Chapter 23

Jon hadn't said a hell of a lot since Sunday. I had found out via Anna he had a run in with Kari on his walk with Jovi and nearly lost it on her. I could not comprehend why he had. Anna told me he had told her to keep her bitchy ass body away from him. That she was lucky she was a woman or he would have let her have it. Kari had been in complete shock and had took off with her batch of friends back to the dance. I might have liked to see that but I still didn't know why Jon had done it.

I had gone to see Doctor Roger the night of the dance at my mom's assistance being followed by Jon. I had a twisted ankle and but no concussion. I was just to rest. Much to my annoyance even though he didn't ask Jon had carried me back to the car. The rest of the trip back to my apartment was in silence. I was lucky that I had an extra pair of glasses so that was one thing we didn't have to worry about though Jon had offered to purchase me a new pair.

Caleb came over the Monday after and told me that he hadn't arrested anyone I wasn't surprised. It did seem to piss off Jon as he had walked out of the room again not saying anything just slamming the door behind him. I had even tried to pay Jon back for the dress but he just shook his head and told me to forget it but he looked ticked off so I dropped the subject. The next few days in the apartment were very tense between any of the us. Richie had to leave two days after the dance he had tried to talk to me about the dance but was met with silence. After four attempts he finally gave up as he had to leave. He did tell me to call If I needed anything leaving his number on my refrigerator door. When he left the apartment got quieter if that was possible.

I went back to work when Doc told me I could. I spent time with Jon but we never brought up the dance. We went out for dinner a couple times just trying to enjoy the time before he had to leave at the end of the week. I had been shocked to see that Jake had meant it when he told Kari she was fired as she was not even allowed in the shop. Anna was talking to her sister but barely. I couldn't comprehend it. Sure they were upset about what happened at the dance but usually it was just swept under the carpet and no one mentioned it again. We didn't mention it and everything went back to normal but it hadn't. I wish it had I was not comfortable with this new situation but I kept my mouth shut as always.

One of the days we hung out I had taken my camera out to clean it up a bit. Jon had picked it up and checked it out. I shyly asked him if he would mind if I did a couple pictures of him just for my own collection. He was a bit weary for a second but then shook his head that he didn't mind. We ended up at the park  I did a couple photos of him. He didn't even have to pose it was true that the camera just did love him. We had taken Jovi with us so a lot of the pictures were of him chasing after my dog. A couple was him on his butt after Jovi had jumped on him but the smile on his face was one word beautiful One picture I nearly dropped my camera as I accidentally zoomed in and all I saw was his blue eyes. My throat closed up and I couldn't breath for a second but quickly regained my composure and finished.

Some of the days were spent in the house as the rain started to come back with a vengeance and I just didn't want to deal with it. I also had too many things left to do with my school work. I couldn't wait till I had enough money to get out of this town and go to another college. But then what would I do with my baby Jovi, I probably could have him go stay with my friend at the farm. I had introduced Jerry to Jon as he hadn't come to town before he usually kept to himself when it came to anything to do with the town. He usually came to town once a month to get his supplies and that was it. He had come into town two days before Jon was to leave. He was one of my late father's friends. He owned a ranch on the outskirts of town. He wasn't too happy to hear about what happened to me at the dance when he found out. He went to lunch with Jon and I and we had a talk or rather Jon and He had a talk. I don't know why everyone including my mother seemed to think they had to interrogate Jon. There was nothing between us we were just friends but he had played it off fine assuring Jerry that he wasn't out to hurt me that we were just friends. Once he got that assurance like everyone else he quickly got along with Jon even inviting us out to go riding when the weather was better. Jon had to decline as he was leaving soon but told him if he ever came back he'd love to take him up on the offer.

As the end of the week grew closer and closer I got quieter an quieter I didn't know why. I had lived on my own for quite a long time ever since I was seventeen and my grandmother left me this loft in her will. Yet the thought of Jon leaving even though he had only been here almost two weeks made me fell incredibly lonely. He was back at the apartment when I had another run in with Kari who was furious as she stood outside the coffee shop.

“This is all YOUR fault...” She spat at me. “You got me fired...and your damn mom hit me .. I should have her arrested for assault...” She spat as she stalked closer into my personal space. I backed up. “afraid good cause those two big rock stars won't always be around to protect you... what did you give him to … have him at your back and call... did you finally GIVE IT up... to him..” She smirked.

I felt my heart thudding in my chest then I realized as I watched her twisted smirk. Just what Richie was talking about. Sure Kari was beautiful on the inside the vision that she portrayed to everyone of a sweet country girl. Yet the vision I saw every time I did or said something that annoyed her or when she THOUGHT I had something she wanted was one of ugly disdain. How she was related to sweet Anna I never would understand. Something inside just snapped. I didn't need Jon to stand up for me. It was just her and I alone “you know what KARIANNE .. I didn't have to give him anything … and he's not at my beck and call he's a FRIEND which you really don't have you just have cronies .. because you think your perfect.. Richie's right its time you GREW UP …. and face the real world …. and now excuse me I am going home and enjoy a REAL friendship...” I glared at her and walked away with my head held high. That had FELT SO GOOD. I don't know why I finally stood up to her but that smirk and the way it looked on her face just dawned on me. She may seem beautiful but she was pure ugly on the inside.

The day before Jon was to leave I invited Kam over to spend the day with us. We packed a small lunch as it was one of the warmer days. We bundled up and had a day at the park. It was nice Jon played games with her Frisbee and Jovi caught it. I shot a couple of pictures of Kam and Jon together for her. It was a nice day and I hated seeing it end especially for my great niece. Jon got to meet my sister in law that night as she came to pick up my great niece after dinner. It wasn't a good meeting as she looked down at him, and he was coldly polite to her. She and I didn't get along to begin with so I just gave Kam a kiss and hug before she left.

It was the last day Jon was going to be leaving this afternoon. I didn't want to think about it and Jake had given me the day off. The shop had even closed for a couple hours so that everyone could be there to see Jon off. Kam, my mom and my brother was even there. Jon had made friends with a lot of people in town in his short time there. He had packed the last bit of clothes he had bought in the back of his SUV. Katie from the diner handed him a container of cookies for his trip along with some sandwiches. He laughed “I can stop and eat between here and New Jersey ya know...”

She just shrugged “this way you don't have to ..'” She pinched his cheek. “come on back and see us .. again sometime.. it was nice having you in town..” She winked at me and left.

Kam was crying softly she hadn't gotten to see Richie leave and now the other new friend she made was leaving. I kept my arms around her. “hey its okay Kammy... he has to go ,he's got a big tour to deal with and his job … and his fans need him...”

Jon knelt down and handed her a slip of paper. “this is my address .. okay... and my personal address for mail.. so if you want you can write to me... and I'll write back when I can..” He gave her a kiss on her head. “I promise to write back Kam … and I'll even get Richie to write ya back okay...”

She gave him a blinding smile after that “Thanks Jon..” She bounced off to stand with my brother.

I shook my head “you once again made her day...”

He just nodded as the others gathered around to see him off. Jake and he had a quiet word while Anna hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He smiled at her and put his hand on her belly. “let me know okay ...” She just nodded. He turned back to me after everyone had left.

“it was nice meeting you Jon... and having you here … you have a safe trip.” I stood there with my arms across my chest. It was my defensive stance. I was trying hard to keep my defenses up but since Jon got to town he seemed to break down each and every one of them. I didn't know what else to say. It was just him and I standing there his hands in his pockets and his blonde hair falling into his eyes.

He kept watching me his blue eyes clouded with something but I didn't know what. He finally moved towards me and reached up to touch my cheek. “I …. it was nice meeting you too... I had a nice time here... incidents aside.....' His finger brushed over my cheek bone making my eyes close I had never once been touched like that not even the day I had lost it on him.

When I opened my eyes it was to Jon leaning forward. I closed my eyes again when I felt his lips brush against mine soft and warm. The scent of the man this close to my personal space had sent my own senses reeling I could smell his Brut cologne and something else that was somehow just undeniably Jon. At first I pulled back but his hand reaching up behind my neck was undoing. I had never been kissed before, I didn't know why but I leaned into it feeling his firm lips against mine. While it was wonderful it was nothing like the girls in school or Anna had told me. It was not wet, he didn't try to stick his tongue down my throat it was just there was no real words to describe it. When he broke off I was breathless. He whispered. “ please call me..if you need anything ...or just to talk ….” He pressed a number into my hand before he got into the car. I just nodded watching him climb into his SUV and driving away. I watched there with my hand to my mouth as he drove away. I stood there till my mom came from downstairs to see where I was.

“Shanna sweetheart .. are you alright...” Her voice broke me out of my trance,. “Sweetie?”

I turned to look at her. “yeah uhm.. fine..” I followed her upstairs but one thing that ran in my mind over and over was Jon not Jon Bongiovi or a rock star .. had kissed me.

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