Monday was a pretty standard day for Melody. She left for work to the hotel where she worked as a receptionist in New York. During lunch she made a doctor’s appointment for Tyler and asked her boss if she could work a later shift on Wednesday so she could to take Tyler to a doctor. Her boss agreed and she went back to work.
By 6pm she was home and made dinner for herself, she found herself a little bit nervous to work at the cd store tomorrow. She still couldn't really believe he had come into the store. To be that lucky it was even on a day she helped her brother out. Nervous as she was, she couldn't wait to see him again. Those beautiful blue eyes and that perfect white smile. If he didn't order another cd tomorrow, it would be the last time she saw him. She let out a big sigh as she realized that. Then again she marvelled at how professional she had been when he was in the store. It had been her dream all her life to meet him, she couldn't believe she hadn't said anything fan-like to him, how much she adored him, how much she loved him or something.
Tuesday morning she made sure she looked nice by using some more make-up than usual before her brother picked her up. Using a red lipstick that wouldn't stand out too much, some mascara finally stayed on her eye lashes after poking herself in the eye once or twice. She always felt like skipping when she walked outside, she had to say something to him today, something more than cd talk.
Around 3pm she started wondering if he had forgotten, he still hadn't come to the store. It started getting later and later and she got more nervous every hour. She didn’t look up anymore every time she heard the door, being sure he had forgotten about the cd. 5pm, he definitely forgot She thought as she read the clock behind the register and reached under the cd displays for boxes with cd’s when she heard someone walk into the store. She lifted the box and started putting them on display.
“Hey Melody.” She heard a familiar voice say.
She turned her head and smiled. “Hi” She said happily, almost dreaming, just looking at him.
He stood there feeling a bit awkward being looked at. “Hello?” He asked.
“Oh sorry.” She said when she snapped out of it and came back to reality. “Here for your cd?”
“Yeah, that too.” He said. She looked at him confused what else would he be here for, but walked to the register, reaching under it to look for the cd.
She took a second to look at the picture on the cover, still wondering why he ordered a cd of his own band as she looked at him standing alone on the cover. She stood back up and scanned the cd "I like this cd, I'm sure you'll like it too." She said as she put it in a plastic bag.
"Really?" He chuckled.
"Yeah, I have every cd of that band, they're really good." She told him. Still professional but she had told him she liked his music.
“So when are you off?” He asked her, leaning on the counter.
“We close at 6.” She said with a smile.
“Care to go for dinner with me when you’re done?” A big smile appeared on her face when he asked her.
“Really?” Surprised he had asked for dinner. He had to chuckle at her question and reaction.
“Yeah, really. Do you?” He asked again, a bit less sure now.
“Yeah, absolutely.” She said even happier than when she finally saw him tonight.
“Ok then,” he said, “I’ll pick you up here at 6.” He said with a big smile, she returned his smile with her own. “See ya then.” He said and started to leave.
“Your cd!” She called after him when he was almost by the door.
“Oh right.” He turned around and walked back to get the cd and left again.
“Have a nice day.” This time he just had to laugh when she said it.
“A very nice one.” He said over his shoulder as he opened the door.
Once he was outside, she saw him give the cd to the first person he saw and walked down the street.
Excited she went into Daniels office.
“He asked me out! He asked me out!” He looked confused at her. “Jon Bon Jovi asked me out! He’s gonna be here in 30 minutes!” She said after glancing at the clock on the wall. “Oh my god, I gotta go, I have to get ready!” She looked at her older brother hoping he could go in the store so she could leave.
“Yeah go.” he said waving her away. She didn’t even thank him and left quickly.
By 6pm she was home and made dinner for herself, she found herself a little bit nervous to work at the cd store tomorrow. She still couldn't really believe he had come into the store. To be that lucky it was even on a day she helped her brother out. Nervous as she was, she couldn't wait to see him again. Those beautiful blue eyes and that perfect white smile. If he didn't order another cd tomorrow, it would be the last time she saw him. She let out a big sigh as she realized that. Then again she marvelled at how professional she had been when he was in the store. It had been her dream all her life to meet him, she couldn't believe she hadn't said anything fan-like to him, how much she adored him, how much she loved him or something.
Tuesday morning she made sure she looked nice by using some more make-up than usual before her brother picked her up. Using a red lipstick that wouldn't stand out too much, some mascara finally stayed on her eye lashes after poking herself in the eye once or twice. She always felt like skipping when she walked outside, she had to say something to him today, something more than cd talk.
Around 3pm she started wondering if he had forgotten, he still hadn't come to the store. It started getting later and later and she got more nervous every hour. She didn’t look up anymore every time she heard the door, being sure he had forgotten about the cd. 5pm, he definitely forgot She thought as she read the clock behind the register and reached under the cd displays for boxes with cd’s when she heard someone walk into the store. She lifted the box and started putting them on display.
“Hey Melody.” She heard a familiar voice say.
She turned her head and smiled. “Hi” She said happily, almost dreaming, just looking at him.
He stood there feeling a bit awkward being looked at. “Hello?” He asked.
“Oh sorry.” She said when she snapped out of it and came back to reality. “Here for your cd?”
“Yeah, that too.” He said. She looked at him confused what else would he be here for, but walked to the register, reaching under it to look for the cd.
She took a second to look at the picture on the cover, still wondering why he ordered a cd of his own band as she looked at him standing alone on the cover. She stood back up and scanned the cd "I like this cd, I'm sure you'll like it too." She said as she put it in a plastic bag.
"Really?" He chuckled.
"Yeah, I have every cd of that band, they're really good." She told him. Still professional but she had told him she liked his music.
“So when are you off?” He asked her, leaning on the counter.
“We close at 6.” She said with a smile.
“Care to go for dinner with me when you’re done?” A big smile appeared on her face when he asked her.
“Really?” Surprised he had asked for dinner. He had to chuckle at her question and reaction.
“Yeah, really. Do you?” He asked again, a bit less sure now.
“Yeah, absolutely.” She said even happier than when she finally saw him tonight.
“Ok then,” he said, “I’ll pick you up here at 6.” He said with a big smile, she returned his smile with her own. “See ya then.” He said and started to leave.
“Your cd!” She called after him when he was almost by the door.
“Oh right.” He turned around and walked back to get the cd and left again.
“Have a nice day.” This time he just had to laugh when she said it.
“A very nice one.” He said over his shoulder as he opened the door.
Once he was outside, she saw him give the cd to the first person he saw and walked down the street.
Excited she went into Daniels office.
“He asked me out! He asked me out!” He looked confused at her. “Jon Bon Jovi asked me out! He’s gonna be here in 30 minutes!” She said after glancing at the clock on the wall. “Oh my god, I gotta go, I have to get ready!” She looked at her older brother hoping he could go in the store so she could leave.
“Yeah go.” he said waving her away. She didn’t even thank him and left quickly.
Once outside she was wondering where she should go, home was too far to be back in time. Idiot, there’s a clothing store next door she thought to herself and went to the store. She walked in, looking around, not really knowing what she should get when the store owner asked her if she needed help.
“Yes, I’m going on a date in half an hour. I need something nicer than this.” She gestured at her blouse and store vest.
The lady showed her different kind of tops around the store. Melody picked out a red strapless top that would still go nice with her jeans and a black top which were basically just arms to put over something like the strapless top.
She paid for it and went back to her brother’s store, where she got changed in the bathroom and reapplied her make-up. Brushed her hair quickly with the small brush she always had in her purse and actually thought her hair looked better than before. She remembered to text Tyler she’d be on a date and home late. She had been dating before, so she didn’t think it would bother him. She told her children when she was seeing someone, even after a few weeks. Usually it wasn't longer than a few weeks anyway. When she was ready it was just 3 minutes before 6pm. She left the cd store and waited on the bench in front of the store.
“Yes, I’m going on a date in half an hour. I need something nicer than this.” She gestured at her blouse and store vest.
The lady showed her different kind of tops around the store. Melody picked out a red strapless top that would still go nice with her jeans and a black top which were basically just arms to put over something like the strapless top.
She paid for it and went back to her brother’s store, where she got changed in the bathroom and reapplied her make-up. Brushed her hair quickly with the small brush she always had in her purse and actually thought her hair looked better than before. She remembered to text Tyler she’d be on a date and home late. She had been dating before, so she didn’t think it would bother him. She told her children when she was seeing someone, even after a few weeks. Usually it wasn't longer than a few weeks anyway. When she was ready it was just 3 minutes before 6pm. She left the cd store and waited on the bench in front of the store.
A few minutes later she saw him walking around the corner of the street and walked up to her. She got up from the bench before he reached her.
“You look gorgeous.” He said when he was standing in front of her. “I should have put something more decent on.” He saw her blush.
“No, you look great in jeans and a black t-shirt.” She said, blushing less and smiling.
“Ready to go?” He didn’t wait for her answer and grabbed her hand and started walking in the direction he came from. He's holding my hand!
“Where are we going?” She asked him wondering.
“That Italian place, it’s just around the corner.” He pointed at the corner.
She knew the place, it was fancy, and she had never gone inside but passed it a million times. He held the door open for her, and guided her to the host. Where he said his name and the host checked his book before guiding them to their table. A few minutes later they were seated at the back of the restaurant and a waiter brought them menus.
Sitting across from him she caught herself staring at him again as he read his menu and quickly looked at her own menu. Reading all the delicious meals, she couldn't pick what she wanted. Spaghetti sounded nice, but so did lasagna and pizza. She loved Italian food, she could never make her pick when she went to a restaurant.
"What are you ordering?" She asked him, hoping that would help her.
"The pizza." He said with a smile and told her which number it was on the menu. He closed his menu and put it down in front of him on the table. She looked and decided it did sound nice. Magazine's were right, pizza with everything on it
"That really sounds great." She said with a smile.
"Great, let's get the large one and we can share." He said and called for the waiter.
He ordered the pizza and asked for a nice wine.
“So…” He said, not really sure what to say, “You work at that cd store?”
“No, it’s my brother’s store; I help him out on most Tuesdays. I work at a hotel, at the front desk.” She explained to him.
He nodded “Cool.” She smiled at him.
The waiter brought their wine before she could ask him a question. The waiter kept looking back at Jon while he let him taste the wine. He surely recognized him.
“I’m at least going to pretend I don’t know you.” She said after the waiter had left.
“Oh, you know me?” He asked her, then taking a sip from his wine.
“No, no idea who you are, just a stranger that came in the store and asked me out.” She smiled at him again; he flashed his brilliant smile back.
“Ok then.” He said laughing.
“Well then,” She said. “What do you do for a living?”
“I sing in a band.” He said, playing along with her.
“A band?” she asked. “What kind of band? Big enough to live off?”
He nodded; this wasn’t too bad he thought. “A rock band. We’re pretty big, we just finished a leg of our tour in December and played during the summer too. We start the next leg in 2 weeks and in the summer we go to Europe.” He explained to her.
“Must be a big band then.” She said.
“Yeah.” He agreed with her. “In two days, there’s a charity thingy, where a lot of fan club members go to, just to get back used to touring." He stopped talking when he saw the waiter approaching with their pizza and waited till he left again. "So what about you? Tell me. Your name, where you’re from, birthday, kids?” He asked her.
She finished her bite of pizza and answered him. “My full name?” She asked, he nodded. “Melody Catherine Walker, I grew up in Cape May. My birthday is 12 July and I have 4 kids.” She looked up at him. Usually when she said she had 4 kids her dates were over pretty fast.
“Four?” he asked. She nodded, she knew he had kids too and hoped he didn't mind the big number. “Great, me too. Boys, girls?” He sounded more exited than any date she ever told she had 4 kids.
“3 boys and a girl, you?” She asked him.
“A girl and 3 boys.” He said taking a bite from his folded pizza slice.
“Same questions for you.” She told him and took another bite of her pizza. Just as she thought of the description in the menu it tasted really good.
“The same? John Francis Bongiovi, I grew up in Sayreville, second of March and, well four.” He said, she smiled at him while he took a bite from his slice. “I got 4 more questions for you then.” He said when he finished his bite. “Do you have siblings? Favourite music, favourite movie, favourite book?”
“I have 2 older brothers.” She said, pausing not sure if she wanted to tell him already, he nodded.
“Go on, I didn't run when you had 4 kids, so I won't run if you have like 8 sisters.” He said sweetly.
“And 2 younger sisters." She decided to say. "Favourite music, that’s difficult. I definitely liked the 80s, great music. Favourite movie, I’d have to say The Lord of the Rings, cause I’m that kind of geek. I can’t pick a favourite book, cause, cause I just told you I’m a geek, I can’t pick.” She confessed and he laughed.
“Then I’m not answering the book question either.”
“Fine, be that way.” She said, reaching over the table to slap his wrist where his face was resting in his hand.
“I will.” He laughed again.
“Answer the other 3 then.” She told him.
“2 younger brothers. Southside Johnny, Dylan, The Stones, Beatles, Elvis, loads of people. Movie? The Godfather.”
They talked some more about their favourite music and movies as they ate their pizza. Melody couldn't believe she stayed this calm and even pretended not to know him. She thought it would be nicer for him if she didn't already know things about him. Amazed at how calm she stayed, she continued the conversation about music and movies with him, still surprised she was even in a restaurant with him talking about music and movies. Finally he finished his glass of wine and called for the waiter.
“Do we do second dates?” He asked her when the waiter left with their plates.
“Of course we do.” She answered him. He paid the waiter when he came back and they left the restaurant.
“Do you live far from here? I’ll drive you home.”
“That’d be great.” She said while they walked to his car, she didn't look forward to taking a bus now.
He opened the door for her and walked around the car to get in and started the car, loud music started blaring. He quickly turned down the music.
“Sorry about that.” He said. “So where to?” He asked her.
“Just go on the highway. I’ll tell you when to turn.”
He started driving. “Why did you move here all the way from Cape May?” He asked her.
“My ex-husband got a job here, so we moved here when we got married. Lived here for 20 years now. Go right here and left after you passed the park.” She said.
He turned right. “Richie used to live around here, you know.” He said.
She looked up at him. “Who?” She asked him.
“Richie. Oh right, you don’t know me.” He turned left. “Now where?”
“First left, second house.” She pointed the way for him.
He parked the car and got out to open the door for her.
“Do you want to come in for coffee?” She asked him hesitantly, he agreed and followed her in.
He noticed a big promotion poster of a concert tour opposite of the door when he walked in. They went into the kitchen and she started making coffee. He put his jacket over the chair at the kitchen table and sat down.
“I just gotta go downstairs and check on Tyler." she said. She went downstairs and was back again in 2 minutes, the coffee was done when she was back, she poured him a cup and handed it to him, sitting down in the chair next to him. They chatted about some things until his cup was almost empty.
“So about that second date.” He said, grabbing a piece of paper off the pile that was left on the table, checking if it was empty. He tore it in half and grabbed a pen, wrote down his number and slide it to her over the table, along with the other piece of paper and the pen. She wrote down her number and gave it back to him.
“I’ll phone you tomorrow night.” He said and emptied his cup. “I guess I should go.” He said looking at his watch.
Melody looked at the clock and noticed it was 11.30 already. Time flies by when you're having fun.
She walked him to the door, where he leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.
“I had a great night.” He said softly.
“So did I.” She agreed.
“I’ll phone you tomorrow night.” He reaffirmed.“Goodnight.” And walked outside, he got in his car and Melody waved him goodbye before going back inside.
She texted Lori, saying she had a date with Jon Bon Jovi and got an answer while she was going into her bedroom, it read:
12.03am: Go back to sleep.
She undressed for bed and thought for a second. Did I just really have a date with Jon Bon Jovi? And I asked him in for coffee? She was surprised how she could remain so calm about it all. She’d only been dreaming of this since she was 17, she never expected to be this calm seeing him in person, let alone going out with him.
“You look gorgeous.” He said when he was standing in front of her. “I should have put something more decent on.” He saw her blush.
“No, you look great in jeans and a black t-shirt.” She said, blushing less and smiling.
“Ready to go?” He didn’t wait for her answer and grabbed her hand and started walking in the direction he came from. He's holding my hand!
“Where are we going?” She asked him wondering.
“That Italian place, it’s just around the corner.” He pointed at the corner.
She knew the place, it was fancy, and she had never gone inside but passed it a million times. He held the door open for her, and guided her to the host. Where he said his name and the host checked his book before guiding them to their table. A few minutes later they were seated at the back of the restaurant and a waiter brought them menus.
Sitting across from him she caught herself staring at him again as he read his menu and quickly looked at her own menu. Reading all the delicious meals, she couldn't pick what she wanted. Spaghetti sounded nice, but so did lasagna and pizza. She loved Italian food, she could never make her pick when she went to a restaurant.
"What are you ordering?" She asked him, hoping that would help her.
"The pizza." He said with a smile and told her which number it was on the menu. He closed his menu and put it down in front of him on the table. She looked and decided it did sound nice. Magazine's were right, pizza with everything on it
"That really sounds great." She said with a smile.
"Great, let's get the large one and we can share." He said and called for the waiter.
He ordered the pizza and asked for a nice wine.
“So…” He said, not really sure what to say, “You work at that cd store?”
“No, it’s my brother’s store; I help him out on most Tuesdays. I work at a hotel, at the front desk.” She explained to him.
He nodded “Cool.” She smiled at him.
The waiter brought their wine before she could ask him a question. The waiter kept looking back at Jon while he let him taste the wine. He surely recognized him.
“I’m at least going to pretend I don’t know you.” She said after the waiter had left.
“Oh, you know me?” He asked her, then taking a sip from his wine.
“No, no idea who you are, just a stranger that came in the store and asked me out.” She smiled at him again; he flashed his brilliant smile back.
“Ok then.” He said laughing.
“Well then,” She said. “What do you do for a living?”
“I sing in a band.” He said, playing along with her.
“A band?” she asked. “What kind of band? Big enough to live off?”
He nodded; this wasn’t too bad he thought. “A rock band. We’re pretty big, we just finished a leg of our tour in December and played during the summer too. We start the next leg in 2 weeks and in the summer we go to Europe.” He explained to her.
“Must be a big band then.” She said.
“Yeah.” He agreed with her. “In two days, there’s a charity thingy, where a lot of fan club members go to, just to get back used to touring." He stopped talking when he saw the waiter approaching with their pizza and waited till he left again. "So what about you? Tell me. Your name, where you’re from, birthday, kids?” He asked her.
She finished her bite of pizza and answered him. “My full name?” She asked, he nodded. “Melody Catherine Walker, I grew up in Cape May. My birthday is 12 July and I have 4 kids.” She looked up at him. Usually when she said she had 4 kids her dates were over pretty fast.
“Four?” he asked. She nodded, she knew he had kids too and hoped he didn't mind the big number. “Great, me too. Boys, girls?” He sounded more exited than any date she ever told she had 4 kids.
“3 boys and a girl, you?” She asked him.
“A girl and 3 boys.” He said taking a bite from his folded pizza slice.
“Same questions for you.” She told him and took another bite of her pizza. Just as she thought of the description in the menu it tasted really good.
“The same? John Francis Bongiovi, I grew up in Sayreville, second of March and, well four.” He said, she smiled at him while he took a bite from his slice. “I got 4 more questions for you then.” He said when he finished his bite. “Do you have siblings? Favourite music, favourite movie, favourite book?”
“I have 2 older brothers.” She said, pausing not sure if she wanted to tell him already, he nodded.
“Go on, I didn't run when you had 4 kids, so I won't run if you have like 8 sisters.” He said sweetly.
“And 2 younger sisters." She decided to say. "Favourite music, that’s difficult. I definitely liked the 80s, great music. Favourite movie, I’d have to say The Lord of the Rings, cause I’m that kind of geek. I can’t pick a favourite book, cause, cause I just told you I’m a geek, I can’t pick.” She confessed and he laughed.
“Then I’m not answering the book question either.”
“Fine, be that way.” She said, reaching over the table to slap his wrist where his face was resting in his hand.
“I will.” He laughed again.
“Answer the other 3 then.” She told him.
“2 younger brothers. Southside Johnny, Dylan, The Stones, Beatles, Elvis, loads of people. Movie? The Godfather.”
They talked some more about their favourite music and movies as they ate their pizza. Melody couldn't believe she stayed this calm and even pretended not to know him. She thought it would be nicer for him if she didn't already know things about him. Amazed at how calm she stayed, she continued the conversation about music and movies with him, still surprised she was even in a restaurant with him talking about music and movies. Finally he finished his glass of wine and called for the waiter.
“Do we do second dates?” He asked her when the waiter left with their plates.
“Of course we do.” She answered him. He paid the waiter when he came back and they left the restaurant.
“Do you live far from here? I’ll drive you home.”
“That’d be great.” She said while they walked to his car, she didn't look forward to taking a bus now.
He opened the door for her and walked around the car to get in and started the car, loud music started blaring. He quickly turned down the music.
“Sorry about that.” He said. “So where to?” He asked her.
“Just go on the highway. I’ll tell you when to turn.”
He started driving. “Why did you move here all the way from Cape May?” He asked her.
“My ex-husband got a job here, so we moved here when we got married. Lived here for 20 years now. Go right here and left after you passed the park.” She said.
He turned right. “Richie used to live around here, you know.” He said.
She looked up at him. “Who?” She asked him.
“Richie. Oh right, you don’t know me.” He turned left. “Now where?”
“First left, second house.” She pointed the way for him.
He parked the car and got out to open the door for her.
“Do you want to come in for coffee?” She asked him hesitantly, he agreed and followed her in.
He noticed a big promotion poster of a concert tour opposite of the door when he walked in. They went into the kitchen and she started making coffee. He put his jacket over the chair at the kitchen table and sat down.
“I just gotta go downstairs and check on Tyler." she said. She went downstairs and was back again in 2 minutes, the coffee was done when she was back, she poured him a cup and handed it to him, sitting down in the chair next to him. They chatted about some things until his cup was almost empty.
“So about that second date.” He said, grabbing a piece of paper off the pile that was left on the table, checking if it was empty. He tore it in half and grabbed a pen, wrote down his number and slide it to her over the table, along with the other piece of paper and the pen. She wrote down her number and gave it back to him.
“I’ll phone you tomorrow night.” He said and emptied his cup. “I guess I should go.” He said looking at his watch.
Melody looked at the clock and noticed it was 11.30 already. Time flies by when you're having fun.
She walked him to the door, where he leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.
“I had a great night.” He said softly.
“So did I.” She agreed.
“I’ll phone you tomorrow night.” He reaffirmed.“Goodnight.” And walked outside, he got in his car and Melody waved him goodbye before going back inside.
She texted Lori, saying she had a date with Jon Bon Jovi and got an answer while she was going into her bedroom, it read:
12.03am: Go back to sleep.
She undressed for bed and thought for a second. Did I just really have a date with Jon Bon Jovi? And I asked him in for coffee? She was surprised how she could remain so calm about it all. She’d only been dreaming of this since she was 17, she never expected to be this calm seeing him in person, let alone going out with him.
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