Cowboy Diaries - a Jon Bon Jovi fan fiction

24: Just Older

2. March 1992, Jon's house

Jon's  POV

It was around 5 p.m. as I heard my doorbell ring for the first time. My first guest probably. I took a quick look in the mirror again, checking out my outfit which consisted of a simple black t-shirt, some washed-out blue jeans and some kind of brown jacket. I had paired it with the necklace that every member of the band got, the one with the superman-shaped design.

But the one thing I payed most attention to was my new haircut of course. I must admit I was nervous about my guest's reactions. I still didn't feel that confident with it, even though I kinda liked it and got used to it right now.

But there was no turning back now, probably they would get over it anyway after throwing out their few teasing comments. As I opened the door I saw Richie standing there and I was kinda relieved that he was the first one who saw me. He was one of my closest friends after all. I saw that he came to congratulate me but he stopped in his tracks as he properly lay his eyes on me.

"Holy shit, what did you do!?" Ah, here we go. 

"What about a happy birthday first?" 

"Oh yeah of course." Richie said, kinda ripped out of his thoughts. He half-heartedly congratulated and hugged me before his eyes stared at me again. 

"Is it that bad?" I asked, now slightly getting uncomfortable with him examining me. 

"What? Oh. No, no, I'm just surprised, that's all." 

"I told you I was gonna do it." 

"Yeah, but that was years ago already, you kept repeating it but I thought you were just joking."

 "Well, I was at first. But after the New Jersey tour I really started to consider it. Even tho you told me not to."

"Yeah. But as I see it was of no use. You don't have faith in my advice." Richie acted as if he was hurt by my betrayal and we both had to laugh. "Only kidding, it suits you, you still look handsome with short hair." 

"So? What do you mean with still? You think I look worse now?" 

"No I don't mean it that way, but you know I'm a long hair type of guy, I'll always prefer that. But as long as you don't plan to change the look of the whole band..." Richie was definitely joking, but still I caught him being slightly worried.

He must think this belonged to my self-finding phase, as he had called it. And that I wanted a new image for the band cause the 80s were over. Well he wasn't completely wrong with that, but never would I dictate what the boys had to do and how they had to look like. That was none of my business after all. 

"Oh, and that's when I already ordered my father for you all here today." I joked. Richie just rolled his eyes. 

"Alright, if we have cleared this out now, let's move on to the more important part. Where's my present? You know I couldn't sleep because I had to think about how you would embarrass me in front of my guests this year."

"Of course I didn't forget it. But for the main attraction you have to wait until later on, when all the guest have arrived. But I got something small for now."

He handed me a flat package covered by some messy wrapping paper. It was clear who packed it. While Richie was so gently with his guitars he would be a terrible housewife. But hey, at least this time it was not his mom who had had to pack it. It didnt't matter anyway, I ripped the paper straight away. As I had guessed by the shape, it was a record.