Chapter 95

Jon was so relieved to see Melody sitting in his living room. She’d comfort him and make him feel better, like she always did.

“I got dinner, it’s Chinese.” Jon walked over to the living room and put the plastic bags on the coffee table.

He sat down on the couch next to Melody and passed the boxes around.

“Missed you.” He said while handing Melody her food.
“I missed you too.” She said and gave him a short kiss.

They watched tv as they ate and talked about the rehearsals they were having this week. Jon decided it was for Richie to tell Melody what he was doing, he was sure she’d end up asking him anyway.

After dinner they sat in silence again, watching the tv. It made Melody uneasy like silence always did. She was sure something happened between Jon and Richie but they obviously weren’t going to tell her. So she had to figure it out herself.

Melody started thinking of what could have happened. She was sure they didn’t have a fight, otherwise Richie wouldn’t be staying here and she couldn’t imagine them having a fight, they were too close for that. Maybe they had a disagreement about something. About what it was, she didn’t know.

When all the shows they usually watched at night were over Richie got up from his chair. “Well, I’m going to bed. We leave at 9 tomorrow?” He asked Jon.
“Yeah around 9.” Jon looked up at him.
“Alright, good night then.” Richie said.

Melody got up and went to follow Richie. “Where are you going?” Jon asked confused.
“Jake told me a secret about something downstairs, I’m gonna find out if Richie knows.”
“I don’t get to know?”
“You already know.” Melody said as she walked down the stairs.

Just as she hoped she found Richie in the downstairs kitchen, looking in the cupboards. “Richie, are you alright?” She asked as she rounded the counted.
“What? Yeah of course, why?”
“Because you and Jon hardly talked, seems like something’s wrong.” Melody opened the cupboard Richie had just closed.
“Nothing’s wrong, don’t worry. We’re both just tired and wanted to watch tv.” Richie shrugged and opened the next cupboard, finding what he needed.
Melody grabbed a bag of chocolate chip cookies out of the cupboard she had opened. “You’re sure?”
“Definitely.”
“Alright then, see you in the morning.” She gave Richie a hug before looking up to look into his eyes. “You can tell me when there’s something wrong.”
“Don’t worry.”

Melody took the bag of cookies upstairs and sat down next to Jon. She wasn’t giving up until she knew what was wrong, there was something wrong and she’d find out. Turning in her seat to face Jon, she asked him, “What’s going on?”
Jon tried to play innocent, “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. You both didn’t say a thing all night.” Melody said.
“We just didn’t have anything to say.” Jon tried to make an excuse, but his shrug gave it away.
“Jon, tell me, I know it’s bothering you.” Melody said with a sweet voice, trying to make him talk to her.
Jon sighed and looked away from her. “Richie isn’t going on tour.”

Melody understood the sadness that had been there all night now. They were brothers, they had done it all together, did it all together and now Richie wasn’t going to be there. “Aw baby, come here.” She said as she wrapped her arms around him.

She decided not to ask Jon but wondered why Richie didn’t tell her when she asked. Didn’t he trust her? Maybe he’d tell her later.

“It’ll be alright, you got Dave and Teek with you and your other brothers.”
“That’s not the same.” He complained. He hated to admit it but he sounded like a kid. He didn’t care, he’d miss his friend and he wanted a cookie now. Taking the bag off the coffee table, he dug in to grab some cookies.

“Come on Jon.” Melody encouraged him. “You can see the opportunities in this. You get to work with a new guitarist, the experience you’ll get out of it.” She thought she sounded so stupid, trying to make it better, it wouldn’t change a thing, Richie still wouldn’t be there but Jon nodded.

He thought she was right, it was a new experience. He could play music with someone new, learn something new. He could even get new fans out of this. When they played he could even dedicate songs to Richie, so he would still be there with them, sort of. With 4 of his brothers by his side, they’d be in it all together, while Richie would be alone. Richie could do it, he was sure of it and after that he’d have his best friend back so he had to stop sulking and support his brother, he was the one having a hard time.

“Yeah you’re right.” Jon smiled. “I’ll just have to phone you every time I feel down.”
“I promise to keep my phone with me as much as I can.” Melody took a cookie out of his hand. “I’m sure you can phone Richie too, they should let him have some contact with people, right?”


Chapter 96