Not This Time

Nina: August 23, 1986

     I had to admit I did not see that coming. I guess I'd underestimated Richie. Regardless, I wasn't going to give that secret away without a fight. I shook my head with an expression that I hoped looked like confusion.
     "No," I answered, "What on Earth gave you that idea?"
     Richie glanced past me at Jon and shrugged, shaking his head. "Oh, nothing," he replied, bringing his attention back to me with a smirk, "I just wanted to be sure. I try not to hit on my bros' girlfriends."
     I scoffed and looked over my shoulder at Jon. Everyone knew what had happened with Diane, so Jon's eye roll made total sense. Jon looked away, though. I appreciated that he was trying to look like he wasn't involved in the conversation. I shook my head and looked back at Richie.
     "Still, though," I said, "Why would you assume Jon? Would it really have been a complete shock if Lemma and I had been together?" I motioned to David as I said this. The keyboardist looked up in surprise, putting his cards down once more.
     "Yes," David stated simply. Tico, Alec, and I laughed. David grinned, satisfied with his joke, and went back to his cards. I turned back to Richie expectantly and he shrugged with a shake of his head.
     He was still shaking his head when he said, "I dunno. You just automatically came over and sat next to him."
     "How do you know I wasn't coming over to sit next to you?" I challenged.
     Richie smirked. "Where you?" he asked, scooting a little closer to me. I could almost see what he was thinking, it was so clear on his face. I knew that if Jon could see it too, he wasn't going to be happy. Not when Richie was involved.
     "No," I retorted as I shook my head and slid away from him, "I wasn't intentionally sitting next to anybody." I bumped into Jon. He met my gaze as I turned to look at him. I really didn't want to be stuck between the two of them. Maybe if I was just a groupie, but I wasn't. I rose to my feet and turned to face them. Jon looked a little disappointed, but Richie was still grinning at me.
     "Oh come on," Jon complained, motioning to me, "Sit down, he won't bite." The singer nodded to his friend. "Richie, give her some space." Richie moved back, clearing ample space between himself and Jon. I hesitantly sank back onto the couch, glancing first at Richie, then at Jon, then at the floor.
     Richie didn't scoot closer, but he leaned toward me. "You really know how to hurt a man's pride, Nina," he told me, pressing his hand against his chest like I'd hurt him. It was obvious though that he was pretending; he couldn't keep a straight face. "Am I so repulsive that you don't even want to sit near me?"
     "You're not repulsive," I argued gently, "but I'm also not a groupie." I arched an eyebrow, daring him to dispute that fact. He knew he'd better not. He knew I'd kick his ass.
     Richie only grinned. "So you won't even give me a shot?"
     I pursed my lips and shook my head. "I feel like my boyfriend would get really mad if I slept with you," I said, not even risking a glance back at Jon. I didn't have to though.
     Richie's eyes widened in surprise at the same time that Jon let out a surprised "Huh?" I looked over my shoulder at the singer with a look of confusion.
     "You've got a boyfriend?" Alec asked. I turned that confused look from Jon to Alec. David looked just as confused as I did. Tico was the only one who didn't seem surprised. In fact, he kind of looked amused at the whole situation.
     I scoffed, "Is that such a surprise?"
     "You never said anything about him," David commented, glancing between me and Jon. I followed his gaze, wondering why he was looking at Jon in the first place. Slowly, I shook my head.
     "It's my business," I said, "He's my boyfriend." My skin prickled at the feeling of someone's fingers brushing against my arm. I frowned, turning to find Richie traipsing his fingers down my forearm gently.
     He gave me a cocky smile. "What he doesn't know won't hurt him," he muttered.
     I brushed his hand away and wiped my arm like he'd left some sort of residue. It felt like it. My skin tingled everywhere his fingers had touched. Had it been Jon, I would have loved that feeling, but this just felt wrong. I turned to face him, mirroring his position. My elbow propped on the back of the couch, supporting my head as I brought my knee nearest him up to rest on the cushion. He still held that cocky smirk.
     "Sambora, let me ask you something," I said calmly. I was very aware of how tense this whole situation was making Jon. His tension was making me uncomfortable because if I could feel it, surely others could too. "If a man has a terminal form of cancer for which there is no cure," I began, "Is the cancer going to kill him?"
     My question seemed to catch Richie off guard. His smile faded just a little and he looked confused. After a minute or two, he replied uncertainly, "Probably."
     "Even if his doctor never told him he was sick?" I asked.
     Tico chuckled. For a minute, it was only him laughing and then he said, "Oooh, she got you Richie."
     The guitarist grinned too and nodded. He even chuckled a little, but he was right back to flirting even as he did so. "Okay, yeah, but this isn't that," he agreed, reaching over and placing his hand on my knee, "It's just casual."
     I shoved his hand away. He was bold, I'd give him that. "Y'know," I said, "If you wouldn't come on so strong, I wouldn't have to smack you down so hard." Richie glanced over my shoulder when David and Alec tried not to laugh at my comment.
     He smirked a little too and started to protest, "But-"
     Jon cut him off. "Richie, you heard her," he growled, "Leave her alone."
     We all turned to look at the singer. He looked kinda agitated, glaring at Richie. His eyes shifted to me for a moment, but his look didn't soften much. Was he jealous? Jon Bon Jovi, sexiest man alive, frontman of the biggest rock band of the decade, most wanted man in Japan, jealous? I didn't take my eyes off of him when Richie spoke.
     "Jon, we're just messing around here," he defended, "Calm down."
     I smiled a little, pretending that his protectiveness didn't bother me. "It's alright, Rockstar, I can take care of myself," I chuckled, maybe a little nervously, "I'm not afraid of Sambora." Jon brought his gaze back to me and took a deep breath, but he didn't respond. I raised an eyebrow, shaking my head. "I'm not going to sleep with him. I've got a boyfriend, remember?"
     Richie slid his hand into mine, trailing from my elbow down my arm in the process. Intertwining our fingers, he leaned over and mumbled, "Exactly, and he never has to know."
     I could hear the joking tone in his voice, but that didn't make me feel any less slimy. Right about the same time I turned back and started to shake Richie's hand out of mine, Jon jumped up from his seat and took a step toward Richie. It all happened so fast, but it felt like ages. Richie pulled his hand away from me in surprise as he looked up at Jon with just as much shock visible on his face.
     "I said keep your hands off her!" Jon spat.
     "What is your problem?" Richie snapped right back, staring up at his bandmate.
     They looked like they would break out with fists at any minute. What else could I do? I got up from my seat as well and pushed Jon away from Richie. He was still glaring over my shoulder at his guitarist even as he backed away.
     "Rockstar," I muttered. Jon tore his glare away from Richie to look at me. I shook my head, pleading silently with him, but it didn't look like he was having any of it. With a deep breath, he rolled his eyes and looked away.
     He was shaking his head when he looked back at me. "Y'know," he scoffed, "I'm sick of this. I'm not doing this anymore, Nina." My eyes grew wide. Oh God, he was really just going to tell them. Just like that. "You know I care about you, but they're closer to me than most of my own blood," he explained, motioning around to his band, "I mean, I almost just fought Richie over this. It's not worth it. I'm not going to lie to them anymore."
     I dropped my hand from where it had been resting on his chest. I couldn't stop the glare forming on my face. He'd promised. I mean, I knew we'd probably get to this point sooner or later, but the prospect still terrified me. How many people would have to know before he was happy? It wasn't even that I was particularly angry that he was telling his band. I was angry that he didn't even give me a chance to stop what was happening; he just reacted, and now I didn't know what would happen. Suddenly four more people knew and I had no idea what that would do.
     "So you are together?" Tico asked, not sounding at all intimidated by the tension that had suddenly filled the air. I didn't even bother turning to look at him. I was still fuming.
     Jon looked at the drummer over my shoulder and nodded. "Yes." His gaze shifted to Richie and he added, "We are."
     "Ha!" Tico declared, pointing at either David or Alec, maybe both. Presumably David, because he was the one that answered.
     "No, not yet!" the keyboardist protested, holding up a hand to stop whatever it was that Tico was doing. He turned to us and held out a hand pleadingly. "How long have you been together?"
     I frowned a little and glanced over at him. "Since February," I answered begrudgingly, returning my glare back to Jon before letting it drop to the floor.
     "Damnit," David mumbled under his breath, dropping his hand down onto the table in front of him. Alec dropped his head into his hands as well, neither of them seemingly worried about the card game they'd previously been playing. 
     "Ha!" Tico repeated.
     Richie stood awkwardly, hands on his hips. He shook his head, finally bringing his gaze up to meet Jon's. "Jon, I'm sorry. You know I wouldn't...." he trailed off, still shaking his head, "I didn't know."
     I crossed my arms, glaring at Jon once more. "And he still shouldn't," I grumbled.
     "Why?" Richie argued defensively, clearly addressing me at this point. I turned quickly, dropping my arms. Jon grabbed me before I could get any closer to the guitarist.
     "It was none of your business," I spat, "It's nobody's business but mine and Jon's." I shook my head, scowling at him. Richie looked surprised. It was only fair, Jon was the only one who'd spent enough time with me to know I'd react that way. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "I don't want this getting out," I growled.
     Jon put his arms around my shoulders and pulled me back to him. "How many times have I told you, Nina," he sighed, sounding a little frustrated. Ha! He was frustrated. He had no idea. "They're not going to tell anybody!"
     I turned in his arms so I could look him in the eye. "Yeah, I hope not," I scoffed. Jon's expression changed. I don't know if he noticed how worried I was or if he was afraid I was going to leave him, but he really looked sorry. With another sigh, he pulled me toward him into a hug.
     I couldn't even imagine what might change if this got out. Would Dotty even bother contacting him ever again if she thought he was happy with someone else? If she didn't, where would that leave Jon? It might not be so bad if I wasn't from another time. It might not be so bad if I didn't have to go back at some point, if I could be his future. I leaned my head against his shoulder. It was a lovely dream, but that was all it was.
     "So you just don't want the press hounding you?" Alec asked, pulling me back to reality. I blinked and looked over at him. I took a deep breath before responding.
     "I fell for Jon. The person," I muttered, "not the cameras and publicity that came with him." Unintentionally, my tone got a little more defensive as I added, "I already have to share him. Call me selfish, but I don't want them picking apart his relationship with me."
     Jon hugged me a little tighter. "Which is why," he explained, "We're working very very hard to keep it a secret." I pushed away from Jon a little and turned to look around the circle of faces.
     "I'll tell you guys what I've already told Jon," I warned, "If I see my name or photo on a magazine, or newspaper, or tabloid, or anything like that - if this gets out, I'm gone." I shook my head, meeting each of their eyes. "That means Jon. That means tour. That's it. Gone." Jon stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me again, kissing the side of my head affectionately. I brought a hand up behind me and draped it behind his neck in a weak hug without turning around. "I really don't want to do that," I whispered, not really trusting my own voice.
     "Then why do it?" David asked. It was a simple enough question, but the answer couldn't be more complicated. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against Jon's shoulder again.
     Because I love Jon too much to ruin his future like that.
     Of course I couldn't say that. I didn't know what to tell them. There was no way to explain myself honestly without sounding completely insane. Fortunately, Jon answered for me, and his response made sense.
     "Because I promised her," he said gently. I could feel his thumb rubbing my arm comfortingly as he continued, "and how could she stay with me if I can't keep a promise?" He paused. "Please, you guys. If you can't promise her, promise me. Promise you'll keep it a secret. Please."
     There was a long moment of silence. I didn't open my eyes. I just wanted to lean there against him with his arms around me like this was how it was supposed to be. I wanted to pretend that I was the girl born in 1963 who didn't need a time machine to be with the one person she cared about most. Just thinking about it made me want to cry.
     Tico spoke up first. "Well I've got no problem with that. I promise!" he declared. I opened my eyes and stared at him. He was smiling at us, arms crossed, then he shrugged.
     "I promise too," David agreed.
     "Me three," said Alec with a nod, "I promise."
     We all looked at Richie, who had taken his seat once more. He smirked at us and held his hands out to either side.
     "You can count on me not to say anything," he chuckled, "I don't want to lose our sound girl either." He winked at me, crossing his arms as well. "I promise."
     "I promise! I won't tell anybody!" shouted Pete. We all laughed at his sudden self-inclusion. I'd completely forgotten about the driver. Jon tightened his grip around me and tried to lean around so that he could look at my face.
     I could only smile as I called out to the bus driver, "Thanks, Pete!" I glanced at Jon and then around at his band. "Thanks you guys," I added in a quieter tone.
     "Oh yeah."
     "Don't mention it."
     "You're welcome, sound girl."
     "Of course."
     "See?" Jon whispered in my ear. I elbowed him gently and he chuckled into my hair. I untangled myself from his embrace and sat back down in my seat next to Richie. Jon was quick to sit beside me and put his arm around my shoulders. I leaned back toward my boyfriend as Richie spoke.
     "And for what it's worth, Nina," he said, "I'm done hitting on you."
     I grinned, bringing my hand up to hold onto Jon's where it hung off my shoulder. "I'm glad," I concurred with a nod, "So we can just be friends now?"
     Richie sat up and acted shocked. He stared at me with such a comically straight face that I couldn't help grin. "We weren't friends already?" he gaped mockingly. We all laughed at his show. He grinned again and leaned back against the couch.
     Now that the tension had fizzled out and the light-hearted atmosphere that had filled the bus before all this commotion had returned, Tico sat up and turned to Alec and David.
     "Alright you two," he announced with a beckoning gesture, "Pay up!" Jon, Richie, and I all watched in silent confusion as David and Alec each produced a twenty dollar bill. David had to stand to get into his pocket and retrieve the bill. Alec grumbled to himself as he slapped his twenty into Tico's hand. David frowned, but said nothing as he handed his twenty over as well.
     Richie motioned to Tico after the exchange had taken place and the drummer shoved the money into his pocket. "What the hell just happened?" Richie asked, still motioning between the three of them.
     Tico leaned back once more, crossed his arms again, and grinned at us. "I just made forty bucks!" he declared happily. Jon nodded to him to get his attention.
     "How?" he asked. Tico simply sat there, appearing pleased with himself. It was Alec who answered first.
     "The three of us made a bet to see who would get the girl first," Alec told us, nodding toward me. He sighed, "Lemma and I bet $10 each that Richie would."
     Tico finished the story for his friend, "And I bet $20 that Jon already had." David shook his head at the drummer's good fortune. I scoffed at the bet itself, let alone one against silent-observer, Tico Torres.
     "Oh, come on!" Jon protested with a slight laugh, "Tico's the only one who had some faith in me?" I grinned up at him and then over at his bandmates. David looked like he wanted to say something, but there was nothing to say. He'd bet Richie.
     Tico laughed, "It wasn't even faith, I saw through you two back in Vancouver!"
     I started to laugh as David and Alec protested the fairness of his bet with that knowledge. Jon grinned too. They squabbled to themselves for a minute or two, but then Richie spoke up and got everyone's attention.
     "So, hey, wait," he said, holding his hand up to stop their discussion. He turned to me and Jon. "So that was you in Vancouver?" he asked. Jon started laughing again. I giggled a little too and nodded.
     "Oui Monsieur," I giggled, trying my best to get the accent right again.
     "I knew it!" he shouted, pointing at Jon. All Jon could do was laugh. All anyone could do was laugh. Except Richie, who was still proud of himself for figuring that out. "I fucking knew it."