Chapter 6

6)
“So tell me why exactly you’re in Toronto seeing us when you’re from Wisconsin?” Jon would ask Danielle.
She would tell him about her lame ass friends and lame ass boy toy that both promised to go to the Jersey show with her on her birthday then backed out.
“Now I love you’ all but I’ve heard it's not best for a woman to be in Newark alone so I decided to find an alternative. How convenient that a month later you were going to only be 4 hrs from me in one of my favorite cities in the world. Toronto.”
“Hey Rich I’m not sure if it's a brunette women thing but she had a boy toy too? Weren’t you one for a while?” Referring to Richie’s thing with Cher many years ago.
Richie was about to respond with his normal ‘fuck you’ but Ava walks out just then so he just smiles.
“Hey baby girl.” He smirks at his daughter.
“Daddy I’m not a baby.” She’d remind him.
“You’ll always be mine.”
“I know.” Ava would give him a hug then smiles to Danielle.
“Did you like your birthday?”
“Yes it was amazing.”
“I love it when they sing to me – Uncle Jonny has a pretty good voice.”
“I think he’s getting better.” Danielle would play along with her.
“Maybe in 10yrs he’ll figure it out.” Ava ponders.
Jon laughs, “I’m getting abused by a 12 yr old.”

Eventually Jon couldn’t stand not knowing any longer and he’d ask Danielle to take a walk with him. They walk around the back of the arena staying in the warmth but out of everyone’s way.
“Why did welcome hit you so hard?” He’d ask unable to resist his need for an answer.
“Jon I don’t know you, I don’t think I wanna get into that discussion.”
“Isn’t it easier to talk to someone you don’t know?”
“No, it's really bad, it won’t portray me in the best light.”
“Can you tell me? It really seemed raw almost.” He’d be pushing he knows, most men would back off but for some reason he feels that Danielle will open up to him he just needs to prove to her he’s really interested.
“Ok but you asked. Pretty much my entire life I’ve had people making fun of my choices, they think they know what I should do, I shouldn’t spend $700 for the weekend to go see Jovi, it's hard to explain.” Danielle would close down again.
“Come on just talk to me, when you started crying I just wanted to get off the stage and hug you.”
“I identify with people being different but all to often I feel alone in the world I feel like all I want is someone that I can call mine – someone who will put me first in their life. I am with my family but I want more. Then I get the memories of guys telling me I don’t have more because I don’t need them.”
“Guys told you that?” Jon would asked shocked.
“Yeah I’m independent, I earned my rights to be. Sometimes I feel life passed me by, I didn’t date a whole lot in high school, I had this focus and determination but now I look back and wonder was it worth it.”

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Chapter 5

5)
“Oh MY GOD” Danielle muttered.

“Come on sweetness you’re holding up the show.”

“Welcome to wherever you are”

“Wow that one I didn’t expect, but my lady,” Jon bowed gracefully at the waist, “your wish is my command.”

“If only” Danielle smiled.

He laughs too, “Maybe later.” He’d smirk then yell, “Guys you heard her.”

David started the song and Jon sang it to Danielle. She swore he’s singing just to her – he sat on side of stage. She of course is singing along with him mesmerized.

Welcome to wherever you are This is your life, you made it this far Welcome, you gotta believe That right here right now, you're exactly where you're supposed to be Welcome, to wherever you are


Danielle stopped singing and start crying when he sings that part.

Jon comes down after the song while the audience is applauding and puts her face in his hands, kisses side of her face “’welcome to wherever you are”.

“Happy birthday Sweetie.”

“Thanks Jon.” She’d smile through the tears.

The rest of the show Jon watches Danielle he cant’ understand why welcome hit her so deeply.

Once the concert is over Danielle is escorted backstage and let into a room with a few other people. One of the women walks over to her and smiles. “We’ve got drinks over here if you’d like one.”

“Thanks I think I could use one.” Danielle would smile and walk over to grab a Moosehead beer.

“I’m Linda by the way, David’s girlfriend.”

"OH hi, I’m Danielle, I met David today at the coffee shop.”

“Yes he told me. I do have to say I appreciate anyone who will give Jon a hassle.” Linda smiled seeing Jon walk out behind Danielle but not letting on.

“Hey that annoyed me. I’ve seen them 16 times now and that was the only time I’ve ever been disappointed by anything live.”

”You’re serious, that honestly affected you?” Jon asked from behind her.

“Yes it did. It was such a hot and humid night, it even rained on me that night and didn’t care. I just wanted to be there and scream and dance and have fun. Then as I was leaving I’m like – wait they didn’t play Summertime and that is my favorite song on Lost Highway.”

“I’m sorry, really Danielle. It's very difficult to put a set list together with this many hit songs over the years. I promise if you come to see us this summer we’ll play it. In fact you’re from Wisconsin right?” Jon asks, loving that she has not flipped out once since they’ve been talking and played the fan card.

“Yes that’s where I live now.”

”Ok I’m putting your name on the band list, any show in Wisconsin we play you will have a front row ticket and backstage pass for so you can see us – on me because we failed to entertain you at Summerfest.” Jon walked away quick to tell Mike his assistant to put her name on the list.

Danielle felt horrible, letting him believe they didn’t entertain her. “Jon really you don’t have to do that.”
“No we do. For someone to have seen us now 16 times, you’ve spent a sizeable amount of money on this band, you’ve made me a success and I don’t like hearing that I failed a fan. I can’t make everyone happy all of the time, but I can damn sure make up for it when I hear about it.”
“Alright I’ll let you buy me a ticket for a change. They aren’t getting less expensive as the years go on that’s for sure.”
“Thank you for your friendship over the years, seriously Danielle it's people like you that have kept us in this business.”
“And how many times have you used that line in the last year?” She’d bust him on his public relations approved statement.
“Damn David you didn’t tell me she was gonna bust my balls on everything?”
”Someone has to keep you in line, I figured Danielle was up for the job.”
”Hey I’m just the innocent fan here.”
”Darlin you grew up in the 80’s you’re far from innocent.” Richie would joke walking over to them.

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Chapter 4

“You want to hook me up with her because she came from Wisconsin?” Jon asked his brother.

“No she’s real, she’s confident, and doesn’t look like a Barbie doll and she had the balls to tell me to yell at you?” He assured Jon there was a method behind his madness.

“She did huh? About what?” Jon says intrigued.

“Summertime should be played at summer concerts.”

“We didn’t –you’re right.” Jon confirmed after a bit of thought.

“She’s right. She was very upset about that and explained to me why. I told her I’d have you play it
tonight and she told me it shouldn’t be played in December.”

“We can play it and dedicate it to her?” Jon offers.

“Yeah she’ll be in the front row, backstage and our tour guide tomorrow.” David told him by way of saying how much of an impact Danielle had on him.

Jon started playing with the set list and Tico yelled outraged “Why the fuck are you messing with that list again?”

“It's not my fault – Dave did it.” Jon laughs.

Dave walked over to his girlfriend, “Protect me will ya.”

”Oh sure come to me for protection after you get in trouble.” She laughed.

That night during the concert, Dave waved to Danielle, noticing she’s on the side by Richie. Jon notices and is impressed with who he’s trying to hook him up with.

While going through the show, Jon stopped for a few seconds and noticed, Danielle is completely loving life. Jon’s smiling that even though she’s there by myself she doesn’t have a care in the world. He finally moved over – sits on side of stage and says, “You’re Danielle aren’t you?”

“yeah.”

“I heard you have a problem with Summerfest.” Jon smirked that perfect way only he can.
Danielle immediately thought, ‘oh shit’.

“OH yeah busted, you talked to a birdie who talked to me.” The grin got larger.

Danielle looked over at David, ‘Dave you’re dead’ she thinks.

“What I need to know, is what exactly your problem with Summerfest was?” He asked sitting on the stage in front of her.

“You didn’t play Summertime.” Danielle informed figuring maybe he can’t hear her and maybe he’s not really upset that she had the gaul to state her disapproval.

“Do you believe this – she has a problem with us playing in Milwaukee WI at a summer show and not playing Summertime?” Jon would stand up and ask the audience. The audience is quiet and confused as to why they didn’t play it.

“Yeah now that I think about it that makes no sense to me either. I probably was going to change the set list and Tico threatened me.” Jon laughs and Tico does a rim shot and the audience laughed. Finally Jon looked at Danielle again, “Well I’m going to make it up to you.”

“How Jon?” By now Danielle isn’t scared to talk to him it's rather comical she thinks.

“We’re going to play Summertime.” He stated.

“In the middle of the winter?” She asked.

“It may seem strange but you’ll hear Summertime live.”

“The point is summer –outside-open arena 90* when you can enjoy it.”

“So I failed miserably at being a great guy?” Jon asks playfully.

“I never said that- your set planning ability needs help.” Danielle spouted off and even Richie had to laugh.

“Alright young lady another approach. This concert from what the birdie told me this is a birthday present to yourself?” He asked for confirmation.

“Yes.”

“Who’s your favorite member of the band?”

“You?” She responds shyly.

“Alright – I’m giving you the pick, what song would you like me to sing to you for your birthday?”

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Chapter 3

David adds her on the list at the will call window when he gets back to the arena. “Just close to the front/after show pass/either side.”

He then walked backstage and told Jon he wanted Summertime on song list – Jon laughed, “you never wanna change the set list.”

David smiled and told Jon about Danielle and her birthday and that she’s from Wisconsin and told him the story about the attempt at going to the Pru but how it fell apart and now how she was determined to see them anyway.

Jon liked that Danielle is determined –“David are you trying to hook me up?”

“Would I do that?”

“Yes.” Jon deadpans.

“Would it be so bad? If I remember correctly I told you to go after Dot.”

“and look how that turned out .” Jon grinned, he was almost over the pain of the marriage ending.

“Hey it's not my fault she was an unfaithful twit.” David stated still angry at Dot for breaking Jon’s heart.

“I wasn’t perfect.” Jon can’t let anyone bad talk Dorthea even though he was angry at her.

“Yeah but at least you had enough respect to keep it out of the home.”

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Chapter 2

2)
Danielle couldn’t believe her little escape allowed her to run into her favorite keyboardist of all time.
“Coffee addict too I see.” She smiled hoping he wouldn't be an asshole, that'd kill the image completely.

“OH yeah. Hey you’re American?”

“Yes I am.” Danielle smiled. He’s really easy to talk to.

“Where are you from?” He asked eagerly, whenever they traveled to another country and met American's it was refreshing.

“I’m from Wisconsin.” Looking around to make sure he's really talking to her.

David smiled, this one he knew he's been to. “OH oh I’ve been there.”

“I know you were there in July.”

“I take it you were too?” David smiles as they hand him his coffee.

”Yep I went to Summerfest.”

“What did you think of the show?” Automatically he asked, always looking to improve if they can.

“Well it was good.”

“Just good? Why not great?”

“Well I’m kind of pissed at you guys.” Oops maybe she should have just kept her mouth closed because David's jaw dropped.

“I didn’t do it. If something was wrong I blame Jon.” David laughed.

“That works. He can take the blame." She might as well tell him what they did wrong, "You’re supposed to play Summertime in the summer and you didn’t.”

“Well it’s on...no I don’t think it is on the set list for tonight.”

”Well I want to hear it live but Summertime isn’t a December winter song.”

“I’m sorry. I will relay the message and yell at him for you.”

“Thank you very much David. By the way I love Lunar Eclipse.” She told him and he smiled thinking this fan
heard the name and never actually heard it. Some fans have pulled that before.

“Really what’s your favorite song?”

“It’s a toss up. I love On a Full Moon but Netherworld Waltz is quickly catching up.”

“You’ve actually heard the album.”

“Yes.” She looked at him like he has 3 heads. “I’ve also go the full album in my ipod –see.” Danielle then clicked around and showed him that it is in her ipod. He’d grab the ipod and checked the play count and saw that she wasn’t bullshitting him, she actually does listen to it. He’d then look up wondering why no one has come to collect her yet from talking to some tall silly looking guy.

”Are you here with someone?”

“No I’m here by myself.”

”Why?”

“Well the story is I had a boy toy that promised to take me to Jersey to see you at the Pru on my birthday but he flaked. Then a friend said she’d go to Newark with me, didn’t really wanna spend the few hundred on the ticket to the show though but at least I’d have someone to go with. I was good with that since I heard Newark isn’t exactly safe. Well then she backed out so I wasn’t able to see you on my birthday like I wanted. So I decided it’s my life, I said the hell with waiting on others, so I came here. I love Toronto anyway I would live here if I wasn’t so American so here I am.” Danielle would explain.

“So you’ve been here before?”

”Yes I was here a little over a year ago and fell in love with the city.”

“So what are you plans for tomorrow?” David asked with a twinkle in his eye.

“Just bumming around, sightseeing.” She answered honestly not sure where these questions were going.

“Would you like some company?”

”Sure.”

”Ok give me your name.”

Danielle saw no reason not to so she told him. “When you get to the arena tonight go to the will call window.”

“David I already have a ticket.”

“Yeah well exchange it at the window for a better one and a backstage pass. Think of it as a late birthday present.”

“Thank you David.”

“Not a problem. Now I better go before Jon has a fit.”

“Oh tell him to chill.”

“Last time I told him that he took a year off.” They both laughed as he walked out of Tim Horton’s and
Danielle sat down to collect her thoughts.

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