Chapter 47

She stretched as her eyes opened, only to find the room empty. They'd only been here a day or so, and were now waiting on the rest of the band to arrive. Shit if that didn’t fuckin' make her nervous as hell. Sitting up she saw that the room was empty and frowned. Well hell where'd he go? She glanced at the clock and sighed. Oh yeah, the band had gotten in sometime today. There was a concert tonight; he'd explained the things he had to do, tune guitars, sound check, photo ops. God.

Rolling over she lifted the phone and dialed. Maybe it was time to check in with the baby sister.

Shannon just shut the door behind her when she heard the phone ring. She sighed and set her books on the table reaching for the receiver. "Hello?" She answered breathlessly after running in to grab the phone before it stopped. Heck it might be Jon.

She couldn't stop the smile. "Well hello there Squirt."

"Mel," She exclaimed happy to finally hear her voice. Before Jon left he assured her that Mel would be just fine, to just give her some time and he was sure she'd call her. Shannon hadn't been so sure but arguing with it over Jon wasn't a winning situation so she just let it go. "Hey... don't call me squirt!.... where are you??"

"You won’t believe me..."

"I'd believe just about anything where Richie's concerned," Shannon said dryly.

"Yeah well he does defy logic, keeping me hostage and all. We're in Canada at the moment.”

Shannon snorted through the laugh. "You better keep a leash on that man of yours up there!"

She rolled her eyes and laughed, “more likely to have a leash on me.. but pray tell why leash him here?"

Shannon grinned as she recalled one of the late night conversations with Jon, "Strip clubs," she said simply then laughed "Do NOT let Jon take him out alone sis."

Strip clubs? Surely he wouldn’t? Her eyes stayed to the clock as she started suddenly counting minutes. She shook her head and changed the subject. "So how’s things going there?"

Shannon stifled a laugh, Mel was still uptight about some things. "Busy busy busy! I'm pulling double classes right now. I want that license so I can start making some damn cash!"

Shit, cash, she hadn't even thought of it. "How much is left in the jar sis?"

"Oh plenty... don't worry bout that," she laughed. "I'm just feelin' greedy and want some of my OWN."

She snorted, she remembered how much was there when she left. "So you're eating and you've paid all the bills?"

"Yes Melanie! I'm eating and the bills are no where near shut off ok? Trust me if it comes to that I'll be hunting you and Sambora down FAST."

"You don't let it get behind Shan," she sighed softly, "How many are sis?"

"None are behind I swear."

She changed the subject yet again. She knew Shannon would never admit to being low on cash, especially after how she went on about her having her own life. "So tell me, how did things go with Jon after we left?"

Thankful for the change of subject Shannon smiled. "Good, real good. He's.........really a sweet guy.... don’t tell him I said that though, it might go to his head."

"You got it, his head is poofy enough." She heard the happiness in her voice, little sister had a secret. "Ok so tell me."

"Tell ya what?" She stalled, unsure of how much she should say.

Mel snorted, “you never could keep a secret sis, hell you know ALL of mine now, so quit keeping yours."

"Well...." she paused " ok... we...... well... were.... friends....." She laughed, "very close friends," her voice had a wicked gleam to it.

"Ahhuh."

"With very, very nice benefits," she laughed. "God Mel he's just so," she groaned unable to come up with the words.

She closed her eyes and said a swift prayer. Little sister was flying high. "Found your first huh?"

"Yeah," she said dreamily "God it's only been what? A little over a week since he left and already I'm going nuts I swear!!!" She stopped and winced. "Shit. Mel don’t tell him I said this please?"

"At least ya waited until you were nearly twenty, less chance of it screwing up your life." Even now she wondered if she and Rich had waited if things would have been different. "So school is going ok?"

Shannon heard the slightest regret in Mel's voice and sighed. She hadn't totally moved past it all yet. It would just take time. If anyone could do it Richie could. Jon totally believed that and Shannon believed Jon. "As good as school can be." she rolled her eyes, "I love it but hate it all at once."

"Sounds like life as usual on that aspect then."

"Yeah, ya take the good ya take the bad" God it felt good to talk to Mel again, just like old times, maybe even better. "So.... how is your man treating ya anyway? He ever let ya outta the bed?" she teased.

She snorted and stretched again. "Occasionally."

"Oh such a travesty," she teased.

"I'm not complaining mind you. He's rather talented, and I'm not talking guitar. And don’t you tell him that. He's still the Dork.'

Shannon snickered. "He's a hottie sis, but honestly the only talent of his I’m worried about is the guitar."

"He doesn't really play you know, they hired him for his looks. It's all fake."

"Hired him for his looks??? Man they got jipped!" Shannon teased.

Mel started laughing. "Oh honey if you only knew."

"Sorry Mel my taste tends to run toward poofy haired blue eyed singers," she laughed.

"Thank god, if it ran towards tall dark and handsome with droopy brown eyes I might would have had to kill you."

Shannon laughed, "down girl! He's all yours!"

"Oh I have no doubt about that little sister."

It was so good to hear Mel laughing and joking, sharing secrets again. "So um, in a few months I'm thinking of coming to see a show."

Mel started to grin, "That's why I'm calling. See I have this inside track to tickets, and well I haven’t seen ya in the longest time. You have a small break coming up right?"

"Yeah pretty soon."

Mel snorted, "I hear you thinking, yes it’s only been a week, but damn I been cooking your breakfast every day for fourteen years dammit, I miss ya squirt."

"Ahhh I miss ya too... damn it with the squirt!"

"He's been Dork for 21 years, you've been Squirt, there’s just some things I won’t change."

"Yeah yeah I know," she sighed. "Well, I could do the weekend."

"We'll surprise the poofy one."

"Now that sounds like a plan!" she laughed

“I'll fix it up, complete with the plane tickets. I have a rich boyfriend now you know," her voice teased. She stopped a moment as it hit her, hit hard and fast. Boyfriend. She had one, and it was the one guy she'd always wanted. Holy Hannah, [i]I have a boyfriend![/i]

"Yeah when you pick ‘em you really pick ‘em eh?" she laughed. "Just let me know when. I'm game!"

"You got it sis. Take care of yourself ok?"

"Will do you too and um... if ya see Mr. Poofy hair tell him I said he sucks!" she chuckled at the inside joke. Jon would get it, she knew he would.

She so didn't wanna know. "Will do Squirt. Love ya." she slowly settled the phone back in the cradle and sighed, he sucked, they liked strip clubs and Shan needed money dammit. She curled up in the bed and groaned. he wouldn't be back for hours yet.