Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Tears held back for 20 years ghosted down her cheeks as she studied the man on her couch more intently. The years had been kind to him, he hadn’t seemed to age a bit, although she could see the faintest of crows-feet around his eyes. His face still held that youthful exuberance she remembered. His hair wasn’t as long now, and even a bit darker, but it worked with his graceful features. He was still as lean and muscular as she remembered, if anything time had made him even more beautiful.

It had been her one guilty pleasure over the years, following his success albeit at a distance. It was a pleasure that no one she knew seemed to understand, not even her mentor Adam. She never went to their concerts, but if the group was on TV she was there before the screen. Every song every album eventually made its way into her possession and it was a well known fact that if they were on the radio the knob better not be touched. Although Adam ribbed her unmercifully about her predilection for this one group’s hard rock sound, he at least understood. Adam had been there in Vancouver, and he alone knew exactly what that one group meant to her.

As Amelia watched over the prone form of Jon Bon Jovi, her mind slipped once again into the past, a past that had at one time been filled with love and laughter, a past that had ended in soul shattering pain

~~~~

1986 Vancouver, Canada

Leaning back against the bar her eyes traveled to the stage and watched Jon sing. She faintly heard the bartender ask her if she wanted something, so turned and ordered a beer, then just as quickly turned her attentions back to the stage. Damn he was good, his voice rising and soaring, urging the ones crowding the stage into a near frenzy. Straightening she began to make her way closer to the stage, the urge to be closer to him becoming damned impossible to ignore. It was as if he had thrown a rope and lassoed her, pulling her closer and closer with each note he uttered.

Although nearly an hour passed, it only seemed like seconds before Jon made his way down the stairs of the small stage and straight to her. Grabbing her hand he pulled her along with a chuckled “Lets get outta the frenzy babe, and someplace a lot more private.”
Within moments he had led her into the small dressing room in the back, a dressing room populated with the guys from the band. Jon swiftly made intros then looked over at Richie and with a wink asked his brother to look out for his fair lady’s integrity while he got into less sweaty and more street ready clothing.

Jacqui glanced around the room as the boys joked around, drank a bit and generally came down from the high of performing. She couldn’t help but laugh when Tico casually dropped a piece of ice down Richies way too tight jeans. All the guys stopped momentarily dazzled by the music of her laugh, but in mere seconds the dazzle was replaced by pure mischief in Richie’s eyes. With a misleading angelic look he sneakily reached into the ice bowl for the largest piece of ice he could find and began to stalk towards Jacqui. With a shriek she darted across the room to avoid the ice and ran smack into Jon who was exiting the changing area.

With a dramatic whimper Jacqui looked up at Jon and said, “Save me fair knight, for the evil music man is attacking!”

Jon looked over at Richie who was standing there innocently holding a now melting piece of ice, a sheepish grin on his face. “Your wish is my desire babe.” With a wink at Richie Jon took Jacqui’s hand and escorted her to the door.

That night was the beginning of so many nights filled with Jon, his friends, his music and his love. For two solid months Jon, being the persistent guy he was tried to get Jacqui to quit her job and travel with them. Jacqui being equally stubborn had steadfastly refused becoming a Jovi groupie. Her days were spent slinging food at the diner, her nights at whichever club Jon was at, if he was in town, and the weekends spent in whichever place Jon and crew were performing. After the shows those nights were best though, because those were the quiet times. Many a time she sat quietly by Jon, watching as he and Richie worked on songs, or goofed off.

Jon was for all his burgeoning rock star status, a quiet and loving man, gifted and outrageous, yet in private shy, caring and a very attentive suitor. His persistence in trying to get her to travel with them led to the first true fight they had. It had been six months of bliss and dizzying emotion, six months of gentle kisses, caresses and teasing, and wild liquid fire lovemaking. It wasn’t enough for Jon, he wanted to bring her into his home, his bed and his life fully. The problem was that she wanted to be self sufficient and independent, Becoming Jon’s live in love would mean she was dependent upon him. Even in all that, he was beginning to wear down her resistance, until that fateful night of the fight.

The show hadn’t went well that night and all of the guys were stressed and frustrated. The club had not held up their end of the bargain, the stage was too small, and they were unable to use all of their equipment. Jon was exhausted beyond hope, his temper frayed from trying to be heard yet not stress his voice even more. As he walked into the backstage area his only thought was to wrap himself around Jacqui and stay there indefinitely. Walking into the band room he was stunned to find that Jacqui wasn’t there.

He changed clothes and left the club, headed toward her apartment. Letting himself in with the key she had given him, he was surprised to find her not home. Making his way into the kitchen he snagged his favorite beer from her refrigerator and went to settle himself upon her couch. When Jacqui finally arrived home she arrived home to a man who had worked himself into a slightly inebriated state. She smiled at him as she made way to the couch, leaning over to give him a tender kiss. All was right with her world until the moment he uttered words that stopped her cold. “Babe, I can’t keep doing this, can’t keep wanting and needing and you not there. You gotta quit the job and come with me, you HAVE to be there for me so it will all be ok.” Jon looked up at her, his blue eyes imploring her to understand, and she did really, but it didn’t change things. She couldn’t be dependent like that. She was sure that if she was he would bore with her too easily. “Jon, I just can’t, I love ya babe, you know I do but I cant quit my job.”

“It’s a job in a fucking diner for Christ-sakes Jac! Its not like your taking care of state secrets or something, and I NEED you with me! We’re leaving Vancouver soon to tour the states, I won’t be able to see you for weeks otherwise.”

Jacqui’s soft green eyes began to fill with tears as she looked at the beautiful man on the couch. “It will be hard Jon, but if our love is meant to be, it will grow stronger. I just cant drop my life and travel with you, I can’t.”

Jon sighed and stood up. “Maybe so babe, maybe so, we’ll see I guess.” With that he sauntered to her door and out of her life at least for while.