Chapter 21

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Jon was inside the dance hall talking with the band waiting to get to the punch bowl. He was telling them to keep working at it. They were good kids, and they had talent and were respectful. He was just up to the punchbowl when he heard a sound that made his blood run cold. A scream and it sounded like. Caleb was to the left of him his granddaughter had gone outside to be with her aunt. “That sounded like Shanna...” He dropped the glass he had in his hand not caring if it broke or not and hit a run towards the outside. What he saw when he got outside made the cold blood start to boil. Kam was crying as she tried to help her aunt who was trying to get out of the fountain. He moved with force shoving the two guys standing there laughing as Shanna tried to get out of the fountain. Not caring if he got wet or not he moved lifting her up into his arms he could feel her shaking. “Shanna ...” She wouldn't look at him but to his surprise buried her face in his chest as he shifted his grip on her. He lifted her legs up with one hand and cradled against him. His blue eyes darkening with anger. He turned to see Richie coming outside right behind him.

“what the FUCK happened..” his best friend snapped. He saw the soaked Shanna in his buddies arms. He also saw the little girl he had spent a lot of time with tonight crying. He knelt down. “Kam sweetie … tell me what happened....” He tilted her head up to staring into the ble eyes.

“those awful people hurt my aunt AGAIN .. first they ruin her dress..” Richie looked to see the red stain spreading through the dress. “then they hurt her by knocking her into the fountain and then Laughed about it ITS NOT FUNNY!” She screamed at the guys standing there.

“oh come on it was a little punch and so she got wet...” Jason shrugged “its not big deal … it helped with the stain..'” He started laughing only to have Richie in his face.

“You think its funny to hurt someone ...” He stood toe to toe with Jason knowing his buddy had Shanna and couldn't.

“Richie don't...”

He turned to see Shanna' sitting up and trying to get down from Jon's arms but his buddy wasn't budging. He also noticed her glasses were gone. “sweetheart where are your glasses..” He went to look for them when there was a crunch and Kari saying oops once again. “You didn't just ...” Richie glared at the blonde girl holding up the bent and broken gold frames. “You are a bitch you know that... a cold hearted bitch no wonder Jon didn't want anything to do with you … you think you are so beautiful and perfect .. but all I see is UGLY...” He spat. He pointed at Shanna who couldn't clearly see “That is pure beauty … untouched and special because she doesn't try to be something she's not. I might not have known her long … but the few days I have been here .. and heard .. I know that you people..” he glared at the group of girls and the two guys. “are some of the worse kind of people I've met... I come from New Jersey where we have some real assholes … and you think cause you're a small town that gives you a right to treat people a certain way.. well guess what reality check it DON'T!”

“what gives you the right to tell us anything just cause you are some big rock star....” Eric started only for Richie to get into his face he towered over the stocky ex football player.

“what gives me the right is called common fuckin decency asshole!” He really didn't care that he was swearing in front of Kam or anyone else. He had enough of seeing and hearing from not only Jon but Jake and even Caleb how this group treated Shanna. He hated bullies with a passion as much as his buddy. Where Jon kept silent thinking he didn't have a right to say to any of these little assholes Richie didn't have that drawback. He really wanted to punch something but with Kam standing there He couldn't.

“Look at the little recluse she has to have the big bad rock stars stand up for her .. and protect her … god she even got a pity date from Jon Bongiovi ..” Tawny spat. She was angry so Kari had split punch on her dress big freaking deal now she was ruining the whole dance because a little bit of water.

“what is wrong with you people … its time you grow the fuck up you aren't in high school... its time to enter the real world … kids …. name calling and bullying people …. no wonder you do it your jealous because you know that she is better than you … because she is someday going to make it out of this little town and you are going to be left behind …. “ Richie spat . “is she alright Jon..”

He sighed “I don't know the only word she said is for you not to ...” He sighed “and she's soaked … she's shaking...”

Caleb glared at the group in the court yard. “i should have you arrested for assault...” He spat.

Jon moved over to the side and set with Shanna on one of the benches “Shanna sweetheart talk to me are you hurt anywhere..” Kam came over “did she hit anything Kam...”

“they knocked her into the fountain Jon..” She whispered. “I don't know she might have hit the bottom of the fountain cause she fell hard.. it scared me when she screamed I don't like seeing her hurt..”

Shanna just kept her head down the wet hair falling out of the braid dripping down onto her wet clothes. She shivered “I'm fine ...” She winced as Anna moved close to her and touched her leg. She shook her head but her friend didn't stop she lifted the hem of the dress her left ankle was starting to swell. “Anna I want to go home please...” She whispered. She lifted her head, her head hurt and she just wanted to leave.

Jon shrugged off his jacket not caring that he could get cold, he wrapped it around her shoulders. “Caleb I think she twisted her ankle I am taking her home... make sure Richie don't kill anyone will you?”

Caleb frowned “let me tell...”

“Tell who?” Kali came out seeing her daughter in this state. “what happened .. I heard her scream I couldn't get out here … who did this?”

Kam stood up fully she wasn't going to let anyone bully her aunt no matter how NICE they make themselves out to anyone. “Kari dumped the punch on her on PURPOSE ..” She spat at the blonde haired girl. Now that she had her grandpa and great grandma there she wasn't afraid of her. She also had a protector in the dark haired Richie who wouldn't let anyone hurt her.

Kali whirled on the blonde who stood there with a smirk on her face and slapped her across the face “you hateful little bitch... why do you have to treat my daughter like this what RIGHT ...” She moved over to Jon. “Baby are you alright..” She brushed the wet strands from her face. “why is she wet? Why did she scream...”

“she has a twisted ankle Kali and they broke her glasses … I am going to take her home....” Jon stated surprised that Shanna wasn't fighting to get loose from him like she first had. He rubbed her back he was angry oh he was more than angry he was furious but he needed to get her back home before she got sick in these wet clothes. “from what Kam said they knocked her into the fountain..” his voice was edged with cold fury.

Kali nodded “I am coming with you...” She could tell she needed to not only get her daughter out of there but this man before he did something he'd regret later.

Anna stated “so am I..” She looked at Kari who was still standing there in shock with her hand to her face where Kali hit her. “For the first time in my life I am ashamed to call you my sister .. don't' talk to me and don't come to my house...”

Jake stood to the left “oh and Kari you're FIRED!”

As a group with Kam now in Richie's arms they left. Caleb told them he would be over later after he finished there.

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