Chapter 8

She leaned against her bedroom door, her blood racing and heart thundering. Time had stood still, if she just listened close enough she could hear her mom humming in the kitchen, hear her dad puttering in the small garage, and just beyond that would be the strains of a fractured guitar.

It wasn't fair, they should still be here, but everything had changed in that singular moment in time after Dad died. Damn Rich to hell it had all changed, and it was just as much her fault as his. They were friends, ok friendly rivals, always together, always had each other’s back and he had changed it, with a stupid damned kiss no less. Not just with a kiss and you know it, you two had practiced kissing even before that, but that kiss was just the start of it all.

She stripped her clothes off and slipped into the bathroom to shower the dirt off, losing herself in the relaxing heat of the water. Finishing up she wrapped a towel around her body, moved to her room and yanked open the closet door. Quickly dressing in another pair of shorts and a brief tank top, she turned to return next door. She'd promised to go help, and she'd help if it killed her, but as her hand hit the front door knob, she stopped and slowly sank to the floor.

Why did he have to have grown up so fine? Why did he still drive her insane? Why fuck why had he forgotten? Tears began to track along her cheeks as she wished for her mom, for the first time in years. Ma could of made sense of it, Ma could of made the hurt he caused go away, she was always the one who understood.


And Shan, she’d looked at her like she was crazy, hell maybe she was. She was the boring one, the one who kept it all going. Hell Ma quit being there when Dad died and she’d shoved impulsiveness into a box, all emotion into a box just to survive. She just didn’t do angry, she didn’t. Well except around Rich, she lost all intelligence around him. From the day they met in kindergarten and he’d pulled her hair until that instant in time that had changed things, he’d been able to rile her up and calm her down, the big twerp. What was it about him? “Oh Ma… he’s back and I dunno what to do.” She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapped arms around her legs, lay her head down and started to cry.

Richie heaved a sigh as the last sounds of the mower faded away. He pushed it back to the garage, still lost in thought. This day had turned out nothing like he'd envisioned. It was supposed to be simple, relaxing, loving and warm. The main reason he always agreed to come fix up the yard when on break was for the grounded atmosphere of HOME. Everywhere else he was Richie Sambora guitar god, but here? Here he could be himself. Yes even at 29 this was still home. Rock star or not this was home and it always would be, but now? Melanie was back.

He turned to move into his mom’s house. A shower and clean clothes would help, it always did. He could figure things out in the shower, Figure out the puzzle of Melanie. No one knew about Mel, not even Jon. Ok ma knew but only ma. It was an uncomfortable time in his life, he was gawky and awkward, not so charming and truly a hormonal asshole at times, but damn how he'd loved his Mellie. Maybe love was a strong word. Liked a lot? Crushed over? It wasn't love, not at that age but it had been something.

The memories kept crashing into him as he grabbed another pair of jeans and shirt and stomped into the bathroom. Memories that in the viewer of time were still pristine and fresh, just like they had happened yesterday. His thoughts drifted back to that night. He'd taken his buddy’s car, Mel, and off they'd gone. She'd been so upset, her father had just passed and with her mother so distraught she'd been taking care of baby Shay for nearly 2 weeks. Even at the tender age of 15 Richie knew that it was too much for a fourteen year old to handle so he'd dragged her off for a night of nothing. At least it was supposed to be nothing more than friendship, closeness and a time to grieve. It hadn't quite worked out that way though.

Stripping off the sweaty clothing he stepped into the shower and jacked the water temp up as high as he could stand it and nearly moaned as the water washed over tense shoulders. Damn her hide, she’d come home and the peace of his vacation was toast, better yet he was actually glad. Why was he actually glad? He groaned as the memory of her fingers sliding over his back mixed with the sensation of hot water pelting his spine. DAMMIT! It was one fucking time, why couldn’t he forget it? He slammed the water off, now needing out of the shower in the worst way.

Stepping out he toweled dry and dressed his thoughts still circling around the days happenings. Maybe a drink would help. He’d go find his favorite hangout and relax there. Hanging out here had suddenly lost its allure for the moment.

Stepping through the front door, he stopped and gazed across the now immaculate yard. Damn her anyway. Was she going to hide out in there forever? With a muffled curse he stalked to her door. He had to apologize, he knew he couldn't let the past keep flaring up like this. It was done and over with, why should it dictate who he was now? He'd just show her he wasn't that same irresponsible ass anymore.

He knocked. "Mel??!" He called out again, "Mel it's me are you in there? Damn it," he muttered for the zillionth time that day as he pushed open the door. "MEL!" he yelled then snapped his head down and to the left when he heard faint sobbing. There she sat, her knees up to her chest and her shoulders shaking softly. Fuck she was crying, Mellie didn’t cry, and when she did it always did turned his guts inside out. "Aw damn it Mel...." he slid to the floor in front of her "Hey...." he reached out to softly move a damp strand of hair from her half buried forehead.

Watery eyes glanced his way and saw only warm concern. Gone was the devil that teased her very existence. "I miss her so much." Her hand lifted to try to brush away the leak she'd sprung, "I've lost it finally, my mind, hell I don’t ACT that way and she'd get it she would and she’s gone and I..."

"Aw shit Mel....." he sighed and slipped her lithe form onto his lap "God I'm such an ass!" He slipped his arms around her and held her close resting her head on his chest. A niggling thought tickled the back of his mind.This is how it got so outta hand the first time Sambo. He pushed the thought down deep for now though. He couldn't think about THAT right now. She was hurting and for once it wasn't because of him. Why didn't he stop to think? After he'd heard the news about Vivian, he should have had more common sense than to go on antagonizing her. She may have said her mother passed a few years ago but with moving back here, it must have made all the loss come rushing back.

"Mel, I'm sorry. I'm such an ass, I didn't think I just..." He didn't know what to say; he hoped that maybe just being there would help but in his mind he was most likely the last person she wanted or needed comfort from. Still he had to try.

She turned and slid her arms around his neck and nuzzled into his chest, his all grown up and muscular chest, his warmth there like it had been all those years ago. He'd comforted her then too, like he always had, making all the small boo boo's of life better, and that need for his quiet dorky strength was there now just as it was then. Hell when he wasn't pulling her hair or mocking her it was damned nice.

"Why'd she have to die huh? Why did things get so hard?"

She felt so different now. Her solid curves molding to his body like the missing part of a puzzle piece. It felt good, real good, yet surprising as well. Any other time, if a woman as hot as Mel sidled up to him, nuzzled down in his arms or along his neck he would have been ready to rip her clothes off and bury himself in her warmth.

Did she turn him on? Hell yeah! But for some reason, right now he was content to just hold her and be her rock. It was almost more satisfying than sexual completion..... almost.....

"I don't know Mel, I don't think anyone has the answers.... why do some people live and others die? Why do some people make it and others struggle their whole lives? I wish I knew darlin', I wish I knew..." If I knew I could take away the pain.....

He slowly stroked her dusky blonde hair, still as smooth and baby fine as always, and brought memories rushing back; the first timid kisses, his rushing eager and unskilled hands, her excitement, his pleasure at the knowledge that he was doing something RIGHT.

She sniffled against his chest and felt his arms tighten, shivered slightly as his hand slid along her spine. God it was so gentle, so warm, just like that night when she'd cried over dad. The memory rose like a spring breeze, the relief of being rescued from a house of tears, the goofy jokes he'd used to make her laugh, the slip and glide of those long fingers that had taken away the cold. So alike and yet so different.

She'd responded to it then, the eagerness, the shyness, the heat as if it was always supposed to be like that, and damn how she'd missed it; and hated him when he forgot it as if it were nothing. She shifted on his lap, her fingers twisting into that now long hair, and sniffled. "I seem to make a habit of crying all over you."

Richie chuckled softly "Yeah ya do huh?" He hugged her to him. "I don't mind. This time I deserve it darlin'. I don't know why I thought acting like a rude teenage dork was right.. Ma would have my ass ya know...."

"Twenty eight years old and I still acted like a metal mouth." She tilted her head to look into his eyes. "It's not like me, I mean.." she sighed, "I haven’t acted like that in a long time, I have too many responsibilities to act like a brat. So how do you still bring it out in me? It’s been YEARS!"

Richie grinned easily as his thumb wiped the tears from under her golden eyes. "Don't lie Mellie, you've always been a kook! " He made a face then winked, hoping to elicit a laugh with his antics. If there was one thing he was good at besides pissing her off, it was making her laugh.

She snorted then punched him lightly on the shoulder before shifting backwards onto his lap, her back resting on his chest. "Oh shaddup, I learned it from you."

Richie let his arms rest around her waist, laughed before leaning his chin on her shoulder "Glad I could teach ya something,'" he quipped. "Look,” he took a deep breath and continued. “Why don't we start over? Maybe we can heat up that lasagna and catch up... like civilized folk? Whaddya ya say metal mouth?" his tone caressed her, full of hope.