Chapter 38 - Each Won't Throw In a 10

Jon wanted to trip her as they boarded the plane, remembering the hell that she put him and his mother through. 

She made his mother cry, and to him, that was inexcusable.  She was nothing but a $10.00 whore and he wanted her nowhere near him or his band - but Alec was a big boy.  Jon can't choose who he dates or screws for that matter, but at the first sign of trouble he has no problem replacing Alec. 

 

Jon sat quietly to himself on the quick flight from Newark to Detroit.  He stared out the window and wondered what Monica was up to, he misses her and hopes that she's having the time of her life.  He plans to call her when they land, hoping that she'll be in her room.  He can't help but wonder what she'll say when she learns that Liz is on tour with them.  He imagines that she'll be pissed, he is and if it were reversed, he'd be pissed if he found out that she was on the road with an ex boyfriend. 

 

They land and make it to their hotel with just enough time to shower before they headed off to sound check.  They all were starting to feel the butterflies and their nerves were raw, so 5 men in three rooms will prove to be too much.  Jon, being the bands namesake and the front man, has a room to himself.  David stays with Tico and Richie gets the third room because Alec needed one for him and Liz. 

 

Jon plops down on his bed and takes a deep breath.  This is what you've wanted your whole life.  You can do this.  You can do this. he keeps telling himself.  He's irritated still about Liz being with them, he needed to hear Monica's voice and he needed to get ready for sound check.  So, he lays there for a few minutes and lets himself chill out.

 

When he's calmed enough to call Monica, he does just that.  After 4 rings, she answers her phone, "Jon?" she says and he can hear her smile.

 

"Hi babe." he says with a smile on his face, "How are you?"

 

"I'm good, are you in Detroit now?" she asks and answers. 

 

"We are, how are things going in Chicago?" he asks, wanting to hear all of the details even though he didn't have the time.  " I was bummed you didn't make it back to Jersey before I had to leave."

"I'm sorry about that, they added another show.  I'm getting some really great shots, they set up my own dark room on one of the busses and everyone is so wonderful, I wish you were here." she takes a deep breath, knowing that she was long winded.

He chuckles and says, "Baby, I'm glad you're having a good time and that you're doing what you love.  I'm proud of you." his heart aches, just at the sound of her voice.  He can see how gorgeous she looks with the smile on her face, and added with the happiness she must feel from doing what she loves, he knows that she must be glowing. 

"What's going on in Detroit?  Have you met RATT yet?"

Jon knows that he has to cut this short, so he tells her, "We just got to the hotel, we have to get ready for sound check, I haven't met the band yet."  He pauses and asks the million dollar question, "What are you doing now that you're done?  Your last show was last night, right?"

"Yeah.  I talked with the travel department just a little bit ago and they told me that they will fly me where ever I need to be, so I thought I'd meet up with you in your next town."  His heart skips a beat, he was sure that she'd go back home when she was done with Chicago, but much to his surprise - she needs to see him as bad as he needs to see her. 

"You're going to meet me on the road?" he asks with his heart doing jumping jacks.

She laughs, "Yeah, where will you be tomorrow?  I can meet you there."

"Tomorrow, I think it's Cleveland.  I can check the schedule and call you after the show.  Will that work?" he's rushing because he knows he has to get going.  "I need to hop in the shower and head to sound check, I'll call you when I get back, okay?"

"Yeah, that's fine - go, go.  Call me later."

"Okay, bye."

She hurries, JON!"

"Yeah babe?"

"I love you." he hears that and he can't help but smile, because he knows that she means it with every ounce of her being.

"I love you more." and he hangs up the phone.  He needed to end the conversation on his high, cause that right there would get him through the night.

Sound check went as well as can be expected.  A road crew that had no idea how they liked things, set their instruments up the most basic of ways.  The guys were able to fix what needed to be fixed and to set things the way that they like it.  When they were happy with their sound, they headed backstage and waited for the show. 

They had fun and tried to hide their nerves, but this is their first arena show and it was huge.  Jon knows in his mind that the only way to get to the top was to climb and fight the whole way up.  He walks into their dressing room and is greeted by Liz and her obnoxious mouth.  "Hi Jonny boy."  she yells from across the room.  Jon looks at her, looks at Richie and shrugs his shoulders.

"What does this bitch think she's doing in here?  Alec, get her out of here.  She is not allowed backstage." Jon states, as a matter of fact.

Alec is sitting on the couch and Liz is sprawled across him, caught off guard by what Jon said, he responds with, "What am I supposed to do with her?"

"I don't care, she's not my problem, get her out of here."  Jon tells him as he's digging through his bag looking for a bandana. 

"Why are you being such an asshole Jon?  Are you jealous that I'm with Alec and not you?" Liz dares to talk, but she really shouldn't have.

"Jealous?  Don't flatter yourself."  Jon stands to face her, "I feel bad for Alec, not knowing about you before hand."

"What's so bad about me Jon?  You loved me at one time."

Jon laughs at that, and he laughs pretty hard.  "Liz, I thought I loved you - but once you were gone, I realized that you were just a habit."

"Bullshit." she blurts.  Alec taps her on the leg, telling her to get up.  She stands up and walks up to Jon, "You know you miss me."

"Now that's bullshit.  Get out of here Liz, you aren't worth it."  Jon is keeping his calm, he knows that the one that he really loves is coming to see him and that it won't be weeks before he sees her again.  "Alec, get her out of here."

Alec walks up and guides Liz toward the door.  Fighting him all the way, Liz yanks her arm out of Alecs grip and she yells, "You're gonna let him talk to me like that?"

"Sounds like you had it coming.  Come on, I'll see where I can get you a seat."  Alec rolls his eyes at her, wondering if this is what it will be like with her for the length of time that she'll be him.