Chapter 33: Then i go and spoil it all...

The rest of the summer passed by in a blur of textbooks for Ruby.

Bon Jovi had returned to the US for the final thirteen shows of their One Wild Night Tour.
For Jon it felt like the longest leg of any tour, ever.
He phoned her most nights, but he wasn't even going to kid himself that it was anywhere near enough for him.

'Shorty?'
'Hey Jon.'
'You sound sleepy did i wake you?'
'Oh no, no. Well yes but it's only eight thirty, i must have fallen asleep reading.'
'You're working yourself too hard.'
'I'm fine, apart from missing you.'
Jon didn't answer, he just rested his chin on his hand, rubbing his hand over his stubble...
'Jon are you still there?'
'Hey. Sorry...Same here babe.'
'Oh! How did Giants go?'
'It was great, wish you could'a been there. Great party after.'
'Sounds fun.'
'Yeah.'
'So when are you thinking of coming over?'
'I don't know babe i mean i'm a bit tired. Maybe a couple weeks?'
'Can't wait.'
'Me either. Well i'm gonna go now, look after yourself you hear?'
'I will, bye Jon.'
'Goodnight babe.'
As she pushed the phone aerial back down, she couldn't help but worry. Jon was short with her and actually sounded down. He was never the biggest talker on the phone, but just recently she was lucky if she got more than a one word answer.

***

Jon hung up the phone and went into his bedroom.
Lifting his sports bag onto the bed he threw in a couple of shirts and jeans.
He wasn't a big one for packing. He could just as easily travel with a toothbrush and his wallet.
Looking back at his apartment that he had been back in for just over 48 hours he couldn't help but think that maybe one day soon he should settle down, make some roots.

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

He grabbed the door knocker and tapped it three times.

'Ruby! Can you get that please i'm busy!' Her mum shouted from the kitchen, mid apple pie.
Sighing she put down the TV remote and went to answer it.

Opening the door she was confronted by Jon wearing a wide grin.
'Oh my god!'
Ruby looked behind her into he house and then pushed him backwards out of the porch pulling the door shut behind her. Once his back was against the wall and they were out of sight she kissed him passionately. Her hands either side of his face pulling him down so she could reach his lips properly.
A kiss that had his heart beating ten to the dozen, a kiss that for once he hadn't initiated.
'Wow i could get used to that.' He said when her lips finally released his.
'You said you weren't coming for a while.'
'I wanted to surprise you.' He smiled.
'Well you succeeded.' She stroked his cheek as she took her hands away from his face, 'I was worried, you sounded off on the phone.'
'Yeah....I guess being on the phone to you just reminds me you aren't there.'
'You say the sweetest things.....'
She was looking up at him so intently he could just as well stayed stood there all day just looking into her eyes. The blue mirrored his own, when he looked into them he just felt...home.

Suddenly she pushed him away.
'Wait there one minute.'
Laughing he shook his head, this girl is something else he thought.

She rushed inside and yelled to her mum that she was going out as she grabbed her bag.
Taking his hand she walked in front of Jon pulling him towards the village green. He was happy to take a back seat and sneakily enjoy the view. She wore a vest top that barely met the waist band of her flared jeans, exposing a strip of tanned skin.
'Where are we off?'
'Someplace nice, first we have to get supplies from the shop.'

After filling up on half the shop -Ruby was amazed the amount of stuff Jon had never had and she insisted he must try it- they started walking down a footpath out of the village and into the country.
The grass and bushes were well overgrown, if you didn't know the path was there you would just walk straight past it.
'Where the hell are you taking me?'
Ruby turned and smiled as she pulled back a branch of brambles and held it for Jon to walk past, 'You'll see.'

After walking for another fifteen minutes suddenly the undergrowth cleared and in front of his eyes Jon saw the most beautiful lake, surrounded by trees and wild flowers.
'Woah' Jon was in awe at how such a perfect place could be hidden away like this.
'Yeah...'
'what is this place?'
'Oh just some nature reserve, no one bothers coming here except me...and now you!'
'How the hell did you find it?'
'My diaries...apparently i used to come here before...'
Jon nodded as they continued to walk round the lake. They came to a bench underneath a willow tree and brushed the catkins off the seat before sitting down.

For a few minutes they just took in the scenery and enjoyed each other's presence.
The only other forms of life were the dragonflies and a few ducks.
Jon was the first to break the silence.
'So diaries eh?'
'Yeah, it's weird reading about the former me.'
'I bet. Did it help? Jog any memories i mean?'
'No. I thought there was a good chance of that...'
'It'll come babe.' He said as he put his arm across her shoulders and rubbed her right arm to comfort her.
She pulled her legs up on the bench and leaned into him more, resting her head on his shoulder.
She felt so comfortable around him now, they had been through a few hiccups but finally it seemed they were on track.

***

'This is nice' she sighed. She was stretched out on the bench now, her head leant on Jon's lap.
'Mmm, i think we should get back though. Starting to get dark.'
'I guess,' She checked her watch, 'God! We've been here hours!'
'I can think of worse ways to while a way an afternoon.' Jon said with a smile.
She jumped up and reached for his hand, 'Come on or we won't be able to find our way out in the dark.'
They walked all the way hand in hand in comfortable silence, just enjoying the simple fact that they were together.

When they reached the front door Ruby turned to Jon and smiled.
'What's that look for?' He asked suspiciously.
'I'm going to tell them about you and me.'
'Is that a good idea?'
'If you want any sort of relationship with me it is!' She poked him in the chest.
'Is me being here for this a good idea?'
'Don't worry. How could they not love you, like i do?' She asked, looking up in his eyes.
Suddenly realising the gravity of what she had said she looked away, conscious of scaring Jon off.
She turned and fumbled to put her key in the door.
'Well i guess if you're sure.' Jon said.
'I'm sure.' Thank god, he didn't notice she thought to herself, Or maybe he's ignoring it...shit.