Chapter 24 Poor Jon

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Jon got into the Tahoe and headed towards home to New Jersey and his friends. Yet he wanted to turn the SUV around and head back to Madison, back to Shanna. He put his hand to his mouth and sighed. He could still taste her lips against his. He could also still smell her. Shanna didn't wear perfume or fancy body sprays he learned. But he could still smell the scent of her shampoo around him. It hung there like a sweet smelling memory. He signed and tried to get his mind into the game, he had a big tour and a album to promote. He didn't have time to think on Shanna, but he couldn't stop as each mile took him farther and and farther away from her. He sighed again he hoped that maybe just maybe she would use the number he gave her and called him.

Though after the shocked loon on her face as he left he wasn't sure she would. He wasn't sure why he kissed .. no that was a lie he did know why he kissed her. In the short two weeks he had stayed in Madison with her he had grown to care a great deal about her. He did not think it was love yet....no he kissed her because he had wanted to the minute she walked down the stairs for the dance. Then again when they were talking by the fountain, but he didn't because he didn't think she would would have responded well to it. He thought back to the fear he had felt when he heard her scream outside. It had made his whole body feel cold then to find her in the fountain had made him furious. Make no mistake he didn't see it as a prank, nor an accident it was an attack pure and simple because they were jealous of her.

As he drove further and further away from that small town his mind was with him but his heart was left with the shy coffee girl named Shanna Leah Reed. He shook his head again Richie would have his ass for it, he'd never live it down how had she gotten to him so damn fast. Maybe it was that first day when she had left the cinnamon roll by his plate as a gift or was it when he had to catch her twice in the same day to protect her from harm. Maybe it was when they went shopping, or the nights they spent talking about anything and nothing. He took a deep breath he was half way home when his stomach started to growl. Looking around he didn't notice anything worth stopping at so he dug into the bag by his side He pulled to the side to unwrap it for a minute before he started to eat. He grinned Katie had packaged him homemade roast beef sandwiches wrapped in foil so they were still slightly warm. He dug in famished. There was no doubt about it he would miss that town and the few people in it. He popped a chocolate chip cookie into his mouth as he continued on his way.

It took him almost the whole eight hours to get back to his apartment in Soho. He sighed parking in the garage and taking the elevator the penthouse. As he got up to his apartment it had never felt so lonely before. He spotted the envelope with his divorce papers right where he left them. He shook his head picking it up with his other mail to go through. He needed to get his bags packed and ready to leave in a day or so. He grabbed his phone to check his messages then dialed Richie's number. He grabbed a beer from the fridge. He made a few phone calls to let his Mom and Richie know he was back in town. He finished his packing then headed to bed.

The next day was hectic he didn't have time to think on anything but making sure everything was ready to go. He met up with the guys as the piled into the cars to head out. When Richie tried to start up a conversation in the car he just shook his head. He didn't want to talk about it. They headed out to what was hopefully be a great tour. Each night the audience was better than the next. Jon was giving it his all each and every night. He goofed off with the guys after the show and met fans backstage. Yet each time he saw a girl with beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair the only face that snapped into his mind was Shanna's. He couldn't get her out of his mind.

The one night they were playing in Alberta it was a wonderful fast paced completely awesome show. He was tired but having fun. The guys were in the mood for some female companion ship at least he and Richie were. They got backstage where a group of fans were waiting to meet them. Richie took his choice and then Jon met up with another. She was pretty and had big green eyes. She kept putting her hands on his thigh and his chest. He gave her a crooked smile and she gave him a big one back. Rubbing against him she whispered in his ear. Richie was watching him with a big grin. When she reached for his belt buckle he stopped her putting his hand on hers. “easy baby...”

“but Jon....” She whined sending irritation flooding through his body. He shook his head and brushed her off.

“no thanks..” He got up and headed into his dressing room shutting he door behind him shocking everyone in the room including Richie.

Richie politely excused himself from the groupie on the couch before going into the room after knocking on it. “okay Kidd what the fuck is eating you …” he folded his arms leaning against the door. He watched Jon pace back and forth in his dressing room. It was eerily like the scene when he was worried about Shanna back in Madison. “you won't talk about what happened back in that little town … each time I bring it up you just glare at me and tell me to leave it alone....”now that pretty girl out there is trying to give you ...”

“yeah well I don't want it … “ He sighed it had been hard the last month he wanted to call her. He needed to call her yet he didn't have her number. He had checked his phone every day but there was no voice mail from her. “I looked into her eyes and all I saw was blue eyes .. blue eyes shocked and I couldn't ..” He shook his head

“blue eyes the groupie has green... eyes ...” It suddenly dawned on Richie. “what the fuck happened when you left Madison...Jon... fuckin man talk to me...”

“I kissed her..” He stated with his head in his hands after he sat down.

Richie looked at him “kissed you kissed Her?!!”

“yeah I kissed her … I was leaving she looked so sad so sweet so beautiful standing there..... . but I kissed her and then I just ...”

“what did she say after you kissed her...” Richie sat by him. His hand on his shoulder. In his head he was grinning and laughing his buddy had it bad.

“nothing .. I gave her my number .. and then left .. came home … she just stood there with her hand to her mouth..” he groaned dropping his head back against the couch.

“did you call her at least its been almost a month...” Richie stared at him.

“no … I haven't I .. I don't have her damn number..” He muttered with his eyes closed. “the only one I've talked to is Jake cause he called to update me on how Anna is doing. She's due any day now....” He grumbled.

“You left town gave the girl your number didn't get HER number … do you have any numbers? shit Jon.. Kidd you got it bad ….” Richie started laughing. He had never seen his buddy like this. “you got it REALLY bad...”

“shut the fuck up Richie... yes I have numbers... I have Anna and Jake's number... cause she slid it in my pocket when I left. I even have Caleb's number along with the address to his house so that I can write to Kam...” desperate to change the subject he turned to him. “have you written to Kam?” He himself had wrote her three to her six. They weren't long but told her what he was doing. He had been tempted to ask Kam about her aunt but was too chicken.

“don't change the subject .. man yes I am wrote her … she's a cute kid ...now you going to come back or what...” He shook his head his friend had it really really bad He watched his friend staring out “and since you are writing to kam why don't you ask her for her aunt's number?”

Jon refused to answer that and sighed “I need a drink...” He muttered something but Richie didn't hear it all he could say to him was.

“Damn you got it bad!”

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