Chapter 94 - The People I Meet

Richie is still pissed and in his mind he has every right to be. 

He was as much as a band member as Jon was, who cares if it was his name spelled differently.  "We always write when he wants, we always play what her wants, what you don't understand Monica is that we all are equally as talented as Jon is, a couple of us even more so."

"What the hell are you talking about Richie?" Jon barks at him, in the back of the van, "And do we have to do this now, just a little before the show?"

"I'm sick of being stifled.  I'm sick of not using my own music or my own lyrics.  Who gives a shit if you're the lead singer?"

"Fuck you man."  Jon barks again, directing his attention out the window.  As he watches the passing scenery, his hand gently taps on the window, with the lyrics from his song in his mind.  Monica starts ragging on Richie and Jon blocks it out.  He doesn't want to hear anymore.

"Richie, not now.  Okay?"  Monica asks, winking at him, totally torn between the two of them right now.  She's on his side because Jon is the alpha dog and she knows that he's talented, then again, she's on Jon's side because it's just before a show and now isn't the time.

"Just forget it." he waves his hand like it's nothing important, "Just forget it."

As Jon hears the attitude is Richie's voice, he's compelled to say, "I'll be more than happy to talk about this after the show, Rich, but now isn't the time."

"Forget it!" he loudly tells Jon.

"Whatever."

Monica doesn't like this, she doesn't know where Richie's attitude came from and she doesn't like that  it's happening right now, but she let's it die.  She'll talk to Richie later and find out what's going on with him.

The vans pulls up to the arena, the band files out one by one into a door that's held open by an elderly man wearing jacket that says security.  They all nod or say thank you and are directed to the table that's set up for an interview.  An interview that they knew nothing about.

Jon stops, "What the hell is this all about?"  He looks at Monica, thinking maybe that she set this up, Monica shrugs her shoulders and shakes her head no.  The table is covered and decorated, it has 5 microphones and 5 name plates.  All of Bon Jovi are to be seated and asked questions by a bunch of people that haven't been let in yet.

"Mr. Bon Jovi." says a voice behind Jon, Jon turns.  A man approaches him with his hand extended and says, "I'm Paul Richards, President of Ploygram Records, it's nice to finally meet you."  Jon shakes his hand and smiles.  The rest of the band and essential crew move in around him and wait to see what happens next.

"Nice to meet you.  Are you behind this?"  Jon replies, pointing to the interview table, "We knew nothing about this."

"I am behind this, I thought that it would be a good idea for your fans to get to know you all a little more, in an impromptu interview."

"I am not okay about this."  Jon tells him.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, however, it is in your contract."

"We never do interviews.  They are a waste of time."  Alec blurts out, "Our time can be better spent doing other things."

Paul firms his stance, having been warned about this band of brothers and their fearless leader, but he never expected that they would just flat out refuse.  "Well gentleman, it's all set up.  All you need to do is sit there and answer questions for 30 minutes.  There are about 50 fans and reporters outside waiting to come in here.  Please TAKE YOUR seat so I can get this started."

Jon looks at his band and sees that they all are taking steps toward the table, "Fine.  30 minutes.  We have things that we do before our shows and this is really getting in the way."

The band take their seats, Monica sits in one of the interviewer chairs and they all watch the guests come in.  One by one.  There are girls that are crying and even a news team from the local news.  And the last to come in was Martha Quinn, with an MTV crew.  Jon leaves over to Richie, who is always to his right, and says, "This is pretty serious.  News and MTV, this guy ain't fucking around."

Richie smiles at Jon, the fakest smile that he can muster up.  Richie is still pretty pissed and this interview just adds to his aggravation. 

When everyone is settled and they are about to begin, David stands up and says, "I'll be right back.  I need to hit the head."

Richards stops him and says, "It can't wait?"

"NO!"  David starts to do the pee pee dance, embarrassing Richards.

"Please hurry." he instructs David, but as soon as he says that, Tico jumps up and follows him.  Richards is to the point of getting pissed.  He reminds himself that he was warned by the record company what this band was like. 

Jon leaves his assigned seat and goes to Monica, kneeling in front of her.  "Did you know anything about this?"

She shakes her head no and says, "I knew nothing."  She pulls the schedule from her bag and shows him, "See, no one knew."

"Who the hell does this guy think that he is?"

"Just do the interview, it's only 30 minutes and who knows, it might help." she tells Jon, leaning over kissing his forehead.  "I'm going to slide out of her and make sure my cameras are set up,  okay?"

"You're gonna leave me here alone?" he teases, standing up in front of her, he looks over her head and scans the room.  He doesn't see anyone that he recognizes, with the exception of Martha Quinn.

"I can stay if you want me too."  She stands up next to him and suddenly they can hear all of the camera shutters going.  She turns around and mumbles to him, "I wish we had known about this, you all look like you just rolled out of bed."

He leans into her and kisses her, lip to lip he mumbles back, "I love you Mrs. Bongiovi."

She mumbles back, "Ditto."  Two of them at this moment are the only two in the room.  He hands on her waist, her arms around his neck, they share an intimate moment in front of many people and many cameras, neither of them cared. 

They were quickly interrupted by Paul.  All the guys were back in their seats and it was Jon holding up the show now.  Monica sits back down and Jon takes his seat.

The interview begins, with a band that is less than happy about it.