Right Down Cherry Lane//Warrant •Jani Lane•

Livin'

It was later in the day. It was now around 8:30, I had sped the fuck home so I could get ready for the concert tonight.

I took a shower, did my hair, put on my good jeans, and old Aerosmith shirt I had cut into a tank top forever ago, my black ankle boots, some necklaces, a couple rings, a few bracelets, and then earrings.

I put on some eyeliner, mascara, lipstick and called it good. It had been forever since I went to a concert, might as pull out all the stops.

I was helping Carrie get stuff to take to Heathers mom's when there was a knock. I went to open the door and it was Erik. "Whoa, where are you going?" He asked with a smile as he glanced at my attire.

I let him in. "Heather and I are going to see Bon Jovi tonight." I told him. He nodded. "Oh, cool." He said as he turned around in the living room to face me. "What brings you by?" I questioned him, confused.

"Wanted to see how things were with you and Jani." He told me. I sighed and gave him a look, nonverbally telling him that I didn't want to talk about this. "He walked out...so I don't know." I replied truthfully.

I shrugged. "And now I'm fucking confused because Jani doesn't show any interest in me now, and Jon does." I continued as I shook my head and went to get Carrie out of her room.

When I came back, Erik looked at me weirdly. "Jon. Like Jon Bon Jovi?" He questioned. I nodded. "That's kinda crazy." He chuckled. I nodded. "Oh trust me, I know." I told him.

He chuckled again and then the front door opened. It was Heather, I didn't care if she knocked or not. My house was her house.

"Holy-god, Lor, you look hot as shit!" She exclaimed. I laughed at that. She then saw Erik. "Oh hey Erik." She said. He waved and turned to look at the three of us. "See you ladies later." He said as he walked out.

"Any who, let's get this show on the road." Heather said. I nodded and we got into her car, taking Carrie to Heathers mom's.

After we dropped Carrie, fucking Heather was speeding. The concert would be starting soon.

Fucking screw diner jobs. We got there just in time. We got our tickets out, showed 'em to the ticket person or whoever the fuck and got into the venue.

It took a lot of work, but Heather and I wiggled our way all the way to the front.

And as soon as we did, the band was going to their places on stage. I smiled to myself. I was gunna have a good stress free time tonight.

When I saw Jon I got really excited. Tonight was gunna be cool. Then my brain short circuited and I literally almost died. Reason be? Jon saw me, recognized me and walked over to where Heather and I were standing.

They didn't even start their first song yet. He winked at me and then the music started rolling.

The song that they started to play was Livin' On a Prayer. Heather and I of course sang the song obnoxiously to each other. Then the band went into a few songs from New Jersey.

Jon kept looking my way and of course Heather kept teasing me about it. Eventually after an hour or two, they did their last song, Secret Dreams. Heather turned to me with wide eyes as Jon kneeled really low onto the stage in front of me so he was close, looking right at me.

"Holy shit." Heather said wide eyed. There's my dream of being serenaded by Jon Bon Jovi singing Secret Dreams to me.

The show then ended after that song and the band of course said "goodbye see you next time".

Not long after that, one of their crew guys or security guards came up to Heather and I, giving us backstage passes and lead us behind the stage.

They lead us to the dressing room. One of them knocked and we heard a 'come in'.

So the guy opened the door and let us in. They didn't follow us inside, but they shut the door behind us.

"Holy hell, Lori." Heather said, shitting herself. I laughed at that. Jon then walked up to me with a smile. "Lori, I'm glad you could make it." He said. I smiled back at him.

Richie was trying to get all buddy buddy, or into Heathers pants but Heather shot him down and I was proud of her for that, that she turned down her favorite guitarist. "Sorry, I've gotta boyfriend." She stated. Richie looked at Heather like he didn't believe her.

"Oh really, what's his name?" He questioned. Heather smile just at the thought of Steven. I was happy for my best friend, happy that she was in love with a good guy. "Steven, Steven Sweet." She said.

Right after she said those words, Richie's eyes went wide. "Like the band Warrant's Steven Sweet?" Heather nodded. So that's the name of Jani's band.

"What about you?" Richie asked me, turning his attention away from Heather. I shrugged, deciding to be truthful. "Jani was interested in me, but I couldn't handle the misogyny of what he always said towards me...that and he walked out, so I'm as single as a Pringle right now, man." I stated, a slight frown on my face.

Richie then looked to Jon who was staring at me and he put his hands up. "Well seems like Jonny's interested in you...and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't, but I don't think you're interested in me." Richie explained.

I smiled. These guys, I mean behaviorally towards women, were a lot nicer than Jani.

I nodded. Heather then produced a Polaroid camera out of her bag and had one of the crew members take a picture of she and I with the whole of Bon Jovi.

She then turned to me and kissed my cheek. "I gotta go, I miss Steven, but definitely fill me in on the details later." She said as she looked between Jon and I with a look.

I said I would and then she left. Now it was just me with Bon Jovi. Well eventually Tico, Richie, Alec, and David left to a bar or wherever, but Jon and I stayed in the dressing room.

He asked me a bunch of questions, like questions you ask someone to genuinely get to know and understand them, not just to get into someone's pants. Favorite band, favorite musician, favorite color, favorite food, favorite movie, favorite place, everything like that.

I liked this. Eventually though, it got late and Jon and I had equally asked each other around maybe a hundred questions or so. We were sitting on the couch, I a space away from him to keep the modesty.

He turned to face me and I did the same. "Lori?" He questioned seriously. "Yeah?" I questioned back. He furrowed his eyebrows in thought. "Would it be to forward if I asked you to go out with me...or be my girlfriend?" He asked.

I thought for a minute, a smile slowly forming on my face. "It's soon, but no, I don't think so." I told him truthfully.

I like this. No innuendos, no 'nothing but sex' talk, just to people actually being interested in each other. He smiled. "So that's a yes? To y'know, being my girlfriend?" He questioned.

I nodded, unaware of just how close are faces gradually-absentmindedly got closer; a smile on my face too. I was going to say something else but I felt Jon's breath on my face and my own breath hitched in my throat. I should have expected it, but it surprised me anyway when he kissed me.

It's about time I stop running from what I'm afraid of. It's time to face the facts. I was bound to get a relationship eventually, and I got one.

It was different than when I was with Jani, whatever the fuck that was. But with Jon, it feels like I actually can start livin' my life.