Chapter 25 - Will It Be Lonley At The Top?

"Jon, you need some head shots and band photos for publicity.  We need a photographer." Joe says to him, that day at work.  "Find us one, that will go down the shore for a shoot."  And he leaves the studio that Jon was wrapping up.  Cords needed to be put away, as well as all the other equipment that was left out by the band that used the studio.  Jon doesn't know who it was, he didn't think.  Joe may have told him, but he doesn't remember. 

 

His head is still in last night and in Monica's bedroom, with Monica.  He thinks of her and can't help but smile.  It was when he was picking on a guitar that he remembered that Monica was a photographer.  As soon as he was done with the task at hand, he went to find Joe.  Joe is always in one of two places.  In his office or in studio A.  That's where he recorded all the famous acts that Jon looked up too.

 

"Hey, I know a girl.  How much does it pay?"

 

"Is she any good?"

 

"Yeah, what does it pay?"

 

"I have 500 budgeted for a shoot.  Can she do it for that?"

 

Jon smiles and says, "Yeah, she'll do it for that."

 

"Where did she go to school?"

 

"NYU, why?"

 

"I want to know that she knows what she's doing." Joe explains himself and then continues with, "I heard you played with Bruce?"

 

"Man, that was so great.  I was a nervous wreck, but he said I played well.  Who told you?" Jon asks

 

"It's all they were just talking about down in the mail room, apparently you have a couple of fans down there." Joe tells him, and that made Jon smile.  He knew who was down there and who was talking.  His friend Julia works in the mail room and he briefly recalls seeing her when he was playing Born In The USA with Bruce.

 

"It was pretty cool.  I would love to do it again." the star struck dreamer confesses to his cousin. 

 

Joe was hard on Jon, and that was only because he was family and Joe could see that he was going to be a star, he was going to go far.  "Keep at it, Jonny.  You'll play with him again, one day." Joe smiles at him, and quickly changes his expression, "But you have work to do here first."

 

"I know." And Jon turns to leave, but realizes he needs to know when to have Monica on the shore, and where.  "When and where do you want to do the shoot?"

 

Joe looks over his desktop and decided, "Let's do it Tuesday night.  I'm doing dinner at your house and then we can head down the shore together.  What do you think about going to Sandy Hook?"

 

"That's fine.  I'll let Monica know."  And Jon leaves, he needed to get his work done and head back to Jersey.  Monica had the day off and he wanted to call her when he got out of work.  He was thinking that maybe they could grab a bite to eat or maybe catch a movie?  He needed to see her again.

The drive back to New Jersey was painless this time.  Maybe because of what waits for him on the other side of the bridge.  Stopping at home, he gave her a quick call after saying hello to his mother.  She's in the kitchen, preparing dinner for the family.  She hears Jon come in and says, "You're home early.  What's up?"

He kissed her forehead, "Hi ma, I finished what Joe wanted me to do and bolted out of there.  I'm hoping I can see Monica again today."

"You were there last night.  Two nights in a row?  I hope you're being careful, Jon."

"Ma, come on, of course I am."  Hugging his mother, "That crap with Liz was a very big lesson.  Lesson learned."

"What are you going to do?" his mother asks him.

Jon shrugs his shoulders, grabs a green pepper out of the salad and says, "I don't know, I was thinking a movie." And he eats the pepper and a handful more. 

"Have her come for dinner." she suggests.

Jon laughs at his mom, he sees that she's being silly but he has to tell her, "I'm not ready for that, ma."

"Okay, but soon.  I want to meet her." she tells her son, as he's heading up the stairs to call Monica.

At the top of the stairs he grabs the telephone and drags it into his room.  He hated the long cord.  Closing the door behind him, he sits on the edge of his bed and he dials.  It rings several times before he decides that she isn't home or she's not answering the phone.  Her answering machine kicks on and he leaves her a message.  "Hey, it's Jon.  I'm off work and wondered if you wanted to get together tonight?  If not, that's okay - but can you please call me back - I have a photography opportunity for you."  he pauses and then ends the call with, "I hope to hear from you soon."  And he hangs up.  Hanging up the phone, he can feel a little bit of air seeping out of his happiness balloon. 

Not letting it get him down, not letting it ruin his night he decided he's going to shower and head to Richie's; at the very least he'll practice with the band - if they're all around.  But he can't help but wonder where Monica is.  When he left her this morning, she didn't mention that she had anything to do.  It was her day off.

Showered and looking like a rock star, he work his way down stairs to tell his mom goodbye.  "Don't wait up.  I have no idea how my night will go."

"What do you mean?"

"Monica isn't answering her phone, so I'm heading over to Richie's.  Maybe I'll see her later."

"Okay." she responds, "Please be careful son."

He smiles at his mother, "Bye, Ma"  Out the door her goes, heading over toward the Woodbridge area.