Chapter 15

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Jon stood downstairs in complete confusion looking down at Jovi who was pulling him towards the park where they usually went for their walk. He ran a hand through his blonde hair, was Shanna crying. What the hell had happened between when he left the coffee shop to when she had got done with her shift? He had to get the hell out of that shop before he let those busy body bitches know just what he thought of them. Those remarks they made in the coffee shop had turned his stomach. He hadn't said anything because Jake had told him before saying anything just tended to make them even more vicious and cruel.

He knew he had to take Jovi for a walk cause he didn't think Shanna wanted him pissing all over the floor. Then he was going to go back upstairs and find out what the hell happened. His heart hurt to see those tears on her face, he knew more than she thought he did. His talks with Jake and Caleb weren't just about his music and shit. He knew just how bad those jackasses Jason and Eric treated her besides the damn coffee pot and the mud puddle. Jake had confided in him cause he knew that Jon cared for Shanna as a friend, he didn't want Jon to hurt her. He had readily assured both Caleb and Jake that he was not going to do anything of the sort. Not only that he had gotten to know Shanna as person just with hanging out with her in her apartment. She was a sweet girl who had opened her apartment to him, a complete stranger. She didn't have to do that. He looked back down at Jovi. “a small walk my man …. then we need to go check on her...” They quickly did what they needed before heading back into the apartment. He had thankfully no run ins with the girls from earlier he didn't think he could have held his temper then. He had to wonder, Anna and Kari were completely two different girls Anna was so sweet and Kari made his flesh crawl.

He was just putting Jovi's leash back on the hook when he heard her coming down the stairs. He looked up seeing her stepping down the last step, she wore the same blue sweats from the first night he had been there. She also had a big smile on her face, yet her eyes were a bit red. “Shanna are you alright..” Though she was smiling the pain he could see in her blue eyes was there if you looked just right.

She shrugged “Yep, are you hungry.. I am feeling like pizza tonight ….” She headed into the kitchen acting like everything was fine.

He put his coat on the hook “are you sure?” He walked into the kitchen after her. He put his hand on her shoulder.

Shanna stepped away from him digging in the freezer “yeah I am fine Jon, I am just hungry I was going to grab something at the diner for dinner but it was busy... we can call for a pizza or there is some kind of pizza bites in here....”

“why don't you change your clothes we can go out to eat .. my treat ..”

“No I rather stay in tonight....” She shook her head but she hadn't moved from the freezer.

“Shanna...” Jon's voice was quiet this time. He could hear the pain in her voice though she was trying to hide it so very hard. If it was one thing he knew he was good at it was reading through someone else bullshit. He could tell when someone was trying to pull something over on him. Even if that person wasn't looking at him. He also knew he had seen the tears on her face when she had come home and nearly knocked him over. “Shanna look at me … please...”

“I said I am fine Jon..” She whirled around to glare at him but there were tears dripping down her face. “why can't you just drop it?!” She snapped wiping at her face. “JUST leave it Jon!” She tried to move away from him when he grabbed her hand.

“Because I can see you're hurting …. and “ he lifted his hand to brush a tear off her face. “you're crying... what happened Shanna.... you were okay when I left the coffee shop ...then you come home nearly knock me over to get into the apartment ...”

Shanna pulled back from him and from the gentle touch of his hand on her face brushing tears away she winced back as if she was waiting for him to slap her. “Don't.... just don't...” She shook her head “You wouldn't understand and I don't want to talk about it … it has nothing to do with you can you please just drop it..” She tried to go around him to get out of her kitchen but he was blocking the way. “Jon move … please..” She gritted her teeth.

“ NO I am not going to move ...” He shook his head. “not till you tell me what has you so upset … Shanna the whole time I been here … I've seen you smile … I've seen you argue with your brother … hell I've seen you take that bitch Kari down a notch... but I've never seen you cry like this ...” He moved closer into her space. “If you don't think I understand then make me understand.... tell me why … such a pretty girl looks like someone ripped her heart and tore it to pieces...”

He was shocked to hear her laugh hysterically it was harsh and rough not the laugh he had heard in the short time he had known her. “does every woman you talk to all fall to that line Mr Bongiovi? Fall to your feet when you call them pretty …. use the line that you give a shit … give you whatever you want?” She spat. “Sorry this girl doesn't fall for those lines … or lies … now get out of my way...” She tried to move him and had shocked him enough she almost succeeded.

Jon stared at her with his mouth open. Where the hell had this anger come from. It was starting to spark HIS. “What?! How the hell did this turn around to be me using lines on women?!”

“because I know that line … I know men use that line to get whatever they want from you... tell you you're pretty .. beautiful only to laugh in your face …. so DON”T try to pull that shit with me... I don't fall for it ...” She wanted to lash out to make someone feel as awful as she did but she was not wired that way. “you have the perfect life Jon … gorgeous women throwing themselves at you.... you wouldn't understand period... “She shook her head trying to move away from him but he wasn't letting go. “Just let go of me …. just leave me ALONE!”

Jon shook his head his mouth tightened in a line something had drastically changed in the last few hours and he was going to damn well find out what the fuck it was. “NO I am not GOING to leave it alone or YOU! What the hell happened..... is it this dance Sunday? Did those girls say something to you about it .. or ..” He knew he hit the jackpot when she just stared at him frozen in the spot. “Shanna … sweetheart … listen to me .. anything they said was wrong …. any guy would be glad to take you to that dance … you are a beautiful sweet woman …. “ he shook his head “you're smart …. “ He frowned when she kept shaking her head no to anything he said. He sighed “Shanna I want to take you to that dance …. “

Shanna shook her head “NO... I don't want to go to the dance all I want is for you to … leave ME alone...if you want to go to the dance … Kari is more than wiling to go with you .. hell she'd give you whatever you want …. so would any of those girls .. why would you want to take ME.. I don't want a pity date Jon.. please I just ...”

“its NOT a pity date .. and I don't want to go with any of those girls …. I want to go with you …Kari makes my skin crawl.... I am sorry I know she's your friend Anna's sister but .. every time she corners me I want to run the other way ...” He tried to joke and was granted with a small watery smile. “I was going to ask you when you got back if you wanted to go with me to the dance …as friends …. “ He quickly added when she kept shaking her head. He reached up to brush the tears from her face sighing when she didn't flinch back from him this time. “Shanna will you do a lonely ole jersey boy a favor and not make him go to a dance all on his lonesome … and protect me from the crazy ladies of your town...” He looked at her giving her a patent bon jovi pout “please...” When she rolled her eyes and nodded he broke into a grin.

“Just as friends Jon.... “ Shanna wiped her face with her hand. How the hell did he do that. He had gotten past her barriers again.

Jon nodded “just as friends now friend..” He gave her a devilish smile. “Let this friend take his friend out to dinner we can go to the next town over .. if you don't want to eat at the diner...” He put his hand on hers.

Shanna sighed “do you always win?”

Jon shrugged “not always … but I do try my hardest..” he winked at her. He finally let her go and went to grab his coat. When she was out of ear shot his eyes went cold sapphire blue. “You watch out Kari and girls I am going to make sure you regret EVERY WORD you ever said to her... “ He shook his head and flipped his phone open dialing a number “Richie yo man I need a favor ….”

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