" Nikki shouted happily.
"Now get out of my room." Melanie ordered as she grabbed her book back and pointed to the door.
Nikki laughed and happily left the room without an argument.
'Dreams were made to come true.' She thought to herself, feeling giddy from the news and excitement.
"I don't' know how you got mom and dad to get these tickets." Melanie grumbled as she stared at hers.
Nikki was grinning wickedly. "I just know how to do something right." She stated.
"But Nik, these are third row. Basically center. And you got backstage passes too." Melanie replied.
"I told you. I do know how to do some things right. Besides this is my birthday present." She answered waving her hand nonchalantly as she too stared at her ticket and the backstage pass.
"You think that middle kid is going to fall madly in love with you, don't you?" Melanie asked gently.
Nikki laughed. "Is it that obvious?" She questioned.
Melanie shook her head sadly. "You're going to break your own heart over this." She answered. "Don't do this to yourself. He doesn't even know you. He doesn't even know you exist, Nik." She rationalized.
Fire flared in Nikki's eyes. Red fire, an angry fire. "Mel, I asked you to come with me. Not give me advice on my love life."
"Love life?" Melanie mocked. "You don't have one. You're just in love with a pop super-star, who doesn't even know that you've been born, and probably doesn't remember who he meets at his concerts." She pointed out.
Nikki stood up quickly, and started for the bedroom door. "I'll talk to you later, Mel."
"Nikki…" Melanie started softly.
Nikki silenced her by holding up her hand. "I can dream, can't I?" She asked before she silently left the room and closed the door behind her.
Nikki was exhilarated. The music was great, even the opening band was awesome. Melanie tried to contain her enthusiasm but was screaming and clapping with the best of them.
Now came the time for them to go backstage. Nikki and Melanie waited patiently with the other fans. A couple of guys were there with looked like to be their sisters. Even a set of twins waited with. The girl and boy both wore a Hanson T-shirt and a grin on their face.
They talked casually. Not really paying attention to where the conversation was leading too. All too anxious to see Hanson up close and personal to care what the other person was saying.
The time came when the three brothers walked out to greet and chat with them.
Nikki waited and smiled and said a few polite sentences to Zac when he walked up to her and shook her hand. He smiled when she asked for his autograph almost mechanically as her eyes searched for Taylor. Finding him on the other side of the room.
Grinning Zac started to hand it back to her when he took her hand and led her over to where Taylor stood talking to one of the male fans it seemed.
"Hey, Tay, this is Nikki." He said smiling at them both.
Taylor smiled at her, and took the picture Zac had in his hands and signed it also. He handed it to her and shook her hand along with a small squeeze to her shoulder. But then he turned back to the guy he was talking to before.
Nikki frowned, but didn't want anybody to see her unhappy so she put on her brightest smile and talked with Zac for a few more minutes. Then she went over to her sister, whom was talking with Isaac and a few other fans.
"Oh, Isaac. This is my sister Nikki." Melanie said when she saw Nikki at her side.
Isaac smiled down at her. He looked at what was in her hand. "Want me to sign that for you?" He asked still smiling.
Nikki smiled back at him and nodded. "Please?" She asked.
"Sure will." He replied as he took it when she handed it to him and signed it happily. He handed it to her and winked. "So did you enjoy the concert?" He asked.
"Immensely." She stated rolling her eyes. "I doubt if I could not have enjoyed it."
He laughed and Zac came up to him. "Yeah, what's wrong with you, Ike. It was a Hanson concert. Of course she was going to like it." He said as he mimicked a 'teeny-bopper.'
Everyone laughed, and all too soon it ended and they had to go.
Nikki walked slowly towards the car. Her eyes glued to her feet. She didn't want to look up at her sister and see the words 'I told you so' written there.
"If you're waiting for me to say it, I'm not going to." Melanie told her after she drove for a few minutes in the car.
Nikki shrugged. "Say what?" She asked.
Melanie sighed. "The same thing happened to me once, you know?"
"Oh yeah?" Nikki asked bitterly. "When?"
"When I went to that 'New Kids On The Block' concert years ago." She replied with disgust. "I was so in love with Jordan Knight." She started laughing. "He didn't shake my hand or give me an autograph though. So you got lucky."
Nikki looked over at her. "How'd you get over it?"
Melanie shrugged her shoulders as she continued to watch the road. "I just knew that he was a pop teen sensation and that more than likely his goals and aspirations just differed so much from the life I led."
"Hmm." Nikki said as she looked out her window into the night. "Still, it was a nice dream."
"They always are." Melanie responded gently. "They always are."
