Chapter 24: Heart to heart...to cold shoulder.

The band and Ruby all piled into a big people carrier to drive to the arena.
Ruby sat next to jon on the back row of seats. Richie, David and Hugh in the middle row and Tico up front next to the driver.

'Sorry about earlier, Richie's timing pretty much sucked.' He said quietly.
She smiled and just put her hand on his thigh as if to say 'it's alright'.
Jon cleared his throat and lifted her wrist off his leg.
'It's going to be hard enough getting through tonight as it is babe.'
'Oops sorry.' She smiled, 'But i know how you feel, damn Richie eh?'
Jon laughed 'I think i might....'
'Hey Maestro gonna spring any surprises on us tonight in the set?' David interupted.
Jon and Ruby looked up in shock as if they had been caught conspiring.
'I am now. Quit calling me Maestro. Jerk.'
David laughed it off turning to the front once more.
Ruby chuckled, 'You were saying?'
'Huh?'
'You think you might....?'
Have to sort my self out...or have a hard on the whole gig....
'Doesn't matter.' He said.

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

The gig as usual went without a hitch.
Jon had, as promised to David, added a cover. Putting the Bruce Springsteen penned 'Because The Night' in as a prelude to 'Damned'.
Ruby had watched from the side stage as Jon pulled off a mesmerising performance. She felt as if the song was a matter of fact, hinting to what he intended would happen later.
She was flushed just watching him. The way he practically screamed some of the words, the way he held his eyes closed the whole song, gripping that famous white microphone stand for all it was worth. The way he swayed gently...
'Hey Short..............Shorty............Shorty!'
She snapped out of it, turning to see Sandy standing hand's on hips waiting for her.
'Costume change in five! come on.'
She jumped off the crate she was sat on and followed Sandy backstage.

***

'Penny for 'em?' Sandy asked.
'Oh sorry i don't have any.' Ruby answered, busying herself with putting fresh water bottles out.
'Looked like you had a million and one.'
'No it's okay.....but....well i guess i do need to talk to someone....I usually talk to Jon about stuff....'
Sandy just continued getting stuff ready.
'So shoot.'
'Shoot?'
'Shoot! Spill! Tell me about it.'
'Oh right okay, sorry slang and all...' Sandy gave her a look as if to say get a move on girl. '....Well it's Jon. Well we've been erm, getting closer.'
'Closer?' Sandy had finished laying the shirts out for the change.
'Yeah.'
'Have you...'
'No! No....well nearly. I'm just so confused.' Ruby said subconciously hugging her arms around herself.
Sandy grabbed her cigarettes, 'Come on they'll be out soon let's go outside.'

Sandy lit her cigarette and leaned against the door frame of the fire escape. They were stood round the back of the arena where all the lorries that carried the stage paraphernalia were parked.
'So. You and Jon?'
Ruby didn't say anything just kind of shuffled from foot to foot, it was a cold night.
'Well you have to tell me whats going on sweetheart if you want my advice.'
'It's. I don't know. We get on so well...but there has always been this undercurrent. You know....'
'You wanted to screw him senseless?'
'Sandy!'
'Well thats the bottom line isn't it?'
Sandy could always be trusted to boil things down to their essence when everyone else skirted around the subject.
'Alright Mrs straight talker. I did...do fancy him. But it's so messed up. I mean he's like my best friend.'
'And this is a bad thing?' Sandy asked.
Ruby thought for a second, 'Well yeah. What if it all gets screwed up? Then i've lost my boyfriend and best friend.'
'What if you don't take it further? You could miss out on the best thing you ever had. Not only are you best friends but you fancy the pants off each other. Win, win.'
She stubbed out her cigarette against the brick wall.
'Life's too short for what ifs sweetheart.'
Ruby sighed. 'Do you ever get sick of being right?'
'Not so far.' Sandy put her arm round Ruby's shoulder and walked with her back inside.

***

As they got inside the guys had already come off-stage and were changing.
Ruby sat on a chair at the side out of the way, it was a pretty chaotic time. They only had a few minutes before the encore started.
Jon was right in front of Ruby, he had his back to her.
She watched silently as he pulled off his sweat soaked T-shirt, it climbed his back revealing shiny flesh. Ruffling his hair as he finally took it over his head.
Sandy rushed over to him armed with a hair drier and proceded to dry his hair while he downed a bottle of cold water in one.
He turned allowing her to dry the back of his hair, catching Ruby watching him in the process.
She shyly looked away, pretending like she wasn't staring.
He smiled to himself, he liked that she was checking him out.
Slipping on a shirt he called to the rest of the band to hurry up, it was time to get back on-stage.

First Tico, then David, Hugh and Richie high fived Ruby as they strode passed.
Jon just smiled and winked.

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

After the gig there was a small party in the hotel. As it was their home turf plenty of friends had shown their faces.
This is why they chose to stay in a hotel insted of their respective homes. No tidying up afterwards!

Ruby sat at the bar alone, watching everyone else catching up. Hugging, laughing, generally enjoying each other's company.
Times like these she felt most alone.

'Can i get a beer?'
She turned to see who was ordering a drink.
'Can i see an ID?' the barman replied.
'Aww man not in front of the young lady, ruin my cool.' he laughed handing over a card.
He was tall, maybe six foot, short dark hair cut pretty close, and he cut quite an impressive figure in his two piece suit.
The barman served him, seemingly satisfied he was old enough to drink alcohol.
'Can i get you something?'
He looked at her, something was familiar about him. He had the deepest brown eyes.
'I'm okay thanks.....under age' she leaned in and whispered the final two words.
He smiled back at her 'Got ya. I only turned twenty one a couple of months ago so i don't mind the ID thing'.
Ruby traced the lip of her glass, 'Sure you don't.'
'How long have you got then? ... Until you can legally drink i mean?'
She smiled. A sly way to find out more about me.
'Just under a year.'
She turned then to see Jon approaching them he got to about 3 metres away and gestured to her to come over.
'I better go, nice talking to you....' She paused for him to insert his name.
'Alex.'
'Nice talking to you Alex, i'm Shorty.' With that she turned away to join Jon.

'Hey you.' He said as she reached him.
They strolled more towards the centre of the party, side by side.
'You having fun?'
'It's alright yeah. Seeing some old faces.' Jon replied.
They stopped and he looked at her properly for the first time since they had got to the hotel. She had changed into a black halterneck and tight black jeans.
He reached to her and brushed her hair off her shoulder, revealing her neckline more.
God i just want to kiss it. He thought.
She smiled up at him, seeing the look in his eyes, she leaned in to kiss him.
He pulled away.
'Not here.'
Two words, like a punch in the gut.
She stood there for a second, just looking at him.
'I'm going to bed.'
She span round and walked quickly without looking back. Heading straight for the lobby, tears threatening her eyes.