Chapter 24: The Last Rehearsal

Two weeks later Ava, Alex, Pauline and Zack were at the restaurant at school. This Saturday will be the Christmass celebration and they must do their last rehearsal. "So, we didn't decided yet!" Zaack said looking the other three. "Why don't you come to my house because is little hard to move the drums!" Alex said "i can't move the piano either!" Zack answered. "What opotions we have?" Alex asked and looked to Pauline "Don't look at me! If you come to my house you two have to move your insruments! I'm the easy one, i can take my guitar anywhere!" "That's right! We have one option left!" Zack said and all looked at Ava who was eattting. "What are you looking at?" she asked but she didn't get an answer. "Fine! You can come to my place. We have them all!" "That's perfect! But what time?" "About 20.00?" Ava said and all nodded. "A! My grand-mother will be at home for Christmass i hope you don't mind!" "I don't mind at all, i always wanted to meet her!" Pauline said first. "Me too! I don't know if Alex has a problem meeting all the family!" "No, i don't!" Alex said and pushed Zack's shoulder.

Friday night was the day of their last rehearsal foe tommorow's performance. All four wanted to pass and will do their bast to make this happend. This night Ava had invited Pauline to sleep together and then they will go together to the school. They were at the studio. " So, which song we play first?" Alex asked "I say we play them chronological!" was Ava's answer "You mean 'I'll be there for you' , 'Bed of roses' and 'All about lovin' you'?" Pauline asked "Yeah!" "Nice let's begin!" Zack suggested and all went to their positions.

The rehearsal didn't last so long. They had played the songs more that 10 times and they couldn't fix anything. When Alex and Zack left Pauline, after taking her things, and Ava went to the house. There found Richie and Joan sitting on the couch. When the girls came in came in both got up. "Pauline i like you to meet my grandmother Mrs Joan Sambora!" Ava said and they shook hands "Nice to meet you Mrs Sambora!" "It's nice to meet you too. I've heard so much about you!" "Really?" Pauline asked supriced. "Yeah! I'm very happy that my grand-daughter has a friend like you!" "Me too!" Pauline answered and looked Ava. "Pauline please do me a favour, call me Joan!" "Ok...Joan!" "Good! Now, Ava why don't you take Pauline upstairs to change clothes and i'll make dinner?" Joan asked. "Okay, we're going!" Ava said and both went upstairs. They walked in and Pauline left her giutar case on the corner. "Do you want to change clothes?" Ava asked "Actually yes! If you want it too!" "I was praying to say that!" "Nice! Do you wear pijamas?" "No, i'm sleeping with pants and a t-shirt. You?" "Me too! And this the same?" "Haha1 One more in common!" Pauline said and opned the other bag. She put out a pair of black pants that she bring with her "SHIT!" she yelled. "What happend?" "You're very lucky that you don't have any siblings! I'm gonna kill! I hope you come and visit me on the prison!" "What she did now?" "What she did? This!" she answered and show the t-shirt. Ava start laughing loud and loud. "Stop laughing! This is not funny!" "Okay i stop!But i want to see you going downstairs with this!" "Oups! I forget that! What if i'll wear it on the other side?" "He'll get it!" "Alright, i'll wear it! But stop laughing!" "Ok! Let's go!" "Why don't we stay here until they call us? Please!" Pauline said with the puppy look "Okay! But it suit you!" "Thanks!"

A several minutes later the loud and strong Richie's voise said "Ava! Pauline! Come here!" "The time of crisis!" "Okay, continue fooling on me! But i'm really screared of their reaction. Espacially your grand-mother's. What she'll tell?" "I don't know but i don't wont to miss it!" Ava answered and together went downstairs.

When they went downstairs Ava thought that Pauline was following her but she didn't. "Whare is Pauline?" Richie asked. Ava turned back and she was missing. "PAULINE TIMSON! COME HERE NOW!!" Ava yelled. Pauline walked into the kitchen. Richie and Joan read her t-shirt 'I'm lost. Please return me to Richie Sambora!'  "I like your sence of houmor, Pauline!" "Thanks, me too. But there is a very nice explanasion. The afternoon when i was getting ready to come here i put an onther t-shirt with me. But when you have a sister like mine everything is possible!" "It's okay! That was very funny. How did you thought it?" "I don't know! It came to me at school last year!" "And do you have others or only that?" "I have 7 more!" Pauline answered. All together sut in the table for dinner that Joan cooked. All were eating exept Pauline who was playing with in. They noticed but none say it. “Pauline you don’t like the food?” Richie asked. “No, the food is delicious! Is something else.” “What is it?” Ava asked with considering look. “I think you know how is it!” “What do you mean I don’t understand!” “Well, 7 years ago my grandfather, John, passed because of lung cancer.” “Oh! Pauline I’m so sorry! We didn’t know!” Richie said and placed his hand on Pauline’s shoulder. “Richie is ok. You didn’t have to know that!” she answered. “One more in common!” Ava said trying to make her laugh and she make it. “Yeah, one more in common!” “What else do you have in common?” Joan asked. “We have the same height, the same sunglasses, we sleep in the same position and the same Horoscope!” Pauline answered. “And we both love music!” Ava added.

For the next hours Pauline,Ava and Richie were playing board games. Joan was sitting with them and watcing. While they were playing Pauline phone rung. It was from her house. “Hello!” “Hello Pauline! What are you doing?” “Playing boared games with Ava and Richie!” “Who is winning?” “Ava!” “Nice! Did you ate?” “Yes, mum I ate. Zeta is there?” “Yes, she is! I’m giving you her!” “Hello?” “RICHARD STEPHEN SAMBORA!” Pauline yelled and Richie lift his head and said “What? I didn’t do anything!” “I know! I’m talking to my sister!” “You find it out?” “Yes! Do you think that is funny?” “Yes it is. Very funny!” “Zeta stop laughing or I’ll kick your ass!” “Is he alright?” “He is just fine!” "Ok,then goodnight!" "Goodnight!" Pauline said and hung up the phone. "Why are you calling your sister with my name?" Richie asked. "Well, this is a very funny story. My sister likes fooling on me and she always finds a way to do it. In my birthday she paint a mask with your gace and came to my room and spokje to me as you!" Pauline axpliened. "Oh! Very bad expirience." Richie replied. "Yes, it was but was very funny in the same time!" Pauline admit. "Just like uncle David!" Ava said "I don't want to be in the same room with Zeta and David!" Richie joked and the girls nobbed.

The timne passed very quickly and the two girls were on the bed. "So, how are thing withg Jesse?" "Nice. Very nice to be honest. He's very polite, romantic, cute and he makes me laugh!" "Jennifer?" "She didn't bother us since the day we fight!" "Something is telling me that we're not done with her! You should keep ann eyeon her!" "I will!" "A! Did you hear the news?" "No, what happend?" "Jennifer in not anymore the leader of 'Fub Five'. They kick her out!" "That's good!" "That's very good!" "Did Jesse talked about his family?" "Yes, and i talked about mine. You guys are so lucky that you don't have any siblings!" Pauline said and pointing her t-shirt. "Yeah, thank God that we don't!" "You know sometimes when i look at him he reminds me someone!" Ava froze. If Pauline understands that Jesse was lying to her all this time? What Ava should do now? "Does he reminds you someone in particular?" "No,he reminds me something! But i don't know what!" "I think that all this is on your mind!" Ava tried to cover Jesse's bullshit. "I think that too!" "Now let's sleep we have a big day ahead of us!" Ava said. "Yeah, goodnight!" pAULINE said and feel asleep next to Ava.

The next morning the two girls woke up later that they used to amd later than anyone in the house. In the kitchen Richie and Joan were sitting and a few minutes later Avan and Pauline joined them. "Good morning!" Ava said while she entered the kitchen. "Good morning to everyone!" Pauline said who was behind her. "Good morning girls! ou should sleep well to be up at this hour!" Joan said and the girls nobbed. "Worried for tonight?" Richie asked. "A little bit!" Pauline answwred first. "I'm not worried at all. I'm sure we'll win this!" Ava said we cofident voise. "Yes, me too. I'm always nervous before playing. Plus it's been a lot time since i playied in front of people!" "It's been long for me too. But if we start to think like that we better stay here!" "Girls, if you start fight i'd better go!" Richie said sitting there and hearring them. "No, dad we're not fighting." Avas said "We just talk loud!" Pauline added. "Exactly! Dad you don't want to see girls fighting!" "If you fight like Pauline and Jennifer i don't want to!" Richie answered. "That was an anfornunate example! And that was only thge begging. If they didn't seperate us, i'll have killed her!" "That's for sure!" Ava replied.

Whoa we're halfaway there
Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it i swear
Livin' on a prayer

"Hey girl!" "Hello Pauline. How are you?" "I'm fine Amalia. You?" "I'm here with the girls and we say to call you!" "You did good! It's been a while since the last time wwe spoke!" "Yeah, that's true! You're not home right because we call at your home and your dad said that you're in Ava's. Who is Ava?" "Ava is my best friend here!" "Good. Melina say that Richie has a daughter named Ava, that's true?" "Yes, that's true!" "Are you ok from your meeting with Jon?" "Yeah, i'm fine! It took me while to understand it but i'm alright now!" "Have you seen anyone else or just Jon?" "Right here on my left!" "Who is right there on your left?" the three girls asked together from the other line. "Richie!" "Richie who?" "Richie. The tall brown haired guy with the tattoos!" "Hols on a moment. Richie Sambora is next to you?" Stefania asked. "Yeah!" "I'm gonna faint!" Melina said loud and even Richie heard her. "Why you'll faint. I will faint. But i didn't faint the first time why i should do it now?" "You'd see him again?" "Yes, many times!" "And how is he?" "Just like you see him. A little taller than i thought and very funny!" "Mmm! That's all?" "No!" "Ok, i got it! You can't talk!" "Thank God you got it!" "Ok.Ready for tommorow?" "Tommorow is for you. Is 6 hours for me!" "Damn time differnce!" "Haha. You still didn't remember it?" "No, and i'm wondering why you remember it all the time!" "I don't know!" "Ok then. It's nice to talk to you. Call us tommorow to know how is goes!" "Alright i'll call you. Kisses!!" "Kisses to you too!" the three girls said all together while Pauline hung up the phone.

After the delicious lunck that Joan cooked Ava and Pauline were sitting on the couch and watching a movie. Joan was in her room and she was sleeping. While they were watching the movie Richie yelled from upstairs."Pauline come here darlin'!" Pauline got up and said to Ava "I'll be back in 5'!"

Pauline claimed to the second flour and found Richie to the room on the left of the hallway. She was sure it was his room because it was big and so peacefull. "Pauline here!" he yelled when he saw her looking for him. Pauline turned and walked into his big room. Richie was sitting at the edge of his bed and Pauline was opposite to him. "Did i do something wrong? Or did i say something that you don't like?" she asked. She knew that his father's death and few days later from his divorse wasn't the best it happend to him. "Pauline relax! I just wanted to show you something!" Richie said  with a look that calmed Pauline. "Ok what do you want to show me?" "Come here!" he said and stand up from the bed. The room was realy big and you can lost there but Pauline didn't get lost. Richie stop next to a big door. Pauline didn't know what to thing. "So, you're the fist and the last fan will see this. You're an amazing girl and a very good friend for Ava. And i think this what is counting the most!" "I apriciate all that you do for me Richie and i'll never forget that!" "Alright enough with the talking!" he said and opened the door and allow to Pauline to walk in his closet with the stage clothes. "Oh my God! You got to be kidding me. I'm gonna freak the fuck out!" Pauline said while her eyed were wide open. She could't believe she was there, in Richie's closet. Richie laugh "Well, i thought as your band is Bon Jovi and you're playing guitar and you'll wear my favourit outfit from the last 00's it would be a nice idea to see them live!" "Oh Richie you suprsed me! Oh my God you wear then on the 'Runaway' video right?" "Yeah!" Pauline passed a few more outfits and stop on her favourit from the 80's. "Oh! That's my favourit from the 80's. 'Lay your hands on me' video!" "Why do you like it so much?" "Beacause it's purple!" "Haha. I should have guess that." Now Pauline was searhing for the 'Blessing' shirt and the famous coyboy hat from the 'Wanted dead or alive' video. And she finally found them. "Can i ask you something?" "Of course." "Do you really miss her birthday?" "What?" "I mean in "I'll be there for you' at some point say 'I didn't mean to miss your birthday baby'. And i know that you write this song more than Jon did because was a personal expirience. Plus i always wanted to ask you that!" "The truth is that i miss her birthday." "And then she left you. She did good!" "What?" Richie asked suprised "Beacause if she didn't left you, you wouldn't be heartbroken. And if you wouldn't be heartbroken you would't had wrote I'll be there for you. And if you would't had wrote it i don't know what will happend!" "Woh! Now YOU suprised ME. You're thinking more than i thought!" "Thank you. But at least she can say that Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi wrote a song about me!" "Haha. Yeah, i think she does!" Richie looked at his watch and it was time to get ready to go to the school for the perfomance.