08.

Natalie didn’t expect Richie to make an appearance that following Friday night – both because it would be crowded and because of how they’d last departed. She was surprised, then, to see his looming figure in her doorway while she was setting things up in the front. Whether he was there or not, she was a woman of her word; she’d told him she would sing one of her songs that night, and she intended to follow through. She realized a few seconds later that in his right hand he held a guitar case with a big bow over it. Natalie smiled at him, a grin he returned as he made his way to the stage; a few people glanced at him, but accepted him as one of their own. Jon had followed in behind him, though he had remained in the back rather than venture forward.

“Knock ‘em dead,” Richie said with a wink and a quick kiss on her cheek before he joined Jon at what was becoming their usual table. Natalie’s eyes followed him, and from the stage she could see Jon give her a reassuring nod and a thumbs up as well. As if performing her own song wasn’t enough pressure, she had to do it with one half of her favorite bands sitting in the room with her.

She settled onto the stool, pivoting her hips to slide back onto it, and Richie watched her intently. He could tell she was nervous by the way she kept licking her lips and taking deep breaths like she was trying to steady herself. The chatter in the bar was dying down as people turned to watch her, and Natalie positioned her fingers on the guitar.

“Sunday dress hangin on the bedroom door
Empty bottle of wine on the hardwood floor
Last night, he said she was the one
Oh, but men and mascara…always run.”

A few of the women in the bar nodded their heads and raised their glasses at her in agreement, and Natalie flashed a sort of sad smile at them. Her eyes wandered briefly back to Jon and Richie, and Richie lifted the guitar case high enough for her to see it. A genuine smile came across her face, and Natalie got the message. She continued to play, but with more conviction now, and she put confidence in her voice. The music was swelling, and Natalie was rocking back and forth with it.

“She ain’t getting’ any younger
It wasn’t supposed to be this way
Starin in the mirror
With little black rivers runnin down her face…”

The music was softer now, and Natalie’s eyes had closed as they so often did as she played. It was a habit that bothered Jon, but mesmerized Richie; she looked so at peace. When she opened her mouth again, her voice was soft, almost a whisper.

“Tomorrow’s gonna be a brand new day
She’ll wake up in the morning an’ wash it all away
Last night, he said she was the one
Oh, but men and mascara…they always run.”

When Natalie put a hand over the strings to silence the echoes of her guitar, she smiled and laughed lightly in the microphone. Everyone clapped for her, and she grabbed the microphone to thank the crowd and introduce the night’s real act. Everyone cheered for them as well as they took the stage, and Natalie bounced down from it and over to where Richie and Jon sat.

“A deal’s a deal,” Richie said with a broad smile, handing her the case. Jon had risen from the table as well, and pulled Natalie in for a hug.
“You did great, baby,” he congratulated, rubbing her back as he hugged. Natalie was beside herself, the exhilaration of performing one of her own songs overwhelming her.
“Well thank you,” she said modestly, accepting the case from Richie as he offered it to her. “He had to bribe me to get me to do it.”
”So I heard,” Jon laughed, looking back at Richie. Richie shrugged and laughed, “Well it worked, dinnit? Anyway, we just stopped by for your debut. We gotta head out.”

The smile died from Natalie’s face, clearly not ready for them – mainly Richie – to leave. There was cause for celebration. Well, in her eyes there was. She doubted they were as impressed or enthused, but that was beside the point.

“Where are you going?” she asked, pushing the hair away from her face.
“Got a break coming up. We’re heading up LA to record some stuff for a friend,” Jon answered, shifting his weight.
“Sounds like fun,” Natalie answered, not missing a beat, but Richie read the disappointment in her eyes.
“We’ll be back around the end of the month,” Richie supplied, knowing what was on her mind. “You owe me that dinner, and I plan on holding you to it.”
“Guess I better get my ass to a grocery store then, huh?” she laughed. Richie and Jon both smiled and gave her a tight before they left. On their way out, a couple of women were coming in. She saw the way all five of them did double takes at Richie and Jon, looking at each other with wide eyes. Natalie laughed at the exchange between the lot of them, and as she passed by, one of them seized her by the arm.
“Was that Bon Jovi?” she asked, her voice incredulous.
“Who? Those guys?” she asked, her eyes going to the window they were walking past. The women all nodded.
“Oh,” Natalie laughed in show, “Nah. Truckers. Stopped by to see some friends,” Natalie explained. The women seemed to buy it, their faces and stances falling. “Sorry to spoil the night,” Natalie added, swatting playfully at the girl’s arm. She smiled and shrugged, and she and her friends found a spot down in front.