Chapter 14

He listened to Richie stumble and fumble over words as he leaned back further in the chair. His brow arched as the King of fucking Swing couldn’t put words together. Damn if Rich didn’t have the oddest look in his eyes when he mentioned making sure of things years ago. It was that same pole-axed look he got when talking about his first *girlfriend*. Ahhh he got it then, actually got it. She was THAT girl, the one he rarely mentioned, the one thing Rich refused to talk about. He always glossed over that, never went into detail. Jon leaned in further a shit eating grin coasting onto his lips. "SHE was the one in that backseat!"

Richie nodded as brushes of memory rose, the soft tears, the need to comfort that led into his hands soothing then eagerly touching, the little hiccupped sighs that had turned to whimpers. His first time, his Mellie, How'd it have gone so wrong? Shaking his head he glanced up at his friend, the faintest blush rising under his tan. "Yeah, that would be her."

Jon leaned back, started to laugh and couldn’t resist ribbing his best friend over his discomfort, "and it was so bad she turned into a nun. Man it’s a good thing you learned a thing or two since then."

"Fuck you man," Richie scowled.

"No thanks, I don’t wanna be a priest!" Jon shook his head, "All this time you made it all romantic, and it was a girl that acts like she can't even stand you, a NUN at heart if anything.” His hands fluttered to his heart, his eyes widening dramatically. “My illusions about the King are shattered." He stood and moved to Shannon's door and knocked. "Hey Lil Bit."

Richie scowled even more. It had been romantic, hadn’t it?? He thought it had been, at least as romantic as two bumbling virgins could be. He didn’t know why it went bad afterwards. As far as he knew, the act itself had been heavenly. His head lowered as he sat and grumbled in Jon's direction.

“What?" a sharp bark came from behind the closed door. Shannon was sitting on her bed looking at her poster and trying to keep herself from beating her own ass in regret.

"Wanna at least open the door?" He kept his voice even, he knew she was in shock, hell sister nun wasn't so nun like. It would throw a shock into anyone. "Come on ya know you wanna."

Shannon heaved a sigh and crossed to the door flinging it open without even saying hello, leaving him to enter or not. She flopped down stomach first on her bed, her head plopping into her hands. It was all too confusing, this new sister she’d suddenly been forced to deal with.

He walked in, noted the poster and shook his head before sitting next to her on the bed. "Hey, don't let it get to ya, ok?"

She just shook her head. "What the hell is going on???" she exclaimed. "I don't get it. Yesterday everything was fine, normal even, but now? My sister is a stranger! I mean yeah I wished she'd loosen up and live a little but I didn’t mean get loose literally!!"

He chuckled, “You said they knew each other as kids right? I got a feeling they've sparked shit off each other before, and just sorta picked up where they left off. After all those years, they are just starting where they stopped. Maybe it will be a good thing right? Maybe she'll loosen up on you."

Shannon groaned and sat up next to him with a sigh then rubbed her temples slowly. "It's all him..... isn’t it... he's why she forgot her manners all day and acted like a ... a nutcase!"

His arm slipped out as he pulled her close, "I dunno babe, really, he ain’t acting too normal around her either ya know."

"Really? I thought he was the strange one in the band."

Jon shook his head, "Nahh, Richie's goofy, but the real strange one is David. You'll see that when ya meet him I'm sure." Woah, I’m wanting her to meet the guys? I never want a chick to meet the guys. Pushing the thought away, his brows waggled and a spark of pure devil rose. "Hey wanna go riding again? I feel the need to have a drink or two."

"Wha?" Shannon gaped at him, "at 2 am??"

He shrugged and grinned, "Early part of the evening for me babe, we're usually just coming off stage and still wired. What can't keep up?"

She sat quietly for a few moments her good angel warring with the bad one. Why was she worried so much? After all she was an adult and Mel said adults can do whatever they want. Finally with one quick look at the poster hanging on her wall then back at him she replied. "Oh I can keep up...." She rose from the bed and rummaged in her closet for a light jacket before turning to him "Alright... let's ride"

He stood and offered his arm, "besides, If I know King and trust me I know King, you're ears will be safer out getting a bit drunk. "

She took his arm her eyes rolling, "spare me the details."

He started for the front door laughing, "Ok, that’s a deal." As he entered the living room Rich was still sitting on the couch bare-chested and grumbling to himself. "Hey I'm taking Lil Bit here for another ride. See ya when I see ya man."

Richie hmphed and raised a hand to them as they left, then rose from the couch and headed for Mel's room.