Love Does Exist (Ross & Heather Fanfiction)

Chapter 29 Roses for Stormie

  He sat talking to his dad while Ryland was showing me the new software for their concerts. I had to admit, it was pretty cool. Looked complicating, but he thought playing "Patience" by Guns n' Roses looked complicating, so we were both in the same boat. He asked why I was so shy to play in front of people, like that last time I saw him. I explained about my mom, and he agreed that it was getting better. I wouldn't dream of playing in a place like this, even if it was empty.

  I pick up my new beauty and take her from the case, and pull the stool over to sit on it. I am aware that both Ryland and Mark will see me play, but I was getting comfortable playing around others after playing for Ross the other night. I start by just strumming few times to get Ross' attention, although I wouldn't admit that's what I was doing.

  I started playing a familiar R5 tune. They recognize it immediately. Ross comes over and sits on the counter and starts singing, Ryland decides to step in and do backup vocals. It was fun. I heard the back door open, and I stopped mid-song. Mark went to look, and just than a woman rounded the corner.

  "Hi Honey," she said when she saw Ross. He went to her and game her a hug.

  Ryland told that was his mom before he went to her too. I sat there holding the guitar on my lap. I didn't want to interrupt. I know he doesn't see his mother as often as he wanted to. After a few minutes of me imaginarily strumming, Ross came over to me, reaching for my hand. I took the guitar off my shoulder, and laid it back in the case. I took his hand, and he locked his fingers tight when he sensed I was nervous. He smiled confidently at me and led me over to his mother.

  "Mom, this is Heather." He looked back at me. "Heather, this is my mother, Stormie." She reached out to hug me, I accepted. She had a welcoming vibe like Ross and Ryland.

  "Nice to meet you. When Mark said he got to meet you and that you were here, I had to come meet you. My babies sure think a lot of you, especially these two and Rydel." She smiled. She looked at Ross, "she is beautiful." Than looked back to me.

  I blushed a little bit and lean into Ross. "Thank you." I whisper loud enough for her to hear. I never had much luck when it came to the moms. I was a little nervous. Ross unlinked our hands and wrapped his arm around me. I smiled at her when she smiled at me. She has a contagious smile.

  After a minute around her, I was able to untuck from Ross and be almost comfortable. Mark wanted to show Ross something in the back, and Ryland seem psyched to show it to him too, what ever it was. He kissed my nose, and I smiled back at him. "I'll be right back. Love you." Than he followed Mark and Ryland to the back of the store.

  Stormie looked at me for a minute, with a welcoming smile. After a minute I smiled back and unfroze from where Ross left me. I went and sat at the stool next to her after picked up the guitar again. I couldn't get over the fact that I finally had one again. "I heard you playing," she said to break the silence.

  I nudged. "A little. I took up music when I was younger and my mom passed away. It became my haven." I confessed. "My whole life music has had that meaning. So I didn't play for a long time. Until I met Ross that is."

  "You're really good." She pointed toward the door where Ross just went through, "I bet he's impressed."

  I laughed. "I think it's mainly the music I can play that impresses him. I can play almost half of their music, and much older rock too." I laugh remembering his reaction when he handed me the guitar.

  "What older rock can you play?" She asked, curious now. I think I found a connection to her.

  "Well, I'm not perfect at it," I look down placing my hands in place, "but I do know a little Guns n' Roses."

  I start to strum my song. I watched her reaction as she put together what I was playing. Just than the guys came through the door again, but I ignored them. I wasn't sure I could play in front of all of them. A few people wasn't bad, but they seemed to keep coming. I just looked at the guitar. I could see her look up and smile at Ross, who had made his way behind me.

  When I got to the guitar solo, which nobody had heard yet, they all smiled at eachother. I smiled but didn't look up afraid I would wuss out and stop playing. When I finished the song, I stayed looking down for a moment. Ross bent down and kissed the top of my head, and my eyes fell shut. A smile came across my face. I could see Stormie looking at me and smiling when my eyes started opening. I stayed looking down for a minute until my cheeks when back to normal shade.

  "That's amazing!" She said when I looked up at her. "That solo sounds hard. How did you learn that?"

  Here's the truth that even I was sure Ross wouldn't believe. "Listening closely to it. It's not really that hard of a song until you get to the solo, that is the hardest part to learn."

  Ross came around me to face me, "you learned to play that simply by listening to it?"

  I nodded, adding, "that's how I learned to play them all. I had lots of time on my hands." I laughed. "When my dad would be working long hours day and night, you don't really have much else to do but listen and learn."

  "Again," he laughed. "Something new every day."

  I blush a little. He smiles and pulls a stool up next to me. Everyone starts talking, and I go back to picking. It had been a long time, and I knew I messed up a little, but I had to admit, I was still a little impressed how well I could still play it.

  After another hour of conversation, Ross asked me if I was ready to go. I was torn. His parents were amazing, and given the chance to hang out with Ryland again and have him tell me all about his new program, I felt at home here. But I did want Ross to myself now. And I was curious if I could finally play with his siblings and Ellington. I wouldn't take Rocky's place for sure, but I might play with them. I always wanted to know what it felt like to play in a group, and I would find out.