Dialtones

Chapter Two: Guitar Hero.

Song Of The Chapter: Crawling by Linkin Park.

Leah stood behind the counter in the local Guitar Centre of Sayreville, New Jersey, not exactly knowing what to do with herself.

The shop was empty, it was clean, and everything had been polished at least three times since Leah had gotten there. Then again, it was Saturday. Everyone was probably out partying and having fun whilst she looked after inanimate objects that needed human affection to function just as much as humans do.

Sayreville was a hig step up from Leahs small hometown in the middle of County Offaly in Ireland. Her hometown had about 3000 people in it and Sayreville had almost fourteen times that amount, standing at a good 42,000 people.

It was nice, though. It was very diverse and many groups and subcultures of people were accepted. In Leahs hometown, you were either Catholic or Protestant and part of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) or you were nothing. Whether you played football, soccer or hurling or rugby... Once you had one of those, you were someone with something.

Naturally, Leah was not one of those sporty GAA kids. She went to an all girls Catholic primary school and a mixed gendered secondary school until she was in fourth year (TY: Transition Year. An optional year in Irish secondary schools that you have to pay to do. If you don't do it you go straight from 3rd year to 5th year.) And then she moved to America.

It was criticised when she moved, however, it was just something that felt right. Her life wasn't in the best place and she had enough money to make this change that she knew in her heart and soul was good for her.

Another change that was made upon a coincidental accident was when she changed the music that was playing in the store. There was no one else there but her, and loud overrated pop music blared on the speakers. Naturally enough, she began to search behind the counter for something good to listen to, when she stumbled across a record labelled;

Bon Jovi: Runaway.

Leah took the record out of it's sleeve, turned off the radio and sat the record down on its player before propping the needle on it and listening to the music that blared out.

She didn't even notice the man who had just walked in the door of the shop, she was too busy having fun and listening to the music, only for her jaw to drop when she heard an epic guitar solo. After the song, she took the record off the player and slid it back into its sleeve, leaving it on the desk.

When Leah looked up and seen the man standing there, she felt herself blush a bright red before fixing her hair and walking over to him. "Hey, how can I help you?" She asked.

The man looked at her and smiled. He had dark brown hair and dark brown eyes, and he had to have been about 6"2'. "Hey! Uhm, I was just wondering if you guys still do custom orders for guitars?" He asked. Leah smiled. "We do!! I actually have an order sheet up at the desk if you wanna come with me?" She said and he nodded. "Lead the way." He said and the two made their way over to the counter.

As Leah got the order sheet, the man gasped. "Y-... You listened to this?" He asked, picking up the record that held the song Runaway.

Leah nodded. "Yeah! It's by some local band called Bon Jovi, I assume." She said. The man's jaw dropped. "Th-... whoa, okay. That's my band!!" He said, exasperated.

Leahs jaw dropped. "Nahhhh no fucking way! Dude, that guitar solo was sick!!" She said and the man laughed. "Thank you!! That means a lot, wow. I'm Richie Sambora." He said and held out his hand to her.

Leah shook his hand. "Leah Harper." She said. "Well it's great to meet you Leah! Can I ask how old you are?" He asked. Leah nodded. "I'm turning sixteen in two weeks." She said.

Richies eyes widened. "So you're... fifteen and have this big of an interest in guitars?" He asked and she nodded. "Yeah! Grew up around em. Got my first when I was nine." She said. Richie's face lit up. "That's crazy!" He said and she shrugged. "It's normal where I'm from, I guess." She said.

Richie nodded slowly. "I'll take it that you're most definitely not from here." He said and Leah laughed. "No, I'm from Ireland." She said and Richie smiled. "Wow... I've always wanted to go there!! What's it like?" He asked.

Leah smiled. "Well, I'm from County Offaly in Midlands, right in the middle of the country so-"

The door to the Guitar Centre burst open and a man with blondish-brown curls burst through. "RICHARD STEPHEN SAMBORA, WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU TRYING TO GET INTO BED NOW?!" He yelled as he stormed over.

Richie's jaw dropped and he turned around.

"DAVID BRYAN RASHBAUM, SHE'S FIFTEEN!!!" Richie yelled back him, earning a laugh from Leah.

"... YOU'RE TRYING TO GET A CHILD INTO BED?!" David yelled and Richie face palmed before turning to Leah. "I sincerely apologise about my friend and tom- foolery."  He sighed.

Leah laughed and shook her head. "No no, you're all good." She said, still giggling. "I am not trying to get her into bed. This is Leah, she was just helping me out here." Richie explained.

David narrowed his eyes at his friend before looking at Leah. "Blink twice if you're in need of help." He said and Leah blinked twice, jokingly. "Hey!!" Richie laughed.

"Nah, jokes. I'm not in need of any sort of help whatsoever, I promise." Leah said and David looked at her weirdly. "Irish?" He asked and Leah nodded. "Sick!" David said and they fist bumped.

"Are you part of Bon Jovi too?" Leah asked and David's jaw dropped. "You know about us?" He asked, shocked. Leah nodded and Richie smiled again. "She listened to the Runaway demo!" He said excitedly and David smiled. "Wow... that's so crazy, thank you!"

Leah shrugged. "It's honestly no problem, you guys are so great!!" She said. "I should probably introduce myself. David Bryan. I'm the keyboard player!" David said and held out his hand, which Leah shook. "Leah Harper." She said and David smiled.

The three talked as Richie finished filling out the custom guitar form. "I'll give you a call once I hear back from the bosses at the main company." Leah said and Richie smiled. "Thank you!" Richie smiled.

David sighed. "Well, we better go Sambora." He said. "Hey! Actually, before you go; we are getting new stock in in two weeks... I'm more than likely gonna be working when they get here and I would be more than happy to keep the store open so you guys and your other bandmates could be the first to try out the new gear?" Leah said.

David and Richie looked at each other before looking at her. "You'd actually actually that?" David asked and Leah nodded. "Of course!" She said. "Leah Harper, you are an angel." Richie sighed and Leah laughed. "And you, Richie Sambora, are a guitar hero." She replied and the three laughed.

"Give the store a call tomorrow when you know if your bandmates are down for trying out the new stock." Leah said and Richie nodded. "Oh I'll probably be back here to annoy you anyways. See ya then?" Richie said Leah nodded.

"See ya then boys!"

After her shift at Guitar Centre, Leah headed home, got a shower and called Meredith to tell her about her new friends.

"I'm tellin' ya, Mer. I'm a lot younger than him but this Richie Sambora guy is mighty fine!"
"Typical Leah, falling for the dudes she can't have."
"Hey!!"
"I'm kiddiiiiiing."

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