Chapter 20: Secrets and lies.

'Hi it's me'
'Roo how is university going?'
'Well it's hard going. I....Well there is this thing...'
'I just want you to know that me and your father are so proud of you. Launching yourself back into your studies, you've missed so much and it hasn't phased you.'

It hit her like a punch in the stomach. She couldn't say it.
Couldn't say how she felt she was drowning, how she dreaded each new lecture as the avalanche of work continued to pile up over her head.

'Thanks Mum. I'm trying.'

So she didn't. She omitted the fact that she was flying to New York the next day to join Jon and Bon Jovi on the final leg of the Crush tour. Completely smoothed over the fact that she would miss over a months worth of studies.
It wasn't a lie, so much as a lack of provision of information...

This is so going to turn round and bite me on the ass.

-----------------

The final decision had been surprisingly easy. However now she was sat in the departure lounge it was hitting home what she was doing.
The main feeling was one of excitement. She couldn't wait to see Jon again.
He was so easy to talk to, they had no pre-conceptions of each other. They just enjoyed their respective company.
All this helped her to try and dismiss the massive crush she had on him, and the electricity she felt when they were in the same room.
Just keep telling yourself you are going for friendship and not some wild crusade to steal his heart.

Firstly though she had a seven hour flight in which to occupy herself.
Before she had left Ruby had brought her discman and a pile of Bon Jovi albums she had in her room at university.
She figured if she was going to go on tour with them and see some shows she better familiarise herself with their work.

After the take off the seatbelt light was turned off. Now she could start to plough through the CDs.
Where to start? She thought as she removed at least ten discs from her hand luggage. Seven were actual official albums the others looked a bit less official.
'I guess i'll start from the beginning' she said quietly to herself trying to stifle the giggle from seeing the cover picture of Jon on the album simply called Bon Jovi.
He must have been near my age...He's certainly grown into himself since then.

-----------------

'Richie hey it's me'
'Hey man. how's it goin?'
Jon sucked in a breath through his teeth.
'Hey i know that sound. Thats the sound when you're gonna tell me you've done something crazy like added Baghdad or some place to the tour schedule.' Richie said.
'Okay well if that's what you're expecting maybe you're gonna be pleased.'
'We all know whatever it is you're gonna get your way, spit it out man!'
'Right, well i sorta invited someone to tour the rest of the year with us.'
There was a slight pause from Richie's end.
'Who?'
Richie was a bit surprised, Why was Jon looking for approval with this?
'Ruby.'
'Ruby? Who the hell is Ruby? You say it as if i know who it is.'
'Remember that girl, the one with amnesia...'
'Yeah i think i....Really? You only knew her five minutes.' Richie was getting even more confused.
'So....Just as a kind of work experience. To do with study and stuff.' The little white lie came out of Jon's mouth before he even realised it or could stop it.
'Yeah whatever man, i mean i'd prefer if you had said it was a troupe of strippers like the ol' days. But i'm fine with it.'

Richie placed the phone back in it's cradle. He just did not know what was going on with Jon these days. Not since the break up.

-----------------

Sat in the foyer of Newark airport Jon was all antsy.
Fiddling with a quarter, rolling it across his knuckles and back again. He had got it down to an art over the past hour and a half.
Shoving the quarter back into his jeans pocket he stood, stretched out and rubbed his face.
Heading over to the Starbucks counter he pulled his baseball cap down a little lower.
'I'll have a straight coffee, black. Please.'
He must have had a couple of pints of the stuff. He hadn't slept much the night before.

He saw her then. Struggling with a suitcase almost as big as she was.
He felt his stomach leap. Coming through the arrival gate she was a vision in crumpled shirt and jeans. Her blonde hair a little mussed up from the lengthy flight.


'A little help would be nice.'
Jon shook himself out of it at her words.
'Hey there stranger' he said as he strode towards her.

Dropping the suitcase she opened her arms to accept his hug as he arrived.
His hug was tight as he lifted her slightly off the floor.

As her feet hit terra firma again he released her, but they remained close to one another.
'Hey yourself.' She said looking into his eyes. They were crinkled at the edges, from the smile that enveloped his whole face.
She couldn't resist. She placed her hands on his cheeks and pulled his face down for a kiss. Her thumb stroked the slight growth on his cheek as their lips met.
It was quick, platonic almost.
But it had her heart racing ten to the dozen.
God, those lips. They were even softer than she had remembered.
After she released him he looked to his left and right, as if checking the coast was clear.
What the hell? She thought to herself. I think i've made a mistake.

'So how was your flight?' Jon asked as he picked up her suitcase and gestured to the exit.
'Uneventful, thankfully.' She replied feeling a bit awkward after the kiss.
'Any good films?' Jon continued with the small talk.
'Well actually i spent the time doing research.'
Jon raised an eyebrow as he opened the trunk of his car, 'Research, eh?'