Out on the Town

Jon was driving down the highway and asked her if there was anywhere special she wanted to go. She told him no and that anywhere would be fine. There was a little restaurant right around the corner of the hotel they were staying at so he thought they could go there seeing that it was nice enough that he knew the other guys wouldn’t be there nor would any of the fans that frequent these shows. Once inside they sat them near the back and in the corner where Jon asked the waitress if there was any seating there. Ellie just looked at him not knowing why he requested that seeing that they used to sit right up front at their favorite pizza joint back in New Jersey. They got settled in and the waitress handed them their menu’s and ran off the specials for the night. She was a cute young girl about in her mid-twenties with sandy blonde hair that was just below to her shoulder blades it looked like but was pulled back into a ponytail. She didn’t really give Ellie two hoots as she only looked at Jon and asked him what he wanted and when she asked Ellie still only looked at Jon.

“You know why don’t you give us a few minutes Darling until we decided what we want to have ok?” he told her smiling the million dollar watt smile when actually he wanted to tell her off for not paying attention to Ellie. She nodded and left so she could return fast as she wanted to get back asap to take his order.

“Well that was interesting. Do all the girls just fawn all over you like that?” Ellie asked him as she tried not to giggle.

“It’s not funny Ellie. She totally ignored you and that’s not right in my book.” Jon told her as he was very upset.

“Oh Jon it’s ok really I think it would of happen whether you were a rock star or not. Just last month when I went out with Joe and Mary the same thing happened to us. This girl ignored Mary and me and just wanted to talk to Joey. You’re lucky I didn’t pull what Mary did and throw my drink at her.” Ellie told him laughing.

“You’re kidding. What happened?” Jon wanted to know.

“I don’t know I guess she got reprimanded for it and Mary didn’t talk to Joey for about two days. They’re always fighting. Which is pretty funny seeing they’re getting married in three months.” She told him as the waitress came back over. Jon just looked over and was about to say something to her and Ellie shocked her head no. So they quickly ordered their food so she would go away.

“I can’t believe she just did that.” exclaimed Jon.

“Jon please don’t let her bother you ok.” She asked him.

Jon agreed and asked her, “So how are your brother and his girlfriend supposed to get married if they fight all the time?”

“Beats me. The only crappy thing is I was talked into being a bridesmaid and Jimmy the ring bearer. I wanted to say no because I give it two years tops. Don't get me wrong Joe needs somebody to take care of him. I mean if it was Chick then I’d worry because for some reason I don’t think he’ll ever get married and if he does then she’ll be the one. If someone ever screws him then that will be it he’ll never do it. Joe on the other hand he’ll fight for it or no balls. One or the other.” She told him as he started to laugh.

Then he sat there and stared at her. She just looked at him as he was making her feel uncomfortable. Finally he asked her, “What about you Ellie, where do you stand on marriage?”

She just sat there and didn’t know what to say to him. Lucky the food came and that gave her a little bit of time. They ate in peace as he just stared at her thru dinner. She could feel his eyes on her as she was trying to make small talk anything to change the subject. She asked how the tour was going and how it was going to city to city and she also asked who was in this band and Jon told her of his new line up and how Dave Bryan was still with him. How he wanted her to meet the other four members and that he wanted to bring Jimmy also to meet the guys. She told him that she would have to think about that and maybe she would have to go first to check things out.

He said fine to that but then again, “You don’t trust me with Jimmy do you?” he asked her a little taken back.

“Well it’s not that I don’t trust you Jon but you have to see where I’m coming from. You don’t exactly hang around the um God how do I put this, he’s four Jon and even thou most of them probably act four there not and I don’t need him seeing things that a four year old shouldn’t be seeing if you get what I’m saying.” She said to him trying not to get angry.

It took Jon a second to figure out what she was trying to get across. “Oh yeah I see what you’re trying to tell me. I didn’t think of that yeah not kid friendly.” He said kind of shyly realizing the adult content that goes on back there.

“Also Jon I wasn’t kidding about your Mom. I don’t want her around Jimmy without me. I hope you understand that.” She told him as up front as she could.

Jon realized that Ellie was hurt by his Mother and he also felt the same way. “Ellie I know what you’re feeling about my Mom.  I’ve already told her that she can’t see him and that she will have to jump thru hoops if she wants to. It will be your call when and where if you ever let her see her grandson. But you never answered my question.” He said to her.

“What question?” she asked him totally forgetting what he asked her at the beginning of the dinner.

“You never answered me about how do you feel about marriage. Would you ever get married? And have you dated since you’ve gotten home?” Jon asked her trying anything to get some insight to where he could get a leg up at trying to win her back.

“I told you didn’t I? Ya I dated some but as you can see they didn’t work out and as for marriage like my Mom say when that special guy comes along it will hit you like a hammer. So until that happens I’m not going to worry about it.” She told him not wanting to give too much away.

   “So then I don’t have anyone standing in my way then?” he asked her with that smirk on his face that she just wanted to slap off his face.

“Standing in your way for what?” she asked him hoping it wasn’t what she thought he was meaning.

“Oh come on Babe you’re really not this thick are you? I want to know if the coast is clear to date you. Of course it really wouldn’t matter if it wasn’t I’d still win.” He said cocky.

She just sat there in shock that he was that cocky and conceded that he thought that he could win her back in a drop of a hat. “Are you freaking kidding me Jon? What happened to that shy, nice and cute boy that I left in New Jersey Huh? Because this one I don’t think I like so much.” She told straight out.

“What? Because I’m more confident? Look people are listening to me more and are taking me more seriously now. I fought hard to get where I am now and believe me it wasn’t because I crawled here. It’s my band, MY BAND. It’s named after me because I sold one of my songs that the record company wanted. And these guys who are with me trust me enough to come along for the ride.” As he was going on and on with his rant he could see well not fear but something in her eyes. She seemed scared and it looked as she was looking passed him. He looked at her scared himself now not only for getting wound up himself and for scaring her but for seeing her reaction to it. “Ellie, Ellie are you ok? Ellie please say something?” he was saying to her as he was gently shaking her hands.

“Wh…what?” she stuttered then, “I think I want to go home, can you just take me home?” she asked him a little unnerved.

“Ellie what’s wrong?” Jon asked her now concerned.

“Uh oh nothing I just, just want to go home dinner was just fine Jon thank you. But I really just need to go home.” She told him anxiously.

“But we’re not done I have the whole night planned, I thought we’d go dancing after we eat.” He told her ruining his surprise.

“I’m kind of really tired Jon so if you don’t mind.” She told him as she nervously fooled with the napkin.

“Yeah Ellie I do I really do mind. I was really looking forward to tonight. And I think you just want to go home because things got a little heated between us. Come on lets continue tonight ok? And if you still want to leave later I’ll take you home. Please?” Jon asked her with those big baby blues.

She thought it over and she knew if she at least didn’t try he would never leave her alone. “Fine but you promise if I want to leave at any time we will?” she double checked with him as he smiled and told her that he promised at any time.

They ended up at one of the clubs called Shabooms in Worcester. It played fifty to sixty music so Jon knew he probably could get her out on the dance floor only because they would be playing some Elvis. Luckily they found a table and Jon went to get their drinks. Ellie was just looking around and thinking to herself ‘so what’s the big deal about doing this every week. She really didn’t drink away.’ She saw him coming back and her heart did a flip flop that she didn’t expect. She just shock it off as it being that he grew his hair out yeah she was going to keep telling herself that.

“Here you go one Diet Coke.” He said as he handed it over to her. Normally at the after parties as he and the guys were there for a while the girls would get feeling pretty good themselves and it was easy for them to bring back to their rooms or someplace quiet to at least get their jollies taken care of. At least he knew if he ever took Ellie to one of those he didn’t have to worry about her and having one of those “guys” con her away if he had to walk away from her for a bit.

“Thanks, I saw a couple of girls talking to you up at the bar. If I’m weighing you down I can either call Chick to see if he’s home or maybe take a cab home?” she told him sincerely as she really didn’t want to be a burden on him.

“Yeah I was talking to a couple of girls and yeah they were hitting on me but I told them that I was already here with the prettiest girl ever so what of it?” he asked her back trying to get a reaction out of her.

She just looked at him and just smiled. “Why do you do that?” she asked him seriously.

Taking her hand and pushing her hair behind her ear, “Why do I do what?” he asked her back.

“You know damn well what. Say those things about me when you know they make me feel uncomfortable you jackass. I saw those girls they can do rings around me.” She told him as she looked down at her rings as she played with them.

“Hey look at me. First of all beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Second those girls saw me play at the Centrum the other night when we opened for RATT. So they know who I am. Third they were asking me if I could get them in for the next show and they would do anything and I mean anything for that to happen. And maybe she’d hook me and Richie up later, but like I told her I was taken. You see you’ve known me before I became this up and comer and they haven’t. Should be real fun when I’m a full fledge rock star huh?” he told her smiling. But just before she could say anything they started to play Elvis’s Can’t Help Falling in Love. “Ah that’s our song Baby come dance with me.” He said to her as he took her hand and escorted her out to the dance floor.

“But Jon I can’t dance. I suck I step on my Dad’s feet all the time.” She tried telling him again.    

“Oh stop we’ve danced before remember? At the cabin when you lost your…” but she quickly cut in.

“Yeah, yeah I remember. You don’t have to be so smug about it.” She told him as he pulled her closer. “Hey!” she yelped.

“What you don’t like being this close to me? Get used to it cause I’m not going anywhere Baby.” He told her as he said it low into her ear as his hot breath skimmed over it.

It was killing her that she could hear his heart beating and it was beating fast. And his cologne, usually certain colognes and perfumes would make her ill or trigger a migraine but not his. To be honest he smell like this deep musky oh she couldn’t quite put her finger on it but it made her whole body quivered. Get a grip girl you’re not like those groupies that you heard of. When the song was over he didn’t want to let go but he knew he had to. She looked up at him and said, “Will you excuse me I just need to well you know.” She told him smiling at him.

“Oh yeah go right ahead, do you want me to walk you there?” he asked her.

“No that’s ok I think I can go to the bathroom like a big girl.” She said smiling and off she went.

While she was in the bathroom Jon was waiting for her at their table when those two girls walked over to him. “Hey Jon we see that your alone now. So where did your little friend go?” the big bosom blonde asked him.

Smiling and hoping he could get rid of them before Ellie got back, “She had a little errand to run but she’ll be right back. So what can I do for you um ladies.” He asked them as polite as he could.

“Well we were thinking why don’t you dump her and take us back to your hotel room and we’ll show you a hell of a better time than she could. Or maybe if you just want something fast we could take you back into the men’s room and…” she was saying before Jon stopped her.

“Ok let me stop you right there I told you both I’m here with my date who is very special. I don’t appreciate the two of you coming up to me again when I told you I didn’t want anything to do with either one of you.” He told them as he was holding his temper.

“Oh really well that’s not what my girlfriend told me two weeks ago with you fuck her in Rhode Island.” She spat at him.

“If you don’t get out of my face right now I’ll make sure that you two are thrown out of every show you got that!” Jon spat right back at them. They just smiled at him and walked away as he fumed. Just then he heard his name said and turned around for another fight but then saw Ellie standing there a little shocked at the way he reacted.

“Jon are you alright? You seem a little upset.” She asked him concerned.

“Ah yeah I am sorry you kind of surprised me that’s all.” He told her and hoped she bought it.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you. Are people starting to recognize you?” she asked him.

“Well just those two girls and they told a few more. Do you mind if we split from here?” he hoped that she wouldn’t he really just wanted to be alone with her before he had to take her home.

“Actually I’d love to it’s really getting to much in here.” She told him thrilled that they were leaving.

It didn’t take them long to get where they were going. Ellie tried to get where they were going out of Jon but he said that she would have to do a better job of getting it out of him. She told him when hell freezes over. They pulled into the parking garage of the hotel they were stay at and Ellie wasn’t too sure that she wanted to go up with him.

As he was getting out of the car he noticed that she wasn’t moving. “Ellie are you coming?” he asked her as he was confused to why she wasn’t getting out of the car.

“Um Jon if you don’t mind if there is something that you forgot in your room well I’ll just wait here while you go get it ok.” She told him.

Jon just looked at her confused and then said, “Ellie I didn’t forget anything I thought we’d go upstairs and talk ok? It’s alright all were going to do is talk I swear. You’re not afraid of me are you?” he asked her wondering what brought this on.

She looked at him with a weak smile and said, “Of course not silly it’s just that it’s getting late and I have to check on Jimmy and I’m getting tired myself that’s all.” She tried telling him.

Looking at her worried now he knew there was more to this than she was letting on but he didn’t want to push her just yet. “Hey come on we didn’t have dessert at the restaurant so we can order it here and maybe some drinks too so please?” he asked her smiling as he held out his hand.

She smiled and took a deep breath and took his hand as she got out of the car. “Ok but just for a little while. I’m not use to being out to long.” She told him as she gave him a sly smile. Jon was thrilled that she decided to come up to his room and he just hoped that his roommate wasn’t there entertaining himself. He had told Richie that he had hoped that he was going to bring back Ellie so they could talk and didn’t want him there. He just hoped he listen to him. He opened the door and luckily no one was there but them.

“Well this is where they put us; I know it’s not the Ritz but maybe someday.” He told her while he threw one of their dirty shirts off the only chair in the room. “Here you can sit here.” Jon told her. “So would you like some tea I’m going to order some de-caff and maybe some cookies maybe?” Jon said nervously.

Smiling and relaxed now, “That would be fine Jon thanks.” As Jon was ordering she was looking around the room and noticed that it was definitely a guy’s room. Clothes thrown about and guitars on the beds.  She also noticed that there were suitcases on the floor where the clothes were still in them and picked apart as they were going thru them but not hung up. The closets and bureaus were empty it looked like as a couple of them were open for some reason.

Hanging up, “It shouldn’t take long for it to get here. So how are you feeling? Any better?” he asked her feeling a little anxious himself now.

“Oh um yeah I feel a little better thanks. I’m sorry for that it’s just that I haven’t been out in a long time. My girlfriend Cyndi has been trying to get me out for ages. In fact I was supposed to go to her party last night but I chickened out.” She explained to him.

Smiling, “Home come if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Oh um well to make a long story short there’s this security guard that liked her and I was stupid enough to help her. So I kept telling him that she had a boyfriend and blah blah blah and well he finally believed me and then turned his attention all on me. Even thou he knew I liked his coworker Steve. Urgh! So now she makes fun of me and wants to put me on display which I told her to well you can image and he’s down in fabric’s every day on the hour for nine hours. Steve tries to tell him to back off but he won’t and I even had Davey come down and play my boyfriend and had him tell him to back off. So just in case he might show up and me there and not have Davey or Steve with me, I didn’t want to chance it.” She explained to Jon who just sat there in shock.

“First of all who the hell is Davey?” he wanted to know and know fast.

“Dave? Jeepers! He’s like my adopted brother? He’s Chick’s best friend duh! Their joined at the hip for crying out loud. And they feel the same about Chickie. And Dave said he’d do it for me so what’s the big deal? Don't you have any friends that you would do anything for? Oh yeah wait I bet you’d do anything for HER! Wouldn’t you?” Ellie wanted to know.

Jon just looked down at the floor. “Were not going to get into that are we?” he wanted to know.

“Just answer me this Jon, did she run to you after I went home or did she wait a week or two?” she asked him.

Jon looked up when there was a knock at the door. Ellie shooked her head and sighed. Jon went and got the room service and brought it in the room, thanked the guy, tipped him and he left. He finally turned around and said to her, “How did you know?”

“It doesn’t take a brain surgeon Jon. After everything she put us through and then you not getting in touch with me, I kind of put two and two together. But my question is, are you two together now?” she wanted to know.