When We Were Us

Chapter 10

*~*David - 1st Person POV*~*

Fuck, Jonny pick up...pick up the fucking phone...please...where are you?

I wrinkle my nose in disgust as Richie and Liam snort up at the small dining table. Even my beer looks unappealing. My hands tremble as thoughts of the unknown race through my head. Jon was so close but...fuck...where was he?

"You want one, Lem?" Richie offers.

"I don't fuck with that shit anymore," I snap. Fucker knows I've hated it since the accident in '89.

Richie shrugs and sits back against his chair, rotating and cracking his neck. "As I said earlier, man, we can't DO anything until he surfaces. Sit. Relax for a change," he rolls his eyes, "You never used to be this uptight..."

"Last I remember, I got laid more than you," I shoot back in my best egotistical wiseass tone. "I have my own ways of relaxing, Sambora."

"You ever think there was a reason for me pulling back on the women?" Richie was really working my nerves. Why the fuck had I even agreed to this shit?

"Couldn't keep it up..."

"Jesus...are we in a schoolyard," Liam grumbles.

We glance at each other then over to Liam. "This is nothing," I say with a shrug.

"Best of friends," Richie nods slowly, "worst of enemies. Or used to be..."

I take a deep breath to still my temper and gulp the rest of my beer, curling up on the sofa with both phones and looking between them every ten minutes. "I wasn't the one who ditched us mid-tour. Not a call, email, text...nothing. You could have told us beforehand you wanted out. A little warning perhaps..."

Can of worms officially opened!

"To risk getting my heart handed back to me again," Richie bit out, "Once was too much. Fool that I was, I kept going back for more, didn't I?"

Liam watches the exchange and holds out a rolled joint to me with a lighter. "Here, man...it's on me."

I sigh heavily and took the offering. "Thanks." I lit the end into a bright red cherry and slowly the conversation eased into pleasant memories, laughter and the TV as background.

Another couple of hours pass and Richie got up without notice, heading toward the bathroom. After he didn't come back, I decide to check on him. Passed out on the bed. Typical Richie.

I kick Liam's slimy ass out of the suite and drop onto the sofa, staring at the phones and the mess of powder and seeds on the table.

Beep Beep Beep...

I snatch mine up quickly, swiping the screen into action.

Matt: DB it's Matt, Jon's phone just turned on

David: What? Where?

Matt: You're in AC, right? He's across town from you. I'll send the address. It'll take me too long to get there. You call me ASAP when you get him, otherwise you're a keyboardist without usable fingers...got me??

David: I'll play with my fucking toes, M

Matt: 8972 Madison Ave...Venice Park district

I check my watch for the time before replying, I can be there in 30 minutes or less. I'll buzz you then.

Instead of waking Richie up from his passed out state on the bed, I grab my jacket and stuff both phones in my pocket. I slip from the hotel suite. The hallway was silent save for moans and grunting from a couple of rooms.