Chapter Three

Samantha shook her wet hair out of her face and raced into her bedroom. It was Christmas Eve, and she had come home from an early dinner with James and Katie not twenty minutes before. Alex would be there any minute, and Sam had just gotten out of the shower. Aside from work, Sam was notorious for running late for things, and though Alex knew it, Sam still didn’t like to keep her waiting.

Yanking a soft white fleece sweater off its hanger, she pulled it over her head with one hand and grabbed a pair of black heeled boots with the other. She had them both on in thirty seconds, and ran into the bathroom to dry her hair. It dried in record time, and as she sprinted down the hall, Tommy chased her, barking excitedly.

“I can’t play right now, baby, I’m late!” she skidded to a halt in front of the hallway mirror and threw on some lip gloss, just as the doorbell rang.

Sam threw open the door to find Alex, looking spectacular in tight stonewashed jeans and a black sweater that showed a dangerous amount of cleavage, layered by a white suede mid-thigh length coat. Her thick blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders and rested in slight, gentle curls on either side of her chest, and her blue eyes sparkled under shimmery gray eye shadow. Her hands were on her hips and one eyebrow was arched.

Sam whistled, playing innocent. “Well, now, are you trying to get lucky tonight or what?”

Alex smirked. “And are you trying to make us miss the show, or what?”

“Hey! I’m ready, aren’t I?” Sam grabbed her purse and glanced around the room one more time to make sure she had everything.

“Yes, but you were running around last-minute just before you opened the door.”

“How’d you know?”

“Boots with heels don’t run very quietly,” Alex winked.

Sam laughed. “Okay okay, well I’m ready now.” She kneeled to give Tommy and Gina a hug, then followed Alex out and locked the door.

The two women stepped into the elevator. “By the way,” Sam punched the ground floor button. “Merry Christmas!”

Alex laughed. “Oh yeah, Merry Christmas!”

Five minutes later they climbed into the back of a cab, giggling and joking like a pair of school-girls. Samantha felt free and light-hearted for the first time in several months, and was thoroughly looking forward to the night. She needed this release and fun time after working so hard. The last two weeks especially had taken their toll on her energy, and she had frequently stayed at the office later than 10:00 PM. Last week they had sent the special holiday issue of Dream to the printer and then shipped it out, and the next few days were devoted to pre-planning and organization for the January/February issue. Yesterday was the last day before their 10-day holiday break, and the office had thrown a Christmas party to celebrate.

Now, Samantha relished in her best friend’s high spirits, which made her own spirits soar, and she allowed herself to cease thinking about work and focus entirely on the night of fun, dancing, and singing that was ahead of them.

Twenty minutes later, the cab driver pulled up outside of Madison Square Garden, and the pair stepped out. The night was clear and cold, and they paid the driver quickly before hurrying into the warm arena.

The place was packed: people milled about around the merchandise and food vendors, and hurried here and there. The spicy smell of cider and cocoa hung in the air like smoke, and the ambience was inviting, with Christmas decorations lavishly set about the walls and doorways. A big tree stood in the center of the entry, strategically placed so as to frame the front seating entrance viewable from the main street entrance.

Samantha and Alex made their way toward the inner arena, and descended the many flights of stairs down to the floor. It was 7:30, and the opening band was in full swing. Bon Jovi would be taking the stage in 30 minutes. The two women pushed their way through the crowd to row 2, where the security guard took their tickets and ripped off the stubs, directing them to seats 15 and 16.

As they set their purses and coats under the chairs in front of them, Sam turned to Alex. “Do you realize we haven’t been 2nd row since Bounce?” she had to yell over the crashing of the drums and electric guitar of the opening band. “Remember, we had 4th and 6th row last tour.”

Alex turned back to her, grinning. “Ohmigosh, I totally forgot about that!! Holy shit this is so amazing! I am so excited!”

Sam gave her a sheepish smile. “I hope they play ‘Satellite’…”

Alex snorted. “I highly doubt that, Sam. They never play that live! You’d need a miracle. “

“Yes, well, it is Christmas after all, the season of miracles.” Sam winked.

Alex laughed. “That’s true. Frankly, I don’t care what they play, I’m just glad to have such a damn good seat!” she threw her head back and punched the air with her fist. “OOOOOWWW!” she screamed, causing the girls behind them to laugh and follow her lead.

The opening band finished up their song and took a bow at the front of the stage; Sam and Alex clapped and cheered politely along with the rest of the crowd. The house lights came on, dimly, and stereo music filled the arena as people began moving toward the exits for last-minute bathroom and food trips. Sam and Alex stayed put, chatting and laughing, filled with the type of excitement only a Bon Jovi concert could bring.

Suddenly the lights went out, plunging the entire arena into a pressing darkness. Cheers, claps, catcalls, and screams instantly exploded, nearly making the high ceiling shake, and Sam felt butterflies burst in her stomach as she screamed along.

She stared straight ahead, at the dark stage, and as her eyes adjusted, she could just barely make out the silhouette of a figure emerging on the left. It was an odd shape, and Sam instantly knew it was Richie Sambora with his guitar. She grinned as three other figures slowly emerged from the shadows; Tico Torres, David Bryan, and Hugh McDonald each took their places around the stage.

The screaming was deafening now, and Sam felt her ears already ringing, but gave it little thought. Her heart was pounding and adrenaline coursed through her body like a drug, causing her to tremble.

Alex was screaming in her ear, “I see them! I see them!” Samantha yelled back in agreement, jumping up and down.

The backdrop lights were glowing dimly now, and the four band members could be seen in colored shadows, all of them playing a haunting instrumental that built up anticipation. Suddenly another figure emerged from the dark shadows in the back, and the roar in the arena increased tenfold as the lean, well-trimmed outline of Jon Bon Jovi made his way dramatically to the front of the stage.

A thousand emotions exploded inside Sam as she stood there before the five men who, unknowingly, were such a big part of her life. She closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the sheer joy of the familiar environment, something she adored with her entire mind, body, and soul. There was nothing in the world like a Bon Jovi concert, and she soaked up the positive energy that was radiating off the very walls.

Sam opened her eyes just as Jon half-spoke, half-sang into the mic in a sultry, slow voice:

You’ve got to…hoooooold on… to what we’ve got…it doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not, we’ve got each other, and that’s a lot….for love. We’ll give it a shot…

Ohhhhh, we’re halfway there….whooaa-oh, living on a prayer….take my hand, we’ll make it I swear….ooohhhh, living on a prayer…oh

A brief pause, and then, without warning, there was a deafening explosion as huge jets of sparks shot up on either side of the stage, illuminating the stage in fierce color, and the band exploded into full swing. The screams grew immensely louder and the fans on the floor began jumping up and down as one mass in time to Richie working the talk box.

Sam jumped with everyone else, watching Richie with a huge smile on her face. She had always secretly loved the guitar player best – there was just something completely sexy about the way his fingers danced upon the guitar strings, and he was ruggedly handsome with deep brown eyes and a smile that made her melt. Besides that, he had an unbelievable voice – rich, sensual, and deep – and it always complemented Jon’s raw, throaty vocals beautifully. He was the “sidekick” in regards to the band’s makeup, but to Sam, he was the star, and deserved far more credit for his talent than he got.

Tommy used to work on the docks…union went on strike, he’s down on his luck, it’s tough…

Samantha and Alex sang along at the top of their lungs, never missing a beat. At the end of the song when Jon sang the “whoa-oh’s”, they waved their arms in the air along with him, causing him to smile at them. Alex shrieked and nearly fell over, but Sam merely smiled back, trying to get Richie’s attention.

The song ended and the arena exploded into applause and cheers again, while the band plunged right into “You Give Love A Bad Name”. Sam and Alex danced and sang along until the very end, screaming themselves hoarse.

After several songs of jumping, singing, and cheering, the band slowed things down a bit as Jon slowly sang the opening lines to “In These Arms.”

You want commitment…take a look into these eyes…

Sam stood still, catching her breath, and glanced over at Richie. His eyes were closed, and he held the guitar lovingly, fingering the strings with tender passion. His movements were fluid and intimate: he knew the guitar like his own body, and it seemed to become a part of him as he struck the gentle, haunting chords. Her heart was just beginning to melt when he opened his eyes and looked directly at her.

Sam froze. Her heart skipped a beat and she sucked in a short breath, staring at him. Richie held her gaze steadily with his smoldering eyes, seemingly as entranced by her as she was by him, and he continued to work the strings in the raw chords of the song.

After a second or two, the corner of his mouth curved upward slightly in a smile, and Sam felt her heart skip another beat, returning with a jolting electricity. Still, his eyes didn’t leave hers, and Sam couldn’t look away even if she wanted to.

The whole exchange lasted merely a few seconds, but to Samantha it felt an eternity. When Richie finally looked away, she realized she had been holding her breath, and she released it heavily.

Alex nudged her. “You okay?” she said in her ear.

Sam nodded weakly and smiled, mouthing “fine” to her.

Alex furrowed her brow at her friend, but seemed to figure it wasn’t a big deal, and looked back at the stage.

Sam drew a deep breath and focused on Jon in front of her. She was somewhat unsteady on her feet, and felt lightheaded. What just happened?

It was nothing more than a “look” to anyone watching the exchange…but what Samantha felt inside when it happened…that’s what unsettled her. Richie’s eyes had burned, seeming to convey a vulnerability and a desire to confide it in someone. The look was almost desperate, a sensual plea for love and acceptance, and Samantha couldn’t help but think that it wasn’t mere chance that his eyes had settled on hers when he opened them. And his smile…it had been so sincere, so raw, so…honest. Sam couldn’t figure it out, but she knew it had meant something.

Throughout the rest of the concert, whether it was during a slow ballad or an up-tempo rocker, Samantha glanced over at Richie frequently. But he seemed to have forgotten about her, because he didn’t look over again.

90 minutes later, the arena was an explosion of noise once more as the band members lined up onstage to take their final bow. Jon thanked the crowd for coming, and wished them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Sam cheered and clapped like everyone else, but kept an eye on Richie. He bowed like the rest of the guys, his hand clasped in Jon’s, and he beamed at the thousands of screaming fans. He scanned the crowd from right to left, and then it happened again.

Their eyes met once more, with the same intensity, although this time it was far more fleeting, as the stage lights shut off not a second later. Sam continued to stare at the silhouettes of the retreating band members, but when the house lights came on, the stage was empty.

Someone shook her shoulder and she jumped, turning around to see a sweaty, pink-faced Alex beaming from ear to ear.

“Some show, huh? That was fucking awesome!”

Sam forced a smile. “Hell yes it was.”

“What’s wrong?” Alex furrowed her brow again and scrutinized her friend.

“Nothing, I’m just tired, that’s all. Bon Jovi kicked my ass, again!” she managed a laugh. Alex wasn’t convinced, and she placed the back of her hand on Sam’s forehead.

“You sure you’re okay? Your face is really red – did you get overheated? Need some water?”

Sam shook her head and fanned her burning face.

“No, I’m fine, really. It is a bit warm in here, but I’m not overheated. I had a blast!” She grinned at Alex, who continued to give her a curious look. “Come on, let’s get out of here – if we hurry we can grab a cab before the line gets too long.”

They grabbed their purses and made their way down the row, stepping carefully over the bottles and trash left behind.

Just as they reached the aisle, however, a big, burly security guard approached them. “Miss?” he asked, looking pointedly at Samantha.

Sam stopped. “Me?”

“Yeah. Will you and your friend follow me, please? You’re not in any trouble, I just have orders to bring you backstage.”

This time Samantha nearly fell over. “Backstage?” she repeated, blinking. She looked over at Alex, who was staring at the security guard with dropped jaw.

“Yep, that’s right.” The security guard smiled. “Will you follow me?” he motioned to the right of the stage, toward a pathway that led to two closed doors at the end, hidden in the dark.

Samantha swallowed. Backstage? Where the band was? A thousand thoughts swirled around her head.

The security guard was walking backward slowly, waiting for them to move. Alex glanced at Samantha, mouth still open, and then seemed to come to her senses.

“Come on, Sam, what are you waiting for?!”

Sam watched as Alex bounded after the security guard. She had no idea what was happening, or why, but it didn’t seem to be a dream. A brief internal battle took place inside her mind, before she finally decided to see what it was all about.

“Holy shit,” she whispered, and then, with a deep breath, followed the guard down the dark pathway.