Chapter 19 - Love Lies and more lies

The morning sounded loud to Jon, with the neighbors mowing their grass and cars driving by.  He knows he won't be able to fall back asleep, so he might as well just get up.  Sitting up, he rubs his head and works his way out of bed.  On the way to the bathroom, he scratches his ass and is suddenly reminded of what happened last night.  He was told he was going to be a father, and he didn't believe a word of it.

Finished in the bathroom, he pulls on some pajama bottoms and heads down stairs.  When he rounds the corner into the kitchen, he is greeted by his dad.  "Hi pops."

"Good morning son.  How was band practice?" his dad asks him.  His dad's tone tells him that his mom hasn't talked to him about Liz's visit. 

"It was good.  I think we have something, we have a great shot.  The new guys are great and they fit right in."  he grabs the OJ out of the fridge and he pours himself a glass.   He sits at the table with his dad and the two of them just talk.  Jon and his dad aren't super close, but Jon tells his dad alot.  It's usually about girls, but he thinks that leaving Liz out of the breakfast conversation was in his best interest. 

Jon has his breakfast and goes back up to his room.  Picking the phone up off the floor, he dialed Monica's number - not even aware of the time.  Looking at his clock radio, he hopes that 10:00 isn't too early.

"Good Morning!" Monica says, as she answers the phone.  She didn't know who was calling, she is normally a happy and cheerful girl.

"Hi." he says, with hesitation.  "I hope it's not too early?"

"No, no I've been up for a while.  How are you this morning?" she replies.

Jon smiles, her attitude was contagious and he loved talking to her.  "I'm good, how are you?"

Monica, always trying to be optimistic and positive says, "I'm great, I"m so glad it's Saturday.  What are you up to today?"

"I don't think I have much going on.  Might meet up with the guys later and write or practice.  What about you?" he's hoping she's free, because he wants to take her out and talk with her.  When he talked to her last night, he could hear the change in her voice when he was open and honest about Liz.  He didn't want to tell her, but he really liked her and he didn't want to start anything that resembled a relationship with her not knowing everything.

Monica is silent for a moment and she tells Jon, "I have nothing planned, at this point.  My mom wanted to go shopping, but I don't like shopping with her.  She doesn't understand style." 

Jon feels compelled to tell her personal things that he doesn't tell anyone.  "Trade places with you.  My mother used to be a Playboy bunny and my dad styles hair for a living.  I live in fashion central.  Drives me crazy, but I get free haircuts when I need one."  and he laughs at how stupid he just sounded.

Monica was intrigued by the fact that his mom was a bunny.  She's seen his parents and never would have guessed that they were anything he had just mentioned.  "That's pretty cool.  I never would have guessed that about your mom."

Jon kind of chuckled and worked up the nerve to ask her out again.  "Do you want to grab a bite to eat later or catch a movie?"

She wanted to answer him with a yes, without a hesitation - but she was reminded that he may be a father soon.  "Do you think that's such a good idea? I think you  need to work out what you need to work out with Liz.  I would love to go out with you again Jon,  but I can't let myself until you figure out what's going on."

Rejection was not a feeling that Jon was familiar with.  He's never been in a situation to be rejected, hell he's only ever really been with Liz.  But Monica made him feel alive and he wanted that feeling.  he knows that she's right and he tells her that he understands.  "Would it be okay if I called you when I have it all figured out?  I do want to see you again."

"Jon, I would love to hear from you again, and I hope it's soon.  Take care, okay?  Maybe I'll see you around." Monica says with a sadness that Jon picked up and he couldn't help but feel it too.

He has confidence and he tells her, "I'll call ya.  Bye, Monica."

"Bye Jon." and the line goes dead. 

Jon sits on the edge of his bed and decides that he needs a cup of coffee and a cigarette.  He grabs his smokes and hops downstairs to get a cup of coffee.  Mom is up now and he says hi to her, kisses her cheek and pours a cup of coffee.  His mom stops him as he heads out the door, "Jonny, are you okay?"

"Yeah ma, why?"

"Last night..........." she says with a lump in her throat.  He can see that her eyes are tearing up and he grabs her.

"Ma, it will all be okay.  I'm going over there and I'll get to the bottom of it.  I talked to her last night and I'm sure  she's up to something."

She sighs and tells him, "I hope you're right, this is the last thing you need."  She kisses him on the lips, "Go have your cigarette."

Jon goes out into the driveway where Matt and Tony are playing basketball.  Jon leans on his dad's car and has his cigarette with his coffee.  His little brothers are good kids, but often they are a pain in his ass.  When he finishes his cigarette, he joins them in their game and has fun playing with them.  Sometimes Jon needs to stop with all the thoughts of being a rock and roll star and appreciate the joys and the blessings that he has in his life.  His brothers were blessings.

They are finishing up their game and they notice a car pulling into the driveway.  Jon recognizes it as Liz's dads and his heart skips a beat.  But being the man that he is, Jon walks toward the car.  He's almost there when he sees Liz get out of the passenger seat and her dad from the drivers seat.  Jon says, "Hello.  This is a surprise."

"Jon, we need to talk to you.  Do you have a minute?" asks Liz's dad.  He has a stern look on his face and the aura about him that would scare  many away from his daughter.

"I do have a minute.  What's up?" Jon looks to Liz for the answer.  He notices that she has been crying and that makes Jon a little nervous. 

"Liz has something to tell you, Jon."

"Okay, what is it?"  And he looks to Liz again. 

She walks up to Jon and starts with, "Jon, I lied to you.  I'm not pregnant...................." that was all Jon  heard and he seen red.  Pissed beyond pissed.  "Tina and I came up with that idea to keep you away from Monica."  She pauses, waiting for him to go postal. 

Jon takes it all in, and politely says to Liz and her father, "Get off of my property.  Liz, don't ever call me again.  You told MY MOTHER that you were pregnant and made her cry.  If I ever see you again, it will be way too soon."  And he walks away.  Far enough away so he doesn't get even angrier if he looks at her face.  Jon goes in the house and sees that his mother was listening from the kitchen window.

"Can you believe that, ma?  I just want to punch something."

Mrs B leaves her spot in the window and goes out into the driveway.  She tells Liz and her father the same thing, "Get off my property and Liz, don't ever come back.  For a catholic girl, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.  Get, go now." And Mrs B. retreats to the house.  She and Jon watch Liz and her dad leave.