Chapter 5

Jacqui made her way into the club that night with nerves strung tighter than Richie’s guitar strings. She had spent hours deciding upon the outfit, wanting to look perfect for her meeting with Jon. The time was well spent however, the hip-hugger suede pants fit her like a glove and the soft green peasant blouse made her gold flecked eyes even greener. She had styled her hair into a soft upsweep that left a few strands of hair hanging about her face. Jon had always called it her “take me baby” do. Walking up to the admissions person she wasn’t surprised to find someone waiting on her. With a nod the roadie ushered her down to the front of the club, and settled her into a spot in front of the stage.

Within minutes a waitress came through and gave her a drink, her favorite, a glass of red wine. As Jacqui sipped her wine the lights begin to dim the stage to glow and the boys of Bon Jovi began to take the stage. After nodding to the audience Jon began to speak. “Evening folks., its nice of you to join us tonight. Usually we start off with a faster beat, but for some reason the guys in the band want me to start off with this new song we wrote. He reached for his guitar and began.

“Misery likes company, I like the way that sounds
I've been trying to find the meaning, so I can write it down
Staring out the window, it's such a long way down
I'd like to jump, but I'm afraid to hit the ground

I can't write a love song the way I feel today
I can't sing no song of hope, I got nothing to say
Life is feeling kind of strange, since you went away
I sing this song to you wherever you are
As my guitar lies bleeding in my arms”

Jacqui’s eyes widened as she watched Jon sing. The song was so full of hurt and pain. She wanted to run too him and kiss away the pain. Her eyes filled with tears as he continued the song.

“I'm tired of watching TV, it makes me want to scream
Outside the world is burning, man it's so hard to believe
Each day you know you're dying from the cradle to the grave
I get so numb sometimes, that I can't feel the pain

I can't write a love song the way I feel today
I can't sing no song of hope I've got nothing to say
Life is feeling kind of strange, it's strange enough these days
I send this song to you, whoever you are
As my guitar lies bleeding in my arms

Jon’s eyes scanned the crowd, he sang the song to Jacqui, he only wished she was here to hear it. He missed her terribly, but he had given the ultimatum, how could he take it back?

He sent a silent prayer to God in the song, to bring back to him the one thing that helped put the music into his heart. With a deep breath he belted out the last of the song.

“Staring at the paper, I don't know what to write
I'll have my last cigarette-well, turn out the lights
Maybe tomorrow I'll feel a different way
But here I’m my delusion , I don't know what to say

I can't write a love song the way I feel today
I can't sing no song of hope I've got nothing to save
And I can't fight the feelings buried in my brains
I send this song to you, whoever you are
As my guitar lies bleeding in my arms. (**see below)

As Richie began the solo that ended the song, Jon happened to glance down into the center of the crowd. Blue eyes met tear filled green. With a bound Jon jumped from the stage, his strong arms wrapping around Jacqui as his lips touched hers, tasting the salt of her tears. The crowd, the club, everything around them vanished as soul touched soul once again. Richie David and Tico grinned. Now they could rock.

Jon pulled away from Jacqui, the sad morose look gone. In its place blue eyes were snapping with lively fire and his trade-mark mega watt smile in place. “Talk at ya in a few babe!” he grinned as he bounded up on stage. “Boys, Lets Rock this joint!” With that the group slid into a morelively tune and Bon Jovi was again rocking the house down.

~~~

Adam Pierson sighed as he walked into the club. The day spent at the Vancouver Museum had proved fruitless. He had spent the entire day reading over ancient texts for information on the oldest living immortal. He grinned to himself as he thought about it. Being a watcher hired especially to find himself. It was a plum job. Too bad no one knew the joke. He glanced up as his mind registered the lively music flowing out of the club door. Maybe a cold beer and some good music would be just the thing to wash away a day of scholarly research.

Making his way into the club, he swiftly found the bar and ordered his favorite drink, a beer. Now all he had to do was to find a corner to settle into. He made his way towards the stage and began to turn right when he felt the slightest tingle of immortal hum. That immortal radar always managed to momentarily stop him in his tracks. “Bloody hell,” he muttered as his eyes began to scan the crowd. There were two pre immortals in the same place? What were the chances of that? Standing stock still his hazel gaze studied each person intently as thousands of years of expertise honed in on which bodies housed the pre-immortal signature.

Within moments he had located both. One was a petite auburn haired girl who seemed to have eyes for only one person. The second hum came from, which elicited a muttered oath from the worlds oldest man, a musician.

Adam muttered curses in 5 different languages. “Bloody Hell, he’s a rock star.”

((**words and lyrics to My Guitar Lies Bleeding in my Arms by Bon Jovi,))